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…

Against this it may be objected, How can the former estate of Job be called small, when as it is said (Chap. 1.) that Job had a very vast estate? We have heard the inventory of his goods, the total sum or appraisement of all, being given in by God himself, That Job was the greatest of all the men in the East. How then can it be said, that his first estate was small? Though thy beginning were small.

Against this it may be objected, How can the former estate of Job be called small, when as it is said (Chap. 1.) that Job had a very vast estate? We have heard the inventory of his goods, the totall summe or apprizement of all, being given in by God himself, That Job was the greatest of all the men in the East. How then can it be said, that his first estate was small? Though thy beginning were small.

I answer, comparatively it may be called small. An exceeding excess of greatness, lessens and littles any other greatness. The Moon is a great light, but the light of the Sun makes that light darkness. That which is glorious hath no glory, by reason of the glory that excelleth; he that is rich or ⟨p. 50⟩great hath no riches or greatness, by reason of riches and greatness which excel. Job had a fair estate before, and was the greatest man of all the men of the East; but his estate is promised to be such as shall obscure the former, and render it inconsiderable. Accordingly, it is said, in the story of his restoring (Chap. 42.10.) That the Lord turned the captivity of Job; also the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before. Half is but a little to the whole. And at the 12. verse, The Lord blessed the later end of Job more then his beginning. Which words are a good exposition upon the text in hand. When Joseph sent for his father and brethren to come into Egypt (Gen. 45.20.) he saith, but as for your stuff, do not regard that, for the good of all the land of Egypt is before you. Joseph knew his father was a rich man. Jacob was no beggar: but let all that go for nothing, leave it to those that will take it up, all the good of Egypt is before you, what is all you have to the riches of Egypt? That's the first sense.