Verse 11,12: An exposition with practical observations continued upon… by Joseph Caryl | AskReformation

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:326p. 74–75

¹That is, to find what convincing reason was couched in your arguments. The Hebrew is, I gave ear to your understanding; That is, I attended to find out your apprehensions, or to gather up your sense in this matter, that I might not mistake your meaning, nor answer at random. The vulgar translation reads it, I have heard your wisdom; That is, what wisdom there was in ⟨p. 75⟩your words. The truth or reason that is in words,² is the wisdom of them. So that, when Elihu saith, I gave ear to your reasons, or, to your understanding, it intimates that he took the exactest heed he possibly could to find out the utmost tendency and purpose of their discourse. As if he had said; I have weighed every tittle that ye have spoken, and tried it by mine ear, to find whether it were solid yea or no.

¹That is, to find what convincing reason was couched in your arguments. The Hebrew is, I gave eare to your understanding; That is, I attended to find out your apprehensions, or to gather up your sence in this matter, that I might not mistake your meaning, nor answer at randome. The vulgar translation reads it, I have heard your wisdome; That is, what wisdome there was in ⟨p. 75⟩your words. The truth or reason that is in words,² is the wisdome of them. So that, when Elihu saith, I gave eare to your reasons, or, to your understanding, it intimates that he tooke the exactest heed he possibly could to find out the utmost tendency and purpose of their discourse. As if he had said; I have weighed every tittle that ye have spoken, and tryed it by mine eare, to find whether it were solid yea or no.

1Attendi usque ad sensa vestra; Jun: i. e. Accuratissimè & quam pentissime sensa animi vestri exploravi. Id:Attendi usque ad sensa vestra; Iun: i. e. Accuratissimè & quam pentissime sensa animi vestri exploravi. Id:
2Audivi prudentiam vestram. Vulg: Diligentissimè auscultavi rations vestras, quas ex & pro intelligentia vestra attulisti, & quas doctas esse purestis et ad rem aptas. Merc:Audivi prudentiam vestram. Vulg: Diligentissimè auscultavi rationes vestras, quas ex & pro intelligentia vestra attulisti, & quas doctas esse purestis et ad rem aptas. Merc:

:345p. 76–77

The work of the tongue must follow that of the understanding. ⟨p. 77⟩(Eccl: 12.10.¹) The Preacher sought to find out acceptable words, or words of delight, words of pleasure. The preacher sought; But how did he seek? He sought diligently and earnestly. The preacher sought, but in what way did he seek? surely he sought by diligent study and earnest prayer, to find out acceptable words. What words were those? not men-pleasing words, not soft words, which might pass with all sorts, or humour all fancies, not such words as would serve for pillows under bad mens elbows. The acceptable words which the Preacher sought, were words of truth and sobriety, words of power and Authority; in no other sense may we seek out acceptable words, or words of delight; nor is there any true delight, but in words of truth. Thus every faithful Preacher should seek to find out acceptable words; every holy and wholesome doctrine is made up of such words. Only those doctrines and exhortations which are formed and composed of such words, are (as the Apostle saith of the great doctrine of Jesus Christ, manifested in the flesh to save sinners) faithful sayings, and worthy of acceptation (1 Tim: 1.15.) Elihu took notice of this in Jobs friends, they did not speak hand over head, but searched what they might say most to the purpose (as they judged) of the cause in hand, and to the profit of their hearers.

The worke of the tongue must follow that of the understanding. ⟨p. 77⟩(Eccl: 12.10.¹) The Preacher sought to find out acceptable words, or words of delight, words of pleasure. The preacher sought; But how did he seeke? He sought diligently and earnestly. The preacher sought, but in what way did he seeke? surely he sought by diligent study and earnest prayer, to find out acceptable words. What words were those? not men-pleasing words, not soft words, which might passe with all sorts, or humour all phansies, not such words as would serve for pillows under bad mens elbows. The acceptable words which the Preacher sought, were words of truth and sobriety, words of power and Authority; in no other sence may we seeke out acceptable words, or words of delight; nor is there any true delight, but in words of truth. Thus every faithfull Preacher should seeke to find out acceptable words; every holy and wholsome doctrine is made up of such words. Only thole doctrines and exhortations which are formed and composed of such words, are (as the Apostle saith of the great doctrine of Jesus Christ, manifested in the flesh to save sinners) faithfull sayings, and worthy of acceptation (1 Tim: 1.15.) Elihu tooke notice of this in Jobs friends, they did not speak hand over head, but searched what they might say most to the purpose (as they judged) of the cause in hand, and to the profit of their hearers.

1[Greek or Hebrew]〈non-Latin alphabet〉