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…

But this clothing of skin and flesh refers rather to those inward, more noble and tender parts, the heart, liver, brain and bowels, these are enclosed with skin and flesh, lest they should take cold; these are fenced with bones and sinews, lest they should take hurt. Hence death is called an unclothing. Death strips us, not only to the skin, but of the skin, We that are in this tabernacle, do groan, being burdened, not for that we would be unclothed, (2 Cor. 5.4.) that is, not that we would put off this garment of skin and flesh, this natural clothing, but we would have a supernatural clothing upon it, even a vest of glory put upon these vests of frailty. This Scripture in Job is of the same language with that of Paul, Thou hast clothed me with skin and flesh.

But this clothing of skin and flesh refers rather to those inward, more noble and tender parts, the heart, liver, brain and bowels, these are enclosed with skin and flesh, lest they should take cold; these are fenced with bones and sinews, lest they should take hurt. Hence death is called an unclothing. Death strips us, not only to the skin, but of the skin, We that are in this tabernacle, do groan, being burdened, not for that we would be unclothed, (2 Cor. 5.4.) that is, not that we would put off this garment of skin and flesh, this naturall clothing, but we would have a supernaturall clothing upon it, even a vest of glory put upon these vests of frailty. This Scripture in Job is of the same language with that of Paul, Thou hast clothed me with skinne and flesh.

It is said of the virtuous woman (Prov. 31.21.) That she is not afraid of the snow for her household, for all her household are all clothed with scarlet, or, double garments. The great and most wise God hath prepared such clothing for mans inward parts, that he needs not fear snow or cold, he hath provided double garments, two suits, skin and flesh. Flesh is an under garment, and skin is an upper garment: flesh covers the bones, and skin covers the flesh. Anatomists observe, That man hath two distinct coats of skin upon his flesh, or mans skin is a lined garment, yet differing from other garments, for here the lining is uppermost. This uppermost skin, or as some call it, the scarf-skin is without sense, you may thrust a needle through it without pain. There was great reason it should be so, that it might defend the skin under it from external injuries, as also attemper the exquisite sense thereof, and so become the medium or mean of touching: for all sensation is made by some mean, and is either altogether hindered, or much disturbed by the immediety of the object and the organ. Hence when this cuticle or scarf-skin is off or broken, the gentlest touch upon that bared part, breedeth much pain, but spoileth the true sensation. Under this curtain or scarf-skin, the true and proper skin lieth; The Greeks call [Greek or Hebrew], because it may be flayed off, or [Greek or Hebrew], quasi [Greek or Hebrew], a band, because it compasseth or knitteth together the whole body. This skin is a seamless garment, yet it hath divers out-lets made for the relief and ease of nature; some of which are obvious to sense, others called pores, are both innumerable and imperceptible.