The general scope and aim of God, in putting questions to Job about these living creatures, seems to answer a secret doubt which some might have concerning his providence. True, the Lord governs the Heavens, the Stars, the Thunder, the Lightnings, the Rain; but doth he look after things below? Yea, the Lords care and providence about inferior creatures, is very great, condescending to the very wild beasts of the earth,1 to the fowls of the air, as also, to the fish of the Sea; and hence the Lord would have Job understand, that surely he had a much greater care of him, and of the affairs of the children of men. Who can but conclude, That if the Lord hath such a respect to these irrational ⟨p. 280⟩creatures, which live only the life of sense, then much more hath he a care of man, and among men, of good men, who are his children, and of them most of all in their afflictions and troubles. So that, the Lord by these questions, seems to bespeak Job thus: How comes it to pass, that thou shouldst so much as doubt, whether I take care of thee or no, when I take care of, and look to the wild beasts of the earth, to the fowls that fly in the air, yea, to the fish that swim unseen in the Sea? Or thus, Am I thus solicitous to look after Lions and Goats, Hinds and Unicorns, the Ostrich and the Peacock? &c. am I so careful to look after these creatures, 2many of which are of very little use to man, and some of them a trouble to man? and dost thou think I will not have a care of thee? learn therefore from what I now question thee about, that I can never be cruel to thee, or forgetful of my faithful servants, who am mindful of the brute beasts and ravenous birds. This seems to be the general tendency of the Lords discourse with Job, continued from the close of this 38. Chapter, quite through the 39. a great part of the 40. and the whole 41 Chapter.
The general scope and aim of God, in putting questions to Job about these living creatures, seems to answer a secret doubt which some might have concerning his p•ovidence. True, the Lord governs the Heavens, the Stars, the Thunder, the Lightnings, the Rain; but doth he look after things below? Yea, the Lords care and providence about inferior creatures, is very great, condescending to the very wilde beasts of the earth,1 to the fowls of the air, as also, to the fish of the Sea; and hence the Lord would have Job understand, that surely he had a much greater care of him, and of the affairs of the children of men. Who can but conclude, That if the Lord hath such a respect to these irrational ⟨p. 280⟩creatures, which live only the life of sence, then much more hath he a care of man, and among men, of good men, who are his children, and of them most of all in their afflictions and troubles. So that, the Lord by these questions, seems to bespeak Job thus: How comes it to pass, that thou shouldst so much as doubt, whether I take care of thee or no, when I take care of, and look to the wilde beasts of the earth, to the fowls that flie in the air, yea, to the fish that swim unseen in the Sea? Or thus, Am I thus solicitous to look after Lions and Goats, Hinds and Ʋnicorns, the Ostrich and the Peacock? &c. am I so careful to look after these creatures, 2many of which are of very little use to man, and some of them a trouble to man? and dost thou think I will not have a care of thee? learn therefore from what I now question thee about, that I can never be cruel to thee, or forgetful of my faithful servants, who am mindful of the bruit beasts and ravenous birds. This seems to be the general tendency of the Lords discourse with Job, continued from the close of this 38. Chapter, quite through the 39. a great part of the 40. and the whole 41 Chapter.
- 1Ego qui omnio justa dispensation procuro, circa te tantum O Job videbor injustus. Philip.Ego qui omnio justa dispensatione procuro, circa te tantum O Job videbor injustus. Philip.
- 2Ut dis•at Job Deum non saevum esse in suos, qui tam beneficus sit in feras. ChrysostƲt dis•at Job Deum non saevum esse in suos, qui tam beneficus sit in feras. Chrysost
