This 14th verse hath some difficulty in it; And though the cross and various thoughts of Interpreters about it have made it more difficult, yet there is one thing wherein all Centre and agree; That, Elihu in this 14th verse and so forward propounds certain ways by which God is pleased to reveal and manifest himself unto man. First, to humble and bring man to a true sense of himself; Secondly, to work in him an acknowledgement of his great goodness and righteousness in all his dealings with the children of men. For having said at the 13th verse, God gives not account of any of his matters; He is above all reckonings and days of Audit (having thus, I say, asserted the absolute sovereignty of God over man) he adds, to mitigate and allay the seeming severity of this assertion, That although God be so high and great,1 that he is not at all obliged to give any account of himself or of his ways to the creature, nor will allow any man to be so bold as to strive with him about, or question any of his matters, yet he is pleased freely and graciously to condescend unto man many ways; and not only once but often, not only often in one way, but by several ways to give him clear intimations what his will is, what he requires of him, and calls unto him for, if man had but will and understanding to perceive it; for he speaketh once, yea, twice, yet man perceiveth it not. So then, man hath no reason to complain (as Job sometimes had done, and many ⟨p. 264⟩others in like distresses do) that he is in the dark, and doth not perceive the mind of God towards him, why he is so afflicted, and why God contendeth with him; for God doth give touches, hints, and admonitions, sometimes more privately, sometimes more openly, and if man doth not perceive them, it is his own fault.
This 14th verse hath some difficulty in it; And though the crosse and various thoughts of Interpreters about it have made it more difficult, yet there is one thing wherein all Center and agree; That, Elihu in this 14th verse and so forward propounds certaine wayes by which God is pleased to reveale and manifest himselfe unto man. First, to humble and bring man to a true sence of himselfe; Secondly, to worke in him an acknowledgement of his great goodnesse and righteousnesse in all his dealings with the children of men. For having sayd at the 13th verse, God gives not account of any of his matters; He is above all reckonings and dayes of Audit (having thus, I say, asserted the absolute soveraignty of God over man) he adds, to mittigate and allay the seeming severity of this assertion, That although God be so high and great,1 that he is not at all obliged to give any account of himselfe or of his wayes to the creature, nor will allow any man to be so bold as to strive with him about, or question any of his matters, yet he is pleased freely and graciously to condescend unto man many wayes; and not only once but often, not only often in one way, but by severall wayes to give him cleare intimations what his will is, what he requires of him, and calls unto him for, if man had but will and understanding to perceive it; for he speaketh once, yea, twice, yet man perceiveth it not. So then, man hath no reason to complaine (as Job sometimes had done, and many ⟨p. 264⟩others in like distresses doe) that he is in the darke, and doth not perceive the minde of God towards him, why he is so afflicted, and why God contendeth with him; for God doth give touches, hints, and admonitions, sometimes more privately, sometimes more openly, and if man doth not perceive them, it is his owne fault.
- 1Deus nomini rationem reader tenetur. Tanto tamen amore nos complectitur ut saepius judiciorū suorum rations aperire dignetur, etsi id non semper observamus. Lavat:Deus nomini rationem reddere tenetur. Tanto tamen amore nos complectitur ut saepius judiciorū suorum rationes aperire dignetur, etsi id non semper observamus. Lavat:
