A81199:877
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.
From the whole verse, Observe; That, the answer of prayer received from the Lord, doth call us to pay and perform all the duties that we have promised or vowed to the Lord in prayer.
From the whole verse, Observe; That, the answer of prayer received from the Lord, doth call us to pay and performe all the duties that we have promised or vowed to the Lord in prayer.
Though we do not always make strict and formal vows when we pray, yet every prayer hath somewhat of a vow in it, so that having prayed at any time, we may say, The vows of God are upon us; for when we pray we promise, and then especially we do so, when we pray under any pressure of trouble, or when we have any extraordinary request to make; then, I say, we engage our selves in a more solemn manner to serve and walk with God. ⟨p. 272⟩And so the return or answer of such prayers engageth us more strongly to duty. For wheresoever the Lord soweth, there he looks to reap, and where he hath sowed much, he looks to reap much; but then and there chiefly when we promise him fruits of duty for our receipts of favour and mercy. Did we take notice of this, we should not be found as we are so much in arrear to the Lord, either for our private or public mercies? What promises have we made in the day of our distress? that we would be holy, that we would strive against and mortify our sins, or the deeds of the body through the Spirit & power of our Lord Jesus Christ. Now let conscience speak; have we performed our promises? have we paid our vows? we can hardly say that we have put up a prayer which hath not had an answer by blessings and successes; God hath been to us a prayer-hearing God; have we been to him a vow-paying people? Who amongst us is now more active for God? or more careful to please him then before? Who amongst us is more watchful over his heart, or more circumspect in his walkings then he was before? Who is more careful over his family, that it may be holy? or more zealous for the public, that it may be reformed, then he was before? What manner of men should we be in all holy conversation and Godliness, did we but pay those vows and make good those engagements which have gone out of our lips, and we have laid upon our selves before the Lord, in the day of our trouble? how just, how pure, how righteous a Nation should we be were we what we promised our utmost endeavours to be? the Lord hath done much for us; let us up and be doing for him; let us make good what we have spoken to the Lord in vowing and promising, seeing the Lord hath performed what we have spoken to him in praying and calling upon his name. God hath answered us at the first call, yea sometimes before we called;