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…

There is a twofold wisdom; First, that which is merely rational; Secondly, that which is spiritual; or there is first, a common; secondly, an holy wisdom; Elihu expected wisdom of both sorts, but chiefly of the latter, from multitude of years. He expected they would teach the wisdom which the Spirit of God had taught them;¹ that wisdom which consists in the true knowledge of God and of our selves, that wisdom which is from above, that which man hath not from himself, nor is taught him by days or years, by use or experience only. And it was very probable, that they who from their youth had been instructed in the things of God, being grown old, should also be grown further in this wisdom, and riper in this sort of knowledge. And therefore Elihu spake according to the rule of right reason, when he judged that those three aged men had attained to a very high degree of divine light. Such is the goodness of God to his people, that usually they grow in grace and knowledge as they grow in years; For though God is Debtor to no man (but Creditor to all men) and though old age in it self considered, deserves nothing of God, yea is not only undeserving, but (because sin multiplies as our days do) ill deserving, yet as Christ saith, To him that hath, (that is, who useth and improveth what he hath) more shall be given; And therefore though true wisdom be a free gift, and is infused and wrought by the Spirit of God, yet we may in probability, and ought according to charity, judge, that they who have most days, have also most wisdom. Though wisdom be not entailed upon old age, yet there we are most likely to find it. I said multitude of years should teach wisdom.

There is a twofold wisdome; First, that which is meerely rational; Secondly, that which is spirituall; or there is first, a common; secondly, an holy wisdome; Elihu expected wisdome of both sorts, but chiefely of the latter, from multitude of yeares. He expected they would teach the wisdome which the Spirit of God had taught them;¹ that wisdome which consists in the true knowledge of God and of our selves, that wisdome which is from above, that which man hath not from himselfe, nor is taught him by dayes or yeares, by use or experience only. And it was very probable, that they who from their youth had been instructed in the things of God, being growne old, should also be growne further in this wisdome, and riper in this sort of knowledge. And therefore Elihu spake according to the rule of right reason, when he judged that those three aged men had attained to a very high degree of divine light. Such is the goodnesse of God to his people, that usually they grow in grace and knowledge as they grow in yeares; For though God is Debror to no man (but Creditor to all men) and though old age in it selfe considered, deserves nothing of God, yea is not only undeserving, but (because sin multiplyes as our dayes doe) ill deserving, yet as Christ saith, To him that hath, (that is, who useth and improveth what he hath) more shall be given; And therefore though true wisdome be a free gift, and is infused and wrought by the Spirit of God, yet we may in probability, and ought according to charity, judge, that they who have most dayes, have also most wisdome. Though wisdome be not entayled upon old age, yet there we are most likely to finde it. I sayd multitude of yeares should teach wisdome.