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…

¹Or, as some read it, Art thou borne before the first man? This is a high strain of Rhetoric, it is impossible to be before the first; for as there is nothing less then what is least, so nothing was before the first; but as we say, Such a man will see the last man borne, when we see him resolved to stay the longest upon a business, or desirous to live very long: So we may say, Such a man was borne before the first, or surely he is the first man that was borne, whom we see highly conceited of his own antiquity: And indeed when Eliphaz asks the question, Art thou the first man that was borne? His meaning is to tax Job for a Puny, or a young man, yet arrogating to himself the glory of longest experience; as if he had said, Thou hast told us that we are but of yesterday, and objectest novelty against us, to derogate from our authority, yet surely thou art none of the oldest, thou art not older then Adam (I believe) thou wast not before the first man, that ever was, no nor the first man: It is usual in many Languages, to compare those who are lowest in any degree to the highest, and the meanest to the greatest, Ironically, or in a way of scorn; thus 'tis said to a Coward, or a white-livered fellow, Thou art no Achilles; to a Dwarf or one of a low stature, Thou art no Goliath; to one of weak parts, surely, Thou art no Solomon, no Aristotle; so of one that is but young, Surely thou art not Nestor, thou art not Adam, the first man that ever was.

¹Or, as some read it, Art thou borne before the first man? This is a high straine of Rhetorick, it is impossible to be before the first; for as there is nothing lesse then what is least, so nothing was before the first; but as we say, Such a man will see the last man borne, when we see him resolved to stay the longest upon a businesse, or desirous to live very long: So wee may say, Such a man was borne before the first, or surely he is the first man that was borne, whom we see highly conceited of his owne antiquity: And indeed when Eliphaz askes the question, Art thou the first man that was borne? His meaning is to taxe Job for a Punie, or a young man, yet arrogating to himselfe the glory of longest experience; as if he had sayd, Thou hast told us that we are but of yesterday, and objectest novelty against us, to derogate from our authority, yet surely thou art none of the oldest, thou art not older then Adam (I beleeve) thou wast not before the first man, that ever was, no nor the first man: It is usuall in many Languages, to compare those who are lowest in any degree to the highest, and the meanest to the greatest, Ironically, or in a way of scorne; thus 'tis said to a Coward, or a white-liverd fellow, Thou art no Achilles; to a Dwarfe or one of a low stature, Thou art no Goliah; to one of weake parts, surely, Thou art no Solomon, no Aristotle; so of one that is but young, Surely thou art not Nestor, thou art not Adam, the first man that ever was.