396 FORGIVENESS OF SIN. an angel, that a worm, this a man, that a brute l Is it from their own choice, designing or contrivance, or brought about by their own wisdom? Or is it merely from the sovereign pleasure and will of God 1 And what madness it is to repine against what he does, seeing all things are as he makes them, and disposes them ; nor can be otherwise : even the repiner himself has his being and subsistence upon his mere pleasure. This sovereignty of God Elihu pleads in his dealing with Job, chap. 33 : 8-11. He apprehended that Job had reasoned against God's severe dispensations to- wards him, and that he did not humble himself under his mighty hand wherewith he was exercised, nor wait for him in a due manner; and therefore what does he propose to him to bring him to his duty? what does he reply to his reasonings and complaints 1 " Behold in this thou art not just : I will answer .thee ; God is greater than man." ver. 12. " Why dost thou strive against him i for he giveth not account of any of his matters." ver. 13. "Be it that in other things thou art just and in- nocent, that thou art free from the things wherewith thy friends have charged thee ; yet in this thou art not just; it is neither just nor equal that any man should complain of, or repine against any of God's dispensa- tions : yea, I will suppose these' dealings of God are very grievous, very dreadful, such as he has, it may be, scarcely exercised towards any from the foundation of the world ; to be utterly destroyed and consumed in a day, in all relations and enjoyments, and that at a time whenno such thingwas looked for or provided against ; to have a sense of sin revived on the conscience after, pardon obtained, be the affliction what it may, yet if
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