A81199:1665
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.
It is sinful to wrong any, but much more to wrong the poor; 1having met with this point from other passages in this book, I only name it, and add, that there are two things which show the sinfulness of taking from the poor. First, because they are weak and unable either to resist injuries, or to right themselves; They cannot help themselves, nor can they easily procure help from others. The poor and him that hath no help, are put together (Psal. 72.12.) and usually they are the same. I returned (saith Solomon, Eccl. 4.1.) and considered all the oppressions that are done under the Sun, and behold the tears of such as were oppressed, and they had no comforter: and on the side of their oppressors there was power, but they had no comforter. And they who have no comforter, surely have no helper. Now it is most sinful to hurt them who are least able to help themselves, or find help from others. And who so helpless, as the fatherless and the widow? Secondly, it is therefore extremely sinful to wrong the poor, and especially these poor, because God hath commended them to the care, and tuition of the rich; they are his charge, God hath taken them into his protection, and hath trusted them over to men of power, that they should look to them. Magistrates should be as a wall of defence, to the fatherless, and widow, they should provide for them, and nourish them. Therefore to spoil, and rob them of all, how great a wickedness is this? this is (as much as in them is) to make God a liar, and unfaithful to his word and promise. As then it should be a great encouragement to help the Godly poor, because in so doing we are a means to fulfil the promise of God to them. So we should therefore be afraid to wrong them, because in so doing we do what we can to make the promise of God to them void. No marvel then, if the Apostle James placeth all religion, as to practise, in the visitation of the widow, and the fatherless in their affliction; and if, in that sense, all religion be placed in it, what shall we judge of their religion, who afflict the widow, and the fatherless?
It is sinfull to wrong any, but much more to wrong the poore; 1having met with this poynt from other passages in this booke, I onely name it, and adde, that there are two things which shew the sinfullnesse of taking from the poore. First, because they are weake and unable eyther to resist injuries, or to right themselves; They cannot helpe themselves, nor can they easily procure helpe from others. The poore and him that hath no helpe, are put together (