Job 36

Or the lance to the body, only lets out the abscess. The house of bondage does that which sometimes ordinances will not do, it does humble and reform (Job 36:8, 11). If they be held in cords of affliction, he opens their ear to discipline, and commands that they return from iniq…

11. If sin be so great an evil, the evil of evils; then see what a bad choice they make, who choose sin to avoid affliction: as if to save the coat from being rent, one should suffer his flesh to be rent. It was a false charge that Elihu brought against Job (Job 36:21), You have…

God inwardly excommunicates and casts men out of his presence and from all comforts in his ordinances, though they are not refused by men to come to them — dealing herein as a father who is a public magistrate with an unruly child after some great offense: though he does not cas…

For the guilt of a man's particular ways, actions, and corruptions is made the matter of the evidence and the proofs of those minor premises; and the defilement and erroneousness of the conscience is that principle in us which he works upon when he enforces such a misapprehensio…

God doth never use his staff, but to beat out the dust. Affliction doth that which the Word many times will not, it opens the ear to Discipline, Job 36.10. When God lays men upon their backs, then they look up to Heaven.

Issachar is a strong ass, couching down between two burdens (Genesis 49:14). Issachar was a strong tribe, but wanted courage: You who are righteous, be not too couchant, do not choose iniquity rather than affliction (Job 36:21). Do not so value your liberty as to wound your inte…

O happy death, that shall prove life to your soul. Indeed, this is sometimes the way of the Lord with men (Job 36:8-9), If they be bound in fetters, and held in cords of affliction, then he shows them their work and their transgression, that they have exceeded: he opens also the…

They will not behold the majesty of God. 3. His greatness and majesty is such, that we cannot comprehend it (Job 36:26): Behold God is great and we know him not, nor can the number of his years be searched out. The greatness of God cannot be known, but only by way of negation, t…

Pouring forth is the way whereby Bounty from an all-sufficeing fulness is expressed. As the Clouds filled with a moist vapour pour down Rain, Job 36. 27. until it water the Ridges of the Earth abundantly, setling the Furrows thereof, and making it soft with Showers; as Psal. 65.…

Section 11. Hereby the doctrine of Christ for universal obedience in all its duties becomes absolute, every way complete and perfect — it is a notable effect of the atheistical pride of men that, pretending to design obedience to God, they betake themselves to other rules than t…

And so much is plain, from Job 7:18 Lord what is man, that you shouldst visit him every morning, and try him every moment? Certainly, Gods people are his treasure, and by this it appears that they are so, that he withdraws not his eye from them, Job 36:7 I say not, that Gods fav…

And now who can be dissatisfied in this point, that wisely considers these things? Must we not conclude as it is, Job 36:7 He withdraweth not his eye from the Righteous: and as 2 Chron. 16:9 The eyes of the Lord run to and fro through the whole earth, to shew himself strong in t…

(3.) Consider, that if ever you be rescued out of that miserable condition you are in, such cross Providences, as these you complain of, are the most probable means to do it. Alas! prosperity and success is not the way to save, but destroy you, Proverbs 1:32 You must be bound in…

Isaiah 27:3 [] any hurt it, I will keep it night and day. H withdraweth not his eye from the righteous, Job. 36:7 no, not a moment all their days; for did he so, a thousand mischiefs in that moment woul rush in upon him, and ruine him. Doth not the tenderness of his Providenc sp…

This is Salomons lesson, Eccl. 7. 15. Behold the worke of God. & Job. 36. 24. Remēber you magnifie the worke of God which men behold.

Do not betray this cause then by declining your testimony, how much soever you may be browbeaten and confronted. Say with a holy boldness as Elihu (Job 36:2): suffer me a little and I will show you, that I have yet to speak on God's behalf. You hear what is daringly said against…

BUt for a more particular handling this verse, I shall first give a short paraphrase of it; secondly, show the several doctrinal conclusions contained in it. [He chose] Choice notes a comparing of one thing with another, and the deliberating of the mind about the things compared…

When men are in a swound, we use to nip and pinch them, and strike them, and cast cold water upon their faces: Gods strokes, and the cold water of afflictions being sanctified by him, recover many from spiritual swounds: many who have so far decayed in their spiritual vigor and…

Bare deliverance is no sign of special love. (2.) In our choice: 'Twas a heavy charge they put upon Job (Job 36:21): "You have chosen iniquity rather than affliction." Sometimes we are put upon the trial — to lose the favor of God, or the favor of men, duty and danger: here, con…

1. The Godly grow wiser. Affliction is schola lucis; it discovers that pride, earthliness, unmortified passion which they could not have believed was in their Hearts, Job 36:8. If they be held in cords of Affliction, then he shews them their Transgression.

There is a liberty in that which is good (Psalm 119:32): I will run the way of your commandments, when you shall enlarge my heart. 2. We are freed from those doubts and fears and terrors which accompanied the state of sin (Job 36:8): If they be bound in fetters, and be held in t…

That while they were young, rich, strong, noble, all their humor was for vain pleasure, today hunting, tomorrow hawking, another day feasting, and then brawling, fighting, drinking, carousing, dancing; all the warnings of parents, the good counsel of tutors and governors, the gr…

1. Because then we plunge ourselves into a greater evil, if we fall into sin because of trouble and affliction, and so make our condition so much the worse. Job's friends charged this upon him, that he had chosen sin, rather than affliction (Job 36:22), when he would rather give…

The gods of the nations were upstart gods, but lately found out, and soon destroyed; but he is the eternal God, who ever was, and is, and ever will be. Job 36:26. Behold, God is great, and we know him not, neither can the number of his years be searched out. He speaks of God's e…

2 Good and godly men discover that sin is odious to them by this, that they will rather suffer than sin. Many men make an ill choice, such a one as Elihu charged on Job (Job 36:21): This (namely sin) have you chosen rather than affliction. But godly men make Moses's choice, who…

The Christian Religion (as it exposes to, so it) fits for, and is suited to suffering as well as glory: indeed, the all-wise God has so ordered it, that while we are on this side the grave, such graces (as suppose suffering, and are preparative to glory) should be most exercised…

A right apprehension goes before through contrition; the judgment must be rightly enlightened to see the nature of our sins before the heart can be pierced with that sense and sorrow that is meet. This is God's way which he takes, in whose hand it is only to do this work (Job 36…

The Spirit of the Lord lets in some powerful light [reconstructed: of] the Truth into the soul when he is passing on in [reconstructed: the] ways of destruction, and tells him, This is not [reconstructed: the] right way to life and salvation; you must go [reconstructed: another]…

Another season for reproof is in the time of affliction; affliction tames men's spirits, and now a word of reproof spoken prudentially may work with the affliction. A bitter potion is not refused in case of extremity of pain; affliction opens the ear to discipline (Job 36:10). O…

God complains of Israel, they were brutish in their knowledge, Jeremiah 10:14. he does not say brutish in their ignorance, had they sinned because they did not know better, this would have excused à tanto, but they did that which was brutish and unreasonable, as their worshiping…

So the waters of affliction are not in themselves healing till God's Spirit cooperates and sanctifies them to us: Afflictions are many ways profitable. 1. They make men sober and wise: Physicians appoint distracted persons to be bound in Chains, and to be dieted, and have hard f…

8. If sin brings one low, see what an imprudent choice they make, who commit sin to avoid trouble. Job 36:21. Take heed, regard not iniquity, for this hast thou chosen rather than affliction.

These and such like sins have long called down judgments from heaven upon us, and the rather because the preaching of the word has little prevailed to bring us to any amendment of life. Therefore God has now begun to cause his judgments to seize upon us, especially by plague and…

Thirdly, an unsound professor if left to his choice, would rather choose sin than affliction; and sees more evil in that, than in this. And it cannot be doubted if we consider, the principle by which all unregenerate men are acted, is sense not faith: hence Job's friends would h…