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…

Secondly, Consider the inference which Eliphaz makes, Therefore snares &c. are upon thee; That Is, because thou hast done wickedly in not relieving and in oppressing the poor, therefore snares have entangled thee. This (though false in Jobs particular case, yet) is a truth in General. And it teacheth ⟨p. 99⟩us, That, There is an unavoidable sequel between sin and sorrow. Look upon sin in its own nature, and so the sequel is unavoidable, sin is big with sorrow; as affliction burdens the sinner, so sin is burdened with affliction. Sin hath all sorts of affliction in its bowels; and we may say of all the evils that afflict us, they are our sins. Sin is formally the transgression of the Law, and sin is virtually the punishment of transgressors. Many (I grant) are afflicted for trial of their graces (as hath been showed before) but grace had never been thus tried if man had not sinned. Sin is the remote cause of all afflictions, and it is the next or immediate procuring cause of most afflictions. Would any man avoid the snare, let him fear to sin; would he avoid fear, let him fear to do evil; would he keep out of darkness, and not be covered with abundance of waters, let him take heed he drink not iniquity like water, let him have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness. God tells the sinner plainly what portion he is to expect; Say woe to the wicked, it shall be ill with him; for the reward of his hands shall be given him, (Isa. 3.11.) We may as well hope to avoid burning when we run into the fire, or dirtying when we run into the mire, as to escape smarting when we run into sin.

Secondly, Consider the inference which Eliphaz makes, Therefore snares &c. are upon thee; That Is, because thou hast done wickedly in not releeving and in oppressing the poore, therefore snares have entangled thee. This (though false in Jobs particular case, yet) is a truth in General. And it teacheth ⟨p. 99⟩us, That, There is an unavoydable sequell between sinne and sorrow. Looke upon sinne in its owne nature, and so the sequell is unavoydable, sinne is bigge with sorrow; as affliction burdens the sinner, so sinne is burdend with affliction. Sinne hath all sorts of affliction in its bowells; and wee may say of all the evills that afflict us, they are our sinnes. Sinne is formally the transgression of the Law, and sinne is virtually the punishment of transgressors. Many (I grant) are afflicted for tryall of their graces (as hath been shewed before) but grace had never been thus tryed if man had not sinned. Sinne is the remote cause of all afflictions, and it is the next or immediate procuring cause of most afflictions. Would any man avoyde the snare, let him feare to sinne; would he avoyd feare, let him feare to doe evill; would he keepe out of darkness, and not be covered with abundance of waters, let him take heed hee drinke not iniquity like water, let him have no fellowship with the unfruitfull workes of darkness. God tells the sinner plainely what portion he is to expect; Say woe to the wicked, it shall be ill with him; for the reward of his hands shall be given him, (