A81199:750
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 when may we be said to return to God?
But when may we be said to returne to God?
I answer; first, when we return out of a sense of sin against God, as well as of smart upon our selves; for when we return only because of smart, we return to our selves rather then to God; as when it is said in Hosea (Chap. 7.16.) They returned, but not to the most high; we may see the reason of this charge at the 14th verse; They have not cried unto me with their heart, when they howled upon their beds: they assemble themselves for corn and for wine, and they rebel against me. As if he had said, all their crying and howling, is not because they have sinned against me, but because their sins have pinched them, they do not mourn because of their wickedness, but because of their wants. 'Tis famine that moveth them, not my fear. They would fain be at their full tables again, they are all for corn and wine, nothing for grace and holiness. We may say of some persons repenting, as Job (Chap. 6.6.) of the wild Ass braying, Doth the wild Ass bray when he hath grass, or loweth the Ox over his fodder; he applied it to his own case, that he did not cry out without cause, he was, nor complain when he felt no pain; but (I say) we may apply it to some persons repenting. They would never bray if they had but grass enough, nor low if they had fodder enough; that is, if they had but outward comfort enough, corn and wine, health and strength enough, did they but abound in these, you should never hear them complain nor shed a tear, how much soever they abound in sin; All the world cannot satisfy the soul of a godly man, till (after sinning) he be reconciled to God; His soul is hungry and thirsty, notwithstanding all his corn and wine, till he be filled with the favour of God. And, this is indeed to return to the Almighty.
I answer; first, when we returne out of a sense of sin against God, as well as of smart upon our selves; for when we returne only because of smart, we returne to our selves rather then to God; as when it is said in Hosea (Chap. 7.16.) They returned, but not to the most high; we may see the reason of this charge at the 14th verse; They have not cryed unto me with their heart, when they howled upon their beds: they assemble themselves for corne and for wine, and they rebel against me. As if he had said, all their crying and howling, is not because they have sinned against me, but because their sins have pincht them, they doe not mourne because of their wickednes, but because of their wants. 'Tis famine that moveth them, not my feare. They would faine be at their full tables againe, they are all for corne and wine, nothing for grace and holinesse. We may say of some persons repenting, as Job (Chap. 6.6.) of the wild Asse braying, Doth the wild Asse bray when he hath grasse, or loweth the Ox over his fodder; he applyed it to his owne case, that he did not cry out without cause, he was, nor complaine when he felt no paine; but (I say) we may apply it to some persons repenting. They would never bray if they had but grasse enough, nor low if they had foddar enough; that is, if they had but outward comfort enough, corne and wine, health and strength enough, did they but abound in these, you should never heare them complaine nor shed a teare, how much soever they abound in sin; All the vvorld cannot satisfie the soule of a godly man, till (after sinning) he be reconciled to God; His soule is hungry and thirsty, notwithstanding all his corne and wine, till he be filled with the favour of God. And, this is indeed to returne to the Allmighty.