A35535:1553
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…
An exposition with practical observations continued upon the thirty second, the thirty third, and the thirty fourth chapters of the book of Job being the substance of forty-nine lectures / delivered at Magnus near the Bridge, London, by Joseph Caryl ...An exposition with practicall observations continued upon the thirty second, the thirty third, and the thirty fourth chapters of the booke of Job being the substance of forty-nine lectures / delivered at Magnus neare the Bridge, London, by Joseph Caryl ...
London: printed by M. Simmons, 1661
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Secondly, As he must have the knowledge of the mystery, so he must have the tongue of the learned (Isa. 50.4.) That he may be able to speak a word in season to him that is weary; that is, to the wounded, and troubled in conscience; This is the interpreter intended by Elihu. He is one that hath learned, and is taught of God. Humane learning, the knowledge of Arts, and Sciences, is good, and hath its use; but divine learning, or learning in divine things, that is to be divinely learned, ('tis possible for one to have learning in divine things, and not to be divinely learned) is absolutely necessary to make him an interpreter. It is not ⟨p. 378⟩enough to know divine things, but he must know them divinely, or by the unction and teachings of the Spirit. The Apostle John (Rev: 10.8.) is commanded to eat the book; this eating of the book, signifieth the spiritual knowledge of divine truths; in this sense, we know no more then we eat, then we (as it were) turn into our own substance, that which is eaten becomes one with us; the mystery of the Gospel must be eaten by the interpreter of Gospel mysteries. A man cannot interpret the mind of God till he knows it; and he cannot know the mind of God, unless God himself reveals it; so the Apostle argueth (1 Cor. 2. from 12, to 16.) As no man knoweth the mind of a man, but the spirit of a man that is in him, so the things of the spirit of God knoweth no man, but the spirit of God, and he to whom the Spirit of God doth reveal them. And therefore though a man may have an ability to interpret the word of God, as 'tis an excellent book, a book full of admirable knowledge, he may (I say) have an ability to interpret it soundly by humane learning, yet no man can do it savingly and convertingly, but by the help of the Spirit. (Psal. 25.14.) The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him, and he will show them his Covenant; he will show it effectually, he will make them know it. Thus David prayed (Psal. 119.18.) Lord open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy Law. Natural parts and humane learning, arts and languages may give us an understanding of the tenor and literal meaning of the Law of God; but none of these can open our eyes to behold the wonders of the Law, much less the wonders and mysteries of the Gospel.