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

Now, when the Lord saith in the Text, Let him answer it; I conceive we may take it not only in a Logical sense, let him answer it (if he can) by reasoning, but in a Court sense, let him answer it by bearing the penalty of his rashness and folly; as we say to one that hath wronged us, It shall cost you dear, you shall answer it: I conceive (as was said) we may understand it here both ways. Let him that reproves God answer it, either as a disputant in Schools, or as a defendant in Courts of Law; and if he cannot answer it as a Logician, by giving a reason for what he hath done, he shall certainly answer it in Court, by undergoing the penalty of the Law, for what he hath done.

Now, when the Lord saith in the Text, Let him answer it; I conceive we may take it not only in a Logical sense, let him answer it (if he can) by reasoning, but in a Court sense, let him answer it by bearing the penalty of his rashness and folly; as we say to one that hath wrong'd us, It shall cost you dear, you shall answer it: I conceive (as was said) we may understand it here both ways. Let him that reproves God answer it, either as a disputant in Schools, or as a defendant in Courts of Law; and if he cannot answer it as a Logician, by giving a reason for what he hath done, he shall certainly answer it in Court, by undergoing the penalty of the Law, for what he hath done.

Some translate thus, He that argues with or reproves God, ought to answer it; that is, he must not think it enough to put in a charge or to give a reproof, but he must make it good. He that reproveth a man ought to give a ground of his reproof; how much more he that reproveth God! The Text concludes it should be so, yea, that it shall be so. He that reproveth God let him answer it.

Hence note, First; 'Tis dangerous, 'tis at our peril, to find fault with what God doth.