A35538:1407
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 39 › Verse 5-8
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.
In these two cases we may imitate the wild Ass, and dwell in the wilderness; but for any to make it their choice, let them consider where they have a rule for it. Man is a sociable creature, and ought to be helpful and useful to others, and not wholly to confine himself to himself, as they do, who are and are called Anchorites and Hermits. To serve our Country, and to observe the Law of Nations for the common good of mankind, is better than upon any pretence of devotion, or converse with God, to seclude our selves totally from the company and converse of men. And seeing God hath made us for the good of humane society, it is inhumane, voluntarily and electively to disjoin and exempt our selves from the Laws of society. Aristotle said, concerning decliners of society, He that affects solitude, 1is either a God, or a beast; h• either lives above man as God doth, or below man as beasts do. The Reader will easily pardon me this short diversion against unnecessitated solitude, thus occasioned by the solitary dwelling of the wild Ass in the wilderness ⟨p. 338⟩and barren Land. And I have the rather touch it, because I find the wits of some running somewhat wild in the Allegory of the wild Ass in the Text, as if he were a very fitting resemblance of a contemplative man.
In these two cases we may imitate the wilde Ass, and dwell in the wilderness; but for any to make it their choice, let them consider where they have a rule for it. Man is a sociable creature, and ought to be helpful and useful to others, and not wholly to confine himself to himself, as they do, who are and are called Anchorets and Hermites. To serve our Country, and to observe the Law of Nations for the common good of mankind, is better than upon any pretence of devotion, or converse with God, to seclude our selves totally from the company and converse of men. And seeing God hath made us for the good of humane society, it is inhumane, voluntarily and electively to disjoyn and exempt our selves from the Laws of society. Aristotle said, concerning decliners of society, He that affects solitude, 1is either a God, or a beast; h• either lives above man as God doth, or below man as beasts do. The Reader will easily pardon me this short diversion against unnecessitated solitude, thus occasioned by the solitary dwelling of the wilde Ass in the wilderness