Or according to the strictness of the Hebrew, My righteousness is before Gods. The Preposition here used is often taken comparatively, and hath the same signification with that (Math. 11.19.) where Christ saith (as we translate) Wisdom is justified of her Children; that is, Christ, or the Doctrine of the Gospel, the Divine Light that shines there, is justified, that is approved and declared just, by all who are her Children indeed, born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. This is a good and profitable sense. Though strangers do not, will not justify Wisdom, yet her Children do and will. Nevertheless that comparative translation, and reading, which some contend for, carrieth in it a clear truth also, and serves to illustrate this Text in Job, now under-hand. Wisdom is justified more than her children, or rather than her children, or before her children. That is, more, rather, and before the Scribes and Pharisees, who pretended highly, that they were the children, yea the chief, if not the only children of Wisdom; and while they made this boast, they really resisted and opposed Jesus Christ, who is wisdom, and in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom: And therefore how much soever the Scribes and Pharisees flattered themselves in their own opinion, or were applauded, and preferred by others, as children of wisdom, or as very wise men; yet Jesus Christ the true Wisdom, was justified by God, and all good men, more than they, or before, yea infinitely before them; he was justified fully, but they ⟨p. 8⟩not at all. Such a negative sense Christ intends, in that comparative determination, between the Publican and the Pharisee (Luke 18.14.) I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: That is, the Publican went home justified rather, or righteous rather, or more righteous than the Pharisee; the proud Pharisee, not being at all justified, nor righteous, but in his own eyes. Some Comparatives imply a perfect Negative to the opposite party, others only a partial. Such a comparative sense Elihu intimates in Jobs asse•tion of his righteousness. Thou saidst, my righteousness is more than Gods; Or I am to be justified rather than God.
Or according to the strictnesse of the Hebrew, My righteousness is before Gods. The Preposition here used is often taken comparatively, and hath the same signification with that (Math. 11.19.) where Christ saith (as we translate) Wisdome is justified of her Children; that is, Christ, or the Doctrine of the Gospel, the Divine Light that shines there, is justified, that is approved and declared just, by all who are her Children indeed, born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. This is a good and profitable sence. Though strangers do not, will not justifie Wisdome, yet her Children do and will. Neverthelesse that comparative translation, and reading, which some contend for, carrieth in it a clear truth also, and serves to illustrate this Text in Job, now under-hand. Wisdome is justified more than her children, or rather than her children, or before her children. That is, more, rather, and before the Scribes and Pharisees, who pretended highly, that they were the children, yea the chief, if not the only children of Wisdome; and while they made this boast, they really resisted and opposed Jesus Christ, who is wisdome, and in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdome: And therefore how much soever the Scribes and Pharisees flattered themselves in their own opinion, or were applauded, and preferred by others, as children of wisdome, or as very wise men; yet Jesus Christ the true Wisdome, was justified by God, and all good men, more than they, or before, yea infinitely before them; he was justified fully, but they ⟨p. 8⟩not at all. Such a negative sence Christ intends, in that comparative determination, between the Publican and the Pharisee (Luke 18.14.) I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: That is, the Publican went home justified rather, or righteous rather, or more righteous than the Pharisee; the proud Pharisee, not being at all justified, nor righteous, but in his own eyes. Some Comparatives imply a perfect Negative to the opposite party, others only a partial. Such a comparative sence Elihu intimates in Jobs asse•tion of his righteousness. Thou saidst, my righteousnesse is more than Gods; Or I am to be justified rather than God.
