An exposition with practical observations continued upon the fifteenth, sixteenth, and seventeenth chapters of…An exposition with practicall observations continued upon the fifteenth, sixteenth, and seventeenth chapters of…

¹The Hebrew is, Thou makest thy spirit to return to God, which is expounded two ways; first, thou makest thy spirit to turn upon, or against God: Secondly, thy spirit answers or replieth upon God; both meet in one meaning; for though there may be a turning away of the spirit without answering, yet (in one sense) all answers are the turning of our spirit: if any man ask a question, the answer is the return of his mind who makes the answer, so some render, Why doth thy spirit return answer to God; as if he rebuked him for his boldness in replying. Thy spirit returns upon God, if he speak one word, thou wilt have two; in that sense the word is used, Titus 2.9. where the Apostle giving rules (among other relations) to Servants, charges them, Servants be obedient to your own Masters, and please them well in all things, not answering again. But, is it a fault for a Servant, when asked a question, to make an answer? no, it were a fault not to answer. The meaning is, that a Servant being reproved for a fault must not answer; that is, his spirit must not rise, and return against his Master; or if a Servant be directed to do any warrantable work, he must not answer again; that is, he must not contradict or murmur at the orders which he hath received, but address himself to the fulfilling of them; this is the answering again, reproved as a fault in Servants, which is rather gain saying then answering, as we put in the Margin of our Bibles: in which sense, answering is taken here according to this interpretation. Thy spirit answers God, or turns against him. We may clear it also by that of the Apostle (Rom. 9.20.) Where having showed the absolute sovereignty of God in his Decrees and purposes, by the example of Jacob and Esau, as also by that of Pharaoh: He concludes, Vers. 18. Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth: Saint Paul foresaw that this Doctrine would raise a great deal of dust, and cause many to turn their spirits against God, which he thus represents (Vers. 19.) Thou wilt say unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? for who hath resisted his will? ⟨p. 51⟩Nay, but O man who art thou that replyest against God? What? wilt thou chop logic with God himself? Wilt thou (as the Margin saith) answer again, or dispute with God?