An exposition with practical observations continued upon the twenty-second, twenty-third, twenty-fourth, twenty-fifth, and twenty-sixth…An exposition with practicall observations continued upon the twenty-second, twenty-third, twenty-fourth, twenty-fifth, and twenty-sixth…

There is a twofold Interpretation of these words: Some understand them so, as if this mighty man here meant had been Job himself, and then the sense is thus rendered; All these evils were done by thee, and these good things not done, when thou wast a man in power, and so hadst no need to do any such evil, and hadst power enough in thy hand to do good. ¹The Vulgar translation reads it (according to this Exposition) personally of Job; In thy might thou didst possess the Earth, and being most powerful thou didst dwell in it. That is, thou wast a man in power, thou hadst all in thy hand, thou hadst water and bread enough when the poor wanted it, thou canst not say that thou wast necessitated to keep the pledge, or strip the naked, but thou in thy greatness and might didst oppress them; this interpretation (though I assent not to it) aggravates his sin exceedingly, for the more power any one hath in his hand, the greater is his sin, as in the Evil which he doth, so in the good which he doth not, or leaves undone; yea it may be said that we do evil more then they who do it, when we have power in our hand to hinder them from doing it, and do not.

There is a twofold Interpretation of these words: Some understand them so, as if this mighty man here meant had been Job himselfe, and then the sence is thus rendred; All these evills were done by thee, and these good things not done, when thou wast a man in power, and so hadst no need to doe any such evill, and hadst power enough in thy hand to doe good. ¹The Vulgar translation reads it (according to this Exposition) personally of Job; In thy might thou didst possesse the Earth, and beeing most powerfull thou didst dwell in it. That is, thou wast a man in power, thou hadst all in thy hand, thou hadst water and bread enough when the poor wanted it, thou canst not say that thou wast necessitated to keepe the pledge, or strip the naked, but thou in thy greatnesse and might didst oppresse them; this interpretation (though I assent not to it) aggravates his sin exceedingly, for the more power any one hath in his hand, the greater is his sin, as in the Evill which he doth, so in the good which he doth not, or leaves undone; yea it may be sayd that wee doe evill more then they who doe it, when wee have power in our hand to hinder them from doing it, and doe not.

1. 1Infortitudine brachij tui possidebas terram et potentissimus obtinebas eam. Vulg.

But secondly, take the words as they import the partiality of Job; The mighty man had the Earth; thou hast been over-kind and favourable to him, how hard or churlish soever thou hast been to others.

But secondly, take the words as they import the partiality of Job; The mighty man had the Earth; thou hast been over-kinde and favourable to him, how hard or churlish soever thou hast been to others.

The mighty man.

1. 1Vir brachij, est vir dignilate, opibus authoritate potens. Bold.

Again, Some understand here by the arm of the wicked man, those who are his Instruments, those who serve him, or whom he uses to supplant or suppress others, and reach his own ends by; Such may well be called the arms of mighty men, the arms of the men of the Earth. Evil men have their seconds or Instruments to do evil. Upon this Consideration it was said anciently;¹ Do not you know that Princes have long arms; the meaning is, they have Agents and Servants in the several parts of their Dominions, who are their hands or arms, both for protection of those who are peaceable, and to take revenge upon the rebellious. We commonly say of a Servant that is discreet and faithful, he is his Masters right hand. The mighty have many helpers, many arms and hands to carry on their designs, and to do their wills.

Againe, Some understand here by the arme of the wicked man, those who are his Instruments, those who serve him, or whom he uses to supplant or suppress others, and reach his owne ends by; Such may well be called the armes of mighty men, the armes of the men of the Earth. Evill men have their seconds or Instruments to doe evill. Upon this Consideration it was said anciently;¹ Doe not you know that Princes have long armes; the meaning is, they have Agents and Servants in the severall parts of their Dominions, who are their hands or armes, both for protection of those who are peaceable, and to take revenge upon the rebellious. Wee commonly say of a Servant that is discreet and faithfull, hee is his Masters right hand. The mighty have many helpers, many armes and hands to carry on their designes, and to doe their wills.

1. 1An nescis longas regibus esse inanus?

As for the mighty man, or the man of arms, he had the Earth.

As for the mighty man, or the man of armes, he had the Earth.

This stands in opposition to what was spoken before, the poor man could not get a drop of water, nor a crust of bread, but the mighty man he had the Earth; As if he had said; O Job, thou being in power didst pass away great possessions to the mighty, thou gavest both thy sentence and assistance, that they should have the Earth, but thou wouldest not help the poor so much as to a piece of bread, or a cup of water; The mighty man had the Earth; he speaks Indefinitely, as if all the Earth were his. Wicked men ⟨p. 73⟩are called men of the Earth (Psal. 10.18.) To judge the fatherless, and the oppressed, that the men of the Earth may no more oppress.

This stands in opposition to what was spoken before, the poore man could not get a drop of water, nor a crust of bread, but the mighty man he had the Earth; As if he had said; O Job, thou being in power didst passe away great possessions to the mighty, thou gavest both thy sentence and assistance, that they should have the Earth, but thou wouldest not helpe the poore so much as to a piece of bread, or a cup of water; The mighty man had the Earth; hee speakes Indefinitely, as if all the Earth were his. Wicked men ⟨p. 73⟩are called men of the Earth (Psal. 10.18.) To judge the fatherless, and the oppressed, that the men of the Earth may no more oppresse.

But it may be objected, Is not every man a man of the Earth? As Adam the first man was of the Earth, Earthy; so all men are of the Earth, Earthy; why then is it then said of a wicked man, that he is a man of the Earth, as if any man were of another Pedigree or extraction?

But it may be objected, Is not every man a man of the Earth? As Adam the first man was of the Earth, Earthy; so all men are of the Earth, Earthy; why then is it then sayd of a wicked man, that he is a man of the Earth, as if any man were of another Pedigree or extraction?

I answer; A man of the Earth is put in opposition to a man of Heaven, to a man that hath his Estate, or hope, or portion in Heaven; the Saints have their Conversation in Heaven, and though they live upon the Earth, yet they are not men of the Earth; Carnal men are Earthly-minded, they mind the Earth, and that's both their hope and business; they are not only Earth in their Constitution, but Earth in their affections, therefore they are called men of the Earth; these men had much of the Earth in their possession, as well as they had all of it in their affections & desires. The mighty man he had the Earth.

I answer; A man of the Earth is put in opposition to a man of Heaven, to a man that hath his Estate, or hope, or portion in Heaven; the Saints have their Conversation in Heaven, and though they live upon the Earth, yet they are not men of the Earth; Carnall men are Earthly-minded, they minde the Earth, and thats both their hope and buisines; they are not onely Earth in their Constitution, but Earth in their affections, therefore they are called men of the Earth; these men had much of the Earth in their possession, as well as they had all of it in their affections & desires. The mighty man he had the Earth.

Observe hence; That Evil Magistrates in Power are more ready to favour great men, then to relieve poor men.

Observe hence; That Evill Magistrates in Power are more ready to favour great men, then to releive poore men.

Eliphaz knew that Job was a Magistrate, a man in Power, and he supposeth that under his government, the poor got no bread, but the mighty men had the Earth, they had favour to have and do what they lift. It is very Common with the men of the world to be very free to those that are of the world; they are like those Clouds which we may observe sometimes blown over the dry Land, and emptying themselves into the Sea. The mighty that had store before, have more, and the poor, who had nothing, have nothing at all; Men love to bestow kindnesses upon them only to whom they are like, or whom they love. A good man helps those that are good, and wicked men care for none but such as themselves. Wicked men are called Oaks (Zech. 11.2.) Howl ye fir trees for the Cedar is fallen, (that is, the great man is fallen) because all the mighty are spoiled; howl O ye Oaks of Bashan, for the forrest of the vintage is come down. The Chaldee Paraphrase saith, Howl ye Governors of Provinces: And he calls these Governors, Oaks; ⟨p. 74⟩first, because of their strength; and, secondly, because of their fruit. What fruit do Oaks bear? only acorns; and who are fed with acorns? only swine; Acorns are but hogg• meat; he gives the allusion thus; wicked men in power, bear fruit, but it is only for swine, that is, for wicked men, they bestow the tokens of their bounty, the overplus of their plenty, upon hogs and swine, that is, upon carnal and sensual men,¹ they have nothing for the People of God, for those that are the true objects of charity; they make their horses fat, their dogs fat, none are lean but Gods poor. Thus one of the Ancients reprehends those great ones of his time; Ye clothe the walls of your houses with gold, with Arras hangings, and ye let the poor go naked; the poor ask bread, and ye give it them not; it may be your horse chews a golden Bit, and the poor man hath not a Bit of Bread. The spirits of carnal men are carried out from that which is their duty, they care not how profuse and lavish they are to those who suits with their own hearts; the poor have nothing, while the mighty man hath the Earth. Thus Eliphaz reproved Job, though indeed it was otherwise with him, as appears in the defence which he afterwards made for himself against these gross insinuations. And as to this particular he answers (Chap. 29.17.)

Eliphaz knew that Job was a Magistrate, a man in Power, and he supposeth that under his government, the poore got no bread, but the mighty men had the Earth, they had favour to have and doe what they lift. It is very Common with the men of the world to be very free to those that are of the world; they are like those Clouds which we may observe sometimes blowne over the dry Land, and emptying themselves into the Sea. The mighty that had store before, have more, and the poore, who had nothing, have nothing at all; Men love to bestow kindnesses upon them onely to whom they are like, or whom they love. A good man helps those that are good, and wicked men care for none but such as themselves. Wicked men are called Oakes (Zech. 11.2.) Howle yee firr trees for the Cedar is fallen, (that is, the great man is fallen) because all the mighty are spoyled; howle O yee Oakes of Bashan, for the forrest of the vintage is come downe. The Chaldee Paraphrase saith, Howle yee Governors of Provinces: And hee calls these Governers, Oakes; ⟨p. 74⟩first, because of their strength; and, secondly, because of their fruit. What fruit doe Oakes beare? onely acornes; and who are fed with acornes? onely swine; Acornes are but hogg• meate; hee gives the allusion thus; wicked men in power, beare fruit, but it is onely for swine, that is, for wicked men, they bestow the tokens of their bounty, the overplus of their plenty, upon hoggs and swine, that is, upon carnal and sensual men,¹ they have nothing for the People of God, for those that are the true objects of charity; they make their horses fatt, their doggs fatt, none are leane but Gods poore. Thus one of the Ancients reprehends those great ones of his time; Ye cloath the walles of your houses with gold, with Arras hangings, and ye let the poore goe naked; the poore aske bread, and ye give it them not; it may be your horse chewes a golden Bitt, and the poore man hath not a Bitt of Bread. The spirits of carnall men are carried out from that which is their duty, they care not how profuse and lavish they are to those who suits with their own hearts; the poore have nothing, while the mighty man hath the Earth. Thus Eliphaz reproved Job, though indeed it was otherwise with him, as appeares in the defence which he afterwards made for himselfe against these grosse insinuations. And as to this particular he answers (Chap. 29.17.)

1. 1Parietes vestites auro, homines veste nudatis? panem postulat homo, & equus tuus aurum sub dentibus mandit. Ambros.

I brake the Jaws of the wicked, and plucked the spoil from between his teeth; he indeed pulled the earth from the mighty, or the mighty from the earth; though Eliphaz here said, The mighty had the earth, and The honourable man dwelt in it.

I brake the Jawes of the wicked, and pluckt the spoyle from between his teeth; he indeed puld the earth from the mighty, or the mighty from the earth; though Eliphaz here sayd, The mighty had the earth, and The honourable man dwelt in it.

¹The Hebrew is, The man whose face is lifted up; which phrase is Interpreted two ways.

¹The Hebrew is, The man whose face is lifted up; which phrase is Interpreted two wayes.

1. 1Acceptus vel elevatus facie habitabat in ea. Hebr.

First, Passively; Secondly, Actively. Passively thus, the man who is lifted up by others, that is, who is respected, who is reverenced according to his place or worth;¹ All which agree with our rendering, the honourable man; And in the Hebrew, Princes and great ones are expressed by that word which signifies to lift up the face, because such are lifted up above others, and are much respected by others. So the word is used (Gen. 19.21.) See (saith the Angel to Lot) I have accepted thee; The Hebrew is, I have lifted up thy face, that is, I have respected and honoured thee by granting thy request.

First, Passively; Secondly, Actively. Passively thus, the man who is lifted up by others, that is, who is respected, who is reverenced according to his place or worth;¹ All which agree with our rendering, the honourable man; And in the Hebrew, Princes and great ones are exprest by that word which signifies to lift up the face, because such are lifted up above others, and are much respected by others. So the word is used (Gen. 19.21.) See (saith the Angel to Lot) I have accepted thee; The Hebrew is, I have lifted up thy face, that is, I have respected and honoured thee by granting thy request.

1. 1Hebraei principem vocant Nasi quasi elevatū facie & ab alijs acceptum.Hebraei principem vocant Nasi quasi elevatū facie & ab alijs acceptum.

Secondly, It may be taken actively, The man that lifts up the face dwells in the Earth; What is it to lift up the face?¹ it is to Accept Persons in Judgement, to accept him that hath the worst cause, and to reject him that hath the best cause for private ends. As if Eliphaz had said; He that respects persons, that is, who perverts justice, he hath the Earth; and so here seems to be a description of all sorts of wicked men flourishing in Jobs time and under his wing. Some oppress openly; the mighty man;² the man of arms comes by main force and obtains the earth, or the riches and fatness of the earth; Others oppress secretly and cunningly, they accept persons, and are biassed in Judgement by their own interest and advantages; The man of this strain dwelt in it.

Secondly, It may be taken actively, The man that lifts up the face dwells in the Earth; What is it to lift up the face?¹ it is to Accept Persons in Judgement, to accept him that hath the worst cause, and to reject him that hath the best cause for private ends. As if Eliphaz had sayd; Hee that respects persons, that is, who perverts justice, hee hath the Earth; and so here seemes to be a description of all sorts of wicked men flourishing in Jobs time and under his wing. Some oppresse openly; the mighty man;² the man of armes comes by main force and obtaines the earth, or the riches and fatnes of the earth; Others oppresse secretly and cunningly, they accept persons, and are byassed in Judgement by their own interest and advantages; The man of this straine dwelt in it.

1. 1Acceptor personarum habitabat in ea. Pagn.
2. 2[Greek or Hebrew] est habere respectum personarum sc: quod pauper sit aut dives aut nobilis aut honoratus. [Greek or Hebrew] Habitare sedere.〈non-Latin alphabet〉 est habere respectum personarum sc: quod pauper sit aut dives aut nobilis aut honoratus. 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 Habitare sedere.

The word notes two things. First, to continue, he dwelt there, thou lettest him abide, whereas if he had come into the Land thou shouldst quickly have rooted him out. Secondly, The word signifies not only to dwell but to sit, and to sit, in Scripture Language notes authority or dominion, he dwelt or sate in it, that is, he was the man in authority, he had the power, and the great places of government were entrusted in his hand. From both these observe; First, That evil Magistrates are apt to pervert Justice, in favour of those who are great in power.

The word notes two things. First, to continue, he dwelt there, thou let'st him abide, whereas if he had come into the Land thou should'st quickly have rooted him out. Secondly, The word signifies not onely to dwell but to sit, and to sit, in Scripture Language notes authority or dominion, he dwelt or sate in it, that is, hee was the man in authority, hee had the power, and the great places of government were entrusted in his hand. From both these observe; First, That evill Magistrates are apt to pervert Justice, in favour of those who are great in power.