Exposition of Job, Exposition of Job · Chapter 19 · Verse 28
Verſ. 28. But ye ſhould ſay, Why perſecute we him? ſeeing the root of the matter is found in me.
In this verſe is contained the Concluſion of Job's Third Argument; the ſame in ſubſtance with that Concluſion, v. 22. that, conſidering what he hath ſaid for himſelf, they ſhould not thus perſecute him. Only further,
1. He ſubjoyns a ſum of what he hath argued concerning his integrity, as a ground of the challenge, That the root of the matter is found in him, or, he was ſolidly rooted in true grace, and, notwithſtanding any frailties he had, the ſubſtance of Religion, and the Word alſo (as the word rendered, matter, ſignifies, alſo, the Word) whereby it was begotten and cheriſhed, were fixed and rooted in his heart; And he was not an hypocrite who had only ſome external ſhews: And therefore they ſhould not thus perſecute and reproach him, and add to his ſorrows.
2 He amplifieth the challenge, That not only they ſhould not perſecute him, but ſhould condemn ſuch a practice themſelves, and ſo either prevent it, or not need his reproof, if they did it. For it was a fault to be ſo cruel, and a double fault, that they did not cenſure themſelves moſt ſeverely for it.
Doct. 1. Religion and Piety is the great matter and concernment of men, about which they ſhould be buſied above all things; Therefore here it is called, the matter; or, thing, by way of excellency. See Mark 8.36. Luke 10.41, 42.
2. It is not enough men have fair flowers of Profeſſion, unleſs Religion be well rooted in their hearts; For, Job claims to a root of the matter, in oppoſition to ſhews only. That men may attain to this, they ſhould be careful that the Word take deep root in their hearts (and ſo it may be rendered, the root of the Word, or, a root fixed in them by the Word) Pſal. 119.11. And that, by this Word, faith cloſing with a Mediatour be wrought in them (for that was Job's root here, v. 25, 26, 27. See Col. 2.6, 7.) and that they be ſincere, having the heart ſtored with ſolid and ſound Principles, not as the temporaries who want a root, Matth. 13 20, 21.
3. It is not enough that men pretend they are thus rooted in Piety, unleſs it be really ſo, and unleſs it be able to abide a tryal; For, this root of the matter muſt be ſound, after the moſt ſerious ſearch. See 2 Cor. 10.18.
4. Where this root of Piety is, it will remain and afford a teſtimony, even where there are many failings; For, Job aſſerts and comforts himſelf in this root of the matter, even when he confeſſeth he was not ſinleſs, yea and had more failings than he deſcerned. See 1 John 3.9 This truth ought not to be abuſed to foſter preſumption, or to embolden decliners, while they are turning away and not returning; yet it may comfort Saints, who are humbled with their dayly failings, that ſuch weakneſſes do not alter the ſtate of their perſons; and it may encourage backſliders in their returning, that a ſeed in them, through Gods bleſſing, may ſoon revive again.
5. It is great cruelty and injuſtice to perſecute an afflicted man, who is ſolidly pious, and rooted, as to the ſtate of his perſon, and right in his cauſe; For, he argues, that they ſhould not perſecute him, who, had the root of the matter in him. Here, Conſider,
1. It is dangerous to be found in oppoſition to what is right, or to a good man in his right cauſe. Whatever mens intereſt may ſeem to plead (which, ordinarily, is more minded then what is right or wrong) yet, they ſhould be able to do nothing againſt Truth. 2 Cor. 13.8. For God is a party againſt the oppoſers of Truth, and Truth and its Friends will be found too hard for any Creatures.
2. As it is a ſin, and unbeſeeming Saints to be cruel to any, ſeeing the ſenſe of mercy to themſelves ſhould make them merciful to others, Matth. 18.23.—35. Tit. 3.2, 3, 4. So, in Particular, It is an heinous ſin, not only to be againſt godly men in what is right, but even to be violent and bitter, and perſecute them. And readily this followeth upon the former, any oppoſition to Truth tends to perſecuting of it, if there be a tentation.
3. That favourers of Truth are afflicted by God, is the great diſadvantage of thoſe who oppoſe and perſecute them; For, if we joyn the former Argument with this, we will find, that their fault was ſo much the greater, that they perſecuted a righteous man who was already afflicted.
Doct. 6. Albeit men ought not to ſpare any ſin, yet, they may be cruel in perſecuting men for real faults, ſo long as the root of the matter is found in them; For, ſo much may be here gathered, that though Job had failings, yet ſince the root of the matter is found in him, they ſhould not thus perſecute him. This ſhould not he abuſed to excuſe men who (it may be) have this root in them, when either they maintain a wrong cauſe, or turn looſe in their converſation; yea, no good that is in any ſhould excuſe any of their faults. Yet, when men are righteous, both as to the ſtate of their perſon, and their cauſe (as Job was, his cauſe relating to the ſtate or his perſon) and they fail in the way and manner of maintaining their cauſe, it muſt be great cruelty violently to perſecute them, eſpecially when they are under the hand of God. And though their miſcarriages he real ſins, yet they ſhould not be charged upon the ſtate of their perſon, as altering it, and they ſhould be meekly dealt with, as Brethren, in reproving them, 2 Theſſ. 3.14, 15.
7. It is a ſin and ſhame for men, not only to fail in their duty, but that they ſhould need admonition to ſet about it from others, or, a reproof, if they neglect it; And that they do not put themſelves to it, either to prevent miſcarriages, or to mourn for them; For, ye ſhould ſay, Why perſecute we him? It is ſad when Saints are not the firſt and moſt ſevere cenſurers of their own neglect of duty, and when it may be ſaid by others (as of the wicked, Pſal 53.4.) where is their Conſcience and tenderneſs, that they walk ſo contrary to their rule?
8. Men engaged in debates, and over-driven with paſſions, do not readily ſee their own duty, but their actions do out-run their reaſon, and others will ſee what they ought to do better than themſelves; For Job muſt tell them what they ſhould ſay. See Jer. 8.6.