A35439:1221
An exposition with practical observations continued upon the eighth, ninth and tenth chapters of…An exposition with practicall observations continued upon the eighth, ninth and tenth chapters of…
An exposition with practical observations continued upon the eighth, ninth and tenth chapters of the book of Job being the sum of thirty two lectures, delivered at Magnus near the bridge, London / by Joseph Caryl ...An exposition with practicall observations continued upon the eighth, ninth and tenth chapters of the book of Job being the summe of thirty two lectures, delivered at Magnus neer the bridge, London / by Joseph Caryl ...
London: printed by A. Miller for Henry Overton, 1647
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
But here a doubt may arise from a passage (Chap. 13.3.) where Job speaks thus, Surely I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to reason with God; how then doth he here say, Shall I choose out words to reason with God? As if he had said, by no means, I will not do this thing; and yet there he seems very ambitious of the attempt, and confident of the success, I desire to reason with God.
But here a doubt may arise from a passage (Chap. 13.3.) where Job speaks thus, Surely I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to reason with God; how then doth he here say, Shall I choose out words to reason with God? As if he had said, by no means, I will not doe this thing; and yet there he seems very ambitious of the attempt, and confident of the successe, I desire to reason with God.
I answer, there is a two-fold reasoning with God. There is a reasoning of declaration, and a reasoning of contestation. When Job saith, I desire to reason with God, his meaning is only this, I desire to declare and set forth my case and condition before him. We may reason with God by way of narrative; He allows us to tell him how it is with us.
Further, Job speaks in that 13th Chapter comparatively, showing how much he had rather declare his case to God, then to his friends: God was a better friend to unbosom himself to, then any of, or all his three friends; for he saith of them in the very next words, Ye are forgers of lies, ye are all physicians of no value; to what purpose would it be for me longer to make known my case, and show my grief to you? I had rather reason with God then man. But as for that other reasoning, by way of contestation and quarrelling with the providence or works of God, Job professeth in this place, he had no mind to it: he would never choose that task, or set himself to choose out words for that end, it was too high for him. He saw it was neither wisdom nor duty to deal with and undertake God, either with an open, or a closed hand, either with logical subtleties, or rhetorical flourishes.