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…

First, That he would use stronger arguments then they had done; I will not use yours, that is, weak ones, I purpose to come better prepared to the Combat then you; For though Elihu doth sometimes use such arguments as they, yet he doth not use them to their end to prove that Job acted rebelliously, or like a ⟨p. 98⟩wicked man against God, as they did: but to show, that he carried himself too highly, or over-confidently towards God. And this (as it appears by the issue) took more upon Job then all his friends hard suspicions, charges, and accusations. This humbled him, this silenced him; he had nothing to return, but sate down convinced; and therefore Elihu dealt with him in more strength of reason and divine authority then they had done.

First, That he would use stronger arguments then they had done; I will not use yours, that is, weake ones, I purpose to come better prepared to the Combate then you; For though Elihu doth sometimes use such arguments as they, yet he doth not use them to their end to prove that Job acted rebelliously, or like a ⟨p. 98⟩wicked man against God, as they did: but to shew, that he carried himselfe too highly, or over-confidently towards God. And this (as it appeares by the issue) tooke more upon Job then all his friends hard suspitions, charges, and accusations. This humbled him, this silenced him; he had nothing to returne, but sate downe convinced; and therefore Elihu dealt with him in more strength of reason and divine authority then they had done.

Secondly, When Elihu saith, I will not answer him with your speeches, he seems to engage that he would deal mildly, with him, or without passion; he would not use bitter words, but debate and argue the matter gently and meekly. For though Elihu gave Job many severe reproofs, yet always in a more friendly manner, not to prove that he had done wickedly, but to convince him that he had spoken overboldly; or that while he was so zealous to defend his own innocency, he sometimes intrencht upon the sovereignty of God, in his eager and earnest desire of pleading his cause before him. And surely it was but need that Job should have a man of a milder temper sent in to speak to him, else his spirit might have been quite over-whelmed and sunk. Nor was it without the special hand of God, that after this poor afflicted soul had been so hardly used, and so grievously censured by those rigid disputants, he should at last mere with a man more meek and compassionate, in some measure, to mitigate and allay his sorrow.