Caryl - Houston-Packer Collection BS1415 .C37 v12

42 Siproptcr te mundars tanta fruiter provi- dentia quarta tìi 'plea Chap. 38. an Expofition upon the Book of J o a. Vert. y Thirdly , The Lord came thick and threefold (as we fay) up- on fob , with chafe fearching ueflions , thereby to convince . him, that if by his own mighty power he had made, and by his wife providence had ordered the whole courfe of Nature, and all the parts of it, fo exadtiy; furely then Job might collet and conclude that God in his adminiflrat'tons towards him,a parti- cular fingle perfon , muft needscarry all things in wifdome and with juflice. And , that if God did Phew forth fo much dome and faithfulnefs, in making, and inordering the world , which was made for man , and for him among others of mankind; then much morewas the providence of God rightly and duly ad- minifired unto'all men,and him. If the Lord took fuch care of the Earth,when he had (hewed his power in making of is ; ifhe cook fuch care about the bruit beafls and other creatures of the Earth , which are the flock of it ; then doubtlefï'e he took a due care of man , and of him in particular, man being the chief part of this lower creation, and Job being aprincipal one among the fonsof men. More ditlinaly. In this Context , and thofe which follow, about the works of God , the convidtion arifeth three wayes up- on fob, or God deals with him by a threefold argument ; andall to humble him , and bring him upon his knees. Firfl, By comparing the eternity ofGod with Jobs time, who was but of yefterday; therefore faith he , Wherewaft thou when P laid thefoundationsof theEarth ? As if he had faid , pray how old are you , that you fhould take upon you to contend with me, a- bout my dealings with you ? As the Jews faid ignorantly to Chrift , whole day Abraham law by faith , and was glad , Thon art not yet fiftyyears old, and haft thou feen Abraham ? (John 8. 57.) So the Lord might fay in the fulnefs of hisknowledge, to fob, Thou art not yet a hundred years old , lure; Where (then) waft thou when I laid thefoundations of the Earth ? Secondly, The Lord Pets beforefob his own Omnifcience,and thereby convinceth fob of his ignorance , or of the little know- ledge, as well as experience, that he had of things done long be- fore a Declare (faith God) if thon haft underffanding, at the fourth verfe; and if thouknoweß, at the fifth verfe. As if the Lord had laid , I can declare theee things , I know thrfe things ; what's thy knowledge about them, in comparifon of my know- ledge ?

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