Job 20

3. Subject to all outward miseries: All the troubles incident to man's life are the bitter fruits of original sin; the sin of Adam has subjected the creature to vanity (Romans 8:20). Is it not a part of the creature's vanity, that all the comforts here below will not fill the he…

The sinner shall never taste of luscious delights more to all eternity. His honey shall be turned to the gall of asps (Job 20:14). At death there shall be an end put to all reprieves.

He calls that the fire of the enemies with which God consumes his adversaries; taking this word fire, for God's vengeance: for it must not be taken here for that visible fire with which things are consumed in this world; neither yet for lightning only; but by a figure it is take…

Wickedness is sweet in his Mouth; and therefore he hides it under his Tongue; he spares it and forsakes it not; but keeps it still within his Mouth. Job 20:12, 13. Herein chiefly consists the straitness of the gate, and the narrowness of the way that leads to life; upon the acco…

And David in a sense and from experience hereof prayes, that God would not remember the sins of his youth, Psal. 25. 7. And a Reflection from them is sometimes the Torment of Age; Job. 20. 11. So he in whom we have chosen to exemplifie the Instances of such a Course.

Lastly, let the fearful end of these delightful things be considered. Those morsels which were so sweet in going down, they must come up again as bitter as gall: Job 20. 12, 13. Though wickedness be sweet in his mouth, though he hide it under his tongue, though he spare it, and…

He said, Son be of good cheer, your sins are forgiven. And when God would contract the sum of all misery into one word, He says, His sins shall lie down with him in the dust, Job 20. 11. Ah soul!

If the wrath of a King be like the roaring of a Lion, then what is the Almighties wrath! which is burning wrath, Job 19. 11. Tearing wrath, Psalm 50:22. Surprizing wrath, Job 20. 23. And abiding wrath, Job 3. 36.

All the means and endeavours used to cleanse them, are in vain; all the grace of God they receive in vain: They hold fast deceit, they refuse to let it go, Jeremiah 8:5. Sin is not in them as floating Weeds upon the Sea, which it strives to expel and purge out, but as Spots in t…

Indeed, Lord, and if ever my Conscience, which by rebellion is now grown silent, should be in judgment awakened in this life, Oh what an Hell should I have within me! how would it thunder and roar upon me, and surround me with terrors! Your word assures me, that no length of tim…

Such as are destitute of Gods Fear never meet with satisfaction. Job 20:22. In the midst of his sufficiency he shall be in straits.

There is a secret moth that eats up all their contentment, they are under terror, discouragement, and want of peace: God teaches them that nothing can be satisfactorily enjoyed apart from his blessed self. "A fire not blown shall consume them" (Job 20:26). Partly in the continua…

One then thinks of evil, yet with good thoughts, when he thinks of evil, to grieve and repent for it, to abhor and forsake it: and one thinks of good with evil thoughts, when he thinks of good to neglect and scorn it, to call it evil, and so to persecute it. But thoughts of sin…

Yet again, if there be any pleasure, it is but for a season, a very little while — it is soon over and gone, like the crackling of thorns under a pot. The triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the hypocrite is but for a moment (Job 20:5). But the miseries of sin may…

But when men out of a corrupt inclination are customarily carried in the continuance of some distemper, it [illegible] like another nature, he may lose his life and soul, but is like never to lose his lust, that will go to his grave, and so to Hell with him. (Job 20:11-12) When…

3. Consider what a poor contemptible thing the world is, it is not worth setting the affections on, it cannot fill the heart; if Satan should take a Christian up to the Mount of Temptation, and show him all the Kingdoms and glory of the world, what could he show him but a fancy,…

The Devil can so cook and dress sin, that it pleases the sinner's palate. But hear what Job says, Job 20:12, 14. Though wickedness be sweet in his mouth, it is the gall of Asps within him.

3. If you would delight in the Law of God, purge out the delight of sin; sin will poison this spiritual delight. If you would have God's Law sweet, let not wickedness be sweet in your mouth, Job 20:12. When sin is your burden, Christ will be your delight.

Jude 7, "Suffering the vengeance of eternal fire." Job 20:23, "When he is about to fill his belly, God shall cast the fury of his wrath upon him." Isaiah 51:17, "Awake, awake, stand up O Jerusalem, which has drunk at the hand of the Lord, the cup of his fury; you have drunken th…

Men are close buttoned, and like day-men, when it is dark night. It is fearful to lie down with our day clothes (Job 20:11). Sin is a sad winding sheet: Oh! what believer says, I would have a suit of clothes for the high court and throne to be an essay, to see how a suit of glor…

Why? There's something of God in the cross that the carnal eye cannot see: because, as Zophar says (Job 20:26), a fire not blown shall consume him. Some make it (and not without reason) a fire that has no noise of bellows or wind to make it take fire, and to flame up.

1. Use: All without this covenant are miserable; Christ undertakes not for them. The Lord deals with them by law — read Deuteronomy 28, Leviticus 26, Job 20, chapters 18 and 27. They have bread, but it is not sure; not so the believer (Isaiah 33:16): 'His bread shall be given hi…

There is no peace to the wicked, says my God (Isaiah 57, last verse). The joy of a hypocrite is but for a moment (Job 20:5). Though Joseph's brothers had their sacks full of corn, and their money in their sacks' mouths, yet they were all afraid, the old man afraid, every mother'…

(Jeremiah 2:19) Your own ways and your doings shall correct you. Reason 2. God will have it to be bitter to us, not only to correct us for former wickedness, but likewise to make us cast up our sins in a free confession and a serious reformation; as long as sin is sweet to us, w…