A81199:157
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.
I answer, sins may be considered two ways: first, in their species and kinds; secondly, in their acts, if we consider sins in their species and kinds, so they are not innumerable, for it is possible to number up all the several heads, divisions, and kinds of sin; but if we consider sin in reference to acts, so every mans sins are innumerable; yet this innumerableness of sins in reference to acts, may be considered either absolutely, or as to us. The acts of sin, are not absolutely or in themselves innumerable, but as to us they are innumerable: they are more then any man can number. John saith, (Rev. 7.9.) After this I beheld, and lo a great multitude, which no man could number (besides those that were sealed of every Tribe,) of all Nations, and kindreds, &c.) This great multitude was not in it self without number, but as to mans arithmetic it was, no man could number it. The hairs of our head, and the sands of the Sea, are numerable to God, but to us innumerable. David (Psal. 40.12.) speaks first of innumerable evils, and then of innumerable sins; innumerable evils compass me about, mine iniquities have taken hold upon me, so that I am not able to look up: they are more then the hairs of my head, therefore my heart faileth me; when he saith, they are more then the hairs of my head, his meaning is, they are innumerable; I can no more tell the sum of my sins, then the sum of my hairs. Christ to assure his Disciples in time of their afflictions and sufferings, that he will take care of them, tells them; The very hairs of your head are all numbered, (Mat. 10.30.) As if he had said, seeing God taketh care of those inconsiderable (not parts, but) excrements of the body, surely then he will take care of those more noble parts of your bodies, and most of all of that most noble part of you, (which is your all) your souls. The hairs of our heads are innumerable to us, but God numbers them. The sins of our hearts and lives are all numbered by God. Thou tellest my wanderings, (saith holy David, Psal. 56.8.) he means it of his wanderings by persecution, and 'tis as true of his wanderings by transgression. But what man knows the errors or wanderings either of his heart or life (Psal. 19.12.) He that hath fewest sins, hath more then he can number; and