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…

2. Before the Sun, that is as a tree in Summer, when the Sun returns to us, or turns upon us. In the beginning of the spring the Sun returns: having travelled furthest off from us, it comes to the ⟨p. 103⟩vertical point, and turns about to us again. So that, before the Sun, or the Sun looking towards us, is a description of the spring. And so it is, as if he had said, As a tree when the Sun cometh towards it in the Spring, and shines hot upon it in the Summer, makes a fair show: So the hypocrite is very green, joyful, full of contentment, whilst he hath the Sun of prosperity shining upon him, whilst those warm rays of outward comforts, heat and nourish him, so long he is green and flourishing.

2. Before the Sun, that is as a tree in Summer, when the Sunne returns to us, or turns upon us. In the beginning of the spring the Sun returns: having travell'd furthest off from us, it comes to the ⟨p. 103⟩verticall point, and turns about to us again. So that, before the Sun, or the Sun looking towards us, is a description of the spring. And so it is, as if he had said, As a tree when the Sunne cometh towards it in the Spring, and shines hot upon it in the Summer, makes a fair shew: So the hypocrite is very green, joyfull, full of contentment, whilest he hath the Sun of prosperity shining upon him, whilst those warm raies of outward comforts, heat and nourish him, so long he is green and flourishing.

3. Before the Sun, that is (according to others) before the Sun shines too hot upon him, before the Sun scorches and withers him;¹ as if he had said, The hypocrite is a green tree, till the heat comes upon him, till the Sun ariseth in his strength: but as soon as the heat of the day, or the year comes, this tree withers. An hypocrite cannot abide the extreme heat of the Sun, whereas the godly have such an everlasting supply of moisture and sap, that let the Sun shine as hot as it will upon them, they are green still. The ordinary heat of the Sun is put for prosperity: the extreme heat of the Sun, is put for persecution. So, the meaning may be this, He is green before the Sun, that is, before the Sun of trouble and persecution ariseth, or (as some render it) before God looks angerly upon him and scorcheth his leaves, till then, He is green and flourishing. Before refers both to time, and presence.

3. Before the Sun, that is (according to others) before the Sun shines too hot upon him, before the Sun scorches and withers him;¹ as if he had said, The hypocrite is a green tree, till the heat comes upon him, till the Sun ariseth in his strength: but assoon as the heat of the day, or the year comes, this tree withers. An hypocrite cannot abide the extream heat of the Sun, whereas the godly have such an everlasting supply of moisture and sap, that let the Sunne shine as hot as it will upon them, they are green still. The ordinary heat of the Sun is put for prosperity: the extream heat of the Sun, is put for persecution. So, the meaning may be this, He is green before the Sun, that is, before the Sun of trouble and persecution ariseth, or (as some render it) before God looks angerly upon him and scorcheth his leaves, till then, He is green and flourishing. Before refers both to time, and presence.

1. 1Antequam se• veniat. Bibl. Reg Ante exortum & ardorem solis, i. e. antequā o• inardescens cum adurat. q. d. priusquā à Domino puniatur & visitatur. Ardor est ira Domini. Merc.Antequam se• veniat. Bibl. Reg Ante exortum & ardorem solis, i. e. antequā o• inardescens cum adurat. q. d. priusquā à Domino puniatur & visitatur. Ardor est ira Domini. Merc.

4.¹ Others take it as a description of the hypocrites outward flourishing, which may be such sometimes as holds out before the Sun, that is, when the Sun is very hot upon him; And then this clause stands in opposition to the rush, which whilst it is yet in its greenness withereth before any other herb. If the Sun rise hot upon the rush, it withereth presently, where it wants outward moisture. But here Bildad seems to grant, or at least to suppose, that the hypocrite may possibly rise to such a flourishing estate, that he holds his greenness, even before the Sun, in a great deal of heat and trouble. Thus Before notes presence.

4.¹ Others take it as a description of the hypocrites outward flourishing, which may be such sometimes as holds out before the Sunne, that is, when the Sun is very hot upon him; And then this clause stands in opposition to the rush, which whilest it is yet in its greennesse withereth before any other herb. If the Sun rise hot upon the rush, it withereth presently, where it wants outward moisture. But here Bildad seems to grant, or at least to suppose, that the hypocrite may possibly rise to such a flourishing estate, that he holds his greennesse, even before the Sun, in a great deal of heat and trouble. Thus Before notes presence.

1. 1Ante solem, i. e. in ardour solis arboris more, qu• pulchrè aliqu•n••u s•cores••• •stum non •im••, •mo calo•• solis moder• •• adjuvatur & alitur. Merc.Ante solem, i. e. in ardore solis arboris more, qu• pulchrè aliqu•n••u s•cores••• •stum non •im••, •mo calo•• solis moder• •• adjuvatur & alitur. Merc.

And his branch shooteth forth in his garden.

Branch.] The word which we translate branch is derived from ⟨p. 104⟩a root which signifies a little sucking child,¹ or an infant; and the reason is, because branches which come from a tree, draw moisture and sap from the tree, as an infant doth milk from the mothers breast: therefore we elegantly in our language, answering the Hebrew, call such branches suckers, and we cut them off where we see many sprouting from one fruit-bearing tree, because they draw too much from the tree, and hinder the fruit, that's the meaning of the Hebrew word, His suckers: So M. Broughton translates, His suckers sprout out over his orchard. By these branches we may understand either his children, or his honour, his relations, or his reputation, these shoot forth and show themselves as branches from a tree, His branches shoot forth in his garden.

Branch.] The word which we translate branch is derived from ⟨p. 104⟩a root which signifies a little sucking childe,¹ or an infant; and the reason is, because branches which come from a tree, draw moisture and sap from the tree, as an infant doth milk from the mothers brest: therefore we elegantly in our language, answering the Hebrew, call such branches suckers, and we cut them off where we see many sprouting from one fruit-bearing tree, because they draw too much from the tree, and hinder the fruit, that's the meaning of the Hebrew word, His suckers: So M. Broughton translates, His suckers sprout out over his orchard. By these branches we may understand either his children, or his honour, his relations, or his reputation, these shoot forth and shew themselves as branches from a tree, His branches shoot forth in his garden.

1. 1[Greek or Hebrew] Significat lactantem seu inf• ̄ tem lac sugentem: per Metaphorā sumitur pro surculo aut tenero ramo qui sugit arborem. Teneriores ramusculi lactantibus pueris sunt fimites.〈non-Latin alphabet〉 Significat lactātem seu inf• ̄ tem lac sugentem: per Metaphorā sumitur pro surculo aut tenero ramo qui sugit arborem. Teneriores ramusculi lactātibus pueris sunt fimites.

In his garden.

¹That is, in that place which he hath fenced or taken in for himself; a garden is a plot separated and enclosed from those places which lie open and in common. So much the Hebrew word imports, coming from a root which signifies to protect or to fence a thing about, because gardens are places fenced, hedged, or walled in, Cant. 4.12. A garden enclosed is my beloved, Eccles. 2.5, 6. I made me gardens and orchards, and I planted trees in them of all (kind of) fruits, I made me pools of water to water therewith the wood that bringeth forth trees.

¹That is, in that place which he hath fenced or taken in for himself; a garden is a plot separated and enclosed from those places which lie open and in common. So much the Hebrew word imports, comming from a root which signifies to protect or to fence a thing about, because gardens are places fenced, hedged, or walled in, Cant. 4.12. A garden enclosed is my beloved, Eccles. 2.5, 6. I made me gardens and orchards, and I planted trees in them of all (kinde of) fruits, I made me pools of water to water therewith the wood that bringeth forth trees.

1. 1Hortus [Greek or Hebrew] à radice Ganan, velavit metaphoricè protexit, quod septo protegi solet.Hortus 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 à radice Ganan, velavit metaphoricè protexit, quod septo protegi solet.

His branches shoot forth in his garden.] That is, he appears very beautiful and glorious, very green and flourishing in his state or condition, in his dignity and honour. He lives as in a garden or paradise:¹ So the word is translated (Gen. 2.8.) And the Lord God planted a paradise, or a garden of delight. The hypocrites garden is all that by which he preserves and keeps his worldly comforts, as we do plants and flowers of profit or delight in gardens. Thus the hypocrite grows as a goodly tree, and shooteth forth his branches.

His branches shoot forth in his garden.] That is, he appears very beautifull and glorious, very green and flourishing in his state or condition, in his dignity and honour. He lives as in a garden or paradise:¹ So the word is translated (Gen. 2.8.) And the Lord God planted a paradise, or a garden of delight. The hypocrites garden is all that by which he preserves and keeps his worldly comforts, as we do plants and flowers of profit or delight in gardens. Thus the hypocrite grows as a goodly tree, and shooteth forth his branches.

1. 1Per hortum intellige omnes rationes, quibus suam tuetur & auget magnitudinom Merc.

This is the first part of the description of his flourishing estate. Hence note a point or two.

First, In general (which hath heretofore been observed, therefore I shall but touch it.) viz.

First, In generall (which hath heretofore been observed, therefore I shall but touch it.) viz.

That a wicked man, an hypocrite may abound exceedingly in outward prosperity.

He is a tree, green before the Sun, and shooting forth his branches in his garden.

Secondly, Note, That the thriving of hypocrites, their greenness and flourishing, is only outward.

Secondly, Note, That the thriving of hypocrites, their greennesse and flourishing, is only outward.

The tree is green before the Sun, but he is withered in his soul. Hypocrites do all before the Sun, to be seen, or in the sight of men. They are of those who rebel against the light, which would keep them from sin, and they say, No eye sees us, while they are sinning. But they love the light which shows any good they do; then they say, O that all eyes did see us. Pharisees pray in the markets, and blow a trumpet when they give alms, that the ears of all, as well as the bellies of the poor, may be filled with their charity. Come, see my zeal, saith Jehu. Moses was faithful, but he never said, Come, see my fidelity. Joshua was valiant in the battles of the Lord, yet he never said, Come, see my fortitude. The upright heart cares not to be thus before the Sun: He delights in secret holiness. His goodness is not less prized, or less pleasing to him, because it is hidden. He takes infinitely more content in being and doing good, then in being known to be or do good.

The tree is green before the Sunne, but he is withered in his soul. Hypocrites do all before the Sunne, to be seen, or in the sight of men. They are of those who rebell against the light, which would keep them from sinne, and they say, No eye sees us, while they are sinning. But they love the light which shews any good they doe; then they say, O that all eyes did see us. Pharisees pray in the markets, and blow a trumpet when they give alms, that the ears of all, as well as the bellies of the poor, may be filled with their charity. Come, see my zeal, saith Jehu. Moses was faithfull, but he never said, Come, see my fidelity. Joshua was valiant in the battles of the Lord, yet he never said, Come, see my fortitude. The upright heart cares not to be thus before the Sunne: He delights in secret holinesse. His goodnesse is not lesse priz'd, or lesse pleasing to him, because it is hidden. He takes infinitely more content in being and doing good, then in being known to be or doe good.

Thirdly, Taking, before the Sun, to note the extreme heat of the Sun, we may observe thus much from it,

Thirdly, Taking, before the Sunne, to note the extreme heat of the Sun, we may observe thus much from it,