An exposition with practical observations continued upon the thirty-fifth, thirty-sixth, and thirty-seventh chapters of…

The Hebrew is, when people ascend. The Original Scripture expresseth dying by ascending, though the death of the wicked is rather ⟨p. 314⟩a descending. ¹It is said by a late Writer concerning the heathen profane and wicked Emperors of Rome, Such a one descended (that is, died) in such a year of his abomination. Now though the wicked descend when they die, yet there is a sense also wherein all men may be said to ascend when they die; and there is no doubt but the godly, as to their more noble part, ascend to God when they die. Thus the word is used in the fifth Chapter of this Book, at the 16th verse, where Eliphaz speaking of the death of a godly man, saith to Job, Thou shalt come to thy grave in a full age, like as a shock of corn cometh (or ascendeth) in his season. David deprecated an immature death under this Metaphor (Psal. 102.14.) Take me not away in the midst of mine age. The word is, let me not ascend in the midst of mine age, that is, before I have measured the usual course of life.² Thus to ascend, is the same with to be cut off; death cuts off the best from this world, and then they ascend to a better. This sense of the words suits well with the latter exposition of the night, as taken for the night of death. The word ascend, is conceived to have in it a double allusion; first, to corn which is taken up by the hand of the reaper, and then laid down on the stubble. Secondly, unto the light of a candle, which as the candle spends, or as that which is the food of the fire is spending, ascends, and at last goes out and vanisheth.

The Hebrew is, when people ascend. The Original Scripture expresseth dying by ascending, though the death of the wicked is rather ⟨p. 314⟩a descending. ¹It is said by a late Writer concerning the heathen profane and wicked Emperors of Rome, Such a one descended (that is, died) in such a year of his abomination. Now though the wicked descend when they die, yet there is a sence also wherein all men may be said to ascend when they die; and there is no doubt but the godly, as to their more noble part, ascend to God when they die. Thus the word is used in the fifth Chapter of this Book, at the 16th verse, where Eliphaz speaking of the death of a godly man, saith to Job, Thou shalt come to thy grave in a full age, like as a shock of corn cometh (or ascendeth) in his season. David deprecated an immature death under this Metaphor (