A35538:2198
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 6-8
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.
Hence, Observe; When we have to do with God, we should put out our self to the uttermost.
Hence, Observe; When we have to do with God, we should put out our selve to the uttermost.
To Gird up our loins like a man imports our best preparation; and such preparation we need for every holy duty. When we are to pray, we had need gird up our loins like men, for then we are to wrestle or strive with God, we must work it out with God in the duty of prayer; and if our garments hang loose, that is, our affections be upon the earth, and our hearts in the corners of the world, how can we prevail with God in prayer? we must gird up our loins like men, when we declare our desires and requests to God in prayer, and expect that God should answer us. The holy Prophet complained of the Jews failing in this (Isa. 64.7.) There is none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee. Doubtless many called upon God in those days, but they did not stir up themselves to take hold of God by faith, and so their prayers went for no prayers. And when we go to hear the word (wherein God deals with us) we had need gird up the loins of our minds, else we cannot mind the word while we hear it, nor remember, much less practice the word which we have heard. The Scripture often calls us to preparation for every duty: What can discomposed persons, loose-spirited persons, loose-loin'd persons do with God or for God? When we have any thing to do with God, any thing to do for God, we should do our best, and be at our best, we should play the men. Master Broughton expresseth it well, though not clear to the words in the Original, Let me see thy skill or how skilfully thou canst handle the matter with me. The Lord would have us show ⟨p. 537⟩our skill when we have any thing to do with him, or to do for him; we should then play the men and not the children, much less should we play the fools, be slothful, sluggish, and careless.