Chap. r o. An Expofition upo;: the Book of J O B. VerC f, 473 their flame) after they had finned, was the hidingof their fin. Man lovetlr to draw a curtain between God and himfelf, to talk _up artificial darknefs, and to walk in thick clouds (as he vainly hopes) undifcovered. Again, Doth God know us ? then let us labour to know out (elves. God knows who are wicked ; many arc wicked and know it not. It is a woful miflake, when we think our (elves to be in a good efface; and God knows us to be in a bad c(late ! It is a wrong to God and our (elves, when God knows us to be in a good eflate, and we think our fclves to be in a bad Elute , but it is far worfe, when we think our eftatc good, and God knows it to be bad. We fhould be acquainted with our condition, left we ÇlikeLaodicta) flatter our felves into an opinion that we are rieh and cloathed, and have need of nothing, when God knows we are poor and naked, and wanting all things. Secondly, Obferve from the elegancy of the Hebrew ex- prJiion. It is upon thy knowledge that I am not wicked. God knatvetb all things in and of hinsf. elf. This gives glory to God, and lifteth him up above the creature in the fulln& of his knowledge. Men who have the greateft knowledge, and vaftefl comprehenfions of things, yet have not that knowledge in and from themfelves, they fetch it in by bor- rowed helps, and glad they can have it fo too. It coils man a great deal of travel and finely, tomake himfelf matter of a little knowledge Uob a 2. a 2.) With the ancient is wifdom,and in length of dayes ír understanding : Some indeed get wifdom and under - (landing, and are owners of a vafl flock and treafure of know- ledge ; but when ? but how ? When they are old , when they havehad long experience, and have fludied hard for it, With the ancient is wifdom, and in length of dayes is underftanding : Thus men get knowledge. Eut mark what is Paidof God in the next words (ver[..13.) But with him (meaning God) is avifdom and firengtb, He bath caunfil andunderffandi.ng. With him it is,andbc bath it : The Lord doth not grow more knowing by years, nór cloth his undcrflandingmend by the multitude of dayes : though he be the Ancient ofdayes, yet it is not his antiquity which bath' got him this knowledg; his knowledg is in him,and with hitn,arid from himfelf ; he fetches not his knowledge from fence, nor Both he take it up by information He learns it not by derìaon- flration railed from the things themfelves, nor by the collation of P p p one NIi iI
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=