Job 5
SIBCall now, if there be indeed any that will answer this oracle in thy favour! And to which of the saints canst thou turn as an advocate for thy cause, or as an example of thy condition?
Job 5:2
For the just vengeance and holy jealousy of God shall destroy foolish and wicked men: and their own rage at providence, and envy of other men’s happiness, shall render them miserable
Job 5:3
Even when I have seen wicked men flourishing in apparently fixed prosperity I have judged them unhappy, and predicted their fall, and quickly seen them and their families rendered miserable
Job 5:4
Their posterity are exposed to great dangers and calamities: they are oppressed and ruined in their law-suits, or are openly punished, while there is none to deliver them
Job 5:5
The hungry vagabonds eat up their crop; and, notwithstanding all the means used to secure it, or the danger to the taker, the sweeping scourge, and savage robber, such as the Chaldeans or Sabeans, carry off their whole substance and wealth. 6, 7. Affliction never comes to men without the just influence of God, and the deserving influence of men’s sin, even though it be altogether common and natural for men to meet with trouble. And men, outrageous in iniquity, and abandoned to gross impiety, shall not long flourish on the earth; but if, as born in it, a man be obstinate in gross wickedness, the flaming thunderbolts of God’s vengeance shall fly aloft to destroy him
Job 5:8
Truly therefore, were I in thy case, I would humbly address myself unto God, and refer myself to his disposal
Job 5:9
I would refer myself to God, who works so many things, the nature, causes, and immediate ends of which we do not understand, and so is able to help or punish as he pleases
Job 5:10
To God, who waters the earth with rain, and who causes the fountains to spring and rivulets to run along the streets and fields
Job 5:11
That by plentiful crops he may enrich and dignify men of low condition, and exalt those that mourn in sordid baseness and misery to an extended happiness and safety
Job 5:12
To God, who defeats the craftiest designs of subtle men to raise or enrich themselves, that it is not in their power to execute the schemes which they have most cunningly contrived
Job 5:13
Who makes their own devices to produce what they studied to avoid, and to hurry them, contrary to their expectation, into dreadful ruin
Job 5:14
So that, when every thing seems plain and prosperous, they suddenly stumble into mistakes and misery; and, in the very midst of their wisdom and felicity, unexpected danger seizes upon them
Job 5:15
By which means God delivers those who fear his name from the open fury, and from the treacherous flatteries and calumnies of these powerful oppressors
Job 5:16
That, by observation and experience of this, the poor and oppressed may be encouraged to hope in God for help and deliverance, and wicked men may be confounded and silenced.—17. And, moreover, God makes all the afflictions of his people to work remarkably for their good; therefore never complain of his corrections, but esteem them as a distinguished favour
Job 5:18
For he not only makes us grieved, and pained with trouble, for our good, but quickly removes his rod, and bestows his comforts
Job 5:19
When manifold troubles are inflicted on others, thou shalt escape, if thou refer thyself to God’s disposal. Nay, be thy own troubles as many as they will, they shall do thee no real hurt
Job 5:20
God shall supply thee with food in times of famine, and protect thee in the day of battle
Job 5:21
No malicious reproachers or false witnesses shall be able to hurt thee; and thou shalt be secure amidst the depopulations of countries
Job 5:22
No pestilence, nor famine, nor ravenous beast shall be allowed to hurt thee, or even mar thy cheerfulness
Job 5:23
The stones of the field, as if in league with thee, shall neither hurt thy person nor crop; and even the wild beasts shall submit to thee as thy conquered servants
Job 5:24
Thou shalt by experience, find thy dwelling, family, and substance, wherever it is, in safety and quietness; and thou shalt be enabled to manage thy household-affairs without any allowed iniquity; and shalt take an account of them without disappointment
Job 5:25
And, however bare thou now appearest, as the earth in winter, thou shalt find thy posterity very numerous, prosperous, and beautifully connected
Job 5:26
And, when thou hast arrived at an uncommon age, thou shalt enter into thy grave with an easy smile, and shouts of joy, as one fully ripened for the glories of heaven
Job 5:27
Doubt not of this; for we have thoroughly examined the point, and find it as I have said. Hear, consider, and practise it, for thy present and everlasting advantage
REFLECTIONS UPON CHAP. V.—The best of men quickly grow confident in their own mistakes. And it is the greatest discouragement to one in sore trouble to find no saint in his case or sentiment. But how foolish and silly are the greatest of sinners! Their own wickedness fearfully corrects them, and their backslidings ruin themselves, their families, or property. It is stupid and heathenish to think that any thing happens to us by chance. And, the more we are acquainted with the sinfulness of our nature, we shall see the less reason to murmur at our afflictions. Under sore troubles it is necessary to search out and remove the sinful cause, and to turn all our fretful murmurs into humble supplications. How encouraging is it to have an Almighty, condescending, and gracious, God to apply to! No craft, no strength, no plots of devils or men, need discourage us when we have him on our side. If our mind be brought down to our circumstances, let us never quit our hope: it is in a faithful promiser. Our malignant opposers may for a while open their mouths wide against us, and their oppressing hand may lie heavy on us, but quickly their arms shall be broken, and their lips sealed up in death. But great and holy caution is necessary under trouble, that we may neither be averse to it, nor think ill of it, nor overlook and disregard it. For when blessed of God they are remarkably advantageous. They but open God’s way for bestowing his distinguished favours. And those who dwell under the shadow of the Almighty shall enjoy the surest protection, inward quietness, peace with God and his creatures, comfort in their families and seed, and joy and honour in their death. Let us then attend to, and profit by, every truth we hear