A35535:187
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.
Because they were elder then he; and good reason that he should wait upon his elders.
Because they were elder then he; and good reason that he should waite upon his elders.
1The Hebrew is, They were elder for days; they were not only old men for days, but elder for days then he; The word, strictly taken, imports a man more then old, even one that is worn with age. Further, it denotes a two-fold eldership; First, an eldership in time, days or years. Secondly, an eldership in wisdom, and understanding. They are our elders indeed, who are wiser then we; eldership in time deserves respect, but eldership in wisdom commands it. And as such are expressed by this word in the Hebrew, so both the Grecians and Romans express their wise men by ⟨p. 37⟩a word of the same force; Senators were elders, not always in time (there was no Law much less necessity that every Senator should be an old man) but in understanding: every Senator ought to be a wise man, though not an old man. They who are to govern others wisely, had need be furnished with wisdom themselves. Grey hairs alone cannot make a good Magistrate. We read the word applied both to Church-Elders called (Isa. 37.2.) The Elders of the Priests, and to State-Elders, called Elders of the people (Exod. 17.5.) or of the Land (Gen. 50.7.) The Elders of the Land of Egypt went with them. 'Tis said (Psal. 105.21, 22.) Pharaoh made Joseph Lord of his house, and ruler of all his substance, to bind his Princes at his pleasure, & teach his Senators wisdom. Young Joseph made Pharaohs wise men wiser, and gave counsel to his counsellors. Here Elihu calls Jobs friends Elders, and we may take him either speaking strictly, that they were his Elders in time, or speaking modestly, that they were his Elders in wisdom, knowledge, and understanding, and therefore he was not hasty to speak, but gave them their scope, waiting till Job had spoken, Because they were elder then he.