A35538:2115
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.
Lastly, Job was waiting for the goodness of God to him, or for deliverance out of his sad condition; and doubtless he was convinced, that the most probable way to it, was to leave off contending with God, and to be found humbling himself before him, in this or a like confession, Behold, I am vile.
Hence note; There is nothing that doth more sweeten and mollify God (or, I may say, any ingenuous adversary) towards us, then an humble acknowledgement of our own vileness and unworthiness.
Hence note; There is nothing that doth more sweeten and molifie God (or, I may say, any ingenuous adversary) towards us, then an humble acknowledgement of our own vileness and unworthiness.
When our hearts are truly humbled, mercy and deliverance are at hand. Job was no sooner made deeply sensible of his vileness, but mercy came in. The only skill of this excellent wrestler (as one calls him) was to cast himself down at Gods foot. There is no way to get within God and to prevail with him,1 but by submitting to him. The Lord layeth down his rod, when we lay down our pride; and casts his sword out of his hand, when we cast our selves at his feet. And in all our afflictions, whether personal or national, till we acknowledge (not formally, but in a deep sense of our own vileness) that we are vile, in vain do we cry for deliverance, or hope for mercy. When we are lowest in our own eyes, we are nearest to our exaltation; when once we say in our hearts we are nothing, we deserve nothing, we have spoken lightly, we have done lightly, salvation will not tarry. (1 Pet. 5.7.) Humble your selves under the mighty hand of God, and he will lift you up in due time. If we would be lifted up out of any affliction, we must be at this humbling work. We shall never work (as I may say) upon the heart of God, unless we are thus at work with our own hearts, or till this work be done upon our hearts. Our great work lies within, especially in a day of trial and tribulation, such as Job was in. Job was speedily reduced to his former honour and greatness, when once (through grace) he had wrought his heart to this confession. Behold, I am vile; What shall I answer thee?