To the Chriflian Reader. Therefore job openeth his mouth in vaine, he multiplyeth words without knowledge; that is, without a cleare knowledge of himfelfe both as a creatureand as ofnner, as alfo ofthe defgneand purpofe of God in af flictling him. Now, befides thofe paf fages in the difcourfe of Elihu wherein he chargeth. Jobs three friends withfolly for condemning Job when they could not a,zfwer him,& thofe whereinhe reproves lobs ignorance or want ofknowledge, for wondringhow flabgreat wills fhouldfall upon him , notwith. ffancling his integrity,likertife his boldnefs or pe- remptorinefs inhis own caufe, juflifying himfelfe rather then God;yea and clefring topleadhis caufe before him; Ifaybefides thefe paffages,we at firff readingmight conclude that Elihu didnothing elfe throughout thefefix chapters,. but enlarge or para. phrafe upon thole things, which had long before beenfpoken to by Eliphaz,. Bildad, and Zo1;har, andby yobhimfelfe as much a<r by any ofifnot be- yond all them three. But upon further confderation ofthe matter in the wholeferies andcontexture ofhis difcourfe ,we may colleU two things, infianced in andWhitedon by Elihu alone, upon which his particular opinion andfentence is grounded in diffinUion fromall the refl. the cleare underffandingofwhich, will lead WS
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