Chap. r5. An Expofitiorn uport the Bookof 3 o 3. Verf.4.. thou (peak as becomes the dittance, that is between the Crea- tor, and theCreature ? the Greek tranflates to this fenfe, Thou fpeakefi to God without any modefiy , thou hat put on a brazen tace,and hardncd thy heart against the fear of the Almighty. Theft thews of a ground Eliphaz might take, but job had gi- ven him no real ground topronounce this heavy censure, Those cafie(f fear : But pilling by the rigid hypothesis of Elipbaz, we may from his words, as they are a Thetis , obfcrve, That to ca!i off thefear of god ,s highett_eviel;ednef;r; to call off the fear of God is the beginning of wickednet5, as to en terrain Thefear of God li the beginning of *ifdom ; the word here ufed , tignitieth not only thebeginning but the top,the chief, the head and highelt perfetion of a thing : the fear of God is both het and latt, the beginning and end of holhnefs. ? o fear God,and keep his Commandments, ú all man in goodnefr, to caji off the fear ofGod,is all man in finfulnefs : thebeginning and end of wickednefs;it is ill not to have thefear ofGod,but it is far worfe to cafi off thefear of God ; it is ill-not to choofe the fear of God (Prov. 1.29. but to reject the fear of the Lord that is defperate ; if once fear be call off, all wickednefs is let in; at the famedoor , at which the fear of the Lord goes out , any fin may enter AsAbraham laid , The fear if God is not in this place, and they will kill mefor mywives fake ; they __ have no impediment of lull to call off, who have once call off the fear of God. And as they who cati off ihis,fear are ready to doe or fay any thing that's evil ; fo they are unready to do or fay any thing that is good ; as they have no retiraint upon them from iniquity, fo they can eafily retrain themfclves from duty : The next words thew this. Tron rejiraineji prayer before him r Prayer is a principal part of the outward worfhip of God , and is both here and elfe- whereput for the whöle outward woríhip of God. The word fgnifies all() meditation, muting, or thinking: So De=r,bii con- form render here, Thou takeffoff conference with God;thoçt wall fabularionese wont to keep continual correfpondence with Heaven , and cum Der. huts maintain a fweet humble familiarity with God by holy Meditation , but now thou art like a llranger and corn- 1,461112.0111/ rr+ melt not at him. But whether we tranflate the word by Pray quelo,eriam' er, or Meditation; the fente is the fame ; for praying is (peak- oratio.. ing to God ; yea, an arguing atad pleading withGod :.And-fo ,tis.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=