Job 31

Quest. But what is it to have other gods besides the true God? I fear upon search we have more idolaters among us than we are aware of. Resp. To trust in any thing more than God, is to make it a God. 1. If we trust in our riches, then we make riches our God: we may take comfort,…

A thief may be let into the house at a window: So vain thoughts are let in at the eye. So that as we are bid to keep our feet when we enter into the house of God (Ecclesiastes 5:1), so we had need make a covenant with our eyes when we are in the house of God (Job 31:1), that we…

This Commandment is set as a hedge to keep out uncleanness, and they that break this hedge, a serpent shall bite them. Job calls adultery a heinous crime (Job 31:11). Every failing is not a crime, and every crime is not a heinous crime, but adultery is Flagitium, a heinous crime.

I will stand upon my watch. (1.) We must watch our eyes (Job 31:1). I made a covenant with my eyes.

When we accuse ourselves, God absolves us. We are apt to hide our sins (Job 31:33), which is as great a folly as for one to hide his disease from the physician: but when we open our sins to God by confessing, he opens his mercy to us by forgiving. 4. Means, for pardon, sound rep…

4. It includes the imposing of strong engagements and bonds upon ourselves to walk more carefully with God, and avoid the occasions by which the heart may be induced to sin. Well-composed, advised, and deliberate vows are in some cases of excellent use to guard the heart against…

(5) From the positive marks that Christ puts on his children as marks of true blessedness (Matthew 5:3-11; Psalm 119:1-2; Psalm 32:1-2). (6) From the judgment that the saints make of themselves, and their own begun communion with God (Psalm 73:25; Psalm 18:20-22; Psalm 26:3-4, 8…

2. Mortification is a deadness in will and affections, and the abating, half death, the languor and dying of the power of our lusts to sin; as a believer is dead to vainglory, when contentedly he can be despised, have his name trampled on, be called a Deceiver, a Samaritan, and…

Rich men (says Paul) must not be high-minded (1 Timothy 6:17). Job would not despise the cause of his handmaid (Job 31:13). Naaman a great man, respected the counsel of his servants (2 Kings 5:13).

What fruit (says the Apostle) had ye in those things, whereof you are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death, Romans 6:21 Doth not the Providence of God verifie upon them those threatnings that are written, in the experience of all ages? Proverbs 23:29 Proverbs 23:21…

Further, evil is put here indefinitely, he was one that eschewed evil, not this or that evil, but evil, that is all evil, this indefinite is universal. And then further we are to take evil here, as himself afterward expounds it in his practice, not only for the acts of evil, but…

(Judges 2:12, 17, etc.) Kissing the hand to them in token of reverence. (Job 31:26, 27) If I beheld the sun when it shined, or the moon walking in brightness; and my heart has been secretly enticed; or my mouth has kissed my hand: This also were an iniquity to be punished by the…

And Job calls it a heinous crime; indeed, an iniquity to be punished by the judges. A fire that consumes to destruction (Job 31:11-12). But although they may escape the judgment of men, either through the secrecy of their wickedness, or the too gentle censures of the law; yet th…

Doth not he see my ways and count all my steps? Job 31:4. Propè Deus est, tecum est, intus est.

The world is no friend to grace: it chokes our love to heavenly things: the earth puts out the fire. Naturally we love the world (Job 31:24). If I have made gold my hope; the Septuagint renders it, If I have been married to my gold.

When Job had any quarrel with his servants, he was willing to admit a rational debate of the matter, and to hear what they had to say for themselves: For (says he) what shall I do when God rises up? And withal, did not he that made me in the womb, make him? (Job 31:13-15). When…

They are careless in their observance, and perhaps willful in their offense, and am not I so to God? Indeed, am not I a thousand times worse? Job qualified himself with this, when his servants were provoking, and he was tempted to be harsh with them, what then shall I do, when G…

In most other sins the body is but the Instrument, here it is the Object against which the sin is committed; that body of your, which should be the Temple of the holy Ghost, is turned into a stye of filthiness; indeed, it not only defiles, but destroys it. Job calls it a fire th…

You think they are past, and never more to be remembered; but they will find you out in this world, or the next: our business lies not with man so much as with God. Therefore this should be the question of your souls (Job 31:14): What then shall I do, when God rises up? and when…

Matthew 5:16: Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. As the loins of the poor (says Job) blessed him (Job 31:20), namely, as they were fed and clothed by his bounty: So our lives may glorify God. David s…

He who is under the eye of his earthly Prince, will be careful of doing any thing that should offend him. Job 31:4. Does not he see my ways, and count all my Steps?

Guilt is shy of God's presence, and sin works a strangeness. Adam hid himself when God came into the garden; and when he could shift no longer, he will not declare it, but transfers the fault upon Eve, and obliquely upon God himself; and ever since there are many tergiversations…

(Numbers 15:39) That you seek not after your own heart, and your own eyes, after which you use to go a whoring. (Job 31:7) If my step has turned out of the way, and my heart walked after my eyes. These are the spies of the heart, brokers to bring it and the temptation together;…

So the Pharisees hated Christ, because of his free reproofs (John 9:40): "Are we blind also?" They cannot endure to hear of their faults, especially from one in an inferior condition, and think every reproof to be a reproach, though never so wisely and compassionately managed, a…

Another instance of him there is in relation to his brothers; how ill they had deserved at his hands, what opportunity he had to be revenged, is well known, yet he generously forgave them, and provided for them; and this was the reason, I, says he, fear God (Genesis 42:18). Job…

1. That sinful thoughts do defile a man, though they never come to words or deeds, be never uttered, never practiced: (Matthew 15:19-20) out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, etc., and these defile the man; not only murder and adultery, but the thoughts of…

Doctrine: it must be a Christian's great care with all keeping to keep his heart. We are to keep our eyes — Job set a watch there (Job 31:1): I made a covenant with my eyes. We are to keep our lips — David bridled his tongue (Psalm 39:1): I will keep my mouth as with a bridle.

Is not destruction to the wicked, and a strange punishment to the workers of iniquity? Job 31:3. Sodom sinned after a new mode, and God destroys them after a new way, sends hell from above upon them.

And for your eye, let it not wander, wanton objects cause wanton thoughts. Job knew his eye and his thoughts were like to go together, and therefore to secure one, he covenants with the other, Job 31, 1. Thirdly, often reflect upon your self in a day, and observe what company is…

Paul (Acts 20:33) says not I have sought neither silver nor gold, as the godly judge, Whose ox have I taken (1 Samuel 12:3), but I have coveted no man's silver or gold, or apparel: The life of lust to riches is in the trusting in it. Job 31:24: If I have made gold my hope, or ha…

Those who have judged themselves in the lower Court of Conscience, shall be acquitted in the High Court of Heaven: but if we repent not, our sins must be accounted all for at the last day; and we must answer for them in our own persons, and have no counsel allowed to plead for u…

Faithful: No, not to defile myself; for I remembered an old writing that I had seen, which said, “Her steps take hold on Hell” (Proverbs 5:5). So I shut my eyes, because I would not be bewitched with her looks (Job 31:1). Then she railed on me, and I went my way.

God has set a grate at every man's breast, does not he see all my ways? Job 31:4. If I harbor proud, malicious thoughts, if I look at my own interest more than Christ's, if I juggle in my repentance, the God of heaven takes notice.

Know that he will bring every secret thing into judgment. Thus did Job, and it preserved him (Job 31:1, 4). Thus did David, and it preserved him (Psalm 18:21-23).

But there are grounds of abstinence from sin, by which the children of God are manifested, and such are these that follow. First, a sincere heart dares not sin because of the eye and fear of God which is upon him: so you find it in Job 31:1, 4; he dared not allow his thoughts to…

Take a wanton, garish, loose spirit, let him be but in the presence of a superior whom he fears and reverences, and it consolidates him. Job made therefore conscience of his thoughts, that he dared not look awry (Job 31:1-2) because God sees it, says he. This drew in and fastene…

Let us make for ever conscience of them, so Job did (Job 31:1) — I made a covenant with my eyes, why should I think upon a maid? Solomon gives in especial charge, above all keeping, keep your heart (Proverbs 4:23).

Commend your hearts to God in prayer, and trust him with all your affairs (Philippians 4:7). Allow not yourselves in the outcoming of any unsubjected thoughts, check yourselves for unnurtured affections; there is not a vain thought that passes without a check, but it makes a rif…

Thirdly, Faith puts forth another act whereby it puts life into the threatenings: it makes men more watchful against sin for the time to come; for if we see God so displeased at sin, that he thus threatens it with such fearful judgments, faith thereupon stirs us up to much watch…