Now in Man, what is weaker than his Breath? which will scarce blow away a Straw (and his weakness is usually expressed by this, that his Breath is in his Nostrils.) Now estimate the Strength of God according unto what is said in the Scriptures of God, (and that as to this point of destroying us) after the manner of Men. By the very Breath of his Nostrils we are consumed, Job 4. 9. His Power is such, that he needs put forth no more (as it were) to destroy us. His very Weakness is enough. Job had in the same verse, first said, By the Blast of him we perish: but because a Blast imports some forcibleness, the utmost might of what is in a Man's Breath, and it is a Man's ⟨p. 128⟩putting forth his Breath with a more than ordinary violence; therefore by way of Diminution and Correction he adds, By the Breath of his Nostrils; that is, (still measuring it, as spoken, after the similitude and manner of Men) by the most ordinary and weakest putting forth of his Power. And yet we see if he puts forth no more, he blows us to Destruction, when his intent is to destroy: And why? For of us the Scriptures use a comparison suitable thereto, in saying that We are but as the Dust of the Balance, Isa. 40. 15. Yea, all the Nations (put all together) are but as the small Dust of the Balance: As that little that is left in the Balance, when what is weighed is taken forth, which is easily blown away with a Man's Breath. Again, yet lower, in Man; his Nod is of less force than his Breath: and yet, Lo, at the rebuke of his Countenance we perish, Psal. 80. 16. He can look on one that is proud, and abase him; and his Eye can cast about Rage and Destruction, Job 40. 11, 12, 13. He had said before, ver. 9. Hast thou an Arm like God? He riseth from the Power of his Nod, the weakness of his Power, unto the Power of his Arm: And so may we, from his Looks to his Breath, from that to his ⟨p. 129⟩little Finger, from that to his Fist, from that to his Arm and Hands, in which his Strength is said to lie, Luke 1. 51. O think how dreadful then it must needs be, to fall into those Hands, (as here in the Text,) into those Hands, I say, that measure the Waters in the hollow of them, that span the Heavens, and at the same time comprehend also all the Dust of the Earth in one grasp, as one of us doth a little Pebble. And verse 15. Takes up the Isles as a very little thing;
Now in Man, what is weaker than his Breath? which will scarce blow away a Straw (and his weakness is usually expressed by this, that his Breath is in his Nostrils.) Now estimate the Strength of God according unto what is said in the Scriptures of God, (and that as to this point of destroying us) after the manner of Men. By the very Breath of his Nostrils we are consumed, Job 4. 9. His Power is such, that he needs put forth no more (as it were) to destroy us. His very Weakness is enough. Job had in the same verse, first said, By the Blast of him we perish: but because a Blast imports some forcibleness, the utmost might of what is in a Man's Breath, and it is a Man's ⟨p. 128⟩putting forth his Breath with a more than ordinary violence; therefore by way of Diminution and Correction he adds, By the Breath of his Nostrils; that is, (still measuring it, as spoken, after the similitude and manner of Men) by the most ordinary and weakest putting forth of his Power. And yet we see if he puts forth no more, he blows us to Destruction, when his intent is to destroy: And why? For of us the Scriptures use a comparison suitable thereto, in saying that We are but as the Dust of the Ballance, Isa. 40. 15. Yea, all the Nations (put all together) are but as the small Dust of the Ballance: As that little that is left in the Ballance, when what is weighed is taken forth, which is easily blown away with a Man's Breath. Again, yet lower, in Man; his Nod is of less force than his Breath: and yet, Lo, at the rebuke of his Countenance we perish, Psal. 80. 16. He can look on one that is proud, and abase him; and his Eye can cast about Rage and Destruction, Job 40. 11, 12, 13. He had said before, ver. 9. Hast thou an Arm like God? He riseth from the Power of his Nod, the weakness of his Power, unto the Power of his Arm: And so may we, from his Looks to his Breath, from that to his ⟨p. 129⟩little Finger, from that to his Fist, from that to his Arm and Hands, in which his Strength is said to lie, Luke 1. 51. O think how dreadful then it must needs be, to fall into those Hands, (as here in the Text,) into those Hands, I say, that measure the Waters in the hollow of them, that span the Heavens, and at the same time comprehend also all the Dust of the Earth in one grasp, as one of us doth a little Pebble. And verse 15. Takes up the Isles as a very little thing;
