An exposition of the book of Job being the sum of CCCXVI lectures, preached in the city of Edenburgh / by George Hutcheson ...

Vers. 4. I also could speak as ye do, if your soul were in my souls stead, I could heap up words against you, and shake mine head at you.

5. But I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the moving of my lips should asswage your grief.

In the rest of the Preface (wherein he speaks to them all in common) we have another fault which he finds in their discourses; Namely, that they were cruel to him who needed no such usage (as they would find, were they in his case) and who would not deal so with them. He convinceth them of the truth of the former censure, and of their unkind∣ness to him, by shewing that if they were in his case, and if he dealt with them as they dealt with him, by multiplying uncharitable words and scornful gestures; they would soon know how grievous their carriage was, and how miserable comforters they were to him, v. 4. whereas he, being more tender and knowing his duty, would labour to encourage them, v. 5. We may read, v. 4. by way of Intterrogation, Would I speak as ye do, — Would I heap up words against you, &c? and so it imports a denyal that he would deal so with them, but would rather endevour to strengthen them, and asswage their grief, as he expresseth his purpose, v. 5. But as we read it, in v. 4. he declares what he would do, and what were very easie to be done, if he took as light a burden of such a condition as they did. But, in v. 5. he declares what indeed he would do in such a case. By all which, he insinuates,

1. That they were cruel, in doing that to him, which themselves would find bitter, were they in his case.

2. That they were also cruel, in taking so light a burden of his trouble, and applying no remedy, but what evidenced how little they regarded him or his trouble.

3. That they were cruel and unkind, in dealing so with him, who would be more tender of them.

From v. 4. Learn,

1. Soul-trouble is the saddest of trouble, far above all outward pressures; Therefore Job instanceth the greatness of his trouble, by reflecting upon the condi∣tion of his soul. If your soul were in my souls stead. Where, albeit the soul may be taken for the whole person; Yet that very denomination of the person im∣ports that the soul is the chief part, and consequently, that Job here was most affected with what lay upon his soul.

2. Men, out of their self-love, may think lightly of the sad condition of others; and accordingly, may do that to them which would be very bitter to them∣selves, were they Scholars at their own School: Therefore doth Job put them to think on this, how ill they would rellish it, if their soul were in his souls stead, and if he spake as they did. It is not easie exactly to follow that Golden Rule prescribed by Christ, Matth. 7.12.

3. Men should so look upon, and deal with, others in their sad condition, as reckoning that, though they yet are not, yet they may be, in their case; and that their undutifulness toward others, in their distresses, doth justly provoke God to make them meet with such lots themselves: Therefore, also, makes he such a supposition to them, If your soul were in my souls stead See Heb 13 3.

4. It is a great sin to take a light burden of the af∣flictions of others, and not to be serious in seeking out remedies for them, as we have a calling and op∣portunity; For, I also could speak as ye do, intimates that they took but an easie lift of his burden, and did not bestir themselves to find out and apply proper and effectual remedies; and that this was their great fault.

5. It is a great fault to multiply expressions to di∣stressed godly persons, without considering to what purpose they serve; and, especially, it is a fault to discourage them by discourses, as being a furtherance of Satans design: For, such was their fault, implied in this check, they heaped up words, and that against him, to crush him.

6. It adds to mens cruelty and sin, when, with their unprofitable and hurtful expressions, they testi∣fie their scorn and disdain of a person and his afflicti∣ons; which will render their discourses ineffectual, be what they will: For, it is implied here, that they did also shake their heads at him, in testimony of their scorn, contempt, and disdain. See Psal. 22.7. & 44.14. Isai. 37.22. Lam. 2.15. Matth. 27.39.

7. Afflicted minds are so tender, that even sleight∣ing gestures will add to their sorrow; For, so was it with Job here, their shaking of the head is resented as an unkindness. Which should warn all to look how they carry themselves toward such.

From v. 5. Learn,

1. Whereas the wicked want only power and op∣portunity to do ill; a godly man is so tender, that he will be loath to do ill when he may; For, what Job could do, v. 4. here he declares he would not do, but the contrary, if he he had opportunity.

2. None can rightly deal with a broken spirit, but they who have some experience of it themselves; For, whereas they had marred his cure, through their want of skill, he would take another course, if they were his Patients, as having more experience of the disease.

3. Truly godly men, who are humbled under the Cross, will not be revengeful, when they have ad∣vantage over those who have notably injured them; For, notwithstanding all their cruelty, yet, were they in his case, and he in theirs, he would not serve them as they do him.

4. Such as have experienced trouble of mind, will

be compassionate and tender, even of an Enemy under it; For so would he be to them who had wronged him, if their soul were in his souls stead.

5. Broken spirits are never rightly dealt with, but when, with all other remedies, encouragement is pressed upon them; For, I would strengthen you, saith he, as a proper cure for such a disease.

6. When the saddest of conditions are rightly stu∣died, there will somewhat be found to mitigate the excess of that grief which Saints, ordinarily, have under them; For, saith he, I would find out means to asswage your grief. In the Original it is only, spare, or, restrain, And so some understand it thus, I would, in speaking, or, moving of my lips, spare to rake into your infirmities, o••, would spare and re∣strain the moving of my lips in impertinent discourses, as ye do not. But the sentence is well filled up, and supplied here, from v. 6. where the same word is, and grief added to it.

7. As right trouble of mind is not only the result of outward afflictions, but comes in by the ear from the Word speaking to the Conscience; So sound and seasonable Doctrine is a mean to cure it; For, his mouth, and the moving of his lips, would strengthen them, and asswage their grief, namely, as affording fit matter of encouragement and ease, and as a mean in Gods hand.

8. It is great cruelty and ingratitude not to be tender to those in affliction, who either are, or would be, tender to us in our trouble; For, by this doth Job check them, telling that it was their fault to deal thus with him, who would be more tender of them.