Chap -. 3 3. 'Án Expofition upon the Book, of ] Co B. Verf.'9: 207 Yet, in vindication ofElihu, it muff be granted, fobgave him occation to rebuke and blame what he had paid,, and that chiefly upon thefe three accounts. Firíf , Becaufe he fpake many things of himfelfe which had an appearance of boaffing,and foof vaine fpeaking. A little tru- ly fayd of our felves,`or in our owne commendation, may be thought toomuch, how much more, when we fay much. Secondly, He fpake filch things as carri.d a thew of over- boldnefs with God. He did not obferve his diffance, as he ought, when he fo earneffly preffed for a hearing to plead his caufe before God ; efpe'cially,.when he fo often complained of the feverity of Gods proceedure with him , with which Elihu taxeth him directly in the two verfes following. Upon both theee grounds Elihu thought ( and was no doubt guided in it by the, Spirit of God)yo cut him to the quick, that Job mightlearnt to fpeake more hbly of himfelfe, and more temperately to God. And therefore Thirdly , The Lord did righteoufly, yea and gracioufly Wet out the fpirit ofElihu upon him in another way then .his friends before had done. He did not charge himwith wickednefs in fact, but dealt with him about the unwarinefs of his words. yob could not fay he had never fpoken fuch words, for fuch words he did fpeake , though he did not fpeake them as Elihu tooke them. When words are out they mutt ffand to the mercy of the hearers, and abide fuch a judgement as may, with truth be made of them, though pofftbly, befides the purpofe of the fpea- ker. Aman ( in that cafe) is not wronged, he (hould learne to Ipeak more warily, andnot give occafionof offence. Doubtleffe the Lord had agracious intent upon lob, in flirting the fpirit of Ehhu to reprefent his words in the hardeff fence, that hemight humble him. 9ób's fpirit was yet too high and not broken e nough, as it was afterwards. Nor doth job reply or retort up- onElihu for this; Andwhen the Lord himfelfe began to deal withhim,he faith, Who it this that darkeneth coüncell by- cords without knowledge (Chap: 31..2.) and jobhimfelfebeingbrought upon his knees confeffeth (Chap: 1.2. 3.) I leave uttered that I anderfiood not, things too wonderfull for me, which I knew not I have been too bold I confeffe. Though it-was not Jobs pur- pofe or meaning tofpeake fo(hehad integrity in what he fpake) yet
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=