That's the tendency and scope of all that is here asserted. Eliphaz calls not Job to the meditation, or contemplation of the Stars to leave him there. Some study the heavens much, but their lives are earthly; they study the Stars, yet there is nothing but dirt in their hearts, and the reason is, because they study the Stars, for the Stars sake, and not for Gods sake, and make the Stars their end, not their way, or as Stars, to lead them to God. This is the reason why many Astronomers and Philosophers, who busy their heads and minds much in speculation about the nature of the heavenly bodies, know not at all what it is to have their conversations in heaven, or to mind the things that are above. We should so behold the glory of the Stars, as from thence to infer, that God is much more glorious, yea, that, these things which were made glorious, have no glory in comparison of that Glory which made them. Plato taught his Scholars to say; The earth is beautiful, the heavens are more beautiful, but God who made the earth, and the heavens, is more beautiful then both. The visible creature shows the invisible God (Psal. 19.1, 2.) The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament showeth his handy work. But O how glorious is the invisible God, who hath made such visible creatures? and what a work-Master is he who hath set up such a work? (Rom. 1.20.) The invisible things of him from the creation of the world, are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and godhead. The things that are made, carry us to the maker of them, and they tell us, that none but he who hath an eternal power and godhead, could possibly make them. The Heathen thought the Sun, Moon, and Stars, to be Gods, therefore certainly there is very much of God, much of the glory and power of God to be seen in them. And Job saith (which doth plainly show that in nature it is so, Chap. 31.26.) ⟨p. 119⟩If I beheld the Sun when it shined, or the Moon walking in brightness, and my heart hath been secretly enticed, or my mouth hath kissed my hand, this also were an iniquity to be punished by the Judge, for I should have denied the God that is above.
That's the tendency and scope of all that is here asserted. Eliphaz calls not Job to the meditation, or contemplation of the Starres to leave him there. Some study the heavens much, but their lives are earthly; they study the Starres, yet there is nothing but dirt in their hearts, and the reason is, because they study the Starres, for the Starres sake, and not for Gods sake, and make the Starres their end, not their way, or as Starres, to lead them to God. This is the reason why many Astronomers and Philosophers, who busie their heads and minds much in speculation about the nature of the heavenly bodyes, know not at all what it is to have their conversations in heaven, or to minde the things that are above. Wee should so behold the glory of the Starres, as from thence to inferre, that God is much more glorious, yea, that, these things which were made glorious, have no glory in comparison of that Glory which made them. Plato taught his Scollers to say; The earth is beautifull, the heavens are more beautifull, but God who made the earth, and the heavens, is more beautifull then both. The visible creature shewes the invisible God (Psal. 19.1, 2.) The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament sheweth his handy worke. But O how glorious is the invisible God, who hath made such visible creatures? and what a work-Master is he who hath set up such a work? (Rom. 1.20.) The invisible things of him from the creation of the world, are clearely seene, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternall power and godhead. The things that are made, carry us to the maker of them, and they tell us, that none but he who hath an eternall power and godhead, could possibly make them. The Heathen thought the Sunne, Moone, and Starres, to be Gods, therefore certainly there is very much of God, much of the glory and power of God to be seene in them. And Job saith (which doth plainly shew that in nature it is so, Chap. 31.26.) ⟨p. 119⟩If I beheld the Sunne when it shined, or the Moone walking in brightnesse, and my heart hath been secretly inticed, or my mouth hath kissed my hand, this also were an iniquity to be punished by the Judge, for I should have denyed the God that is above.