An exposition with practical observations continued upon the thirty second, the thirty third, and…An exposition with practicall observations continued upon the thirty second, the thirty third, and…

For God speaketh once, yea twice.

¹The Hebrew is, in once, that is, for one Turn or Time, or by one means or way. The word once, hath a threefold signification in Scripture, all which are appliable to the text in hand.

¹The Hebrew is, in once, that is, for one Turne or Time, or by one meanes or way. The word once, hath a threefold signification in Scripture, all which are applyable to the text in hand.

1. 1[Greek or Hebrew] in una pro [Greek or Hebrew] in una vice.〈non-Latin alphabet〉 in una pro 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 in una vice.

First, Once, is as much as surely, certainly, verily, irrevocably. Thus (Psal: 89.35.) Once have I sworn by my holiness, that I will not lie unto David; That is, I have surely sworn, certainly sworn, irrevocably sworn, my word, yea my oath is out, and it is immutable; That which God (in this sense) once saith, it is always said, or 'tis said for ever; how much more that which he sweareth? Thus the Apostle argueth (Heb: 6.17, 18.) God willing more abundantly (or more then needed as to him and the truth of the thing in it self) to show unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel confirmed it by an oath, that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lye (namely, his promise and his oath) we might have strong consolation, &c. In like notion we may expound that once, which we find (Heb: 9.27.) And as it is appointed unto men once to die (or to dye once) and after that cometh the judgement. Some refer, once, to dye, as if the meaning were, it is appointed unto men to dye once, that is, men must expect to dye a natural death, which happens but once, and once (at least equivalently) will and must happen to all men. Others refer the once to appointed in the sense of this present exposition; It is appointed once; that is, God hath certainly and firmly appointed established and decreed this thing, he hath ratified it in heaven, that men must dye; This statute is irrevocable; The thing is appointed, and there is no reversing or revoking of that appointment. This is a good sense, and suitable enough to the scope of Elihu; God speaketh once, that is, what he speaketh is a sure and certain word, an infallible word; the word settled for ever in heaven (Psal: 119.89.) his promise is not only sure but most sure. As the Apostle speaks (