Chap. 19. An Expofitionupon the Bookof J O B. Verf. 24. 313 generations of Adam ; ( Mat. 1. i . ) The bookof the generation of 7efus Chrift ; Thefe bookswere written to be prelerved and laid up. That is, ofthe birth, life, and death ofAdam and ofJe- fus Chritt. lob would have a bookofhis Generation alto ; O that my words were printed ina Book ; and which it yet more ; Verf. 24. That they were graven with an iron pen and lead in the Rockfor ever. This verle is the fame in fubftance with the former, and con - taines only a further amplification of his delire ; It would not fatisfie him that his words were written with a quill, or printed in an ordinary book ofparchment, or paper, ( there were divers materials, upon which writings were made in ancient times, as al- toat chis day) fuch books may foon be eaten with wormes and moathes, at leali, time theeater of all things, will eat them up, but ( faith he ) I would have my words writtenwith apen ofiron and lead in the Rockforever. Apen ofiron. The Prophet (sere. 17. r.) ufeth the fame expreftïon ; The finof 7udah is written with a pen of iron, and with thepoint of a `Diamond ; implying that it was written to perpetuity : fo here, O thatmy words weregraves with an ironpen; That is,fo graven, that (as he explaineth his intention in the laft words of the Verle ) it might Taftforever. Thofe thingswhich continue ve- ry long ( though they have an end) look like Eternitie, and fo are truly faid to be done, or to laft for ever. Rocks have a kind of Everlaftingneffe in them ; And therefore that which is written upon a Rock cannot but be very lafting. God is called A Rock of ages( which we tranflate, An everlaffing ftrengtio, Ifa. 26.4.) not only becaufe his own ftrength continu- eth, and is the fame in all ages, but becaufe all Rocks are of long continuance, and laft many, very many, noman knowes how many ages. So that to write upon a Rock is oppofed, not onely to writing upon the water, or in the fand, which conti- nue net at all, but, to all tholeufuali wayes of writing which are of longeft continuance ; this being once done, may be laid to bedone for ever. In this all agree ; but there is fome difference what the meaning fhould be, of this iron pen and lead, with S f which
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