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

This rendering hath a very profitable sense in it, leading Job to reason thus with himself, I plainly see by all that hath been discoursed, that for as much as I am not able to bear the brightness, which breaks through the Clouds, nor the noise of Thunder (of which Elihu spake before) for as much as I am not able to bear the fierceness of a great Rain, nor the coldness of the Frost, nor the impetuousness of the Wind, nor the violence of a Tempest, for as much as I am not able to bear the clear light of the Sun shining in my face, therefore surely I am much less able to bear the Majesty and glory of God, if he should unveil or open himself unto me. Thus I say, Elihu leads Job to an humbling conviction, that he could not stand before the glorious Majesty of God, because he was not able to endure the brightness of the Sun shining upon him. If the light of the Sun, the Created light, be too excellent for mortal eyes, then what is God the Creating light? what is God, who dwelleth in light, who is light, and in whom there is no darkness at all? 'Tis a Maxim in Nature,¹ A •isible object exceeding bright, dazzles the eye, and even destroys the sight. And why was all this spoken to Job? Surely to bring him upon his knees (as afterwards it did) to humble him, to take him off from his frequent appeals or desires of approach to God for the debate and determination of his cause. The sum of all in a word is as if Elihu had said, O Job, thou canst not see the bright light of the Air, if the wind do but fan it and cleanse the Clouds, how then shalt thou be able to dispute thy cause before God, to whom the most glorious light of the Sun, is but a Cloud, yea but as a clod of earth? The next words carry on this conviction yet further.

This rendring hath a very profitable sense in it, leading Job to reason thus with himself, I plainly see by all that hath been discoursed, that for as much as I am not able to bear the brightness, which breaks through the Clouds, nor the noise of Thunder (of which Elihu spake before) for as much as I am not able to bear the fiercenes• of a great Rain, nor the coldness of the Frost, nor the impetuousness of the Wind, nor the violence of a Tempest, for as much as I am not able to bear the clear light of the Sun shining in my face, therefore surely I am much less able to bear the Majesty and glory of God, if he should unvaile or open himself unto me. Thus I say, Elihu leads Job to an humbling conviction, that he could not stand before the glorious Majesty of God, because he was not able to endure the brightness of the Sun shining upon him. If the light of the Sun, the Created light, be too excellent for mortal eyes, then what is God the Creating light? what is God, who dwelleth in light, who is light, and in whom there is no darkness at all? 'Tis a Maxime in Nature,