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…

Job proceeds like a great Philosopher about the production of man. For when by that former work of nature,¹ the matter is poured out and curdled. God by nature makes a further progress, and prepares for another work, the forming and fashioning of that unshapen lump into the parts and lineaments of an organical body. Some Naturalists undertake to tell us exactly what is wrought the first seven days, and what the next, when the brain, heart and liver are formed, and when the flesh, the bones, and sinews.² The ancient and learned Physicians have distinguished this whole work of God in perfecting mankind into four periods. The first is, while the matter or principles out of which man is made being mingled together, retain their own form. The second is, when those principles are grossed into a rude fleshy mass. These two periods Job hath taught us long ⟨p. 514⟩before Galen and Hippocrates in the former verse, under those notions of pouring out as milk, and curdling as cheese. The third period is, when a representation is made of those principal parts the brain, the heart, and the liver, together with the threads, and (as some allude) the warp of mans constitution, or as others, the lines and shadows of a man, such as a skilful artisan makes with a ruder pencil, when he is about to draw a curious picture. The fourth period is, when both the similar and organical parts, are completed and also beautified with proper and lively colours. These two later periods are described by Job in this verse, and in the beginning of the next.

Job proceeds like a great Philosopher about the production of man. For when by that former work of nature,¹ the matter is poured out and crudled. God by nature makes a further progresse, and prepares for another work, the forming and fashioning of that unshapen lump into the parts and lineaments of an organicall body. Some Naturalists undertake to tell us exactly what is wrought the first seven daies, and what the next, when the brain, heart and liver are formed, and when the flesh, the bones, and sinews.²