Chap..8, An Expofition upon the Bookof JO B. `:trf.7. 57 pie, not to the traditionsor experiencesof former ages, but, T the Laze and to the Tefiimony, if theyfpeak not according to thisword, it is becaufe there is no light,or no morning in them, Ifa .8.20 The word oncewritten was the rule, and though it cannot fpeak, yet it mutt teach us how to fpeak. Ifwe fpeak not according to this, there is no light in us. But the word not being written, Bildad advifcs job well,,Enquire ofthe former age, Andprepare thyfelfto thefearch oftheirfathers. Having counfel'd himto enquire of the former age; he addeth, 1'0 Prepare thyfelfto thefearch of theirfathers;as ifhe had faid,though Fundare, apta- I bid thee enquire, yet I would not have thee rufh hand over head re,porare, ordi- nareßabGva upon this enquiry, Prepare thy f el f . The word f nifies to lay a f+gnifi'car. good foundation; Duepreparations are the foundations of aUlion. Hence it lignifies alto to eftablifh ; becaufe a matter is eftablith.ed ,and confirmed by wife preparations, and confiderate addreffes to it. Thofe things flaw' fafteft about which we make not too much hafte. Further, the word lignifies the fixing of the mind, Fix thy heart upon this work; keep thy.fpirits intent.(Pfal. ro8. I.) My heart it fixed (faith David, which fome render, My heart ispre- pared) Iwillfang andgivepraife. Prepare thyPelf To thefearch of their Fathers. Before he advifed him toeliquire of the former age, here, To fearch theirfathers ; as if he had Paid, donot confine thy felf to the immediatelyfore-palled times, but go as high as thou cantl : The former age (as was touched upon that paffage) may include all times pafi;but here toavoid all mittakes,hegives it in exprefly.The fathersof the former age,are the fathers ofevery age. All that have lived before us,come under the relationofour fathers. The fathers weredead, but they lived in their monumentsand works:thefe he muff fearch, fo far as any mark or remembrance of them could be found. Hence obferve, Firft,That as it is a duty inall, fo it was a cuTome in ancient times, carefully to record the dealings of God with them,for the ufe ofenfïaing generations. To what end fhould job fearch, if nothing were to be found ; The Jewes were commanded to remember the works'of God for . their learning after the word was written, Pfäl.78.5. He e tabli- fhed.a teftimony in Jacob,,&e. That they fhouldmake them known I to
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