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 though Elihu doth not say from what they cannot hide themselves, yet we may take it two ways; they cannot hide themselves, first, from the sight of God; he will discern them. The Prophet saith of God (Isa. 45.15.) Thou art a God that hidest thy self, (it is the word of the Text in another construction) that is, as I conceive, it may be expounded, Thou art an invisible God. God hides himself naturally, or in his own nature, for that is invisible: likewise God sometimes hideth himself voluntarily, as sometimes he manifesteth or showeth himself voluntarily; but he is a God always hid as to his nature, because he is invisible; and so he is called a God that hideth himself, in opposition to Idols or false gods, who are obvious to the eyes of men; Idols have eyes and see not, but themselves are seen by every eye. Jehovah the true God seeth, but hath no eye, neither can any eye see him; Thus he is a God hiding himself in the spirituality of his own being, which gross Idols cannot: the following words in that Text in the Prophet seem to make out this sense, (vers. 16.) They shall be ashamed and confounded all of them, (that is, all Idol-makers, and Idol-worshippers, shall be ashamed and confounded) they shall go to confusion together, that are makers of Idols. Now, as God hideth himself both these ways, sometimes voluntarily, or in his will, he resolves to hide himself from his people, as David complained, ⟨p. 669⟩(Psal. 13.1.) How long wilt thou hide thy face from me?) always in the spirituality of his own nature; so sinful men would be hidden too: though they cannot be hidden as to their nature, that being corporeal, yet they would hide themselves in their will, their wits are bent upon it, to make covers and shadows for themselves, that they may keep out of the sight of God, or that they may not be seen of him, who cannot be seen, but is, in that sense, a God that hideth himself.

For though Elihu doth not say from what they cannot hide themselves, yet we may take it two wayes; they cannot hide themselves, first, from the sight of God; he will discern them. The Prophet saith of God (Isa. 45.15.) Thou art a God that hidest thy self, (it is the word of the Text in another construction) that is, as I conceive, it may be expounded, Thou art an invisible God. God hides himself naturally, or in his own nature, for that is invisible: likewise God somtimes hideth himself voluntarily, as somtimes he manifesteth or sheweth himself voluntarily; but he is a God alwayes hid as to his nature, because he is invisible; and so he is called a God that hideth himself, in opposition to Idols or false gods, who are obvious to the eyes of men; Idols have eyes and see not, but themselves are seen by every eye. Jehovah the true God seeth, but hath no eye, neither can any eye see him; Thus he is a God hiding himself in the spirituality of his own being, which gross Idols cannot: the following words in that Text in the Prophet seem to make out this sence, (vers. 16.) They shall be ashamed and confounded all of them, (that is, all Idol-makers, and Idol-worshippers, shall be ashamed and confounded) they shall go to confusion together, that are makers of Idols. Now, as God hideth himself both these wayes, somtimes voluntarily, or in his will, he resolves to hide himself from his people, as David complain'd,