Exposition of Job 35-37, Exposition on Job · Chapter 37 · Verses 9-11
JOB, Chap. 37. Verſ. 9, 10, 11.
9. Out of the South cometh the Whirlwind, and cold out of the North.
10. By the breath of God Froſt is given; and the breadth of the Waters is ſtraitned.
11. Alſo by watering he wearieth the thick Cloud: he ſcattereth his bright Cloud.
ELihu having ſpoken of Thunder and Lightning, as alſo of Snow and Rain, with their effects upon man and beaſt, at the 6th, 7th and 8th verſes laſt opened, he in the 9th and 10th verſes ſpeaks of the Winds, with their effects; firſt, Cold▪ Secondly, Froſt: or, firſt, of the VVind; ſecondly, of the Cold; and thirdly, of the Froſt; and then at the 11th verſe, of the wonderful works of God in diſpoſing and diſperſing the water in the Clouds, for the refreſhing of the earth by Rain in its ſeaſon.
In the 9th and 10th verſes (I ſay) he diſcourſeth of the Winds; and though there be four Cardinal or principal VVinds, the Eaſt, VVeſt, North and South, which are ſubdivided into thirty-two VVinds according to the Mariners Compaſs, yet here Elihu treats by name of two VVinds only, the South-VVind, and the North-VVind; which two are often and eminently ſpoken of in Scripture; which two, as they come from directly contrary Points in the Heavens, ſo they produce contrary effects, famouſly known among men, on earth. And therefore, I conceive, Elihu gives inſtance only about them, as being more generally taken notice of.
Verſ. 9. Out of the South cometh the Whirlwind, &c.
The word which we render the South, properly ſignifieth a Chamber, an inner Room, or ſecret place,foreign Cubiculum interius, penetrale; omne quod in intimis partibus eſt. a Chamber within a Chamber, which is the moſt private, retiring Room or Chamber. Gen. 43.30. Judg. 16.9. 2 Sam. 13.10. 1 Kings 20.30. Cant. 3.4. VVe ſay, Out of the South, &c. And the Reaſon why the South is expreſſed by that word which ſignifieth a ſecret Chamber, is, becauſe the South Pole is ſcituate or placed in the moſt ſecret part of the VVorld,Polus Antarcticus occultatur a nobis, u…pote depreſſus …ub noſtro Horiz…nte, ſecundum qu…ntitatem qua Polus Arcti…s ſuper Horizo… tem elevatur. Aquin foreign. …proriptuariis ſuperveniunt d…lores. Sept. as to them who inhabit Northern Climates; they who live neareſt the North Pole, are fartheſt removed from the South. And as the ſame word in the Hebrew Tongue ſignifieth the South and an inner Chamber, ſo at the 9th Chapter of this Book (verſ. 9.) we read of the Chambers of the South. The Septuagint …ender, He bringeth the Wind, or Whirlwind, out of his Cellar. Cellars or Store-hou…es being ſecret places, and removed out of ſight, for the keeping of Goods and VVares that are laid up there; and it is elegantly expreſſed, that VVinds come out of Store-houſes, as if God did lay them up, till he hath …ccaſion to draw them forth, and uſe them.
Some render it by a general word, Out of a ſecret place cometh the Whirl wind.
VVe ſay beſt, Out of the South; Firſt, becauſe it is expreſly oppoſed to the North in the Text; Secondly, becauſe Southern VVinds are the ſtrong…ſt and moſt vehement VVinds, as the No…thern are the coldeſt. For though we find by experience, that ſtrong VVinds blow from all Quarters of Heaven, yet uſually the South brings forth the ſtrongeſt VVinds; and therefore in Scripture a ſudden and violent VVind is called a VVhirl-wind out of the South. VVhen the Prophet would deſcribe an unavoydable coming of Judgment, he ſaith (Iſa. 21.1.) As Whirlwinds in the South paſs through, ſo it cometh &c. And again (Zech. 9.14.) The Lord God ſhall blow the Trumpet, and ſhall go with Whirlwinds of the South. Both places expreſſing it, according to what was moſt uſually and commonly known, great VVinds coming out of the South.Redeamus tua benignitate ab ex…lio et c…ptiv…tate, ea celeritate, qua turbo et proceſ…a erumpunt ab auſtrali plaga. Bold. That place (Pſal. 126.4.) is rendred by …ome (not as we, Turn again our Captivity, O Lord, as the Streams in the South, but) Turn again our Captivity, as Storms or Whirlwinds in the South. The Church prayed that God would make ſome ſudden change of things, like that made by Southern Storms and VVhirlwinds. Yet we are not to underſtand it, as if all Southern VVinds were VVhirlwinds or tempeſtuous; favourable refreſhing VVinds come from thence ſometimes, as may be collected from the 17th verſe of this Chapter, and from Canticles …he 4th, verſe the 16th, and as is expreſſed (Acts 27.13.) The South-Wind blew ſoftly. So that Elihu ſpeaks of what is often and uſually done, not of what is alwayes done, when he ſaith, Out of the South cometh The Whirlwind.
That's wind with an addition,foreign a Whirlwind is more than an ordinary wind. Wind is one of thoſe Meteors, which God the Author of Nature hath provided for the uſe of man: It is called by one of the Ancients, the agitation or flux of the Air. Much might be ſpoken about the natu…al cauſes and matter of winds, but I ſhall not inſiſt upon that. A VVhirlwind is a tempeſtuous wind;Turbo, a Graecis foreign a Plinio vortex vocatur. Ventus eſt Aeris fluxus ſeu agitatio. Damaſc. l. 2. de Orthod fide. c. 8. the G eeks have a ſpecial word for it, and ſo have the Latines, both importing violence, or that which troubles and turns all upſide down, and throweth every thing out of its place: Such a boyſterous …hing is the VVhirlwind, 'tis a toſſing, tumbling, breaking, diſturbing wind; this VVhirlwind Cometh out of the South.
It cometh. A like or the ſame expreſſi…n is applyed to the Sun, (Pſal. 19.3.) He hath ſet a Tabernacle for the Sun, which is as a Bridegroom coming out of his Chamber, and rejoyceth as a ſtrong man to run a Race. As the Sun cometh every morning out of his Chamber by Gods appoyntment; ſo doth the VVhirlwind at ſpecial times appointed by God. 'Tis fitly ſaid ſuch fierce and un…uly winds come forth, for they are as it were kept faſt in priſon till God takes off their Bonds, and opens their Priſon-dore, and then out they come furiouſly and boyſterouſly, to do the work God hath commanded and deſigned them to. Out of the South cometh the Whirlwind.
VVhen Elihu ſaith, The VVhi…lwind, the great VVind cometh out of the So…h, he doth not expreſs, yet in…imates, who it is that brings the VV…i…lwind out of the South: The VVhi lwind cometh, but it doth no… come before it is ſent. The ſco e o… Elihu all along is, to ſhew the mighty power of God in ordering and diſpoſing the Meteors, and among them, theſe mighty winds.
Hence No…e; Winds come at Gods appoyntment.
He is the Au…ho… of them▪ he is the diſpoſer o… them, he rules their moſt unruly motions. The H…athen Poets …eign d a god of the winds, whom they called Aeolus, wh… was Pictur'd or Sta…ued puffing the winds out of hi mouth. But 'tis Jehovah who hath the winds in his power, the winds and the Whirlwind. Neither the Heathen god Aeolus, nor the god of this World the Devil, nor the Devils of this World, VVitches and Conjurers, have any power of their own over the leaſt breath of wind, either to raiſe or lay it. Agur deſcribing the Excellency of God, both in himſelf and in his working, ſaith among other things (Prov. …0 4) He gathereth the Wind in his Fiſt; implying, tha… God h…th the …inds in his hand, even as a man carryeth a thing in his hand, or holdeth it in his Fiſt, keeping it there, or letting i… out at pleaſure o… as he liſteth. (Pſal. 135.7.) He bringeth t…e Wind out of his Treaſure. We read the ſame in the P ophet (Jer. 10.13. Je…. 5.1, 16.) Theſe Treaſures out of which God b…ings the win…, …ome call the Secrets of Nature, or ſecre… natural Cau…es; but I conceive 'tis an alluſion to the Cuſtomes of men, who lay up things uſeful in private places, that they may have them at hand when occaſion calls: Chriſt teacheth us, in imitation o… them, to get and keep by us ſuch Treaſuries of ſaving Truth (Math. 13.52.) To be ſure, God hath the winds ready, he hath a ſ…o e and ſtock of them, which upon any occaſion he can b ing forth.
God makes a twofold uſe of the winds, or, there are two general purpoſes, for which he b ings them out of his Treaſures. Firſt, for good; Secondly, for hurt to the VVo…ld: Firſt, in Mercy; Secondly, in Judgment.
Fi…ſt, God b…ings them fo…th out of his T…e…ures in a way of Mercy, and for good to M…nkind. And there is a ſixfold good or good uſe, for which God b…ing… the winds out of his Treaſure.
Venti Aquilonares dicuntur ſco…ae coeli, quòd reddunt aerem mundum. Vatabl:Firſt, to cleanſe and …u…ge …he Ai…; the…efore, by ſome, the winds are called The Brooms of Heaven VVhen the Ai… is corrupt and foul, God ſweepeth it by theſe Brooms. And we find, when Judgment is threatned, a negative is put upon the wind as to this uſe, (Jer 4.11.) A dry wind of the High Places of the Wilderneſs, toward the Daughter of my people, not to fan or to cleanſe, &c. Implying that one merciful uſe of the wind…, is to fan and to cleanſe the Air, as Co n is fanned and cleanſed.
Secondly, God brings the winds out of his treaſure to temper the Air. VVh n the Ai i… cooled by a gentle B i…ze, we count i… a mercy in ho… ſeaſons. And ſuch is the goodneſs o… God, that in t…oſe places where the heat is moſt troubleſome, there are many cool B…iezes. We read (Gen. 3.8.) of the cool of the day, or (as the Margin hath it) the wind of the day, implying that the extream heat of the day is uſually aſſwaged and cooled by the wind. The Prophet (Jer. 14.6.) deſcribing a time of drought, ſaith, The wild Aſſes did ſtand in the high places, they ſnuffed up the wind like Dragons. To ſnuffe the wind in time of drought, is a great refreſhing; wind refreſheth the body as well as food, and 'tis ſome refreſhing in famine, or want of food.
Thirdly, The wind is a Rain-bringer. We ſay when the wind riſeth there will be rain. Thus (1 Kings 18.45.) before the mighty rain which Elijah foretold, we read of a wind; The Heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. When Eliſha told thoſe three Kings diſtreſſed for want of water, Ye ſhall not ſee wind, neither ſhall ye ſee rain, yet that valley ſhall be filled with water (2 Kings 3.17.) he thereby implyed, that wind is the ordinary fore-runner of rain. We, indeed, tranſlate (Prov. 25.23.) The North wind driveth away the rain; yet we put in the Margine, The North wind bringeth forth the rain. It is true of both; the wind ſcattereth and driveth away the rain, the wind alſo bringeth rain.
Fourthly, The wind cauſeth vegetables to flouriſh. A ſweet gale of wind is not only good for man and beaſt, but for the graſs, and for the herbs, for plants and trees, the blowing of the winds maketh them flouriſh; in alluſion unto which the Church ſpeaks (Cant. 4.16.) Awake, O North wind, and come thou South, blow upon my garden, that the ſpices thereof may flow out; that is, that my Graces, my faith in thee, … love to thee, &c. may put forth and appear. The ſpiritual wind, the breathings of the Spirit, draw forth ſpiritual fruit from the heart, and in the life of believers, as the natural draws forth the natural fruits of the Earth.
Fifthly, The winds are beneficial and helpful for the drying up of the waters, they make the earth clean as well as the air. It is ſaid (Gen. 8.1.) …fter the whole world was drowned, God made a wind to paſs over the earth, and the waters aſſwaged. The wind is a dryer as well as the Sun.
Sixthly, There is a great uſe of the winds, as to artificials. What mighty things are done by the wind? By it, Mills are turned to grin'd Corn a Land, and Ships are moved to carry bo…h Men and Merchandiz… at Sea; there were hardly any paſſing from Nation to Nation▪ … diſ-joyned by water, but by the advantage or help of winds; by the help of winds Merchants bring treaſure and precious things from one end of the earth to the other. Theſe and many more are the common benefits of the winds, for which the Lord brings them out of his treaſures.
Secondly, The winds have their evil effects, God ſends them ſomtimes for a pl…e, o… in a way of Judgment.
Fi…ſt, Winds … …ect the air; the Lord can ſend, as a cleanſing, ſo a co ru…ting …ind.
Secondly, As wind b…ings rain, ſo it hinders or blows away the rain.
Thi dly, The Lord ſends the wind to break and overthrow all that ſt…nds before it. What doth not the whi…lwind overthrow? Houſes and Trees at Land are blown down; Goodly Ships at Sea, richly laden, have been ſunk and over-ſet by tempeſtuous winds. God ſent a whirlwind out of his treaſure, which cauſed the Mariners in Jonah to caſt their Merchandize into the Sea, and Jonah himſelf too. What croſs and tempeſtuous winds did the Apoſtle Paul meet with in his voyage to Rome (Acts 27.)
Further, That the Lord bringeth the winds out of his treaſure, is matter of great comfort to all that have an intereſt in the Lord; He can command the winds for them, and againſt their enemies; the wind cometh out of his Chamber, and it ſhall do as he commandeth. It is ſaid (Nahum 1.3.) The Lord hath his way in the whirlwind, and in the ſtorm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet: That is, he ruleth whirlwinds, he walks in and works by the whirlwind, and by ſtorms. And as we may take it properly, ſo metaphorically; that i…in the moſt tempeſtuous diſpenſations and providences, when the world is, as it were, in an Haricane, as boyſterous winds in ſome places are called. In the greateſt concuſſi…n… and confuſions, whether of things or perſons, the Lord carrieth on his work in a regular courſe. As the great toſſings of the air by natural winds, ſo the greateſt toſſings of affairs by the ſt…ong and various paſſions of mens ſpirits in the wo…ld (which we may call civill winds, yea whirlwinds) are unde… the ordering of divine power and wiſdome. The Prophet (Iſa. 17.13.) admoniſheth the wicked to take heed and give glory to God: For (ſaith he) the Nations ſhall ruſh like the ruſhing of many waters; But God ſhall rebuke them, and they ſhall flee far off, and ſhall be chaſed as the chaffe of the mountaines before the wind, and like a rolling thing before the whirlwind. A rolling thing is unſteadfaſt at all times, and a whirlwind will make that roul and tumble which is very ſteadfaſt; it maketh Trees to ſhake, it maketh ſtrong Towers tremble: Now if the whirlwind cauſeth things that are fixed and ſtrong to ſhake and move, what will it do to thoſe that are light and unfixed, rolling things! That which is (as men judge) fixt and ſteady as a Rock, ſhall be as a rolling thing before the whirlwind of the Lords diſpleaſure. The Margin of our Bibles calls this rolling thing, Thiſtle-down. We know what the down of a Thiſtle is, which at …ome ſeaſons of the year falls off, and is the lighteſt thing imaginable. When there is not a breath of wind ſtirring, the Thiſtle-down will ſtir, roll, and move from place to place; what then, think you, will become of Thiſtle-down before a mighty wind, a whirlwind? The wicked ſhall be as Thiſtle-down before the whirlwind; but the people of God need not fear, for (as 'tis ſaid of the Sea, ſo of the wind) his way is in it, he rules the proper, and he rules the metaphorical whirlwinds, which toſs and tumble the ſtate and affaires of this world. To cloſe this matter,
We may take notice of ſeveral wonderfull things in and about the wind; and becauſe Elihu ranks this among the great works of God, who doth marveilous things which we comprehend not, Nulla propemodum regio eſt, quae aliquem ventum ex ſe Naſcentem, & circa ſe cadentem non habeat. Sen: l. 5. Natur: queſt. c. 17. Plin: l. 1. cap. 47. In iuſula Lesbo Oppidum Mytilene magnificè aedifi…atum eſt, ſed imprudentèr poſitum, quod in ea civitate cum Aaſter▪ flat, homines aegrotant. Vitru: l. 1. c. 5.not only in Thunder and Lightning, in Snow and Rain, but in the winds, the…efore I will reckon up ſeven wonders which peculiarly concern the winds.
Firſt, This is conſiderable, Th…t there is ſcarce any Country but b…eeds ſome wind or other, which blows moſt there, and exerciſeth a peculiar force upon it; theſe are called Provincial Winds. The North-weſt wind (ſaith Plinie) is proper to the Athenians, other parts of Greece having little acquaintance with it. The North-eaſt wind afflicts Calabria. And that ſeveral other winds, are congenial to other Countries, whereof ſome are benigne and favourable, others vexatious and uncomfortable to them, may be ſeen in the Authors quoted in the Margin.
Secondly, 'Tis a wonder that the ſame wind in one Country cauſeth fair weather, in another rain and ſtorms.
Thirdly, That the ſame wind is in one place very healthy, and in another cauſeth ſickneſs by corrupting the air, and ſo the blood and ſpirits of men. A learned Author ſaith, when-ever the South wind bloweth in ſuch a Country or City, the people fall ſick.
Fourthly, That's alſo obſervable, that ſome winds are hot and dry, others cold and moyſt, according to the temperature of the places from whence they come, and thorough which they paſſe to us.
Fifthly, 'Tis marveilous that in ſome parts of the world, the wind blows conſtantly one way; ſuch are called trade windes. Expert Sea-men know where to fetch a wind, when once they get to ſuch a poynt they never miſs it. The Eteſian winds are famouſly known in Hiſtory, blowing out of the Eaſt or North-eaſt yearly at one time, for the ſpace of forty dayes together; theſe Cicero called Anniverſary winds.
Sixthly, Yet in moſt places nothing is more unconſtant than the wind; inconſtancy it ſelf is Embleamed by the winds. No man knoweth when or where to have them certain for an houre; Hence we ſay, Take the Wind while it ſerveth. Wind and tyde tarry for no man.
Seventhly, That's alſo wonderfull, That winds blow at once from contrary poynts, North and South, &c. at the ſame time. Daniel (Chap. 7.2.) ſaw in a viſion the four Winds ſtriving together upon the Sea; All the winds were let looſe together, contending (as it were) for victory. Naturaliſts diſpute and queſtion whether contrary winds can blow at once;Ariſt: l. 2. Met: c. 6. Ariſtotle, the great Philoſopher, affirmes they cannot, becauſe (ſaith he) the one muſt needs beat back the other. That's true; yet, what hinders but that for a time there may be ſuch a conflict or battel fought between them, as may extreamly trouble both the air and waters, and ſhake vehemently ſuch things as ſtand in their way on earth? The Natural Hiſtorian reports,Plin: l. 2. cap: 92. That two conſiderable Cities in the Corinthian Bay, were ſuddenly ſwallowed up by the Sea, which inundation was cauſed by the fierce blowing of the North and South wind at one and the ſame time. Out of the South cometh the whirlwind, foreign A radice foreign eventitare diſpergere. Per ventos diſpergentes intelliguntur venti aquilonares, qui diſpergunt nubes, et aerem ventilant.And cold out of the North.
The Hebrew is out of the ſcattering or fanning Winds cometh cold; Mr Broughton renders, And cold from the faire weather-Winds. Our tranſlation determines it.
Cold out of the North.Boreas foreign dicitur quia gignit foreign ſerenitatem. Honier; Odyſſ…e.
Common experience teacheth us, that the Northern coaſts are cold, yea the coldeſt coaſts: The eoldeſt freezing winds come out of the No…th, as the ſtrongeſt out of the South. Here is North and South, and here are the ſeveral effects of them; the South breaths warmth, and the North cold.
Hence Note; Cold comes at Gods call.
Now the South wind bloweth, and then 'tis warme, anon the N…th wind blows, and then 'tis cold. God hath his ſpecial ſtore-houſes for heat and cold, he brings cold out of his Northe n ſtore-houſe, and not only heat but whirlwinds out of his ſtore-houſe in the South. Cold is diſpoſed of by God as heat is, ſomtimes for the good, ſomtimes for the hurt of the creature. Cold is both needfull and hurtfull; cold is needfull to the body of man, and cold is needfull to the body of the earth; therefore God hath that in his t…eaſure to ſe…ve the uſes of man with. Changes from heat to cold, ſet forth, Firſt, Gods power; Secondly, His care: If the air were kept alwayes at one rate, or in the ſame temper, neither windy nor ſto…my, neither very hot nor very old, we poſſibly would like it better, but it would be worſe for us. Changes in …he air are ſo uſefull, that nature could no …be well preſerved without them; we would have all things alike, we would have it alwayes warme weather, alwayes faire, but God ſeeth 'tis beſt for us, there ſhould be changes in natural things for our natural good. It is alſo beſt for our ſpiritual good to have providential changes. God ſeeth it needfull to leave us ſomtimes under clouds and da…kneſs, to bring cold as well as heat out of his treaſures, to ſend us chilling times as well as ſpringing times; cold is as good for our inner man as heat, ſtormes as calmes, foule weather as faire. Now for a ſeaſon (ſaith the Apoſtle, 1 Pet. 1.6.) if need be ye are in heavineſs through manifold temptations. The coldneſs of the air kills the weeds in our grounds,Frigora tempeſtiva arborum et plantarum conferunt faecunditati. Garc: Meteor: ſo doth the cold of affliction and tribulation the weeds of corruption in our ſouls. Seaſonable cold makes trees and plants more fruitfull in their ſeaſons: The cold nipping froſts of affliction, diſpoſe our ſouls (through the bleſſing of God▪) to a gracious fruitfulneſs in every good word duplicate page duplicate page and work. We would alwayes have it ſpring and Sun-ſhine, peace and ſafety, but God knows it muſt be otherwiſe; perpetual ſhining and faire ſeaſons are reſerved for Heaven. While we are on Earth the cold of adverſity is as advantagious to our ſpiritual condition, as the coldneſs of the air is to ou… natural. Out of the South cometh the whirlwind, and cold out of the North.
Verſ. 10th. By the breath of God froſt is given, and the breadth of the waters is ſtraitened.
In the former part of this verſe, we have the ſupream cauſe of froſt, and in the latter an effect of it. By the breath of the Lord froſt is given, or, he giveth froſt by his breath. The Hebrew is active, we tranſlate paſſively.
By the breath of the Lord.
Fl… deo, i. e. deo ipſum flatum cauſante.That is, God breathing or blowing; not that the Lord uſeth breathing or blowing properly, he is a Spirit: But the Lord is ſaid to breath or blow when he commands the wind to blow or breath. The winds are called Gods brea…h, o… ſpirit. Some of the Hebrew Doctors, underſtand nothing elſe but his bare will and command, or the intimation of his mind to have it ſo; but I rather take it for the froſt-making winds which are ſent by God. By the breath of the Lord, that is, when the Lord appoynts and orders cold winds to come out of his treaſure, when the Lord gives out the word of command,A verbo dei dat G…lu. Chald: pro a voluntate dei dat gelu, ſc: Arcturus. cold winds iſſue forth, and then froſt appears. David affi…mes in general, (Pſal. 33.6.) By the word of the Lord were the Heavens made, and all the Hoſt of them by the breath of his mouth. The Heavens and their Hoſt…, all the powers and vertues of them, all the influences and …fficacies of them are given out by the breath of the Lord. And among other things that are given by the breath of the Lord Frost is given.
Froſt is cold in exceſs, froſt is great cold; every cold is not freezing cold. The word which we rende… froſt, i… o…en rendred ice, and it cometh from a root which ſignifieth to m…ke bald becauſe froſt and ice cover the graſſe (which is to the ground as haire to the head of man) and ſo make the ſu face of the Ea…th ſmooth like a bald head. Froſt alſo makes the ſurface of the Earth, not only ſmooth, but bright and ſhining like a bald head. By the breath of the Lord froſt is given.
Hence Note; Froſt is the gift or diſpe…ſation of God.
Changes in the air, as well as changes in the eſtates, lives, or hearts of men, are from the Lord (Pſal. 147.17.) He giveth ſnow like wooll: he ſcattereth the hoar froſt like aſhes: He caſteth forth his ice like morſels; who can ſtand before his cold? It is Gods ice and his cold as well as his rain or his Sun-ſhine. When the Pſalmiſt ſaith, He ſcattereth the froſt, he caſteth forth his ice, he ſaith the ſame thing in ſubſtance which Elihu doth here, By the breath of the Lord froſt is given: There is a continuall dependance of all creatures in their motions and operations, as well as in their beings, upon the will of God, 'tis by his word that froſt is given. Some deny the working of the firſt cauſe with the ſecond cauſe…, any otherwiſe than as God once gave them a working power, and conſerveth that power once given them. Whereas indeed God hath not only given a general power to the creature, not only hath he ſaid, There ſhall be froſt ſomtimes, and heat ſomtimes, and fair weather ſomtimes, but when-ever the heat or cold or froſt come, they come by a particular order from him. As all things, men eſpecially, have their being in him, ſo their working and moving from him; and that not only becauſe he makes us in general, working, moving creatures, but as to every ſpecial work and motion. This the Prophet aſſerts, while he puts thoſe reproving queſtions (Iſa. 10.15.) Shall the axe boaſt it ſelf againſt him that heweth therewith? or ſhall the ſaw magnifie it ſelf againſt him that ſhaketh it? as if the rod ſhould ſhake it ſelf against them that lift it up, or as if the ſtaffe ſhould lift up it ſelf, as if it were no wood. Living and natural creatures move no more without God, th…n artificial and liveleſs inſtruments (ſuch as the axe and ſaw, the rod and ſtaff) can move themſelves without the hand or help of man. By the breath of the Lord froſt is given, And the breath of the water is ſtraitned.
This is an eff…ct of the former. Froſt drinks up the waters,Glacies eſt copia aquae in anguſto. and ſo ſtraitens them: ſome-define ice, which is made by the froſt, to be ſtore of water in a little room, or narrow compaſſe. Every years experience tells us, that the waters are pinched with the froſt. Waters which were out before a froſt, are fetcht in or contracted by the froſt; hence 'tis ſaid (Chap. 38.30.) The waters are hid as with a ſtone, which is of the ſame ſence with this expreſſ… on, The breadth of the water is ſtraitned; God brings the wate…s into their old bounds, or into narrower bounds than before, by froſt. From this effect of froſt, that the breadth of the water is ſtraitned by it,
Note; Cold is a ſtraitner.
'Tis ſo in natural things, 'tis ſo alſo (to mind the reader of that occaſion'd this note) in ſpirituals and morals. Take coldneſs as it is an ill diſpoſition, or an indi…poſition upon the heart, it ſtraitens us, as to the doing of any good; fo…, as Chriſt hath foretold us (Mat. 24.12.) that becauſe iniquity ſhall abound (in the latter dayes) the love of many ſhall wax cold: So when-ever love or zeal, or any grace in us waxeth cold, piety, in all the acts or whole compaſſe of it, will certainly decline and be ſtraitned. He that before had a large heart, becomes narrow-hearted, and is pinched in his ſpirit by this ſinful coldneſſe. Warmth enlargeth, Cold ſtraiteneth. God ſends the cold of afflictions upon many bad men, to ſtraiten their Luſts, elſe they would keep no bounds, they would overflow all; and it is the g…eat deſign of Satan to ſend a cold upon, or to frieze the ſpirits of all good men, that they may be ſtraitened and made unfit for the ſervice of God. Take heed of a coldneſs in your diſpoſition, for that will be a ſtraitner of your graces; but welcome the froſt of affliction, that may be a ſt…aitner of your corruptions. There is nothing we ſhould fea… more (except the loſs of them, and the favour of God with them) than to feel our graces ſtraitened; nor is there any thing (except the favour of God) which we ſhould more deſire, than to feel our luſts and corruptions weakned and abated.
Et rurſum latiſſime funduntur aquae. Vulg Ego conſenſerim illis qui participium foreign non arctum ve… anguſtum, ſed … fuſum aut ſolutum potius reddunt. Sic aquiloni facultatem efficiendi gelu, Auſtro liquandi & fundendi attribuit. Bold.Some render this latter part of the ve…ſe not as we, The breadth of the waters is ſtraitned; but, The waters are diſſolved into their breadth. As if Elihu had ſaid, the ice or froſt being diſſolved, the waters return to their wonted latitude. The word rendred ſtraitened, may be derived from a root which ſignifieth to diſſolve, to melt and pour out. Thus, as according to our tranſlation, we take the latter part of the verſe as an effect of the firſt, froſt being that whereby the breadth of the waters is ſtraitned; ſo according to this tranſlation, it ſtands in oppoſition to the former, By the breath of the Lord froſt is given, and he again (by his breath) diſſ lveth the water. Thawing as well as freezing is from God. Thawing is the melting of the ice; as mettal is melted in the fire, ſo ice is melted by the heat of the Sun. Thus the North makes ice, and the South unmakes or melts it. The power of God is to be ſeen in diſſolving thoſe huge rocks and mountains of ice into water, as well as in congealing thoſe mighty floods o… water into icy rocks. David celebrateth the power of God in this alſo (Pſal. 147.18.) He ſendeth out his word, and melteth them (that is, the morſels of ice ſpoken of verſ. 17.) He cauſeth the wind (a warm thawing wind) to blow, and the waters flow, that i…, thoſe waters which were bound up by the cold, flow away by heat. Some inſiſt much upon this tranſlation. It is of the Lord that the waters are enlarged or ſtraitned, frozen or diſſolved. I leave it with the Reader. which to pitch upon (both are ſafe and honourable to God) and proceed to the next verſe.Vox foreign compoſita eſt praepoſitione foreign & nomine foreign quo ſignificatur irrigatio, a verbo foreign irrigare. Piſc.
Verſ. 11. Alſo by watering he wearieth the thick cloud, he ſcattereth his bright cloud.
There is a four-fold reading or expoſition of the former part of this verſe; By watering he wearieth the thick cloud.
Firſt, thus, For watering, or, that he may water the earth, Cum tempus irrigandi terrant eſt cogit & condenſat nubes illaſquo magna aquarum copia gravidas effi…it. Inde apud Hometum. foreign, i. e. nubium congregatur Jupiter. Bold.he wearieth the thick cloud, that is, he calleth up ſo much vapour as burdens or wearieth the thick Cloud, that he may have ſufficient for the watering of the earth by rain. God cauſeth his vapour to aſcend, ſaith the Prophet (Jer. 10.13.) that is, he draws up much water by vapors, as the matter of clouds, or as the matter out of which clouds are made, and he fills the cloud ſo full of water, that it can ſcarce bear the weight; and all this he do…h for the plentiful watering of the earth.
Secondly, thus, He cauſeth the cloud to give out, or ſpend its water till it be weary. We ſay of any thing that is ſpent to the laſt, it is ti…ed and wearied. Thus the Lord by watering wearies the thick cloud, commanding the clouds to pour rain upon the earth, till they are tired, till they have ſpent all their ſtore,Mercerus. and cannot yeeld a drop more. Yet becauſe to water the earth is the moſt proper and natural buſineſs of the cloud, therefore,
Thirdly, A learned Expoſitor conceives, that the cloud is not we…ied by watering or raining upon the earth; but that on the contrary the cloud is ſaid to be wearied or troubled, when, while it is about that work, it is ſcattered or diſperſed by the Sun or Wind.
Fourthly, Others refer this wearying of the cloud, to the command which it receives for the watering of very remote parts of the earth. The Lord ſaith to this or that cloud, …emove far off, go and water ſuch a Countrey (it may be a hundred, yea, many hundred miles off the place from whence the vapou s were exhaled) and there diſburden thy ſelf, or fall down in ſhowres. When the Lord ſends the cloud a long journey, we may ſay, 'tis even wearied, as a man or beaſt is that hath gone a long journey.
Frumen…um deſiderat nubes. Vulg. Cibus arborum imber eſt. Plin. l. 17. cap. 2.I ſhall not trouble the reader with that wide interpretation of the Latine tranſlator, rendring thus, The cloud deſires corn, or the cloud labours for corn, that is, to make the earth fruitful, and bring forth abundance of corn. Some of the Ancients have taught that there is a kind of natural marriage, between the earth and the clouds, or between the clouds and the corn, or any other fruits of the earth. Rain is the food of the earth, that is, of Fruits and Plants; to which the Prophet (Hoſ. 2.22.) makes an elegant alluſion. But I paſs this.
The ſecond interpretation I judge moſt congruous to the ſcope of the text, which ſaith clearly, Alſo by watering he wearieth the thick cloud.
Whence note; Thoſe creatures which have greateſt ſtores to give, may quickly have none left to give.
Here is a cloud and a thick cloud (Elihu doth not ſpeak of an ordinary, but of a thick cloud) yet upon the Lords command to give ſhowres the cloud is quite ſpent and wearied. Though men have the greateſt affluence, the largeſt ſtores and ſtock…, of wealth or riches, yea of gifts and graces, yet they may be wearied, and even drawn dry. The thickeſt clouds, that is, they who have the greateſt treaſures of ſtrength, of wit, of learning and knowledge, are ſoon wearied, exhauſted and emptied, unleſs they live in dependance upon God; Only, God himſelf can never be wearied by watering. How much ſoever God giveth out to us, he is not at all emptied, but remaines everlaſtingly equally full. And if God will ſpeak to the meaneſt creature, even to that which ſeemeth moſt empty, it ſhall water others and not be wearied. The thick clouds, they who have much, may be ſpent, while he that hath but a little ſhall not be ſpent. The Prophet ſaid to the poor woman (1 King. 17.14.) The oyl in the cruſe, and the meal in the barrel ſhall not waſte. The woman might draw out of the oyl as long as ſhe would, and ſtill there would be a ſupply of oyl, nor would the barrel be weary in yeelding meal. The Lord can make the creature unwea…ied, and eſtabliſh it to us for good. A full cloud will ſoon drop away, if the Lord forbear ſupplies; and a few drops ſhall be as an eve…laſting ſpring where the Lord gives out ſupplies. We may al…o allude to that (2 King. 4.2.) There was a poor widow, and the creditors were ready to ſeize her two ſons for bondmen, and, ſaith ſhe, I have nothing but a little pot of oyl, and what will that do towards payment? Well, ſaith the Prophet, Go borrow thee veſſels abroad of all thy neighbours, even empty veſſels, borrow not a few, and thou ſhalt draw out of the pot, and the pot of oyl ſhall not be wearied by giving oyl into the veſſels. God ſpeaking to the pot of oyl it yeelded a continued ſupply; the oyl never ceaſed till the woman had not a veſſel to receive it. If God ſaith to the leaſt pittance of temporals, which a man hath in this world, hold out, it ſhall not fail nor be weary; 'tis ſo likewiſe in ſpiri uals, the Lord can make a little grace hold out, the thinneſt cloud ſhall not be wearied by watering.
Again, By watering he wearieth the thick cloud, that is, God giveth out ſhowres to water the earth abundantly.
Hence note; God is very free and liberal;
He will empty the thick cloud upon the earth to make it fruitful; He gives not only a few drops, but abundance▪ and this is moſt true in ſpi…ituals. How doth the Lord ſhowre down and empty even whole clouds of good things upon the ſoul! as he hath promiſed, ſo he once did, and ſtill doth ſometimes (and will mo…e in the laſt times) poure out the Spirit, which is an alluſion to thoſe ſhowres of rain powred from the clouds: And as the Lord powres out his Spirit, which can never be wearied or drawn dry; ſo the Lord makes uſe of many thick clouds (which hold much ſpiritual rain) even to wearineſs, for the refreſhing of wearied ſouls; I mean ſuch Miniſters as he hath furniſhed with great gifts and graces, ſuch as are not (as the Apoſtle Jude compareth ſome Teachers) Clouds without water, but (as true and faithful Teachers ſhould be) full of water. The waterings of any Apollo are at the Lords diſpoſe…: He ſaith, drop thy word here, drop thy word there, and thou ſhalt not drop thy word any more here or there. The Lord hath often been ſo bountiful to Nations and Churches, that he hath even wearied many thick clouds to water them with the rain of his word. That of the Pſalmiſt (though it be true of the rain properly taken, falling upon the earth) is moſt true of ſpiritual rain falling upon the Churches (Pſal. 65.10.) Thou waterest the ridges thereof abundantly, thou ſetlest the furrows thereof. And ſo is tha… alſo to be underſtood (Pſal. 68.9.) Thou, O God, didst ſend a plentiful rain (or rain of liberalities) whereby thou didſt confirm thine inheritance when it was weary. Thou didſt even weary the thick cloud, to confirm, that is, to refreſh thy weary people.
And ſeeing they who carry and diſpence the Word are in Scripture emblematically expreſſed by Clouds (Iſa. 60.8. Who are theſe that flee as a cloud, and as the doves to their windows? The Preachers of the Goſpel come as ſo many clouds, and the Prophet tells us, the Word cometh down as rain and ſnow from heaven (Iſa. 55.10.) which ſuppoſeth a cloud from whence it cometh; fo…, ſaith the Lord, So ſhall my word be that goeth out of my mouth, it ſhall not return unto me void, but it ſhall accompliſh that which I pleaſe; Seeing, I ſay, the diſpenſers of the Word are compared to clouds) let them that ſit under the droppings of theſe clouds take heed they be not unfruitful, or like that ground which drinketh in the rain, yet beareth nothing but briars and thorns, whoſe end is to be burned. God hath wearied and quite ſpent many of theſe thick clouds by continual dropping upon, and watering the ſouls of men, yet how barren, how fruitleſs are they! If but one of the clouds of heaven be wearied in watering the earth, we ſoon after diſcern the face of the earth refreſhed and renewed by it: And ſhall God weary thoſe he…venly clouds by watering men on earth, and men remain unrefreſhed, unrenewed! Clouds of ſorrow and darkneſs will at laſt weary all thoſe with their waterings and droppings upon them, who, when God hath wearied his Clouds by watering them with the word of life from Heaven, yet remaine altogether barren and unfruitfull. By watering he wearieth the thick Cloud.
He ſcattereth his bright Cloud.
The former part of the verſe ſpake of a thick Cloud, Nubes ex cujus diſcuſſione lucem reſtituit. H…nc appellat nubem lucis dei, qua diſpulſa lux et ſerenitas inducitur. Merc:this latter ſpeaks of a bright Cloud: The Hebrew is, The Cloud of his light; which I conceive is here added; Firſt, to ſhew that Clouds of all ſorts ſerve the purpoſes of God; the thick Cloud, and the bright Cloud, the dark Cloud, and the light Cloud, are made uſe of by him. And as he doth weary the Cloud, that is full of water, ſo he ſcattereth the Cloud that is full of light, or, he ſcattereth his bright Cloud.
Yet ſome conſidering it is not ſaid in the letter of the Text,Nubem lucis, non dicit lucidam, ſed quae lucem abſcondit. Coc: A light Cloud, but a Cloud of light, underſtand by a Cloud of light, ſuch a Cloud as hides and hinders the light, and which being ſcattered, light and faire weather ſucceed. Yet rather as before. But why is it here ſaid, that he ſcattereth his bright Cloud? poſſibly, becauſe he hath no uſe of his bright Cloud, but of his thick Cloud only, when he would water the earth. And indeed Clouds which are only bright, or which have much light, but no water, are of little uſe. Some have much light of knowledge, but no water of inſtruction to drop upon others; ſuch Clouds God diſperſeth and ſcatters. It is not an outward faire appearance, which can bring us into acceptance with God, The bright Cloud ſhall be ſcattered, if it have no rain in it, to water the earth.
Againe, Some tranſlate, His light ſcattereth the Cloud. So the text may be read according to the letter of the Hebrew; as if the meaning were this, God by the Sun-beams diſpels or diſperſeth the Cloud; for Clouds are ſcattered ſometimes by the wind, ſometimes by the Sun. That which gathered the Cloud, may alſo ſcatter it. The Sun draweth up the vapours, of which Clouds are formed or compacted, and ſoone after the Sun diſſolveth the Clouds, which it had gathered. The ſame power makes and unmakes the Cloud, gives it a body, and takes it away; His light ſcattereth the Cloud. That's a truth alſo: For as brightneſs or light is ſcattered among the Clouds, and makes the Clouds appeare duplicate page duplicate page bright, ſo brightneſs or light ſcatters Clouds, or cauſeth them to diſappeare.
Elihu having thus diſcourſed of wind and cold, of freezing and thawing, of working ſome Clouds to wearineſs, and of ſcattering others, proceeds in the two following verſes, to ſhew the ſpecial uſes which the Lord makes of all thoſe motions in the air, and impreſſions upon the Earth, with the Inhabitants of it, whether in a way of Judgment or of Mercy.