Job 36

Job 36:2

Patiently permit me to inform thee a little further, for I have yet something more to speak on God’s behalf

Job 36:3

While I treat of distant matters, and fetch my arguments from the inspiration of God’s Spirit, or from his wonderful works, I will maintain the justice of God in all his proceedings, and give him the glory thereof

Job 36:4

And assure thyself I will not attempt to baffle thee with sophistical arguments; but, as I have thoroughly studied the point, I will make use of no reasoning but what is sincere and solid

Job 36:5

Behold, such is the infinite power and wisdom of God, that he never despises any, however mean!

Job 36:6

He will bestow no solid happiness upon wicked men, but will do justice to the humble, poor, and afflicted

Job 36:7

He never ceases his special care of the righteous; but sometimes advances them, however poor, to the highest stations; and continues, establishes, and exalts, them therein

Job 36:8-10

Or, if they be brought into and fixed in sore troubles, he by that means makes them to consider their ways, discern their sinfulness, and turn from it to himself

Job 36:11

If their afflictions effect their reformation to piety and virtue, great and manifold shall be the blessings and comforts bestowed upon them here and hereafter

Job 36:12

But, if, notwithstanding their troubles, they continue obstinate in wickedness, they shall be cut off by some fearful calamity, and shall perish in their ignorance, folly, and sin. 13, 14. Thus hypocrites heap up treasures of wrath for themselves; they neglect to implore God’s help and deliverance in their troubles; therefore their life is early cut off, in a fearful storm of his wrath, by some exemplary judgment in death; and through eternity he reckons them with, and punishes them as, the cursed and abominable

Job 36:15

But he delivers the poor and humble in their affliction, and teaches them to know and practise their duty under it

Job 36:16

And, hadst thou behaved thyself aright under thy pressure, he would even now have delivered thee from thy pressing and tormenting troubles into a state of freedom and affluence, in which there should be nothing to straiten thee; and that which fell from heaven upon thy table should be full of fatness

Job 36:17

But thou hast earnestly pleaded the cause of the wicked, and justified their reproachful murmurings against the providence of God; therefore his just indignation has already seized thee, and holds thee fast in bonds of fearful affliction. 18, 19. Since he is manifesting his hot displeasure against thee, take heed lest he cut thee off without remedy; and then no ransom, however great, can redeem thy life again; nor will all the united power and virtue in the world be able to deliver thee if God resolve to destroy thee

Job 36:20

Never wish for a period of awful judgments, in which multitudes of men are often destroyed amidst all their comforts and enjoyments

Job 36:21

Never give way to sinning, particularly to rash and intemperate speeches concerning God’s providential procedure. Thus shalt thou be chosen in, and plucked out of, the furnace of affliction. But alas! hitherto thou hast preferred rash censuring of God’s ways to a patient bearing of thy afflictions

Job 36:22

It is God alone who can effectually deliver and exalt men; and none can cast down, scourge, instruct, or govern, like him. Pretend not therefore to direct him

Job 36:23

None hath directed him how to govern the world, or can call him to account for his management. None can charge him with any thing unjust or imprudent. Never therefore rashly complain of him

Job 36:24

Instead of censuring, always admire and speak honourably of his works of creation and providence, which men cheerfully behold, and should cordially celebrate

Job 36:25

There are scarcely any so ignorant but they must observe these, and acknowledge his greatness and excellency in them

Job 36:26

Behold, such is the unbounded perfection of God, that we can never comprehend it; and such his eternal duration, that we cannot search it out. How unfit are we then to judge of and censure his conduct? 27, 28. It is he who exhales from the sea, and forms the drops of rain which fall from the clouds

Job 36:29

How incomprehensible are his spreadings of the thick clouds all along the face of the heavens, and the crashing thunder of his cloudy residence?

Job 36:30

How marvellously he extends the flashing lightning all over the sky, makes it penetrate to the bottom of, or vails it with the rainy waters exhaled from, the sea!

Job 36:31

By such rains, thunder, and lightning, he punishes wicked men for their sins; and, by rendering the earth fruitful, makes liberal and magnificent provision for his creatures

Job 36:32

By his hollow clouds he conceals the thundering flash as well as the bright and scorching sun; and restrains it by their interposing influence

Job 36:33

Its crashing noise informs concerning it; as a red flaming treasure of wrath, it hangs over the proud; of the noise of the clouds, as well as the motions of animals, portends the approach of the rain formed of vapours exhaled from the sea by the sun

REFLECTIONS UPON CHAP. XXXVI.—Plain and important speeches for God deserve the most fixed attention. Faithful souls are always zealous to vindicate God’s dispensations from men’s foolish and awful aspersions; and truth and simplicity of speech always become such as profess themselves teachers of God’s good ways. It is proper that we should always retain exalted thoughts of God: that he thinks none below his notice, however mean; countenances none of the wicked, however great; is always ready to redress the injured: takes a peculiar pleasure to protect those that are good; and brings special ruin on hypocrites, as the treacherous enemies of his government. If God exalt me to honour, let me exert myself for the welfare of mankind, and prepare for giving my account to him. If he afflict me, let me thankfully believe it done to discover my past sins, and to dispose me to receive his sanctifying instructions; fully persuaded that deliverance and comfort shall appear whenever his merciful end is gained. If my deliverance be delayed, my continued sin is the cause. But, if I am not bettered by his rod, let me fear, lest my stupidity and assimilation should issue, in the suffering of his everlasting vengeance. In affliction let me never be secure, H 2 or make light of his stroke. Let me never hope to find out ways of my own to withstand or avoid it. Let me never dare to persevere in self-vindication of quarrelling with God;—never dare to prescribe to him, who is an absolute sovereign, an incomparable teacher, and unexceptionably just in all his procedure and with whom neither riches can bribe nor darkness conceal. In the glory of his works let me discern the perfections of his nature. If he make the clouds fountains to the lower world, and vails to the upper, let me view every thing formed in them, rain, hail, snow, or thunder, as his workmanship. And, while I am here, let me live by faith, not by sight. Whom, having not seen, let me love; and in whom, though now I see him not, let me rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory