A81199:1012
An exposition with practical observations continued upon the twenty-second, twenty-third, twenty-fourth, twenty-fifth, and twenty-sixth…An exposition with practicall observations continued upon the twenty-second, twenty-third, twenty-fourth, twenty-fifth, and twenty-sixth…
An exposition with practical observations continued upon the twenty-second, twenty-third, twenty-fourth, twenty-fifth, and twenty-sixth chapters of the book of Job being the sum of thirty-seven lectures, delivered at Magnus near London Bridge. By Joseph Caryl, preacher of the Word, and pastor of the congregation there.An exposition with practicall observations continued upon the twenty-second, twenty-third, twenty-fourth, twenty-fifth, and twenty-sixth chapters of the book of Job being the summe of thirty-seven lectures, delivered at Magnus near London Bridge. By Joseph Caryl, preacher of the Word, and pastour of the congregation there.
London: printed by M. Simmons, 1655
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
Sixthly, From these words; My stroke is heavier then my groaning. Observe; That, it is sinful to groan and complain beyond the stroke that is upon us, or to complain more then we have cause.
Sixthly, From these words; My stroake is heavier then my groaning. Observe; That, it is sinfull to groane and complaine beyond the stroake that is upon us, or to complaine more then we have cause.
Job seems here to yield it, and confess, that if his stroke had not been so heavy, his groans had not been innocent; and if it be sinful to groan, and complain more, or beyond our strokes, how sinful is it to complain without any stroke at all? Some complain without cause, and groan before they are smitten, yea, some are ready to complain when they are encompassed about with many mercies, and are not satisfied when they are filled; they complain, because they have not what they would, or because others have more then they, though themselves have enough, if they knew what is enough. The Ox and the Ass are a rebuke to such; For as Job speaketh (Chap. 6th) Will the Ass ⟨p. 311⟩bray when he hath grass, or loweth the Ox over his fodder? Irrational creatures will not complain when they have the conveniences of nature. Surely then those men act much below grace, who complain when they have food convenient, and health convenient, yea all things convenient (possibly abundant) for the support of nature; who complain when they have not so much as an aching joint about them, or the scratch of a pin, no nor the want of a pin, nor of a shoe-latchet. Some complain when they have meat enough, because they have not sauce, yea some complain when they have both meat and sauce enough, the affluence of all things, not only for necessity but for delight. What shall we say of them who are never well neither full nor fasting; who are so far from having learned the Apostles lesson to be content in all estates, that are content in none. The people of Israel murmured not only when they wanted bread, but when they had it; when they had Manna they murmured for Quails, and at last they murmured at their very Manna, their souls loathed that light bread: Consider how at their sin is, who complain upon such terms as these, who complain before they are hurt, yea who complain when they have no cause but to be very thankful. We live in complaining times, many cry out of pressures and burdens, nothing pleaseth many among us, because every thing is not as they please. Take heed your groanings be not heavier then your stroke, especially take heed ye be not found groaning without a stroke, and complaining over your blessings; the Lord hath healed our strokes in a great degree, but our complainings are not healed;