A35535:309
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.
'Tis a duty to show our opinion when we have a call and an occasion to show it, as Elihu here had. Some have knowledge, who will not show it; They (which Christ forbids, Math: 5.15.) put their candle under a bushel. God hath lighted a candle, and set it up in some mens spirits, yet they either quite conceal or much obscure it. God hath given them a talent of knowledge, and they like the unprofitable servant, wrap it up in a Napkin. They will not show their opinion. Not to show what we have, when called to it, is a denial that we have it. As good not have a candle, or a talent, as let our candle be hid, or hide our talent. The very Heathen condemned this, while they said, Covered virtue, is buried virtue. Yea while a man covers his virtues, parts, and abilities, he burieth himself alive, or is dead while he lives. As, the Scripture saith, they have only a name to be alive, but are dead, who make a show of more then they have (Rev: 3.2.) so they have a name to be dead, or may be numbered among the dead, who will not show what indeed they have.
'Tis a duty to shew our opinion when we have a call and an occasion to shew it, as Elihu here had. Some have knowledge, who will not shew it; They (which Christ forbids, Math: 5.15.) put their candle under a bushell. God hath lighted a candle, and set it up in some mens spirits, yet they either quite conceale or much obscure it. God hath given them a talent of knowledge, and they like the unprofitable servant, wrap it up in a Napkin. They will not shew their opinion. Not to shew what we have, when called to it, is a deniall that we have it. As good not have a candle, or a talent, as let our candle be hid, or hide our talent. The very Heathen condemned this, while they sayd, Covered vertue, is buried vertue. Yea while a man covers his vertues, parts, and abilities, he burieth himselfe alive, or is dead while he lives. As, the Scripture saith, they have only a name to be alive, but are dead, who make a shew of more then they have (Rev: 3.2.) so they have a name to be dead, or may be numbred among the dead, who will not shew what indeed they have.
There are two things which hinder men from showing their opinion; First, idleness, they are loath to take the pains to show it. Secondly, shamefastness; There is a commendable modesty, 'tis not good to be over-forward in showing our opinion; But that modesty is sinful, which quite hinders us from showing our opinion. They who keep in their knowledge and opinion either through idleness, or shamefastness, do almost as ill as they who show their opinion, and declare their knowledge through pride and and high-mindedness, or merely to show themselves, to show their wit, and to make a noise of their parts and learning. 'Tis sinful self-pleasing either to know only that we may know, or to publish what we know only to be known. With some 'tis nothing that they have knowledge, unless others