A35538:612
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 12-15
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.
I answer to the first, These terrible words are not levelled nor intended against any high arm (eo nomine) upon that account, because it is high. God is not angry with the highness of men. They who are highest, and have the highest arm among men, may be highly pleasing unto God. The highest powers on earth, are of Gods ordaining and appointing; now, God cannot be against his own ordinances and appointments; therefore he never b•eaks the high arm, because 'tis high in power, but because 'tis high in wickedness. So then we may be confident, 'tis only the high ⟨p. 142⟩arm of the wicked which is here threatened to be broken.
I answer to the first, These terrible words are not levell'd nor intended against any high arm (eo nomine) upon that account, because it is high. God is not angry with the highness of men. They who are highest, and have the highest arm among men, may be highly pleasing unto God. The highest powers on earth, are of Gods ordaining and appointing; now, God cannot be against his own ordinances and appointments; therefore he never b•eaks the high arm, because 'tis high in power, but because 'tis high in wickedness. So then we may be confident, 'tis only the high ⟨p. 142⟩arm of the wicked which is here threatned to be broken.
To the second and third Queries, I answer in a word; It is God who breaks the high arm, and he breaks it in what manner, and by what means soever pleaseth him.
In which we may see a signal work of divine Providence, which doth not suffer the difference of good and evil, of right and wrong, to pass long unobserved. And in this passage possibly, the Lord might intend a refutation of what Job said (Chap. 10.3.) That God shined upon the Counsels of the wicked: For seeing the very light or life of the wicked is with-holden from them, and their high arm broken, doth not God declare and testify that he loveth righteousness, and hateth iniquity? And if the ministration of Divine Justice lye in the dark at any time, doth not the return of the light every day intimate, that a day of the revelation of the righteous Judgment of God is at hand? The high arm shall be broken.