The Book of Job Paraphrased, Chapter 35
CHAP. XXXV.
ARGUMENT.
Job ſtill keeps ſilence, notwithſtanding that Elihu had made the harſheſt conſtruction of his words; becauſe he was ſenſible he meant him well, and had now, in the concluſion of his Diſcourſe, given him very wholſom Counſell; and, allowing his Integrity, had onelyonly charg'd him with ſome unhappy Expreſſions, which had faln from him when he was in great anguiſh of ſpirit. Which, I ſuppoſe, was the reaſon he doth not contradict him, though he continue, here in this Chapter, to faſten the very ſame harſh ſenſe upon his words, v. 2, 3. Which he refutes from the conſideration of the infinite diſproportion there is between Man and God: who is never the worſe indeed for any Evil, nor at all the better for any Good that we doe: and yet hath ſuch a Love to Mankind, that it is certain He would not have them miſerable, but takes care for their relief when they are oppreſſed, if they addreſs themſelves, as they ought, to Him.
1. ELIHƲ ſpake moreover, and ſaid,1. TO this Job making no Anſwer, Elihu preſſed him again, and ſaid;
2. Thinkeſt thou this to be right, that thou ſaidſt, My righteouſneſs is more then Gods?2. Let me appeal to thy own Conſcience. Doſt thou think this to be right, that thou ſaid'ſt, God is not ſo righteous as I am?
3. For thou ſaidſt, What advantage will it be unto thee, and, What profit ſhall I have, if I be cleanſed from my ſin?3. What elſe could be thy meaning, when thou utteredſt ſuch words as theſe, What doth God care whether I be innocent or no? or what benefit ſhall I have by it, if I be?
4. I will anſwer thee, and thy companions with thee.4. I will anſwer thee, and ſuch as thou art, in a few words.
5. Look unto the heavens, and ſee and behold the clouds which are higher then thou.5. Caſt up thine eyes to the Heavens, look upon the Clouds and the Sky; and conſider that, as high as they are, they are not ſo much above thee, as God is above them.
6. If thou ſinneſt, what doeſt thou againſt him? or if thy tranſgreſſions be multiplied, what doeſt thou unto him?6. And therefore it is true, that He is never the worſe for the Sins which thou haſt committed; nor will be the worſe, though thou ſhouldſt proceed to commit more and greater:
7. If thou be righteous, what giveſt thou him? or what receiveth he of thine hand?7. And that He is never the better for thy being Righteous; which can conferr nothing upon Him which He hath not already, nor adde any thing to his Greatneſs.
8. Thy wickedneſs may hurt a man as thou art, and thy righteouſneſs may profit the ſon of man.8. But thou ſhouldſt not conclude from thence, that it is all one whether a man be good or bad: For thy Wickedneſs will prove hurtfull to thy ſelf and to the reſt of mankind; and thy Righteouſneſs will doe thee and them great ſervice.
9. By reaſon of the multitude of oppreſſions, they make the oppreſſed to cry: they cry out by reaſon of the arm of the mighty.9. The cries of the Oppreſſed tell us what miſchief Injuſtice doeth, and how miſerable it makes them: The tyranny of the mighty forces them to cry aloud to God for Vengeance; who, though He be not hurt himſelf by it, is touched with a ſenſe of their Affliction.
10. But none ſaith, Where is God my maker, who giveth ſongs in the night?10. The greateſt miſchief is, that not one of theſe miſerable Wretches inquires ſeriouſly after God, who gave him his being; and is able therefore, not onelyonly to relieve him, but to comfort, yea to fill him with Joy, in the midſt of the ſaddeſt Affliction.
11. Who teacheth us more then the beaſts of the earth, and maketh us wiſer then the fowls of heaven.11. Having indued us with Reaſon and Wiſedom to conſider, that He, who takes care of the Beaſts and the Birds, will not neglect us; if we do not merely cry and groan under our Oppreſſions, (as thoſe brute Creatures do,) but with hearty Repentance, and a thankfull ſenſe of his Benefits, and humble Confidence in his Goodneſs, piouſly addreſs our ſelves unto Him.
12. There they cry, (but none giveth anſwer) becauſe of the pride of evil men.12. This is the reaſon that God doth not deliver them; becauſe they lie crying indeed under their Affliction: but it is not a ſenſe of Him, but onelyonly the haughty Violence of their Oppreſſours, which extorts it from them.
13. Surely God will not hear vanity, neither will the Almighty regard it.13. For we muſt not think that God (though He be inclined to relieve the Afflicted) will give ear to men ſo void of Piety: He will not regard thoſe, who have ſo little regard to Him; even for this reaſon, becauſe He ſtands in need of no-body.
14. Although thou ſayeſt thou ſhalt not ſee him, yet judgmeni is before him, therefore truſt thou in him.14. Therefore, although thou complaineſt that thou doſt not ſee Him appear for thy deliverance; (XXIII. 8.) yet do not conclude from thence that He is unrighteous: but go and condemn thy ſelf before Him, and then patiently wait for his Mercy.
15. But now becauſe it is not ſo, he hath viſited in his anger, yet he knoweth it not in great extremity:15. But now, becauſe there is nothing of this in thee, God hath thus ſeverely afflicted thee; and not at all regarded the exceeding great Proſperity wherein thou haſt hitherto lived.
16. Therefore doth Job open his mouth in vain: he multiplieth words without knowledg.16. And Job may ſpare his Complaints hereafter, for they are to no purpoſe: he heapeth up words without reaſon.