Exposition of Job

The second particular in this account, is, his outward wealth, or Cattle (wherein their wealth consisted most in these times) which is, both in general, and by particular reckoning, found to be double to what he had before. Compare Chap. 1.3. Not that he had all those at first (as it was but after a time also, that he had all these Children, v. 13.) but in process of time he acquired all this wealth.

Doct. 1. God may sometime restore his afflicted people with advantage, even in the matter of wealth, as well as in other things; as here, his latter end, is blessed more than his beginning, as the induction of particulars doth witness. And albeit Bildad pressed that promise too peremptorily, Chap. 8.7. Yet now it is verified to Job; not as a constant Rule, but to make him a visible monument of mercies, who had been so remarkable for his miseries: Not that Job needed this, to make him happy; but to point out,

1. That temporal mercies are, in themselves, good things, and not incompatible with piety; so that they sin who are unthankful for them, or abuse them; and the more signal such mercies are, the abuse is the more h • inous.

2. When these outward mercies are bestowed on godly men, they are rewards of piety, and proofs of love, as well as other mercies; and ought to be acknowledged and improved as such, to further, and not to hinder, piety.

3. In those days, when Gospel-promises were not so fully revealed, these temporal favors were liberally dispensed, as shadows of better things; whereas, in the want of these, we should labor to make up all those wants with spiritual things, now clearly revealed, and more plentifully dispensed.

4. God hath abundance of temporal mercies to bestow upon his people, were it for their good; as sometime he instanceth in his dealing with some of his people, to silence the quarrellings of all.

5. Though God do not still follow this way; yet it is sure that God will always restore his people out of trouble with advantage, Rom. 8.28.

Doct. 2. Whatever means God make use of in furnishing his people; yet that should not obscure his own hand and blessing; for, though Jobs Friends gave him gifts, v. 11. and himself was industrious; yet it was God who blessed his latter end.

The third particular in this account, is, his Children, whom probably he had by his former Wife, returning to her wonted dutifulness (wherein she had failed, Chap. 2.9. & 19.17) now when his trial is ended. Here we have recorded,

First, The Number and Sexes of his Children, v. 13. He had seven Sons and three Daughters, just as many as he had before, Chap. 1.2. And therefore that General, v. —10. of his getting double of what he had before, must either not be extended to his Children, but understood only of his Wealth; or the former Children must be reckoned as not lost to Job, seeing they were with God, and so those he had now, and those that were removed, was a double number; or those Children he had now were a double mercy in his esteem.

Secondly, Something is particularly marked concerning his Daughters, as,

1. Their Names, v. 14. which were given them upon the account of their singular beauty, above any Women in the Country about them, v. 15.— For the Name of the first signifieth one fair and bright as the Day; the Name of the second imports one so sweet as Aromatick Cass • a; and the Name of the third implieth, that she was one so fair, as if an Horn (or, large measure) of Paintry, or, Varnish, had been poured upon her, to make her appear beautiful.

2. Their Estate and Portions; and that they were made joint heirs with their brethren, of their Fathers Lands and Estate, v. —15. Which doth not import that they were never married; but that their Father was careful to settle them near himself and his Sons, that so they might have a Society among themselves for God's Service, because of the many Idolaters that were about them, who might be ready to infect and corrupt them.

Doct. 1. Children, in themselves, are a • lessing, as continuing us in them, to serve God, even when we are gone; for, here they are ranked among Jobs Blessings. See, Psal. 127.3. & 128.3. So that it is a sin to murmur at this mercy, or not to improve Children a • a Blessing.

2. It is, in special, a Blessing to them who have Wealth, to have Children, who may succeed to them in their Estates; for, this mercy of Children is subjoined to Jobs wealth, v. 12. to intimate that his wealth would not have been so sweet, if he had wanted Children to enjoy it after him. So that it is the fault of men of great Estates and Power, if they breed not their Children well who are to succeed to their Estates and Dignities; whereby they not only wrong their own Families, but their Country also, wherein their posterity may have power. And they are also culpable who, having great Estates, do not marry, that so themselves may have a care of educating their Heirs, if God give them any; but do suffer those who shall succeed them to be bred by they cannot tell whom.

3. Even the multitude of Children is a blessing; as here it heightens Jobs mercy that he had so many. And albeit Job was a rich man, and had enough to give them; yet they are indefinitely a blessing to poor or rich; Psal. 127.5. not to be murmured at, though not to be doated upon either.

4. Every sex of Children, sons or daughters, is a mercy; as here is distinctly marked, though we ordinarily doat upon those we want, whether sons or daughters.

5. Though Favor be deceitful, and Beauty vain, Prov. 31.30. and God may compense want of Beauty with excellent qualities; nor must men cast off their Children because of deformities; yet, beauty is, in itself, a mercy, not to be abused with a polluted life, or wi • h pride because of it; for, therefore is the singular beauty of Jobs Daughters marked.

6. It is a great blessing, both to Parents and Children, when Children are dutiful and obedient; for so were Jobs Daughters, as appears from his care to provide for them, and his delight to have them near himself; and this is marked as one of his mercies.

7. It is a great blessing, and an evidence that Children are dutiful, when they live in love one with another; as here, the sons and daughters delight to live near together. See, Chap. 1.4.

8. It should be a special part of Parents care, and an evidence of their love to their Children, to study to prevent their infection in the matter of Religion, and so to settle them, that they be not cast upon temptations; so much did Job evidence, by settling his Daughters among their Brethren.

The fourth Particular in this account, is, his long life, after his restitution, even for the space of 140 years; so that he saw four generations come of him before he died. If we apply that General, v. —10. to this also, and make this sum double to what he lived before his trial, we may conclude that he was 70 years old (which is the half of 140) when his trial began; and lived in all, 210 years, beside the time of his trial. Which (if there were not somewhat singular in it) might help to prove to the antiquity of this History, and that Job lived before these days wherein men's lives began to be shortened, as Moses showeth, Psal. 90.10. But this supposition, of the doubling of his years, not being so certain, we may only here, Learn,

1. Albeit our life on earth be but a warfare, yet long life is a mercy in itself, and to godly men a reward of piety, and a benefit to the Church with whom they are continued; for therefore is Jobs long life marked as one of his mercies. See, Psal. 34.12, 13. It is true, godly men have some loss by their long life, being so much the longer kept from heaven; yet death being, in itself, a fruit of sin, the deferring thereof is, in itself, a mercy. And a long life may be full of rich advantages to godly men; while they see God's goodness in the land of the living before they go hence, Psal. 27.13. while they have opportunity to honor God, and do him much service, Phil. 1.23, 24, 25. while they get many proofs of God's love; Gen. 48.15. 1 Kings 1.29. while they have opportunity to sow largely for a rich harvest, 2 Cor. 9.6. and get leisure to ripen for death, which is their difficult step and great trial. All which doth not import that we should doat upon long life; but it serves to condemn the Godly, who are weary of their life, and all those who make little good use of a long life, but do thereby render themselves obnoxious to a sudden stroke, Psal. 68.21.

2. It is yet a further proof of kindness, when God sweetens our long life with mercies, particularly, of posterity; as here, Job saw his sons, and his sons sons, even four generations.

3. Our long life is then especially sweet, when we see the Church well, and are doing good therein, in our stations; as Job here had opportunity to train up, and see a Church of his posterity. See, Psal. 128.5, 6.

The last particular in this account, is, his happy death, when he is full of days. Whence learn,

1. Did men live never so long, and in great prosperity, yet they must at last die; as here Job did. See, Psal. 49.6, 7, 8, 9. Heb. 9.27.

2. It is a mercy in itself, when men are ripe, to be taken away; for, it is ranked among Jobs mercies, that he died, being old, It is true, young persons do doat upon time, expecting an happiness in it; but when men come to what Job attained of years, or anything proportionable to it, they will count it their mercy to get their Pass to be gone, if they be godly.

3. Were men never so old when they die, yet to be full of days, and satisfied with the time they have lived, is a mercy and gift of itself; for, it is here marked, as a distinct mercy, that he was not only old, but full of days, when he died. And this is a mercy bestowed upon the godly, Psal. 91.16. even though they die young, Isa. 65.20. And this satisfaction is begotten by a sight of Christ, Luke 2.29, 30. But the wicked have it not, Psal. 55.23.

Having now ended this whole Book, so full of rich matter, I can subjoin no Conclusion so pertinent; as to sum up the whole of it in that use which James makes of this whole History, Jam. 5.11. Behold we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, &c. Wherein we may observe,

1. Albeit Job was so singularly afflicted as never any one mere man was (for Christ is to be excepted) yet his trials are not to be forgotten by the Church in any age: For, therefore doth James put afflicted Saints, in his time, in mind thereof. Hereby we are taught, That none should seek exemption from the Cross, seeing such a one was exercised; That we should not quarrel lesser trials, when we reflect upon his eminent sufferings, but should rather be preparing for, and ready to submit to more; and, That we should expect that our lesser trials will exercise and try us, considering our strength, no less than his greater sufferings tried him; and that God doth consider this; for, therefore is Jobs case propounded to all afflicted Saints.

2. Saints under their afflictions may reap great advantage by the study of the Scriptures, and the experience of others recorded therein; therefore doth James remit his afflicted Brethre • to what they have heard of Job. Whereby he not only intimates that they were acquainted with the Scriptures; but that there they might find, That afflictions are not inconsistent with true piety, nor with the favor of God; and, that the Fords of trouble should have been tried before them by others; which is the great advantage of those who live in the latter times of the world.

3. It is not enough that men contemplate what they observe in the Scriptures, unless they find it sweet in their own practice; for, he insinuates, That when they heard of the patience of Job, and saw the end of the Lord, they were ready to count them happy who endure, and to look upon Job as a blessed man; and yet they might be ready to count themselves miserable, when the same Lot fell to their share.

4. Patience is a most excellent Grace under trial, and will make Saints famous after their trials are over; for, saith he, ye have heard of the patience of Job, as his singular commendation in all ages. Of which frequently in this Book.

5. Saints, who desire to walk meekly under the hand of God, and do not approve themselves in, but do mourn for, their passions, and scum which appear in the Furnace, may believe that God will not judge of them by their Fits of impatience; for, therefore is Job commended for his Patience, notwithstanding his many fits of passion.

6. Patient Saints may expect a satisfactory and comfortable issue of all their troubles; the experience and observation whereof should encourage others in the like case: For, Job got an end, or, issue, of all his troubles; and that they had seen this, or known that it was so, might quicken them also to patience. See, Psal. 9.18. Prov. 23.17, 18.

7. This issue is called the end of the Lord.

1. Because it was the issue which God prescribed and allowed. And his salvation (which he carves out, and thinks good for his people) may be near, Psal. 85.9. when our salvation we would be at, may be so far off, as, in mercy to us, we shall never see it. And withal, if he allow great salvation ( Psal. 18.50.) upon any of his people, as he did to Job; why should they scruple to receive his bountiful allowance, though they be unworthy to receive it.

2. Because no worth in Job procured this issue, but all flowed from God's mercy, who thereby proved himself to be very pitiful, and of tender mercy. And as the most tender Walkers under trouble ought to ascribe all their deliverances only to God's mercy, so this may invite the most wretched and miserable, and the most unworthy (if they be sensible that they are so) to look to him in their distresses.

3. Because his Almighty power brought about this deliverance, when Job did not expect it, and there was no probability that it should be; as he can command deliverances, Psal. 44.4. when nothing in us, or in second causes can promise them. Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto him be Glory in the Church by Christ Jesus, throughout all ages, world without end, Amen. Ephes. 3.20, 21.