Job 9

The next attribute is God's power (Job 9:19). If I speak of strength, lo he is strong.

Laws are founded upon reason; and he must be wise that makes laws. God in this respect is most fit to be a Lawgiver; he is wise in heart (Job 9:4). He has a monopoly of wisdom (1 Timothy 1:17).

The next attribute is God's wisdom, which is one of the brightest beams of the Godhead (Job 9:4). He is wise in heart.

You would be loath to trade in vain; and why not as well to hear sermons in vain? (Job 9:29) Why then do I labor in vain? Put this question to your own soul, Why do I labor in vain?

So he causes a man's soul to forget all good — as in Lamentations 3:17 the church in desertion is said to do — and to forget his own mercies, as Jonah speaks. He can multiply suggestions so fast, and come in with such a tempest, that as Job complains (Job 9:17) he will not suffe…

And that reproach which is cast upon a Christian, is cast upon Christ; and Christ takes it as done unto himself: the persecutor wounds Christ Jesus through the sides of a poor Christian; which is a fearful thing. For, in so doing, he sets himself against the Lord Jesus, he kicks…

1. God's wisdom is excellent. He is wise in heart (Job 9:4); he knows the causes of things; yea, at one instant; the angels light their lamps at this sun. 2. God's power is excellent.

God's wisdom is a distinct notion from his knowledge; he does not only know all things, but has ordered and disposed them with much counsel. The wisdom of God is asserted in the word (Job 9:4 and Job 12:13), and proved there by what he has bestowed upon man; he that teaches man…

But I can ask heaven — he can give more than heaven, and above heaven; indeed I can think of Christ, but he can give above the Christ that I can think on, because I cannot comprehend infinite Jesus Christ. Rule 11. Christ is not so intent and heart-bent on freedom from death and…

The heavens, even the heavens are the Lord's; but the earth has he given to the children of men; and oppressors are the landlords of it (Psalm 10). God arises to judge (verse 18), that the man of the earth may no more oppress (Job 9:24). The earth is given to the hand of the wic…

A judgment cannot be made of a man's life from one of these only, but from all. The prime source and fountain of all is God, or the divine Providence, which commands the sun, and it rises not, and seals up the stars (Job 9:7), which can countermand the ordinary course of nature,…

Lastly, the Scripture shuts up all men under sin, even the most sanctified (Proverbs 20:9; 1 John 1:9). Job confesses he cannot answer one of a thousand (Job 9:3). And David says, If you, Lord, shall mark what is done amiss, who can abide it? (Psalm 130:3).

Thus David in the 39th Psalm says: I held my peace, Lord, because you did it. If the fear of God's power restrains us not, we will never cease murmuring: and therefore Job, considering that he had to do with God, says: I will lay my hand upon my mouth: I will make humble supplic…

Jerem. 2. 22. Job 9. 30, 31. their own Sorrow, and Repentance, and Tears of Contrition, and that sorry Amendment of Life they can attain to, shall do this Work for them. And every especial defiling Act, or every renewed sence of it, shall have an especial Act of Duty for its Cle…

By the dead's rising at his command, it appeared that he was the Author and fountain of life. By his walking on the sea in a storm, when the waves were raised, he showed himself to be that God spoken of in Job 9:8, that treads on the waves of the sea. By his stilling the storm,…

O what groundless Jealousies and suspicions of God are found at such times in the hearts of his own Children! Job 9. 16, 17. Psalm 77. 7, 8, 9.

If one man sinagainst another, the judge shall judge him; but if a man sin against the Lord, who shall intreat for him? There is not, says Job between us one that might argue the case, in pleading for me, and so make up the matter, laying his hand upon us both, Job 9:33. We now…

The Merchant resis not here, but he hearkens with much solicitousness after the things that should bring home his riches, especially if they have in them his All. Hence such Ships are called Ships of desire, Job 9:26. Such a man greatly desires the speeding of them to their Port.

The wisdom of God is also to be Considered and submitted unto. Job 9:4. He is wise in heart who has hardened himself against him and prospered.

It is called a flower (Psalm 103:15), a vapor (James 4:14). Job sets forth fragile life very elegantly in three of the elements — land, water, air (Job 9:25-26). Go to the land, and there man's life is like a swift post.

"He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still." So as to walking on the sea in a storm: Job 9:8. "Which alone—treadeth upon the waves of the sea."

2. Beside that, every being must be from the being of beings, and so every action natural or supernatural must be attended with suitable influences from God; so the Scripture is clear. That 1. God can serve a sort of law-inhibition upon all creatures, that they act not; and what…

Answ. If God first by order of nature, but in the same moment of time, must stir and bow our souls to holy duties, before our souls can act and stir themselves, then must God domineer over free-will, and make it a mere passive lump in acting it, it's palpably false. For first, b…

But 1. Free goodness, and not natural necessity, made the world; and that same freedom intervenes, in continuing, being and acting in creatures, which act by nature. Fire casts heat, the Sun light and influences, the Sea ebbs and flows by nature; yet there must also be a free ne…

3. In that there is a promise, to him that has it shall be given (Matthew 25:29, Matthew 13:12), but how far the promise extends is after to be discussed. (3.) As touching influences natural, they seem to be common to free and voluntary agents, and also to natural causes; so the…

The Lord by casting an ague of love-sickness in the soul, moves the free-will of the Spouse, and of the Martyrs to die for Christ, rather than deny him, because love of itself considered as separated from the Lord's physical motions on the soul, works upon the will more strongly…

3. Sovereignty challenges submission to the will of God in doing and in suffering, because it is his obliging will; we fail not a little in the former when we pray, because the mast of the ship is broken, and death is at the bedside; and we hear the Word, because it is the fashi…

For if one man sin against another, the judge shall judge herein; but if a man sin against the Lord, who shall entreat for him? (1 Samuel 2:25). There is not any days-man between us to lay his hand upon us both (Job 9:33). In this state of things the Lord Christ as the Son of Go…

Now meekness restrains these winds, says to them, Peace, be still, and so preserves a calm in the soul, and makes it conformable to him, who has the winds in his fists, and is herein to be praised, that even the stormy winds fulfill his word. A brisk gale is often useful, especi…

Luke 19. 42. The longest date of it can be but the time of this Life: This is our day to work in, Job 9. 4. and upon this small wyre, the weight of Eternity hangs. But sometimes the season of Grace is ended, before the night of Death comes; the accepted time is gone, men frequen…

2. Taking away the pollutions of all our actual transgressions: there is a defilement attending every actual sin. Our own clothes make us to be abhorred (Job 9:31). A spot, a stain, rust, wrinkle, filth, blood attends every sin.

Some that have moral resolutions of amendment, dislike at least gross sins, and purpose to avoid them, and it is to them cleanness enough to reform in those things; but they consider not, what becomes of the guiltiness they have contracted already, and how that shall be purged,…

God may permit or suffer us to be tempted, as a Lord or Sovereign, which has power over his own creature, for the trial and exercise of grace, and can absolutely dispose of it according to his own will; but he leads us into temptation, as a Judge. And therefore this is one of th…

Now this is a great encouragement to us, that we go to a God that has an absolute right, for which he is responsible to none. We go not to a servant, or a subordinate agent, who may be controlled by a higher power, and whose act may be annulled; but to an absolute Lord, to whom…

2. In company, there our words must be apt and orderly, moving as much as may be, not to God, but to the hearers; managed with such reverence and seriousness, as may suit with the gravity of the duty, and not increase, but cure the dullness of those with whom we join. And what i…

God can with a word raise all the Militia of Heaven and Earth against us: and shall we dare affront him? Job 9:4. Who has hardened himself against him, and prospered?

Counsel to know fit means to bring his purposes to pass, and wisdom to order the means for attaining these ends. Observe there first, how wisdom and strength are there coupled, as in that text, so elsewhere: Job 9:4: "He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength." As he has wisdo…

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Indeed, if we do but fall into sin, it is matter of grief and shame: so that suffering is as far to be preferred before sin, as joy is before grief, and glory is beyond shame. To which this also may be added, that God himself takes pleasure, joy and delight in the trials of good…

Isaiah 42:24. Who gave Jacob for a spoil, and Israel to the robbers, did not the Lord, He against whom we have sinned. Though afflictions are sent for other causes, and not for sin only, as we see in that instance of the man that was born blind (Job 9:3), nevertheless, it is cer…

The experience of all men proved it undeniable? Did ever any provoke the Lord and prosper (Job 9:4), and can I in reason expect it should be other and better with me, than it was with any that was ever before me? Can I be so foolish to think that God should send another Christ,…

Give diligence to make your calling and election sure, for so an entrance shall be ministered to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom (2 Peter 1:10). Our time allotted to us is short; Job compares our life to a swift post (Job 9:25): my days are swifter than a post. The p…

And in chapter 8 he proves Christ to be a more excellent High Priest, a Minister of a more excellent Tabernacle, and a more excellent Ministry, because he is Mediator of a better Covenant. He is a days-man who lays his hands upon both parties at variance — both upon God and man…

18:19. Hence says Gregory in Job 9. lib. 9. cap.

For if one man sin against another, the judge shall judge herein; but if a man sin against the Lord, who shall intercede for him? (1 Samuel 2:25). "There is not any mediator between us, to lay his hand upon us both" (Job 9:33). In this state of things the Lord Christ as the Son…

We make them liars, in that we promise such great matters to ourselves of them. Whereas in the end the leaning staff becomes a knocking cudgel, and the prop to sustain us, like the Egyptian reed, proves a prick to pierce and pain us, and as Job complains of his friends (Job 9),…

And why not, thought he, with me? though by reason of the impediment that attends this place, I cannot perceive it (Job 9:11). Thirdly, For that he hoped (could he overtake them) to have company by and by.

Those which ascribe this to God in an eminent degree. Job 9:4. He is mighty in strength; excellent in power; who is like to him? The Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength.

What cannot that God do that can create; nothing can stand before a creating power; He needs no pre-existent matter to work upon; He needs no instruments to work with, he can work without tools; He it is before whom the Angels veil their faces, and the Kings of the earth cast th…

You had better a great deal now have your hearts humbled and broken, and see your sins, than to see them when there is no remedy. And in another place the holy man Job says (Job 9:18), You will not allow me to catch my breath, but fill me with bitterness. Your eyes have looked u…