A35538:1144
An exposition with practical observations continued upon the thirty-eighth, thirty-ninth, fortieth, forty-first, and forty-second,…
An exposition with practical observations continued upon the thirty-eighth, thirty-ninth, fortieth, forty-first, and forty-second, being the five last, chapters of the book of Job being the substance of fifty-two lectures or meditations / by Joseph Caryl ...
London: printed by M. and S. Simmons, 1666
Title page typeset from the transcription.
AN EXPOSITION WITH Practical Observations UPON The Thirty-eighth, T… › Chapter 38 › Verse 34-38
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.
Hence note; The wisest among men can neither exactly tell how many the clouds are, nor fully demonstrate what they are.
As the number and nature of the stars, so of the clouds (which are beneath the stars) exceed mans wisdom. The least and lowest works of God are above mans reach, how much more his greatest works, and those which are far above?
Yet further, from this word which we translate to number, to declare, or demonstrate, that precious stone the Sapphire, mentioned often in Scriptures hath its name;1 and so the Text is rendered thus, who can make the clouds saph•rine, or like a Sapphire? the meaning is, who can make the clouds bright and clear l ke the Sapphire-stone? The Sapphire is a most pleasant resplendent and beautiful gem: That glorious throne which was showed the Prophet in vision (Ezek. 1.26.) had the appearance •f a Saph••-stone, that is, it had a most excellent and illustrious appearance. Now ⟨p. 273⟩saith the Lord who can make the clouds (dark of themselves) like a Sapphire-stone? that is, serene, pleasant, beautiful, and delightful to the eye. God can make bright clouds (Zech. 10.1.) clouds wonderful fair and pleasant to behold, even as pleasing to the eye as a precious Sapphire. As this translation holds out a truth in it self, so 'tis very suitable to that which followeth, Or who can stay the bottles of heaven?