A35537:1298
An exposition with practical observations continued upon the thirty-fifth, thirty-sixth, and thirty-seventh chapters of…
An exposition with practical observations continued upon the thirty-fifth, thirty-sixth, and thirty-seventh chapters of the book of Job being the substance of thirty-five lectures / by Joseph Caryl ...
London: printed by M. Simmons, 1664
AN EXPOSITION WITH Practical Observations UPON The Thirty-fifth, Th… › Chapter 36 › Verses 24-25
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.
Secondly, They fail much more who extenuate and diminish the works of God, wh• obscure or eclipse his works. As in our confessions of repentance, it is a sign of a bad heart barely to report our sins before God, without aggravating them in their sinfulness; but in confession to extenuate our sin showeth a very rotten and naughty heart; so in our confessions of praise, merely •o report what God hath done for us, without putting an accent or a due emphasis upon his mercies, shows much •oldness of spirit in the duty; but to clip and lessen the works of God, to hide and darken them, to abate and detract from them, shows a base and a wicked spirit.
Secondly, They fail much more who extenuate and diminish the works of God, wh• •bscure or eclipse his workes. As in our confessions of repentance, it is a sign of a bad heart barely to report our sins before God, without aggravating them in their sinfulness; but in confession to extenuate our sin sheweth a very rotten and naughty heart; so in our confessions of praise, meerly •o report what God hath done for us, without putting an accent or a due emphasis upon his mercies, shews much •oldness of spirit in the duty; but to clip and lessen the workes of God, to hide and darken them, to abate and detract from them, shewes a base and a wicked spirit.
Thirdly, How do they fail in magnifying the works of God, who do not only conceal how good they are, but bring up an ill report upon them, as those searchers did upon the land of Canaan. Those works and dispensations of God, which (like that land) slow with milk and honey, may be looked upon and censured by some, as good for nothing but to eat up and consume those that are under them.
Thirdly, How do they fail in magnifying the workes of God, who do not only conceal how good they are, but bring up an ill report upon them, as those searchers did upon the land of Canaan. Those works and dispensations of God, which (like that land) slow with milk and honey, may be looked upon and censured by some, as good for nothing but to eat up and consume those that are under them.
Fourthly, They who ate impatient under any work of God, who murmur and repine at it, are far from magnifying the work of God.
Fifthly, They are far from magnifying the work of God, who think themselves so wise that they could mend the work of God; had they the pencil in their hand they would make fairer work of it: what huddling is here? think some; what confusion is here? say others; what sad work is here? saith a third. If we had the ordering of things what an orderly wo•ld would we make, if we had the ordering of things (as God hath) we would quickly cure and remedy all these disorders. Though such formal speeches be not uttered, yet such things are spoken in parables, the actions of some tell us such are their thoughts, as if they could mend the work of God, and govern the world with greater moderation than tis; though indeed we need not scruple to call the wisest man in the world a very dotard, if he thinks so, or that any thing can be done more equally than God hath done it. Let all ⟨p. 367⟩flesh adore, let none presume to question the work of God; let God alone with his work; as he will have no controller, so he needs no counsellor. Remember, tis mans duty to magnify his work, not to mend it, to show how good it is, not to attempt the making of it better. And indeed as it is the highest point of presumption, so of ignorance, to meddle with the mending of it. The Lord is a Rock (saith Moses, Deut. 32.4.) and his work is perfect. Who but a fool, or who but by the over-working of his own folly would venture to mend that which is already, not only perfected, but perfect, were it only the work of a man, much more when it is the work of God, the only wise God?
Fifthly, They are far from magnifying the work of God, who think themselves so wise that they could mend the work of God; had they the pensel in their hand they would make fairer work of it: what hudling is here? think some; what confusion is here? say others; what sad work is here? saith a third. If we had the ordering of things what an orderly wo•ld would we make, if we had the ordering of things (as God hath) we would quickly cure and remedy all these disorders. Though such formal speeches be not uttered, yet such things are spoken in parables, the actions of some tell us such are their thoughts, as if they could mend the work of God, and govern the world with greater moderation than tis; though indeed we need not scruple to call the wisest man in the world a very dotard, if he thinks so, or that any thing can be done more equally than God hath done it. Let all ⟨p. 367⟩flesh adore, let none presume to question the work of God; let God alone with his work; as he will have no controler, so he needs no counseller. Remember, tis mans duty to magnifie his work, not to mend it, to shew how good it is, not to attempt the making of it better. And indeed as it is the highest poynt of presumption, so of ignorance, to meddle with the mending of it. The Lord is a Rock (saith Moses, Deut. 32.4.) and his work is perfect. Who but a fool, or who but by the over-working of his own folly would venture to mend that which is already, not only perfected, but perfect, were it only the work of a man, much more when it is the work of God, the only wise God?
And that we may be provoked humbly to magnify, and for ever deterred from that proud attempt of finding fault with, or mending the work of God, consider these three things;
First, Take the argument in the text, the plainness of the work of God, it is such as may be seen afar off, none can pretend ignorance of it, or if they do, that's a vain covert, or excuse; every man may see it, man may behold it afar off, as most worthy to be magnified.
Secondly, If we do not magnify the work of God, God will lessen his own works of mercy and favour toward us.
Secondly, If we do not magnifie the work of God, God will lessen his own works of mercy and favour toward us.
Thirdly, He will do no more for us if we magnify not what he hath done. It is said (Math. 13.58.) Christ did not many mighty works there, because of their unbelief. God will do no more mighty works for them, who refuse or neglect to pay him a tribute of praise and glory for what he hath done.
Thirdly, He will do no more for us if we magnifie not what he hath done. It is said (Math. 13.58.) Christ did not many mighty works there, because of their unbeleif. God will do no more mighty works for them, who refuse or neglect to pay him a tribute of praise and glory for what he hath done.
JOB, Chap. 36. Vers. 26. 26. Behold, God is great, and we know him not, neither can the number of his years be searched out.
Elihu having called upon Job to magnify the work of God in general, proceeds to draw him to the magnifying of the special works of God in naturals: Yet before he leads him to the consideration of the greatness of those works, he invites him to consider God himself who is the Author and Disposer of them, and he invites him to consider God is three things, all which we find laid down in this 26th verse.
ELihu having called upon Job to magnifie the work of God in general, proceeds to draw him to the magnifying of the special works of God in naturals: Yet before he leads him to the consideration of the greatness of those works, he invites him to consider God himself who is the Author and Disposer of them, and he invites him to consider God is three things, all which we find laid down in this 26th verse.
First, In his Greatness; Behold God is great.
Secondly, In his Incomprehensibleness; He is great, and we know him not.
Thirdly, In his Eternity; Neither can the number of his years be searched out.
Surely he is most worthy our consideration who is great, and so great that he cannot be comprehended, and who is eternally great, whose years are numberless.
Vers. 26. Behold God is great.
The word Behold, is here a note both of Attention and admiration; O mind, O admire the greatness of God. God is great. The word rendered great, properly signifies an increasing growing greatness; God is without all increase or growth, being for ever the same,1 yet he may be said to increase, to be magnified and multiplied (as I may say) according to the apprehensions which we have of him. This word bears the signification both of much and many. God is but one and the one-most one, yet (in this sense) many. So the Septuagint renders it here, he hath, or is many, that is, he hath all perfections in him; the lines of all excellency and virtue, of all glory and perfection, centre in God alone. Thus God is much, and God is many; the one God is many, he hath many, he hath all eminences and excellencies bound up, boundlessly in him.
The word Behold, is here a note both of Attention and admiration; O mind, O admire the greatness of God. God is great. The word rendred great, properly signifies an encreasing growing greatness; God is without all encrease or growth, being for ever the same,1 yet he may be said to encrease, to be magnified and multiplied (as I may say) according to the apprehensions which we have of him. This word bears the signification both of much and many. God is but one and the one-most one, yet (in this sence) many. So the Septuagint renders it here, he hath, or is many, that is, he hath all perfections in him; the lines of all excellency and virtue, of all glory and perfection, center in God alone. Thus God is much, and God is many; the one God is many, he hath many, he hath all eminencies and excellencies bound up, boundlesly in him.
- 1[Greek or Hebrew] Et multus. & magnus, multus robore. Drus. Septuaginta legunt multus, i. e. omnibus numeris perfectus, atque omnibus perfectionibus cumilo•is.〈non-Latin alphabet〉 Et multus. & magnus, multus robore. Drus. Septuaginta legunt multus, i. e. omnibus numeris perfectus, atque omnibus perfectionibus cumilo•is.