Chap. 4o. 4n Fxpofttion upon the Book of J o B. Verf. 2. Verfe z. Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty in- Jima. him ? Shall he, or can he, furely he (hall nor,rurely he cannor.There are feveral readings of this former part of the verfe ; I (hall on- ly name four , and then come to the explication of the words a, they lie inour Tranflation. .a'bi David. Firft , The words are rendered thus , Is it wifdam or learning to contend with the Almighty ? This reading puts the latter words fïrf. Is it wifdonj or inf$ruction , or is that man well inflíueted, or well in his wits, whocontends with the Almighty ? The fenfe of that reading is plain , and the improvement of it might be ve- Kan ilia e. ry ufeful : for indeed thele two are utterly repugnant and contra- eft, neque riant , To contendwithGod , and to be wife ; to contend with God, sent obfequens and to [hew oar !elves well taught. That man' bath not received in- divinedifci- firuckion either by or about divine correction, whomutters or Vine, qutdeo quarrels at God còrreiting him _ Fot how wife fbever he is in his odltgontiob° own eyes, he (hews himfelf a very fool, at leaft,as to that point r° orattempt,very foolifh. So then cis a great truth which this read- tom vatabl. ing holds forth , Is it wifdom, is it learning,tocontend with the Al- mighty ? lVhofoever doch fo , erres in doing fo , and will at !aft both feeand feel his erronr by fad experiences. Secondly thus, Should be be inflrubled who contends with the Almighty? ThisTranflation may have a double interpretation., FirfI , Surely that man deferves not to be inflrutted , but correëted, who contends with the Almighty ; he deferves not to be taught, but to bepunifled, Should he be taught that contends wish the Al- mighty ? Doubtlefs onely,as qideon taught the men of Succoth, (Judg. 8. 16. ) with briars and thorns of the wildernefs; that is, with fevereft chaftifements, Secondly, Should he beinfresEted, that contends with the Almighty ? That is , is a learner acompe- tent march for God ? is one that needs infiruetionand teaching,fit to take up the bucklers and enter the field of difnure withGod ? He hadneed tobe á Mailer , not a Scholar ; a Teacher, not a Learner, that undertakes to deal with God. That man had need be skilled andwell furnifhed,he had need be (aswe fpeak) his Crafts-mailer (and all little enough, yea all too little) who con- tends with the Almighty. Thirdly,
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