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

He that is perfect in knowledge is with thee.

This Assertion suits well with the fore-going Protestation:¹ He that is perfect in knowledge, will not, cannot utter words of falsehood. But who is that? and where to be found? Some understand it of God; He that is perfect in knowledge is with thee, that is, God is with thee in this business; and without all controversy, it may be said of God, in the highest and strictest sense of Perfection, He is perfect in knowledge. The Lord is a God of knowledge (1 Sam. 2.3.) as well as […] God of mercy; he is as knowing, as he is merciful, perfect in both. Taking the Text so; ⟨p. 156⟩'tis as if Elihu had said, Thou hadst need, O Job, look to thy self, and diligently attend to what is spoken, for thou hast not to do with man, with one like thy self only, but thou hast to do with God. Some insist much, yea, altogether upon this Interpretation of the word; God is with thee, therefore receive truth; God cannot be deceived, nor doth he deceive, therefore hearken and obey. Yet Elihu might speak thus with respect to the message brought by himself; for when man speaking in the Name of God speaks the mind of God to us, it may be said, God is with us, and speaks to us by him. The Apostle saith (2 Cor. 13.5.) If any require a Sign or Token of Christ speaking in me. Christ speaks, while his Messengers and Ministers speak truth. The same Apostle testified of the Thessalonians, that they took his speaking as Gods speaking, (1 Thess. 2.13.) When ye received the Word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of man, but (as it is in truth) the Word of God. And therefore I conceive we are to understand the words of Elihu concerning Elihu himself, yet not as in himself, but as fitted for, and assisted in the work by God, He that is perfect in knowledge is with thee; As if he had said, Though I am but a young man, yet thou hast not to deal with an ignorant man, with one who is but a novice or smatterer in the things of God, with one that is yet in the Elements of Divine knowledge and learning; He that is perfect in knowledge is with thee. And it is conceived that Elihu speaks thus in the third person for Modesties sake, as the Apostle Paul also did (