Exposition of Job, Exposition of Job · Chapter 36 · Verse 8
Verſe 8. And if they be bound in fetters, and be holden in cords of affliction.
Followeth, to v. 16. the third Head of this Vindication, or, a more particular Vindication of the Righteouſneſs of God in the matter of his afflicting godly men, which is the caſe in hand. This conſiſts of four branches; In the firſt whereof (in this Verſe) we have the condition wherein it is ſuppoſed righteous men may ſometime be, that they may be arreſted under trouble, as a man that is bound and held in cords and fetters. Whence, Learn,
1. It is neither inconſiſtent with the righteouſneſs of God, nor with the piety of men, or their priviledges being godly, that they be ſometimes afflicted; as here is ſuppoſed. Gods Sovereign power to diſpoſe of his creatures at his pleaſure, is ſo abſolute, that mens holineſs cannot exempt them from being ſubject thereunto. And, ſeeing he may, if he pleaſe, put even ſinleſs creatures to exerciſe, and impoſe upon the beeing he hath given them, what it is able to bear; much more may he exerciſe Saints, who in this life have ſtill ſome remainders of ſin in them. And if Saints need rods, he will not ſpare them, whomever he ſpare, Amos 3.2. Rev. 3.19. Yea, it is their mercy that God makes uſe, even of ſuch a remedy, to cure their diſeaſes and diſtempers. And therefore they ſhould not quarrel God, nor caſt out with him, becauſe of afflictions.
2. Saints may expect that their afflictions and tryals will be very ſharp, in their ſeaſon; For, they may be bound in fetters as captives, which is explained to be, that they are holden in cords of affliction. Some of them may be made captives and ſlaves (as the letter here bears) which is a very ſharp tryal; and others may have no leſs tryal, though they be free of that. See Heb. 12.11. Leſſer tryals would neither try our Faith, and other graces, nor yet reach our corruption to purge it out, nor rouze us up from our ſecurity, and be an exerciſe unto us. And when we pretend that we do not ſimply diſlike tryal, but only that tryal which is upon us, and do like the rod that is upon any other better than our own; we do but reflect upon Gods wiſdome, who hath thought our own croſs fitteſt for us; and would, in effect, have no tryal but that which would touch none of our corruptions, and yet no tryal will ever do us good, unleſs it do humble us, and vex our corruptions.
3. It is one of Gods ſpecial ends in ſore afflictions, to arreſt men, and hemm them in with preſſures, that they may be kept from wandering, and made to look over their caſe, and amend it; So much doth this binding and holding of men (or, taking of them as a City is taken) import. Men are by nature like wild Aſſes, till their Month come, Jer. 2.24. And when they turn like wild beaſts, which need a bridle, it is no wonder that many ſorrows do follow, Pſal. 32.8, 9. And therefore when we are under ſharp afflictions, we ſhould remember that our neglect of the furnace of ſelf-examination, provokes God to ſet up his furnace of affliction; and that it is no wonder that troubles do not only take, but hold us, conſidering how long it is before affliction work upon us, Dan. 9.13. and how long (after it begins to work) before it produce kindly fruits, Iſa. 51.20. Jer. 31.18. In which caſe, an iſſue were no mercy.
4. Albeit God be moſt juſt and righteous, even in afflicting godly men; Yet it is not eaſie to ſatisfie them who are under the rod, that it is ſo; For, in this caſe, there is need that Gods righteouſneſs be vindicated. And that we may be helped in this caſe, we ſhould learn to ſuſpect our own judgements, and to look upon miſtaking and quarrelling of God as the ſcumm of our own Spirits, and Satans great Engine and deſign in our afflictions, 2. King. 6.33. Pſ. 73.10, 11. Mal. 3.14, 15.