Job 33

Why do the elders throw down their crowns at the feet of Christ, and fall down before the Lamb (Revelation 4:10-11), but to testify their subjection, and to profess their readiness to serve and obey him. 3. Obey God the Holy Ghost: our souls are breathed into us by the glorious…

A man may cut his own timber as he will. God's sovereignty may cause submission, he may do with us as he sees good; God is not accountable to any creature for what he does (Job 33:13): He gives not account of any of his matters. Who shall call God to account?

By his Spirit he has garnished the heavens. Job 33:4. The Spirit of God has made me.

Such impressions are as it were a seal to what is suggested, to confirm it. As the Holy Spirit seals his instructions (Job 33:16) with impressions of joy, so Satan seals his temptations with impressions of fear and disquiet. If a man has a dream with any strong impression, he is…

Therefore, of the abilities of the ministry, Christ in this chapter (Isaiah 50) instances this and calls the tongue of him who is able to speak seasonably to weary souls 'the tongue of the learned.' And in Job 33:23, to raise up one whose soul draws near the grave is said to be…

'Let your power be great' — it was his name, you see, that was alleged by Moses and prevailed with God for mercy. So also for his Son's sake — The Lord Our Righteousness — Elihu says in Job 33 that when a man's soul is in deepest distress, yet if there is a messenger to show a m…

For Moses says, Thus, namely in the compass of the first six days, the heavens and the earth were fashioned, and all the [reconstructed: host] of them: that is, all variety of creatures in heaven and earth serving for the beauty and glory thereof: whereof no doubt the angels are…

I will not let you go till you bless me. 2. By its gracious returns: when the tree of the promise is shaken by the hand of prayer, some fruit falls (Job 33:26). He shall pray to God and he will be favorable to him.

When the wedge will not enter with one blow, we follow it home with blow upon blow: Well then we say, 1. Repetitions are lawful for you, 'tis a sure thing (Philippians 3:1). Christ in the Gospels, and Paul in the Epistles do often repeat the same passages: till you be affected w…

You may demand his grounds and reasons for what he has done; but you may not do so here. It is expected that this one thing, The Lord has done it, should without any further disputes or contests silence and quiet you, whatever it be that he has done (Job 33:13), Why do you striv…

Consider the hand of the Lord in the whole matter — and consider it as: First, a sovereign hand, which has right to dispose of you and all your comforts without your leave or consent (Job 33:13). Second, a Father's hand correcting you in love and faithfulness.

Who are the regenerate — In what sense the baptized are regenerate — For what reasons they were so called by the ancients — Errors of the Papists noted — The truly regenerate never finally fall away — All the baptized are not truly regenerate — Not every reformation of life is r…

That though there be nothing imaginable, that can be brought before God, which will be acceptable to Him, as a satisfaction to His justice; yet here there is a ransom found by the offering whereof to God, a soul that is lying under challenges for sin, and apprehensions of wrath…

A ransom is a price given to a judge, or one that has power of life and death, for to save the life of one capitally guilty, or by law bound to suffer death, or some other evil and punishment. This was our case, God was the supreme Judge, before whose tribunal man stands guilty,…

Here then we see a common fault. Men are content to hear, but they will not confer with their teachers: and in the time of sickness, the first person that is conferred with, is the physician: and the minister is last sent for: whereas on the contrary, the cure of the soul is the…

Thus the Creation of the World is distinctly ascribed to the Father as his Work, Acts 4. 24. And to the Son as his, John 1. 3. and also to the Holy Spirit, Job 33. 4. but by the way of eminence to the Father, and absolutely to God, who is Father Son and Holy Spirit. Sect. 2 The…

2. By Personal Afflictions, Job 33. 19, 20. Psal. 78. 34, 35.

Third, this repentance that has been described, is indeed the special condition of remission of sin. This seems very evident by the Scripture, as particularly, Mark 1:4: John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance, for the remission of sins. So, Luke…

O what peace, what pleasure, what stability, what holy courage and confidence would result from such an observation of Providence as has been directed to! But alas! we may say with reference to the voices of Divine Providence, as it is Job 33:14 God speaks once, yea twice, yet m…

This is the course God usually takes. Methinks God deals with a converted sinner as it is spoken in Job 33:27-28. He looks upon men, and if any say, I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it does not profit me, he will deliver his soul from going down into the pi…

Herein are we to rest, and to put a stop to all our enquiries: So it pleased him (Matthew 11:25). And he gives no account of his matters (Job 33:12, 13). This we are to acquiesce in as the great reason of all God's dispensations and ways, even his own infinite wisdom and soverei…

But their thoughts are empty, groundless, yea, for the most part wicked, and Atheistical. Elihu tells us, that to declare this aright to a sinful soul, it is the work of a Messenger, an Interpreter, one among a thousand, Job 33:23. that is indeed, of Christ himself. The common t…

Hear the rod, and who has appointed it; when God chastens, he teaches (Psalm 94:12). When God lifts up his hand and strikes, he opens his mouth also and speaks; and sometimes opens men's ears too, and seals their instruction (Job 33:16). Sometimes God speaks by rods more mildly,…

The reason is, because people don't hearken to him, speaking any other way, God speaks once, indeed twice, but men perceive it not (Job 33:14). God's gentle voice is not heard or minded, therefore he speaks more loudly and terribly, that people might be awakened to hear.

With an Appendix by Mister Foxcroft. JOB 33. 2, 3. Behold now I have opened my Mouth:—My Words shall be of the Uprightness of my Heart.

Is anything too hard for the Lord? Though my soul draw near to the pit, and my life to the destroyers, yet he can send me a messenger, one among a thousand, that shall declare to me my uprightness; then shall he deliver me from going down into the pit, my flesh shall be fresher…

Your life is forfeited as to man; you are made a curse, and may not be suffered to live, but must be cut off, lest otherwise the judgments of God should fall upon the land. But still there is hope in Israel concerning this thing, with regard to your poor immortal soul; though yo…

13. Closing with influences of the law-rebukes. Elihu most gravely speaks, (Job 33:13) Why do you strive with him, for he gives not an account of any of his matters? The word is to strive and contend in words only, as Mercerus and Pagnin, either in judgement or out of judgement,…

Who knows not the celerity and swiftness of the love-visits of Christ, coming leaping over the mountains, and skipping over the hills? When the man is going down to the pit, the influence that a found ransom is accepted for him, makes him revive so that his flesh shall be freshe…

1. Let us see what it is not. 1. Omnipotency and sovereignty thus differ; Omnipotency looks simply to effects physically, what the Lord can do: he can of stones make sons to Abraham; he can create millions of worlds; his sovereignty is not only his holy nature what he can do and…

3. We complain of circumstances which are well timed by infinite wisdom: should sickness and botches come upon Job, when poverty had gone before? Does the Lord give an account of the substance, or of the circumstances of his actions (Job 33:11)? This ounce of gall must be in, or…

The voice Eliphaz heard was ushered in with a profound silence (Job 4:16), and in slumberings upon the bed, a quiet place and posture. God opens the ears of men, and seals their instructions (Job 33:15-16). Prayer is another duty which meekness does dispose us for the right and…

Thirdly, treasure up soul-supporting, soul-quickning, soul-reviving, soul-comforting promises, and that of several kindes, sutable to several afflictions, for you knowest not what kinde of afflictions you mayest meet with. Tenthly, labor much to strengthen every grace, it is str…

Did not he keep back your Soul from the Pit, and your Life from perishing? Indeed, when you were chastened with pain upon your Bed (as Elihu speaks) Job 33. 19, 20, 21. and the multitude of your bones with strong pains, so that your life abhorred bread, and your Soul dainty meat…

As when the ram was taken, Isaac was let go; so when Christ was taken, the sinner is released and discharged. (Job 33:24) Deliver him from going down to the pit, I have found a ransom. Certainly God will not exact the debt twice, of the surety, and of the principal person; our s…

And again, we do not press to judge by this evidence single and alone, but in conjunction with others; when they are humbly penitent, and confessing their sins, and turn to the Lord, which is the great evangelical condition. (Job 33:27) If any say, I have sinned, and perverted t…

Be not like the Deaf-adder which stoppeth her Ear. This the Lord complains of, Job 33:14. God speaks Once, yea Twice; yet man regardeth it not.

There's a greater distance between him and you, than between you and your fellow-creatures: therefore if it be grievous to you, what a heinous offense is it to stand out against God? USE 1. It instructs us what is the way to reduce and bring home sinners to God, by breaking thei…

There is some sin at the bottom God will bring out; and until they come to clearness and openness with God, the Lord still continues the trouble; they are kept roaring, and do not come to their peace. (Job 33:26-27) When a man is under trouble, and the sense of sin does not fast…

A man may be weary of all outward comforts: days may come wherein there is no pleasure (Ecclesiastes 12). At that time the soul abhors dainty food (Job 33). Pleasure, indeed life itself may be a burden, but none ever was weary of the love of God, that cannot be a burden.

Natural life only gives us a capacity to enjoy the comforts of sense, which are base, dreggy and corruptive; but the special favor of God lets us into such consolations, as perfect the soul, and affects it with a greater pleasure than our natural faculties are capable of; life n…

He that hardens his heart in impenitency shall not prosper, but he that confesses and forsakes shall find mercy (Proverbs 28:13-14). For God looks upon men, and if any say, I have sinned and perverted that which was right — that is, if any do repent — he will deliver his soul fr…

That God's sovereignty is to be adored in these dispensations. The best way to silence the cavelings of corrupt nature about the degree or duration of God's absconding from his children, is that of Elihu (Job 33:13): "He gives no account of any of his matters"; and if we have ri…

Hosea 2:14: I'll speak to her heart; and hence 'tis called the ingrafted word (James 1:21), like one branch of many, applied to the stock. Job 33:14, 16. 2. The voice of the Lord does not only speak particularly, but it goes further; it comes not only with an almighty power, but…

We must be brought to cry out unclean, unclean, to mourn for him whom we have pierced, and then he sets open for us a fountain to wash in, for sin, and for uncleanness (Zechariah 12, and the four last verses, compared with Zechariah 13, and the first verse). That is a notable pl…

Thus we are said (1 Corinthians 6:20) to be bought with a [illegible]. And (Job 33:24) the Lord is said to set free the [illegible] through the righteousness of his Son; he [illegible], "Deliver him because I have found a ransom." [illegible] the ransom and payment is tendered t…

As it is with Aqua fortis if laid upon iron, though it does not at once, and suddenly, yet secretly and insensibly it will eat the iron in pieces. So it is with a truth which God will make victorious, it will lie upon the spirit of a man, and eat there, and work there, and break…

If it be a created right, this created right must be under the dominion of him who is universal Lord of all: then may the Lord make use of it at his pleasure; then may not the man make use of it at his pleasure: for an absolute dominion of one and the same thing cannot be in the…

Hence, 1. case: May not the conscience be quiet by the way of Socinus, which lays aside a ransom given to justice? Ans. The experience of the godly man wakened in conscience says to this, when he is chastened with pain in his bed, and the multitude of his bones with strong pain,…

For these be the words of God (Numbers 12:6): If there be a Prophet of the Lord among you, I will be known to him by a vision, and will speak to him by a dream. And Job says, that God speaks in dreams and visions of the night, when sleep falls upon men, and they sleep upon their…