z Chap. 3 g. An J xpefition upon the Book; of J o B. Verf.i 3 Fourthly,any murmuring word abour,yeaany difcâtented thought . with our ownecondition, though not vented by words, though it be kept in,. and lye dole in the bofome, is a ftriving with God., And fo likewife is any tumultuatîng thought about his provi- dences towards others, and his Rating of aifaires in the world. Noww as there is fuck a finfull principle in man to ítrive with God; fo confdering, as hath been (hewed, howmany wayes it i.vo:kes ( and many morewayes of itsworking might be (hewed, this, I fay, being confidered ) we may be found ftriving with God before we thinke ofir, yea while we oppofe the very thought ofit. Therefore ( asGamaliel warned the fewer, faying (Ad! 5.. 39..) Takeheed what ye doe,, left haply ye be found. even to fight againfi God ; Thofe forms did not thinke their oppofing the Me[ fenners and Minifters of Chrift, was a.fighring againfl God ; But Gamaliel told themplainely it was. So in many other cafes, we may do & fay that whichbringe us under the fame charge of ftri- ving with or againítGod , though we have no purpofe (as job had not) tofirmwith him. Again, As this text fhewethus Tab "ftrivingwith God, fo it ihe4veth us Elihu (+riving with or quell-toning fob about it. This queftion or expoftulation, why dotî thouftrive: with him ,r was a: chideing fevers reproofeofhim for doing fo. Hence nose. For mantaftrive.- with Gòd is molt uncomel» Doth it fuite the condition, or become the Efate ofMan-to doe fo ? it doth not become man as a creature to fictive with God, . much leffe as a newcreature, as a profeffed fervant of-God, as a Saint, as a Chriftián. We never a& fo unlike either creatures,_ or new creatures, Saints, and Chriffians, as when we (hive with God. 'Tis a (battle for a childe to f1rivewith his father, or for a fervant to ftrive withhis Matter, howmuch more for a creature. to ftrivewith hisCreator, manwithGod ?' Fourthly, The rebuke which Elihu gave fob, didnot only im- port the uncometineffe of his ftriving with God, but the fitful ladle of it. Hence note. To flrivewithGod (in any of chofe ways before defcribed ) is.c., /in. exceeding finfts11. How»
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