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…

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 (2 Pet. 1.18, 19.) And this voice which came from heaven we heard when we were with him in the holy Mount. We have also a more sure (the Comparative imports the Superlative, a most sure) word of prophecy, whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn and the day-star arise in your ⟨p. 267⟩hearts. As the whole prophetical, so the whole historical and doctrinal word of God is most sure, being once spoken it is spoken for ever, And written as with a pen of iron, and the point of a Diamond, and that upon a rock which cannot be removed.

First, Once, is as much as surely, certainly, verily, irrevocably. Thus (Psal: 89.35.) Once have I sworne by my holinesse, that I will not lie unto David; That is, I have surely sworne, certainly sworne, irrevocably sworne, my word, yea my oath is out, and it is immutable; That which God (in this sence) once saith, it is alwayes sayd, or 'tis sayd for ever; how much more that which he swareth? 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 shew unto the heires 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 finde (Heb: 9.27.) And as it is appointed unto men once to die (or to dye once) and after that cometh the judgement. Some referre, once, to dye, as if the meaning were, it is appointed unto men to dye once, that is, men must expect to dye a naturall death, which happens but once, and once (at least equivalently) will and must happen to all men. Others referre the once to appointed in the sence 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 sence, and sutable 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 setled for ever in heaven (Psal: 119.89.) his promise is not only sure but most sure. As the Apostle speakes (