A35535:593
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.
Thus Elihu saith, I know not to give flattering titles. And doubtless, 'tis best being an Idiot, or a bungler at the doing of that which is not good, or (as the Apostle saith, some are to every good work) to be reprobate to every evil work, and word. How knowing are they, who can say in truth, they know not how to lie, or flatter, &c. I dare not say (with the Papists) that ignorance ⟨p. 131⟩is, but I am sure this nescience is not only the mother of devotion, but a great point of devotion it self. And, in this sense every godly man, and only a godly man knoweth not how to do evil.
Thus Elihu saith, I know not to give flattering titles. And doubtlesse, 'tis best being an Ideot, or a bungler at the doing of that which is not good, or (as the Apostle saith, some are to every good work) to be reprobate to every evill work, and word. How knowing are they, who can say in truth, they know not how to lie, or flatter, &c. I dare not say (with the Papists) that ignorance ⟨p. 131⟩is, but I am sure this nescience is not only the mother of devotion, but a great poynt of devotion it selfe. And, in this sence every godly man, and only a godly man knoweth not how to doe evill.
For as the wicked may have the Theory of good works, and know what it is to pray, what it is to hear the word of God, yet they have no skill, they are not studied, nor fitted for the practise of those works; So a godly man may know in speculation what it is to do wickedly, and how to do it as well as the most wicked man in the world, yet he is not at all disposed nor ready for the practise of any wickedness. As nature makes us reprobate to good, so grace to evil works. The Prophet saith of a bad sort of men, (Jer: 4.22.) They are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge. Were they an ignorant people? No, the meaning is, they had not set themselves to learn the doing of that good which they knew; theirs were not sins of ignorance, but of wilfulness, and perverseness. So on the other hand, 'tis the commendation of the people of God, They are wise to do good, but to do evil they have no knowledge. I know not to give flattering titles.