Chap. z6. An Expofition upon the BOO& JOB. Vert z r . reall reproof is not verbil. Both God and man can as reproofes as well as fpeake them. And the word here uled is applyed in Scripture not onely to verbal!, and voice reproofes, but to re- proofes given by geftures and Irya&ions ; for as the holy lives of God'y raen who walke (xac°ily are a reproofe to the world though they (peak not a word of reproe fe,fo the a&irigs of God are reproofes, though he doth not fpeake. Thus David faith, (°Pfal.6. 5.) Thou haft rebuked the heathen, tiéosa haft drf#royed the wicked; How did God rebuke the heathen?even by ehftroy- ing the wicked;that a8 of thine bath been a reproof to the hea- then, and [hewed them their folly. In the fame fence 'cis faid a- gaine (mfal,68. 3o ) Rebuke the company ofípeare men, the mul- titude ofbuht with the calves t f the people,til every onefubmit pimp felfe with peices offlver. The rebuke there prayed for upen that boiflerous and bloody generation, was not a word but a worke ofrebuke,that God would do fornewhat that might be a rebuke upon them, and a stop to then-vs ifhe had faid,Seeing this com- pony offpear men,andmultitude of thebolt will not hear any ofthy words, feting they are not capableeither ofreproof,órcounfel,there- fore rebuke them by tome extraordinaryband, and viftble tokens of thy difpleafure(as it follows)featter the people that delight in war. Thus tome underftand it here that God giveth a reproofe to the heavens, notby a word fpoken, but by his providentiall a&ings and wonderful! workings in the world. Further,this reproof is expounded by that which is indeed the the voyce ofGod(and fo called in the z9.Pfalme) the Thunder; which though it bath a natural! cause (for which reafon Atheifts laugh at the fimplicity ofthofe who are led up to the thoughts of God, and to a reverential awofhis power at the hearing ofit) yet that Both not at all hinder but that God doth in fpeciall manner difpofe of it (as he doth ofall other naturali things ) when he pleaf th to ferve his providence in the demonfirations of his wrath among the childrenofmen. To which end we may fay that God doth often fend forth his voice from the clouds, & chides from heaven in thunder. The voice (this reproving voice) of the Lord is upon the waters(that is, upon thewaters which are above the firmament) the god ofglory thunderetb,the Lord is op- en many waters, the voice of the Lord is powerful!, the voice ofthe Lord to full ofma)fly, the voice ofthe Lord breaketh the Crdars, Hhhhh be 785
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=