Observe from Job's way of answering, in granting what is true and denying what is false, that in every temptation readily there are two things: (1) A true ground. (2) A false conclusion from it. Satan will say, "You are in such a condition, therefore you are not a child of God." Learn then with Job to grant the ground but deny the conclusion. See it also in the woman of Canaan. She is said to be [outside] the covenant, and called a dog; and she grants it is true, yet she pleads that there is some allowance for such. Therefore because something is true, do not believe all is true. It is suggested there is much unmortified sin in you; you have been so long under ordinances, and have not thrived. Yea, you are backslidden. It may be all this is true, yet the conclusion will not follow [that] there you have nothing ado with God.
On the terribleness of God to Job, observe that God may show himself terrible, and yet not be angry at the person. He may set you up as a butt [target], cleave your reins assunder, pour out your gall, run upon you like a lion or giant, and yet keep love. Therefore measure not God's love by even his spiritual dispensations, as if God loved not when he looks angry-like. Our senses are not good judges. It is not right reasoning to say, "God lays his heavy hand upon me, therefore he will not look upon me." What if Job reasonsed so? (2) It should stir up folks to consider what God's terribleness will be, when he has no love, and comes to render vengeance to all that know him not. When the fierceness of his countenance shall make all the families of the earth to mourn, who believe God is a consuming fire. (Heb. 12:29). What will be to the wicked?
Job's sincerity bears him out in all this. Observe [that] the efficacy of sincerity, and an inward testimony of conscience can keep the soul quiet, and hold a grip of God in the greatest trouble, anxiety and grief. Therefore a good conscience is a rich reward and worth itself. The meek shall inherit the earth. If folks know the worth of this, they would study above all things to keep a good conscience before God and men.
The vehemency of Job's asseverations [emphatic assertions], and using them so frequently, and doubling them, is to let us see that it is holy wisdom, and no presumption, when temptation is so violent and presses violently for the soul, not to deny its interest in God, but to assert it the more confidently, and take in fair upon him the head and score of God's grace (so to speak) and in a sort to presume. I say not, presumption is lawful at any time; but because faith will then be presumption to sense, we would set ourselves to do that which seems presumption, to ride near on that side, when the wind blows to such a shore to ply against it; so strong is the way of believing, that the more it is borne down, it breaks the more out. God help us to k eep the right midst [mid-point; center]. {James Durham's Lectures on Job, Chapter 16}
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