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

Hence Note; The wishes, requests, and prayers of good men have sometimes been heard, though they were over-bold in making them, or had no clear ground to make them.

Job had no rule for such a Petition, that he might presently have a trial at the Tribunal of God; yet God was so gracious as to answer him in it, not only to his reproof, but to his comfort. The Name of God is, O thou that hearest prayer, (Psal. 65.2.) If carnal men have their extravagant prayers and wishes granted, 'tis in wrath; but if the Lord grant the passionate prayers ⟨p. 10⟩and wishes of a godly man, it proves, though sometimes a present affliction, yet always, upon one account or other, a mercy in the issue. When the lusting Israelites wished for flesh, the Lord heard their wishes; take Quails your bellies full, till they come out at your nostrils; but while the meat was in their mouths, the wrath of God fell upon them. If the Lord grants what lust asketh, such pay dear for what they have for the asking. It hath been anciently said,¹ many have their prayers heard in mere anger; so are all theirs who pray for what they have not, in mere discontent with what they have. The Lord heard Job, and not in anger, but in favour and condescension to him. Now if some not well grounded nor warranted requests of good men may be granted and answered (the Lord pitying their weakness, and eyeing their uprightness) in favour; how much more may they be confident, that their gracious and humble requests, such requests as are every way suitable to the Word and Will of God, shall be graciously answered!

Job had no rule for such a Petition, that he might presently have a trial at the Tribunal of God; yet God was so gracious as to answer him in it, not onely to his reproof, but to his comfort. The Name of God is, O thou that hearest prayer, (Psal. 65.2