An exposition with practical observations continued upon the thirty-eighth, thirty-ninth, fortieth, forty-first, and forty-second,…

Secondly, There is a contending with the works of God, or with what God himself hath done or is doing. Thus also there are many Contenders with God in the world, and this is the Contention here spoken of; a Contention about the works of God, what God either hath done or is doing. All the debate which Job had with God, was about his dealings with him. God had laid him low, and stripped him naked; God had broken his estate, and filled his body full of sores and pains; God had wounded his spirit, and filled his soul with gall and wormwood; God had with-drawn himself or his comforts from him, and his friends were against him, or at best, but miserable comforters were they all: Now though he was a patient man, yet under these pressures he often broke out into impatient speeches. Thus Job contended with the Almighty, Moreover the Lord answered Job, and said; shall he that contendeth with the Almighty (about what he is doing) Instruct him?

Secondly, There is a contending with the works of God, or with what God himself hath done or is doing. Thus also there are many Contenders with God in the world, and this is the Contention here spoken of; a Contention about the works of God, what God either hath done or is doing. All the debate which Job had with God, was about his dealings with him. God had laid him low, and stript him naked; God had broken his estate, and filled his body full of sores and pains; God had wounded his spirit, and filled his soul with gall and wormwood; God had with-drawn hiimself or his comforts from him, and his friends were against him, or at best, but miserable comforters were they all: Now though he was a patient man, yet under these pressures he often broke out into impatient speeches. Thus Job contended with the Almighty, Moreover the Lord answered Job, and said; shall he that contendeth with the Almighty (about what he is doing) Instruct him?

Shall he have the better of him, and be able to teach him, or put him in a better way than he is in? Shall he give God the rule, the law how to guide the world more equally in general, or him in particular. Whether the Contention lieth about the providence of God to the whole world, or any Nation, family, or person, it comes under the same question, Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him? That is, Can he direct God to do and order things better, or put them into a righter or more equitable course than they are disposed in? No, he cannot. Who is the pleader (saith Mr. Broughton) that will instruct the Omnipotent?