Human nature in its fourfold state ... In several practical discourses

Elihu shows us both the case and cure, Job xxxiii. Behold the case one may be in, whom God has thoughts of love to. He darteth convictions into his conscience; and makes them stick so fast, that he cannot rid himself of them, ver. 16. He openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction, his very body sickens, ver. 19. He is chastened also with pain upon his bed, and the multitude of his bones with strong pain. He loseth his stomach, ver. 20. His life abhorreth bread, and his soul dainty meat. His body pines away, so that there is nothing on him but skin and bone, ver. 21. His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen, and his bones that were not seen, stick out. Tho' he is not prepared for death, he has no hopes of life, ver. 22. His soul draweth near unto the grave, and (which is the height of his misery) his life to the destroyers: he is looking every moment when devils, these destroyers, Rom. ix. 11. these murderers, or man-slayers, John viii. 44. will come and carry away his soul to hell. O dreadful case! yet there is hope. God designs to k••p back his soul from the pit, ver. 18 a […] he bring him forward to the brink of it. Now, see how the […] is cured. The physician's art cannot prevail here: The disease lies more inward, than that his medicines can reach it. […] soul could that be, brought the body into this disorder, and therefore the •eene, lies must be applied to the sick man's soul and conscience. The physician for this case must be a spiritual physician the remedies […] ⟨p. 192⟩be spiritual, a righteousness, a ransom or atonement. Upon the application of these, the soul is cur•d, the conscience is quieted, and the body recovers, ver. 23, 24, 25. 26 If there be a messenger w•th him, an interpreter, one among a thousand to show unto man his uprightness: then he is gracious unto him, and saith. Deliver him from going down to the pit. I have found a ransom. His flesh shall be fresher than a child•s he shall return to the days of his youth. He shall pray unto God, and he shall be favourable unto him, and he shall see his face with joy. The proper physician for this patient, is a messenger, an interpreter, ver. 23. that is as some expositors, not without ground, understand it, the great Physician Jesus Christ, whom Job had called his Redeemer, chap xix. He is a messenger, the Messenger of the Covenant of Peace, Mal iii.