The Hebrew is, Let me not lift up any mans person; or (which the Apostle forbids) Let me not have any mans person in admiration; I will not over-reverence any man, nor give him a respect beyond himself. The word which we render person, 1is in Hebrew, face, Let me not lift up the face of a man, or wonder at any mans face, as the Septuagint often render this phrase. And it is usual to put the face, or the countenance for the person, because the face declares the person and shows who the mans is; and it is elegantly expressed by the face, because accepting of persons, importeth a respect to others for their outside, or in consideration ⟨p. 120⟩of some external glory. Let me not accept the face of any man, or person, let him be who he will. The original word ish, most properly signifieth an eminent, or honourable man, a learned or wise man. As if Elihu had said, I will not accept or lift up the face of a man, though he be (ish) a man never so much lifted up, and exalted above his brethren. To accept the person of a man, is not a fault in it self; for as our persons are accepted of God, so ought our persons to be accepted with one another; yea, it is a duty to accept the person of a man; that is, to give him favour, honour, and due respect. Not only civility and humanity, but religion it self calls us to give outward reverence to them who excel, and are superior, either to others of our selves. God himself is said to accept the persons of his people first, and th•• their sacrifices or services. And we ought to accept the persons of men according to their differences in place and power, especially according to those gifts and Graces, which shine in them. Therefore when Elihu saith, Let me not, I pray you, accept any mans person, his meaning is, let me not do it in prejudice to the cause or truth that is before us. Then we are properly and strictly said to accept persons, when in any matter, business, or point of controversy, our eyes are so dazzled or blinded by external appearances, that we have respect rather to the person of the man, then to the matter, or the truth of the cause in hand. So then, this sin of accepting persons, is always committed when we are more swayed by, or when there is more attributed to persons then to things, that is, when the mans worth is more looked to then the wo•th or merit of his cause;
The Hebrew is, Let me not lift up any mans person; or (which the Apostle forbids) Let me not have any mans person in admiration; I will not over-reverence any man, nor give him a respect beyond himselfe. The word which we render person, 1is in Hebrew, face, Let me not lift up the face of a man, or wonder at any mans face, as the Septuagint often render this phrase. And it is usuall to put the face, or the countenance for the person, because the face declares the person and shews who the mans is; and it is elegantly expressed by the face, because accepting of persons, importeth a respect to others for their outside, or in consideration ⟨p. 120⟩of some externall glory. Let me not accept the face of any man, or person, let him be who he will. The originall word ish, most properly signifieth an eminent, or honourable man, a learned or wise man. As if Elihu had sayd, I will not accept or lift up the face of a man, though he be (ish) a man never so much lifted up, and exalted above his brethren. To accept the person of a man, is not a fault in it selfe; for as our persons are accepted of God, so ought our persons to be accepted with one another; yea, it is a duty to accept the person of a man; that is, to give him favour, honour, and due respect. Not only civility and humanity, but religion it selfe calls us to give outward reverence to them who excell, and are superior, either to others of our selves. God himselfe is sayd to accept the persons of his people first, and th•• their sacrifices or services. And we ought to accept the persons of men according to their differences in place and power, especially according to those gifts and Graces, which shine in them. Therefore when Elihu saith, Let me not, I pray you, accept any mans person, his meaning is, let me not doe it in prejudice to the cause or truth that is before us. Then we are properly and strictly sayd to accept persons, when in any matter, businesse, or poynt of controversie, our eyes are so dazel'd or blinded by external appearances, that we have respect rather to the person of the man, then to the matter, or the truth of the cause in hand. So then, this sin of accepting persons, is alwayes committed when we are more swayed by, or when there is more attributed to persons then to things, that is, when the mans worth is more looked to then the wo•th or merit of his cause;
- 1[Greek or Hebrew]〈non-Latin alphabet〉
