A35538:2105
An exposition with practical observations continued upon the thirty-eighth, thirty-ninth, fortieth, forty-first, and forty-second,…
An exposition with practical observations continued upon the thirty-eighth, thirty-ninth, fortieth, forty-first, and forty-second, being the five last, chapters of the book of Job being the substance of fifty-two lectures or meditations / by Joseph Caryl ...
London: printed by M. and S. Simmons, 1666
Title page typeset from the transcription.
AN EXPOSITION WITH Practical Observations UPON The Thirty-eighth, T… › Chapter 40 › Verse 3-5
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Fourthly, See the goodness of God in this also, that though we are vile, yet he is pleased to set his heart upon us, and to mind us. We little mind vile things; light things, trifles, we lightly ⟨p. 515⟩pass by. We are but a light thing, a vile thing in our selves, yet God not only hath us in his heart, but sets his heart upon us. Thus spake Job in the lowest ebb of his outward felicity, and he spake it admiringly as well as truly (Chap. 7.17) What is man, that thou shouldst magnify, and that thou shouldst set thine heart upon him! When he saith, What is man? it is as it he had said, Man is but a vile thing; yet the Lord is mindful of him, yea, magnifieth him. And though the Lord forbids us to set our hearts or affections on earthly things (Col. 3.2.) on the best of earthly things, all which are comprehended under that one word or title, Riches (Psal. 62.10.) And though the reason why he forbids us to set our hearts upon these things, is because they a•e vile, yet he is pleased (O infinite goodness!) to set his heart upon us though we are vile, and considered as sinful, much more vile than they, even than the vilest of them. We have the like question put again (Psal. 144.3.) Lord, what is man that thou takest knowledge of him, or the son of man, that thou makest account of him? What is man! 'Tis a diminishing question, implying, that man is a vile thing, or a nothing. Is it not then a wonderful thing? is it not the fruit of rich and free grace, that God should take an account, or make such an account of man? And if God sets his heart upon man, who is so vile, how should man set his heart upon God, who is so infinitely excellent! God may be said to descend, surely he condescends exceedingly, when he sets his heart upon vile man. The Lord humbleth himself (saith David, Psal. 113.6.) to behold (that is, to take any notice of, or to take into his consideration) the things that are in heaven, and in the earth; how much more doth he descend, condescend and humble himself, when he sets his heart upon vile man! Now, doth God set his heart upon vile man (which is an humbling to him) and shall not vile man set his heart upon the great and glorious God, which is not only his duty, but his felicity, his honour, and exaltation!