A81199:1304
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.
Fifthly, Others decline through prosperity, and worldly enjoyments; when they grow rich in temporals, they grow poorer in spirituals. As their outward man increaseth, so their inner man decayeth; and as they flourish in the flesh, so hey wither in spirit. Hence holy Agur prayed (Pro. 30.8, 9.) Give me not poverty, least I be poor and steal, and take the name of God in vain, (that would be a sad declining) give me not riches, lest I be full and deny thee, and say who is the Lord? That's a sadder declining then the former. Poverty endangers grace much, but riches more. To be rich or great in the world, is a great temptation; Food convenient is the most sweet and most untemptationlesse condition. As hypocrites fall quite off from God, when they come on much in the world; so the sincere may be much hindered in their way. And as many godly men have declined through their own prosperity, so some have declined, or at least have been in great danger of declining by the prosperity of others. David was ready to decline from God, when he saw the prosperity of ungodly men. (Psal. 73.2.) As for me my feet were almost gone, my steps had well nigh slipped, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. David was almost down, when he saw the wicked up Their standing had almost given him a fall; My steps (saith h•• had well nigh slipped; now if it put David, a man eminent in godliness, so hard to it to keep his standing (all the grace in his heart, and assistance from God could scarce hold him up) how much more may they who come far short of David, decline by seeing the prosperity of wicked men? are not they ready to conclude, surely we shall thrive, and do well enough, though we do as others do, who do not trouble themselves in a strictness about matters of religion as we have done, Verily (as it follows at the 13th verse) we have cleansed our heart in vain, and washed our hands in innocency. ⟨p. 400⟩If we had spared our pains of labour, we could not have endured more pain of trouble; for all the day long have we been plagued, and chastened every morning. Such arguings as these show great declinings. Yet they who are sincere will soon recover themselves again, and say as David after he had reviewed this Temptation (ver. 15.) If we say we will speak thus, we should offend against the Generation of the righteous.