A81199:203
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.
But hath any man a cause to do any evil; he hath not; by cause I mean a provocation; there is no cause for which we should do any evil, but there may be many provocations or temptations to do evil; Peninah provoked Hannah sore to make her fret (1 Sam. 1.6.) It was not for nought or without cause that Moses his passion was stirred, and that he spake ⟨p. 57⟩unadvisedly with his lips, the murmuring and complainings of that unsteady people provoked his Spirit. (Psal. 106.33.) Now the less provocation, the greater always is the sin; as to sin against admonition, or against any of those means that might keep us from sin, makes the sin greater, so when there is no occasion leading us unto sin. This was one reason of greatening the sin of our first parents in eating the forbidden fruit; why did they eat? were they ready to starve? were they in any straits? had they not the whole garden before them? did they not eat the forbidden fruit without cause, or for nought? Solomon saith (Pro. 6.30.) Men do not despise a thief, if he steal to satisfy his soul when he is hungry; for though to steal for mere hunger doth not take away the sinfulness of the fact, yet it doth much abate it; because the man is provoked to do it for the supply of his present and pressing need; But for a rich man (who hath no need) to steal, for a man to steal who is not hungry, how sinful is it! Our greatest necessities cannot wholly excuse our sin, but to sin where there is no necessity, doth greatly increase our sin. Saul thought he should come off without blame, when he had so much to say for his rash sacrifice (1 Sam. 13.12.) I said the Philistines will come down upon me to Gilgal, and I have not made supplication unto the Lord; I forced my self therefore, and offered a burnt offering. But doth Samuel approve this plea? We have his resolution in the next verse; Thou hast done foolishly, thou hast not kept the Commandment of the Lord thy God. Though Saul found himself under a moral force to do what he did, yet that did not free him either from guilt or punishment when he ventured to do it. David smarted for numbering Israel, though Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number them (