Ver. 4. The Spirit of GOD hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty kath given me life.] And first of all consider, that I am no other creature than what thou art; a man whom the power of God hath formed, and then inspired with life.

Ver. 5. If thou canst answer me, set thy words in order before me, stand up.] Thou needest not, therefore, decline the encounter; but if thou art able to answer, set thy forces in order against me, and stand up to oppose me.

Ver. 6. Behold, I am according to thy wish in God's stead: I also am formed out of the clay. Thou hast formerly desired (ix. 33. xiii. 3.) that somebody would appear in God's stead, to reason the case with thee: behold, thou hast thy wish; I am the man that appears for him, who am made of the same matter with thyself.

Ver. 7. Behold, my terror shall not make thee afraid, neither shall my hand be heavy upon thee.] Look upon me, the combat is not unequal, (as thou complainedst when thou lookedst upon God, is. 34. xiii. 21.); thou seest no dreadful majesty in me to affright thee, nor any power to oppress thee.

Ver. 8. Surely thou hast spoken in mine hearing, and I have heard the voice of thy words, saying,] I do not accuse thee neither, as thy three friends have done, of crimes uncertain or unknown, but of what I myself, with mine own ears, have heard thee utter.

Ver. 9. I am clean without transgression, I am innocent neither is there iniquity in me.] For surely thou hast said more than once, (x. 7. xiii. 23. xvi. 17. &c. xxxi.), I am pure and without any fault, in my heart and in my actions, both towards God and towards man.

Ver. 10. Behold, he findeth occasions against me, he counteth me for his enemy.] Behold, he who I thought would have vindicated my innocence, seeks for occasions to fall out with me, and for slight matters declares himself mine enemy.

Ver. 11. He putteth my feet in the stocks, he marketh all my paths.] Whom he keeps so fast in prison, that I cannot stir, and watches so narrowly, that I can find no way to escape.

Ver. 12. Behold, in this thou art not just: I will answer thee, that GOD is greater than man.] This is thy complaining language, and mark what I say to thee: though I cannot accuse thee, as thy friends have done, of other sins, yet in this thou dost offend; and 1 must reprehend thee for it, by remembering thee, that there is no comparison between God and man.

Ver. 13. Why dost thou strive against him? for he giveth not account of any of his matiers.] And, therefore, why dost thou presume to dispute with him, and call him to an account for his actions, who will not reveal to us all the secrets of his providence?

vision), when men fall into a deep sleep, or lie on their beds between sleeping and waking :

Ver. 16. Then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction,] Then (when their minds are free from the business and cares of the day) he secretly whispers instruction in their ears, and imprints it upon their minds :

Ver. 17. That he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man.] Not to make them understand, indeed, all the secret reasons of his providence, but to turn man from his evil way, and to dispose him with all humility to submit himself to his heavenly instructor:

Ver. 18. He keepeth back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword.] Who by this means mercifully preserves him (if he obey his admonition) from running on to his own destruction, and rescues him from the violent death which the sword of justice, or of an enemy, would have inflicted on him.

Ver. 19. He is chastened also with pain upon his bed, and the multitude of his bones with strong pain:] Another way (and more common than this by dreams) is the painful diseases wherewith he chastises man, and lays him low on his bed, though his constitution of body be never so firm and strong..

Ver. 20. Sa that his life abhorreth bread, and his soul dainty meat.] In which languishing case he loaths his foods; yea, nauseates that very meat which formerly was his greatest delight.

Ver. 21. His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen, and his bones that were not seen, stick out.] Which make so great a change in him, that his flesh, which formerly appeared plump and fair, cannot be seen; and his bones which stick out formerly did not appear.

Ver. 22. Yea, his soul draweth near unto the grave, and his life to the destroyers.] There is but a step between him and his grave; the pangs of death being ready to seize on him.

Ver. 23. If there be a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to shero unto man ́his uprightness: If, then, (which is a third way whereby God teaches men), there come a divine messenger unto him, a rare person that can expound the mind of God, and persuade the sick man to repent and amend his life;

som.

Ver. 24. Then he is gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit, I have found a ran .] He shall beseech God to be gracious to him, saying, Spare him, good Lord, and rescue him from going down to the grave; let it satisfy thee that thou hast corrected him, and that I have found him a penitent.

Ver. 25. His flesh shall be fresher than a child's: he shall return to the days of his youth :] Presently the sick man shall begin to recover, and become a new man in his body, as well as in his mind: His flesh shall look as fresh as when he was a child; and he shall be restored to the vigour and strength of his youthful age.

Ver. 26. He shell pray unto GOD, and he will be favourable unto him, and he shall see his face with joy:

for he will render unto man his righteousness.] His prayer also shall be acceptable to God, and prevail for the blessings he asks: he shall go into the house of God, and with the most joyful voice give thanks unto him, and praise his goodness; who will then acquit him, and restore this poor man to his favour.

Ver. 27. He looketh upon men, and if any say, I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it profiteth me not;] And he, (as becomes a true penitent), casting his eyes upon his neighbours, shall openly confess and say, I have offended God, and he hath chastised me; I have done wickedly, and he hath punished me according to my desert:

Ver. 28. He will deliver his soul from going into the pit, and his life shall see the light.] But hath redeemed me from that death into which I was going; and not only made me live, but given me hope that I shall enjoy prosperous days.

Ver. 29. Lo, all these things worketh GOD oftentimes with man,] Behold in all this the wonderful goodness of God, who by so many means very often admonishes man :

Ver. 30. To bring back his soul from the pit, to be enlightened with the light of the living.] To reduce him from those evil courses which had just brought to his grave, and to raise him up again to live in all true happiness and pleasure.

Ver. 31. Mark well, O Job; hearken unto me: hold thy peace, and I will speak.] Mark this well, O Job, for it may very much concern thee: consider what I have said; and if thou pleasest to hear me patiently, I will still instruct thee more fully.

Ver. 32. If thou hast any thing to say, answer me: speak, for I desire to justify thee.] Or if thou hast any thing to object to what I have said, I am willing to hear it: speak before I go any farther; for I heartily desire thou mayest clear thyself, and appear a righteous

person.

Ver. 33. If not, hearken unto me: hold thy peace, and I shall teach thee visdom.] If thou hast no exception against my discourse, then continue thy attentions, and silently listen to me, and I will teach thee more wisdom.

CHAP. XXXIV.

THE ARGUMENT.-Here Job shews himself a far more humble and teachable person than his three friends; for, though Elihu had invited him to make what exceptions he pleased to his discourse in the former chapter, he would not open his mouth, because he plainly saw that Elihu had hit upon the thing wherein he was defective. And so this young man proceeds to carry the charge a little higher, and tells him, with more sharpness than before, that there were some words in his discourses, which sounded in his ears as if he accused God's justice and goodness. For what else did he mean when he complained that God did not do him right, and that he destroyed alike both good and bad? Which rash assertions he overthrows, from the consideraVOL. III.

G

tion of the sovereign dominion, power, righteousness, and wisdom of God; and represents to him what behaviour and discourse would have better become him, than that which he had used.

Ver. 1. FURTHERMORE Elihu answered and said,]

To this last motion Job consented; and replying never a word, Elihu proceeded in his discourse, and said, Ver. 2. Hear my words, O ye wise men; and give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge.] I do not desire to be judge alone in this cause, but I appeal to them that are wise; and beseech all those (among you that hear me) who are intelligent, to mark and consider

what I now deliver.

Ver. 3. For the ear trieth words, as the mouth tasteth meat.] You can discern whether it be true or false; for the mind is as proper a judge of discourse, as the palate is of meat.

Ver. 4. Let us choose to us judgement; let us know among ourselves what is good.] Let us agree to examine the business, that we may be able to pronounce a righteous judgement; let us debate among ourselves, and resolve, whether Job have a good cause or no.

Ver. 5. For Job hath said, I am righteous, and GOD bath taken away my judgement.] For he hath said, I am innocent; and God (who knows I do not deserve to suffer in this manner, xxvii. 2. 6.) will not do me right:

Ver. 6. Should I lie against my right? my round is incurable without transgression.] I scorn to defend myself with lies; but I must still maintain, that this deadly wound is given me for no crime of mine.

Ver. 7. What man is like Job, who drinking up scorning like water?] Did you ever know such a man as Job, who, instead of adoring the Almighty, (as becomes his wisdom and piety), takes the liberty to pour out abundance of contemptuous language concerning his judgements?

Ver. 8. Which goeth in company with the workers of iniquity, and walketh with wicked men.] He associates himself with evil-doers, and talks after the same rate that the wicked are wont to do.

Ver. 9. For he hath said, It profiteth a man nothing that he should delight himself with GOD.] For he seems to me to be of this opinion, that though a man study to please God, he shall get nothing by it, ix. 22.

Ver. 10. Therefore hearken unto me, ye men of understanding: far it be from GOD, that he should do wickedness, and from the Almighty, that he should commit iniquity.] What think you of this, ye men of wisdom? Do you not abhor such a thought as much as I, that he who is Almighty should wrong any man, and he who is all-sufficient should swerve from the rule of righteousness?

Ver. 11. For the work of man shall be render unto him, and cause every man to find according to his aways.] He will never be charged with such weakness, but always deals with men according as they deserve: for he that doth well, never fails to find a reward; and he that doth ill, meets with a just punishment.

Ver. 12. Yea, surely GOD will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert judgement.] Surely I need not fear to affirm this with the greatest confidence, that the Supreme Judge of the world will never condemn an innocent person; nor will he that possesses all things be corrupted to pronounce an unrighteous

sentence.

Ver. 13. Who bath given him a charge over the earth? or who hath disposed the whole world?] For he doth not receive the government of the world from any above himself; nor is there any higher being, whose authority he may be thought to dread, and for fear of whom he may be tempted to do unjustly.

Ver. 14. If he set his heart upon man, if he gather unto himself his spirit and his breath;] No, he made and he sustains all creatures; so that if he should contain his goodness within himself, and recall that spirit and life which he hath infused into them,

Ver. 15. All flesh shall perish together, and man shall turn again into dust.] Nothing could subsist one moment, but all mankind would expire together, and re

turn unto their dust.

Ver. 16. If now thou hast understanding, hear this: hearken to the voice of my words.] If thou art wise, mind what I say; and consider also what follows.

Ver. 17. Shall even he that hateth right govern? and wilt thou condemn him that is most just ] Can he be an enemy to justice himself, who binds us so fast to the practice of it; and wilt thou condemn his actions, who is most powerful, as well as just; and therefore need not serve him by any wrongful dealing?

Ver. 18. Is it fit to say to a king, Thou art wicked; and to princes, Ye are ungodly?] There is no king on earth but looks upon it as a great and unsufferable reproach to be called a tyrant: Nor will inferior rulers endure you should say, that they have no regard to equity.

Ver. 19. How much less to him that accepteth not the persons of princes, nor regardeth the rich more than the poor? for they all are the work of his hands.] Shall we impute, then, any thing to him, before whom a prince or a rich man is no more than the meanest and poorest persons? who shall have the same justice from him with the greatest, because they are all alike the work of his hands.

Ver. 20. In a moment shall they die, and the people shall be troubled at midnight, and pass away: and the mighty shall be taken away without hand.] How should he stand in awe of the power of kings, or be bribed with the gifts of the rich, who can strike them all dead in a moment? Whole nations tremble before him, and in their deepest security are destroyed. He needs not the help of any force on earth to put down a mighty tyrant; but invisible powers carry

him away.

Ver. 21. For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings.] For there is no one passage of man's life, but he is acquainted with it: and therefore cannot be suspected, through ignorance of their actions, (no more than through fear of their persons),

to overlook their crimes, or to do them any injus tice.

Ver. 22. There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.] They may seek to hide their wickedness, when they have committed it; and may make excuses and subtle pretences but they cannot cast a mist before his eyes, who sees into the thickest darkness, and the deepest secrets.

Ver, 23. For he will not lay upon man more than right, that he should enter into judgement with GOD.] And therefore, as he will never charge man with that of which he is not guilty; so, when he calls him to an account, he will not delay nor put off his judgement, to hear what man can say for himself.

Ver. 24. He shall break in pieces mighty men without number, and set others in their stead.] For he needs not to be informed how matters stand; and therefore. breaks in pieces mighty men, without inquiry or examination of witnesses against them, and confers their dignity upon others;

Ver. 25. Therefore he knoweth their works, and he overturneth them in the night, so that they are destroyed.] And by this means shews that he knows their works; when he so suddenly overturns them, that they are crushed in pieces.

Ver. 26. He striketh them as wicked men in the open sight of others:] He punishes them as men that in his eyes are apparently wicked; and therefore makes them public examples for the terror of their neighbours:

Ver. 27. Because they turned back from him, and would not consider any of his ways:] Because they would not follow his counsels, nor regard any of his commands:

Ver. 28. So that they caused the cry of the poor to come unto him, and be heareth the cry of the afflicted.] But went on in their oppression of the poor, till they cried to heaven for vengeance upon them: and the cry of such afflicted people God never fails to answer.

Ver. 29. When he giveth quietness, who then can make trouble? and when he bideth his face, who then can behold him? whether it be done against a nation, or against a man only:] And if he will grant such poor wretches rest and ease, who can disturb them? or if he be angry with their oppressor, who can shew him favour? (which is as true of whole nations, as of one single person.)

Ver. 30. That the hypocrite reign not, lest the people be ensnared.] He will not let the wicked tyrant reign alway, though he pretend piety and the public good never so much; lest the people should be ensnared into sin by his example.

Ver. 31. Surely it is meet to be said unto GOD, I have borne chastisement, I will not offend any more.] Wherefore it is best for an afflicted person not to complain, but to suspect himself, (though he be never so good), and presently to say to God, I confess this suffering is just; I will not offend by pleading my innocence.

Ver. 33. That which I see not, teach thou me: if I

have done iniquity, I will do no more.] If I have overlooked any thing that I should have observed, do thou shew it me if I have committed any fault, I will take care to do so no more.

Ver. 33. Should it be according to thy mind? he will recompense it, whether thou refuse, or whether thou chuse, and not I: therefore speak what thou knowest.] Hast thou addressed thyself to God in this manner? Answer that question; for God will recompense it, if thou dost despise such good counsel; which perhaps thou wilt choose to do, but so would not I. Speak therefore what thy opinion is.

Ver. 34. Let men of understanding tell me, and let a wise man hearken unto me.] Or let any understanding person tell us what is their opinion; for such, as I said before, would I have to judge between us.

Ver. 35. Job hath spoken without knowledge, and his words were without wisdom.] Job seems to me to be very much mistaken; and his discourses to be inconsiderate, and without reason.

Ver. 36. My desire is, that Joh may be tried unto the end, because of bis answers for wicked men.] And therefore, I am so far from wishing he may be presently released from his afflictions, that I take it to be more desirable he should be still tried and proved by them, till he recant the answers in which he hath complained of Divine Providence, after the manner of wicked

men.

Ver. 37. For he addeth rebellion unto his sin, he clappeth his bands amongst us, and multiplieth his words against GOD.] For otherwise he will add greater offences to those lesser he hath already committed: he will defend what he hath inconsiderately spoken; nay, triumph as if he had got the better of us: and, instead of making the confession to which I have exhorted him, continue to multiply his complaints against

God.

CHAP. XXXV.

THE ARGUMENT.-Job still keeps silence, notwithstanding that Elihu had made the harshest construction of his words; because he was sensible he meant him well, and had now, in the conclusion of his discourse, given him very wholesome counsel; and, allowing his integrity, had only charged him with some unhappy expressions which had fallen from him when he was in great anguish of spirit. Which, I suppose, was the reason he doth not contradict him, though he continue here in this chapter to fasten the very same harsh sense upon his words, ver. 2. 3. Which he refutes from the consideration of the infinite disproportion there is between man and God: who is never the worse indeed for any evil, nor at all the better for any good that we do; and yet hath such a love to mankind, that it is certain he would not have them miserable, but takes care for their relief when they are oppressed, if they address themselves, as they ought, to him.

Ver. 3. For thou saidst, What advantage will it be unto thee? and what profit shall I have, if I be cleansed from my sin?] What else could be thy meaning, when thou utteredst such words as these, What doth God care whether I be innocent or no? Or what benefit shall I have by it, if I be?

Ver. 4. I will answer thee, and thy companions with thee. I will answer thee, and such as thou art, in a few words.

Ver. 5. Look unto the heavens, and see; and behold the clouds, which are higher than thou.] Cast up thine eyes to the heavens; look upon the clouds and the sky, and consider, that as high as they are, they are not so much above thee as God is above them.

Ver. 6. If thou sinnest, what dost thou against him? or if thy transgressions be multiplied, what dost thou unto him?] And therefore it is true, that he is never the worse for the sins which thou hast committed, nor will be the worse, though thou should proceed to commit more and greater:

Ver. 7. If thou be righteous, what givest thou him? or what receiveth be of thine hand?] And that he is never the better for thy being righteous, which can confer nothing upon him which he hath not already, nor add any thing to his greatness.

Ver. 8. Thy wickedness may hurt a man as thou art, and thy righteousness may profit the son of man.] But thou shouldst not conclude from thence, that it is all one whether a man be good or bad for thy wickedness will prove hurtful to thyself, and to the rest of mankind; and thy righteousness will do thee and them great service.

Ver. 9. By reason of the multitude of oppressions, they make the oppressed to cry: they cry out by reason of the arm of the mighty.] The cries of the oppressed tell us what injustice doth, and how miserable it makes them: makes them the tyranny of the mighty forces. them to cry aloud to God for vengeance; who, though he be not hurt himself by it, is touched with a sense of their affliction.

Ver. 10. But none saith, Where is GOD my maker, who giveth songs in the night?] The greatest mischief is, that not one of these miserable wretches inquires seriously after God, who gave him his being, and is able therefore, not only to relieve him, but to comfort, yea, to fill him with joy, in the midst of the saddest affliction.

Ver. 11. Who teacheth us more than the beasts of the earth, and maketh us wiser than the fowls of beaven.] Having endued us with reason and wisdom, to consider that he, who takes care of the beasts and the birds, will not neglect us, if we do not

merely cry and groan under our oppressions, (as those brute creatures do), but with hearty repentance, and a thankful sense of his benefits, and humble confidence in his goodness, piously address ourselves unto him.

Ver. 12. There they cry (but none giveth answer) because of the pride of evil men.] This is the reason that God doth not deliver them; because they lie, crying indeed under their affliction, but it is not a sense of him, but only the haughty violence of their oppressors, which extorts it from them.

Ver. 13. Surely God will not hear vanity, neither will the Almighty regard it.] For we must not think that God (though he be inclined to relieve the afflicted) will give ear to men so void of piety; he will not regard those who have so little regard to him; even for this reason, because he stands in need of nobody. Ver. 14. Although thou sayest thou shalt not see him, yet judgement is before him; therefore trust thou in him.] Therefore, although thou complainest that thou dost not see him appear for thy deliverance, (xxiii. 8.), yet do not conclude from thence that he is unrighteous; but go and condemn thyself before him, and then patiently wait for his mercy.

Ver. 15. But now, because it is not so, he bath visited in his anger, yet he knoweth it not in great extremity:] But now, because there is nothing of this in thee, God hath thus severely afflicted thee; and not at all regarded the exceeding great prosperity wherein thou hast hitherto lived.

Ver. 16. Therefore doth Job open his mouth in vain : be multiplicth words without knowledge.] And Job may spare his complaints hereafter, for they are to no purpose; he heapeth up words without reason.

CHAP. XXXVI.

contrived.

Ver. 3. I will fetch my knowledge from afar, and I will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.] Which shall now, from the most sublime contemplations, assert the righteousness of my Maker.

Ver. 4. For truly my words shall not be false: be that is perfect in knowledge is with thee.] For assure thyself I will not seek to baffle thee with sophistical arguments: he that discourses with thee is none of those subtle disputers, but loves sincere and solid

reason.

Ver. 5. Behold, GOD is mighty, and despiseth not any : he is mighty in strength and wisdom.] Know then, that God is most mighty, but despiseth not the meanest the excellence of his power, and the greatness of his mind, will not suffer him to wrong any body.

Ver. 6. He preserveth not the life of the wicked: but giveth right to the poor.] When men are extremely wicked, and fit to be punished, he will let them live no longer; but the poor at last shall recover their right, and be delivered out of their affliction.

Ver. 7. He withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous but with kings are they on the throne, yea, he doth establish them for ever, and they are exalted.] For whatsoever affliction the righteous suffer, God never ceases to take a special care of them, and sometimes raises them to the highest offices that kings can confer upon them; in which they are settled as long as they live, and exalted above the power of their enemies that would pull them down:

Ver. 8. And if they be bound in fetters, and be bolden in cords of affliction :] Or if they should fall into any trouble, which lies as heavy on them, and holds them as fast, as if they were bound with chains and with cords;

Ver. 9. Then he showeth them their work, and their transgressions that they have exceeded.] It is only to make them reflect upon their lives, and to shew them their sins; because they grow strong, and begin to prevail over them.

Ver. 10. He openeth also their ear to discipline, and commandeth that they return from iniquity.] He disposeth them hereby to listen to instruction, and admonishes them to forsake their sins, and return to their duty.

Ver. 11. If they obey and serve him, they shall spenď their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures:] And if they profit so much by their affliction, as to obey his counsel, and devoutly serve him, they shall regain their former splendour; and pass the rest of their life in prosperity and pleasure.

Ver. 12. But if they obey not, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die without knowledge.] But if they be disobedient, they shall be utterly cut off, and die in their folly.

Ver. 13. But the bypocrites in heart beap up wrath : they cry not when he bindeth them.] And they that are false-hearted do but heap up wrath to themselves by their counterfeit piety; which surprises them so suddenly, that it gives them no time so much as to cry to God, when his punishments seize on them.

Ver. 14. They die in youth, and their life is among