Cast thou set his force upon the earth? 1So Mr. Broughton translates. To set the dominion, is to make one have dominion, and as it were, to appoint a Lord or Governor in the earth: This is not mans work, but Gods. As if God had said to Job, Canst th•u give power to, or impower the Stars to rule day and night, to cause diversity of weathers and of seasons, to which all things here below must submit, or with which they must needs comply? The word which we read Dominion, signifies an under dominion, an inferior dominion; it signifies a Magistracy or power under a Power. The Hebrew language hath two words, the one signifying the power of a Judge, who gives the rule of the Law; and the other,2 here used, signifying the power of a Sheriff, who sees execution done. A person may be in power, and have great command, yet not the first or chief command. The Heavens have not a supreme or an absolute command over the earth, but a dominion by way of administration they have, and that a large and great one. Heaven hath a dominion so far as to execute and fulfil that which God the supreme Judge orders, determines, and gives forth, both concerning persons and things here on earth. The heavens have a ministerial dominion, respecting most changes wrought in this world. ⟨p. 254⟩Their ministry respects, not only the constant and usual changes of times and seasons barely considered, but they have also a ministry with respect to those usual and rare changes, which (according to the appointment of God) befall the persons and conditions of men in this world. Canst thou set the dominion thereof in the earth? Thou canst not; but I can and have, I have set and determined what dominion the Heavens shall have upon the earth, or how they shall exercise their dominion.
Cast thou set his force upon the earth? 1So Mr. Broughton translates. To set the dominion, is to make one have dominion, and as it were, to appoint a Lord or Governour in the earth: This is not mans work, but Gods. As if God had said to Job, Canst th•u give power to, or impower the Stars to rule day and night, to cause diversity of weathers and of seasons, to which all things here below must submit, or with which they must needs comply? The word which we read Dominion, signifies an under dominion, an inferior dominion; it signifies a Magistracy or power under a Power. The Hebrew language hath two words, the one signifying the power of a Judge, who gives the rule of the Law; and the other,2 here used, signifying the power of a Sheriff, who sees execution done. A person may be in power, and have great command, yet not the first or chief command. The Heavens have not a supream or an absolute command over the earth, but a dominion by way of administration they have, and that a large and great one. Heaven hath a dominion so far as to execute and fulfil that which God the supream Judge orders, determines, and gives forth, both concerning persons and things here on earth. The heavens have a ministerial dominion, respecting most changes wrought in this world. ⟨p. 254⟩Their ministry respects, not only the constant and usual changes of times and seasons barely considered, but they have also a ministry with respect to those usual and rare changes, which (according to the appointment of God) befal the persons and conditions of men in this world. Canst thou set the dominion thereof in the earth? Thou canst not; but I can and have, I have set and determined what dominion the Heavens shall have upon the earth, or how they shall exercise their dominion.
- 1Ponere dominium est facere ut dominetur, & quasi dominum constituere. Ho• homo non facit, sed solus Deus. Drus.
- 2Qui simplicitèr judicat & sententiam pronunciat dicitur [Greek or Hebrew] Sed executor, qui judicatum exequitur & cogit refractarios obedire sententi•• judicis dicitur [Greek or Hebrew]Qui simplicitèr judicat & sententiam pronunciat dicitur 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 Sed executor, qui judicatum exequitur & cogit refractarios obedire sententi•• judicis dicitur 〈non-Latin alphabet〉
