Exposition of Job 35-37, Exposition on Job · Chapter 37 · Verses 17-18
JOB, Chap. 37. Verſ. 17, 18.
Doſt thou know, &c.
17. How thy garments are warm, when he quieteth the earth by the ſouth wind?
18. Haſt thou with him ſpread out the skie which is ſtrong, and as a molten looking-glaſs?
THis context ſheweth yet further, the utter inſufficiency of man to comprehend thoſe wonderful works of God, concerning which Elihu ſpake in the cloſe of the 15th verſe. And here we have a conviction of mans inſufficiency two wayes.
Firſt, In reference to his ignorance of what God doth upon him, verſ. 17. Doſt thou know how thy garments are warm? &c.
Secondly, To his weakneſs, in giving God any aſſiſtance about what he hath done, verſ. 18. Haſt thou, with him, ſpread out the skie which is ſtrong? &c.
Thus Elihu cometh nearer to Job than before, not only convincing him of his ignorance in thoſe things which were far above him, but even in thoſe that were about him; not only with reſpect to the Clouds of heaven, but to the cloathes upon his ba… And it hath troubled ſome Interpreters upon theſe words, while they conſidered the ſeeming lowneſs and meanneſs of the matter in queſtion, which here Elihu puts to Job, as alſo, how Elihu (having diſcourſed of ſo many wonderful wo…ks of God, in the former part of the Chapter, his wonderful works in Lightning, in Thunder, in Rain and Snow, in the motion of the Winds, in ballancing of the Clouds, and in the admi…able aſpect and appearances of the Rain-bow; It troubles ſome Interpreters, I ſay, to conſider how Elihu, after a large diſcourſe of theſe greater matters) ſhould come at laſt to ſpeak of Jobs garments, and the warmth received by them. What cognation or proportion is there between thoſe high and great things above, and the garments which he daily wo…e? Do theſe deſerve to be reckoned up among the ſecrets of Nature? or, was Job ſo ſtupid, that he could not give a reaſon of their warmth? Knoweſt thou
Verſ. 17. How thy garments are warm, when he quieteth the earth by the South wind?
So we are to reſume that part of the queſtion out of the former verſe, though not expreſſed here. As there he ſaid expreſly, Doſt thou know when God diſpoſed them? doſt thou know the ballancing of the Clouds? So here he ſaith impliedly, Doſt thou know how thy garments are warm?
Some make this and the former verſe one entire ſentence, qui…e leaving out thoſe wo…ds, Doſt thou know, in the latter part; Doſt thou know the ba…ancing of the Clouds, O thou whoſe garments are warm upon thee, when the earth is quieted by the South wind? Hast thou, with him, ſpread out the Skie, which is ſtrong, and as a molten looking glaſs? The meaning of which reading is briefly this; O thou, who canst not bear thy clothes in a hot day, but art forced to leave thy labour, and retire to thy rest, when the earth is quieted, the Sun being far aſcended to the South (that's the time of heat) Didst thou, with him, ſpread out the Skie, which is ſtrong as a molten looking-glaſs? Didſt thou work in the Furnace, or in that fiery heat with God, when he did, as it were, like a mighty Founder, caſt the whole Heavens into that glorious mould, or form, in which they appear and ſeem to move? The words are an alluſion to thoſe Artiſts who work in Mettals, and caſt them into Veſſels of one ſort and ſize or another, for the ſeveral uſes & ſervices of man: Such a thing is the Skie over us, which is therefore here compared to a molten looking-glaſs, that is, to a glaſs made of molten mettal. Thus, I ſay, ſome read the context as one entire ſentence, and there is a clearneſs in it.
But I ſhall keep to our own reading, and ſo we have two diſtinct queſtions; Doſt thou know how thy garments are warm? Hast thou, with him, ſpread out the Skie?foreign Pro foreign Ʋt Exod. 34 18.
I begin with the firſt, Doſt thou know How thy garments are warm?
Canſt thou give an account of that ſudden change, whence it is that the South wind ceaſing to raiſe ſtormes in the earth, there ſhould preſently ſucceed ſuch fervent heat, that thou art not able to bear thy own ordinary clothes? The text is, that, or how it cometh to paſs, that thy garments are warm. As if Elihu had ſaid, I have dealt with thee about higher and greater ma…ters; I will now put a queſtion to thee which is more familiar, Canſt thou tell me how thy garments are warm? Su…ely it thou ar… not able to give me a clear reaſon about that, how art thou able to enter n…o the more reſerved ſecrets of God? tell me, if thou canſt, How thy Garments are warm?
foreign Poſ…t, … torte quod veſtimentum ſit pri… hominis contra … perſ… … & te… m…ntum. Brix.The wo…d which we t…anſlate garme…ts, hath a very co…ſi…erable ſignificancy in it, coming f om a root rendred dec…i…, …al… hood, and a lie. The g…rments which we wear a…e bo…h a tegumen… o… covering of our nakedneſs, and a teſtimony of our perfici…uſneſs and fal…eneſs with the great God. Be o…e man ſinned he wore no garments, nor had he need to wear any, innocency was his cloathing; nor was the natural man ever ſo gloriouſly adorned, decks and dreſt, as when he had no garm…nts beſides his innocency. When man prevaricated and dealt falſly with God, when he ſ…nne… and broke the commandment (his nakedneſs appea…ing and his …hame) he then got a ſimple cove…ing, ſuch as he could make for himſelf of fig-leaves, till God p…ovided him a covering of skins. Garments began with our ſin, till then (ſaith Moſes, Gen. 2.) the man and the woman were both naked, and were not aſhamed; but when once man had ſinned, then ſhame came into the world, and then both God and Nature p…ovided garments to cover his ſhame. All this the word imports, that we, through ſin, having loſt our natu…al garments, our robe of created innocency and integrity, we are conſtrained by ſ…me to take up theſe artificial garments or coverings to hide our nakedneſs. It is not unprofitable for us to remember,foreign Incaluit calidus fuit; ita que Chami nomen vel a calore, vel a nigredine factum; Neque ut videtur ſine numine, cum quae Chamo contingit Aphrica immodico a ſtul…boret. Bochart. that the Spi…it of God in the Original language hath expreſſed our ga ments by ſuch a word, as leads us to the original of them▪ our dealing falſly with God and ſinning againſt him. D…ſt thou know how thy garments Are warm?
The word which ſignifieth to heat, or make warm (I note that by the way alſo) was the name of one of the ſons of Noah; he had three, called Sem, Ham, and Japheth. Ham or Cham was that ſon who ſaw his fathers naked…eſs, and told his two brethren without, not g…ievingly, but deridingly, which brought a curſe upon him. This Cham had his name from heat; and that portion and part of the world which, according to the opinion of the learned, was aſſigned to the poſterity of Cham, is one of the hotteſt climates in the world; the inhabitants of thoſe Countries by reaſon of the extream heat of the Sun, being black, are called Blackmores. Aphrica Ammonia dicta, cum ob cultum Ammonis i. e. Solis, tum praecipue ob aſtus ſolares quibus expoſita eſt. Fuller Miſc.And all Affrica was called Ammonia, either becauſe the Idol of the Sun was wo…ſhipped there, or becauſe the Sun-beams are alwayes hot and fie…y upon it. Yet as the word notes that extream heat which cauſeth blackneſs, ſo any moderate heat; Dist thou know how thy garments are warm?
From the notation of the word rendred garments,
Obſerve firſt; When we put on our clothes we ſhould remember our ſin, or, Our garments are memorials of our ſin.
The covering of our natural nakedneſs is a diſcovery of our ſpiritual; and the…efore when we cover our natural nakedneſs we ſhould think of our ſpi itual. 'Tis ſin alone which makes us ſhamefully naked. Moſes ſaw the people were naked, when they had made the golden Calf (Exod. 32.25.) not that they had no clothes on them, but they had got a new ſin upon them, and had loſt their former integ…ity, which was a better ornament than clothing, as alſo the protection of God, which was a better guard or defence than armour. Our garments, which are an occaſion of pride to many, ſhould be an occaſion of humiliation to all. Let us take heed of ſinning in the uſe of garments, ſeeing it was ſin that brought in the uſe of garments. I only mind the reader of it from the notation of the wo d.
Secondly, What is here ſaid of garments? Knoweſt th…u how thy garments are warm? That is, warm thee, or, keep thee wa…m.
Hence note; Garments are given for warmth.
That's one uſe or ſervice of garments. There is a fourfold uſe of garments.
Firſt, To cover our nakedneſs and hide our ſhame.
Secondly, To diſtinguiſh our ſex, man from woman. The law of M…ſes fo…bad the man to wear the womans apparrel, or the woman the mans (Deut. chap. 22. verſ. 5.)
Thirdly, Garments are uſeful for ornament. There are garments of glory and honour, garments to ſet forth the ſtate and condition, as well as the ſex of the perſon wea…ing them. Aaron and his ſons had garments made them by Gods o…n appointment, for glory and for beauty (Exod. 28.2, 40.) The Kings and Princes of the world wear garments becoming their ſtate and Majeſty; and inferiour Magiſtrates have their proper garments, ſuiting their offices and dignity.
Fourthly, (Which is the common uſe of garments, and that which the text ſpeaks of) they are for warmth, to keep out the cold, and to defend us from the injuries and violence of the weather; yet we ſca…ce know, or do not fully know, how that comes to paſs.
Hence obſerve, Thirdly; How our garments warm us is a ſecret, and that they warm us is from the bleſſing of God.
Though there be a natural cauſe of this warmth, yet there is ſome what of God, yea, much of God in it. The effect of that natural cauſe dependeth wholly upon the concurrence and power of God. That Speech of the Prophet to the Jewes newly returned from Babylon, and neglecting the Lords houſe, while they too much attended the building of their own, doth fully evince this for truth (Haggai 1.6.) Ye have ſown much, b… bring in l…ttle (naturally they that ſow much, ſhould bring in much, but God can ſtop the influences of the heavens, and the increaſe o… the earth, & though the ſeed time be great, …he harveſt ſhall be ſmall) again, ye eat (and then ſure they we…e ſatisfied; no, ſaith the Prophet, ye eat) but ye have not enough; which not only implyeth that they had not enough to eat (though that might be a truth) but, that though they did eat enough, yet there was not a nutritive vertue in the meat, it did not content o… ſatisfie the ſtomack & …enue their ſtrength: He adds, ye drink but are not fi…ed with drink, which alſo implyeth, not only that they had but … little to drink, but tha… their drink was not comfortable o… thi…ſt-quenching to them. Laſ…ly (which is the inſtance of the text) Ye cloath you, but there is no warmth. What was the reaſon of all …his, That they did eat and had not enough, drink and were not filled, put on cloathing and were not warme? The text gives anſwer (v. 9.) Becauſe I did blow upon it, or blow it away; that is, I ſent out a curſe which blaſted all your creature injoyments, and blowed away the comforts and uſual efficacy of them; ſo that ye had only a ſhel without a kernel, or only skin and bones without the marrow and fatneſs of all, my favour and bleſſing. That our cloaths warm us, as well as that our meat and drink nouriſh us, is from the bleſſing of God.
Fourthly, When he ſaith, Knowest thou how thy garments are warm?
Note; Man cannot give a full account or reaſon of common things, or of his dayly comforts and enjoyments.
What's more common than for a man to wear garments? what then to find his garments warm upon him, or himſelf warm in his garments? and why a mans cloaths warm him we need not go to enquire of a great Philoſopher, any man, any common man can give or aſſign a cauſe of it. Yet there is ſome-what in it beyond natural cauſes, which few take any notice of, and none can ſufficiently or fully apprehend. Second cauſes produce their effects, the temperature of the air is a cauſe of warmth, and the garments we wear, warm us by exciting and drawing out the congenial warmth within us; yet Elihu puts on the queſtion further than that,Quum tranquilla eſt terra. foreign plerumque intranſitivè uſurpater. Piſc. Amerid…e. foreign Mericies quaſi foreign habitatio olta, quod Sol in…ſto plaga altius incedat. Knoweſt thou how thy garments are warm, When he quieteth the earth with the South Wind?
Or as ſome tranſlate, When the earth is quiet by the South Wind. Mr. Broughton reads, when the land is ſtill. The original is only the South, When he quieteth the earth, or when the earth i… quiet by the South; that is, when gentle windes or briezes blow from the Southern parts. The word rend…ed South or South wind, comes from a root ſignifying an high habitation, becauſe the Sun is higheſt when 'tis in the South, that's its Meridian or high both elevation and habitation. And as when the Sun cometh into the South, 'tis in its higheſt elevation above us, ſo 'tis hotteſt in opperation upon us.Quieſcit ab auſtro dum non flagellatur ab auſtro procelloſo. Loc. vide eum.
So that, by the South, he meaneth the Spring and Summer time, when the Sun makes his Southern progreſs. And becauſe uſually our garments are warmeſt upon us, when the South wind bloweth, therefore we render it by the South wind. The South wind ſometimes bringeth ſto…mes, as was ſhewed at the 9th verſe, Out of the South cometh the Whirlwind; but moſtly the South wind bringeth a calm and heat (Luke 12.55.) When ye ſee (ſaith Chriſt) the South wind …low, ye ſay, there will be heat, and it cometh to paſs. As the North wind u…ally blowes cold, ſo the South wind uſually blowes hot, o… b…ingeth heat. Here's a natu…al cauſe of warmth, the quieting of the earth by the South wind.
B…t is the earth at any time unquiet? If not, why is it ſaid, he quieteth the earth? He…e by the earth we are to underſtand that part of the Air whi…h is neareſt to the Earth.Terra eſt … pr… inqu… terrae. Piſc. The Earth taken ſtrictl… is no… unquiet, but the Air, in which we (who are upon the Ea…th) breath, the wind blowing, is unquiet and ſtormy, and when God commands down the ſtorm and ſends a calm he is ſaid to quiet the Earth. So then, by the Earth, we are to underſtand the Air immediately compaſſing us, who dwell and move upon the Earth; and God quieteth the earth with the South, or South wind, when we on earth are quiet and quit from troubleſom or tempeſtuous weather.
Hence note; The natural quietneſs of the Air which we have on Earth, is of God.
When there are no ſto…mes nor bluſtring winds in the Air, God ſhews both his power and goodneſs, he then quieteth the Earth; we are to acknowledge God in it, and bleſs him for i…, when the Earth is quiet. The di…ciples (Matth. 8.26.) being in a great ſtorm at Sea, and f a ing the V…ſſel would be over-ſet, and that they ſhould periſh in the Waters, Ch…iſt ſ…id to the Sea, Peace, be ſt…ll; and preſently the e was a great calm. He that quiets the Sea, quiets the Earth too. Chriſt hath c…lmes or peaceable winds, as well as ſtormes and ſtormy winds at his diſpo…e.
And if the natural quietneſs of the Earth be the work of God, then much more is the civil quietneſs of it. God alone giveth quietneſs among men, he maketh them of one Houſe, and them of one Nation to liv… qui…t. When there are no winds, no tempeſtuous winds blowing in the skie, there may be ſto…mes and tempeſts in the Spirits of men; and when there is a tempeſt within, only he who formes the ſpirit of man within him (Zech. 12.1.) can keep it from breaking out. There are civil ſtorms as well as natural, and the former are much more troubleſome and dangerous than the latte: God raiſeth thoſe ſto…mes in judgment. He ſent an evil Spirit betwee… Abim…lech and the men of Sichem (Judg. 9.23.) That is, be either gave Satan (…he gre… maſter of miſ-…ule) leave to kindle jealouſies & …nimoſities between their, or he gave them up to t…eir own evil, curious and malicious ſpi…i…s, which burried them or … thei… … vexation and deſtruction: now, as God raiſeth … ſtorms in judgment, ſo he either p…even…s or rebukes them in mercy. It is God who quiets both the ſpirits of Princes in governing, and the ſpi…its of people in ſubmitting and obeying. He hath a South wind, ſome benigne and favou…able wind, which he breathes upon the child…en of men, and th…n they a…e quiet, and then all's quiet: God being quiet towards,Tranquillus Deus tranquillat omnia. that is well-pleaſed with, and favourable unto man, he quiets all things. If the Lo…d do but ſay the word, what ſtorm, what tempeſt, what wrath, what rage, what outrage ſoever there is in the ea…th, all's huſh… and ſtill. Elihu affi…med this ſtrongly when he put that challenging queſtion (Chap. 34.29) When he giveth quietneſs, who then can make trouble; whether againſt a nation or a man only? Natural quietneſs, much more civil, but above all, ſpiritual quietneſs is of the Lord.
When there is the greateſt unquietneſs in the Air, and in the affaires of this wo…ld, when (as it is ſaid of thoſe times, 2 Chron. 15.5.) There is no peace to him that goeth out, nor to him that comes in, but great vexations are upon all the inhabitants of the countryes, men contending with and (like beaſts) …ea…ing one an other, yet even then there may be ſpi…i…ual quietneſs in the ſoul of a believer; he may ſit ſtill and unmov…able, in the ſavou… and love of God, though the earth be moved (yea …emoved) and the hills carried into the midſt of the Sea. This is eminently the wo…k of of God; he can give quietneſs to the ſoul in …h… midſt of all worldly unquietneſs. Chriſt …aid to his diſciples, and in them to all believers (John 16.33.) Theſe things have I ſpoken to you that ye might have peace; in the world ye ſhall have tribulation. The meaning of Chriſt is not to aſſu… his di ciples, that the… ſhall have peace in him after they have had tribulation in the wo ld, but that their inward ſpi…itual peace ſhall Synchronize or be contemporary with their outward wo…ldly t…ibulations. To have trouble without, and peace within, at the ſame time, This is the ſpecial gift of God. The text tells us, God quieteth the earth; and as that gift of natural quietneſs is a mercy, ſo civil quietneſs is a great mercy, and ſpiritual quietneſs, quietneſs of heart and tranquility of mind, eſpecially in the midſt of tribulations, is the greateſt mercy of all. We ſhould pray earneſtly, that God would keep the earth quiet, o… quiet the earth, when ever we find it unquiet, by ſome gracious South wind, but above all, that he would quiet our ſpirits by the ſweet breathings of his bleſſed Spirit, that though at any time there ſhould be nothing (which God forbid) but unquietneſs on the earth, yet we may have much quietneſs in our hearts.
Again conſider, the former context told us of ſtormes and tempeſt…, of thunder and lightening, of ſnow and rain, driving men from their labour in the field, to their homes and houſes, and the wild beaſts of the fields to their dens and coverts: Now this text ſpeakes of warmth, of calmes, and quietneſs, He quieteth the earth by the South wind.
Hence obſerve; There is a continual viciſſitude in natural things.
As no day of the year is of the ſame continuance or length as to light, ſo very few are of the ſame complexion or tem…er as to heat and cold, fair or fowl weather, ſtormes or calmes. Now if there be ſuch a viciſſitude in natu…al things, then do not wonder that there is a viciſſitude in civil things, or in the affaires and condi…ions of men in this wo…ld. If after the faire weather of health and peace, the fowl weather of ſ…ckneſs and trouble come upon us, if after calmes we meet with ſtormes, let us not be troubled. A heathen Poet ſaid,Nemo confidat nimium ſecundis, nemo deſperet meliora lapſis: Res Deus noſtras celeri rotatas turbine verſat. Sen. in Thyeſle. We ſhould not be diffident in a ſtormy day, that we ſhall never have quietneſs, nor ſhould we be confident in a quiet day, that we ſhall never have a ſtorm. David, a holy man, was once exceedingly out in both; in his adverſity he ſaid, I ſhall never be eſtabliſhed; that was the ſence of his ſaying, when in his haſte he ſaid, all men are liars (Pſal. 116.11.) In his proſperity he ſaid, I ſhall never be moved. The Lords favour had made his mountain ſtand ſt…ong, and he began not only to think but conclude it would alwayes ſtand in the ſame ſtrength, till his experience conſuted that fancy, Thou didſt hide thy face, and I was troubled (Pſal. 30.6, 7.) 'Tis good for us to be in expectation of, and preparation for all ſorts of changes, ſeeing all things here below are changable. That great Monarch ſaid (Dan. 4.4.) I Nebuchadnezzar was at reſt in mine houſe, and flouriſhing in my pallace, yet preſently he ſaw in a dream, that all his flouriſhing proſperity was but like a dream that paſſeth away; and while thoſe boaſts of an earthly greatneſs and ſettlement were in his mouth (verſ. 30.) Is not this great Babylon that I have built for the houſe of the Kingdome, &c. There fell a voyce from Heaven (verſ. 31.) ſaying, O King Nebucadnezar, to thou it is ſpoken, the Kingdome is departed from thee. All ſublunary things, the ſureſt and beſt ſetled eſtates, not only of the men of this world, or of worldly men, but of all men, even of good men, in this world, are as ſubject to changes, as the Moon is, or as the wind and weather.
Laſtly, Whereas, when Elihu to the queſtion, Knoweſt thou how thy garments are warm, puts this addition, when he quieteth the earth with the South wind? Job might ſay, that's an anſwer to the queſtion. If you ask me, how my garments are warm? I anſwer, By Gods quieting the earth with the South wind. But here is ſomething more intended; though this be a cauſe of warmth, yet not all the cauſe. It is poſſible for the weather to be warm, and our garments not warm. It was ſhewed before, that God is able to ſuſpend the working or effects of nature; as, through his power a man may be in the fire and yet the fire not burn him (it was ſo with the Three Children in Daniel) ſo a man may be in the Sunſhine, and his clothes not warm him. God can ſtay or ſtop the influences and effects of the Sun. The ſhining of the Sun and the quietneſs of the Air are true reaſons of the warmth we feel in our garments, yet not all the reaſon. And therefore Elihu would convince Job by this queſtion, that if he could no… give the whole reaſon of Naturals, much leſs could he of providentials. And as he convinceth him of his inſufficiency, and incompetency to deal and debate wi…h God, by his ignorance ab…ut the warmth of his garments that cove…ed him; So in the next verſe, he convinceth him of weakneſs and inability, by calling him to conſider the mighty power and ſelf ſuffi…iency of God, who alone, without any of his or of any mans aſſiſtance, made and ſpread out the mighty garment, the Skie, which enwraps and covers all men and all things on earth. That's the general import of the following queſtion.
Verſ. 18. Hast thou with him ſpread out the Sky, which is ſtr…ng, and as a molten l…king-Glaſſe.
foreign P rtitur pro praeterno; h…c ex ipſa ſententia liquet. Deus enim ſec…t expandit coelus cum eos crearet…n… expandit eos … plius. Pi…c:The word which we render, and is here uſed as a V…b, to ſpread, b…a…eth an alluſi…n to Metals, which a…e beaten on by an hammer in…o plates. The Nowne ſignifies the Fi…mam…n… (Gen. 1.) becau…e it is an expanſi…n, or thing ſpread out. I … the Ve…b is applyed to the work of God upon the Earth (Pſal. 136.6.) where the Pſalmiſt puts this among the praiſes of …od, o… the things for which God is to be pr…ie…, To him who ſt…e…che… out the ea…th. The ſt…e…ching or ſpreading out of th… … is the work of God, as well as the ſpreading out o… the H…n. The earth i… a ſolid op…ous and globous body, yet it is ſaid … ſtr…tched out, b…cauſe as there is a …undneſs in the Earth, ſo a mighty exten… and vaſtneſs. To him that ſtretched out the earth ab ve the waters, to him give thanks. But though the Earth be al…o ſtretched out, yet more properly (of which Elihu here ſp…aks) the Sky. Haſt thou with him ſpread out foreign Coelum vel nubes vel aerem ſignifi…, unde aliqui conjunctim de omnibus accipiant. Scult: Coeli ſi… dicti a tenuitate ſubſtantiae, et ל valet articulum accuſati vicaſus. Piſc: Apud Hebraeos idem ſignificant Shamaiim & Schehbkim; ita apud Latinos coelum & Aether; interdum aer mediae regionis ubi ſunt nubes hoc nomine ſignificatur. Merc:The Sky?
The word ren…red Sky, is put ſomtimes for the Air, ſomtimes for the Clouds, as alſo for the Heavens above bo…h the Clouds and Air. Several of the lea…ned expound it here of the Ai…, that is, of all below the Moon; others of the Heavens which a…e above. Hast thou with him ſpread out the Sky, or the Heave…?
This ſpreading forth of the Sky may have a th…ee-fold reference.
Fi…ſt, To the eternal Councel of God b…e …ime. As if he had ſaid, Waſt thou with God when he decreed or purpoſed to ſpread out the Heavens?
Secondly, To the wo k … God in the b…ginning of time. Waſt thou with God, when he did …ctu…lly ſp…ead out the Sky or Firmament in the ſecond dayes work of C…tion? (Gen. 1.6.)
Thirdly, (…hich ſome inſiſt much u…n) to the daily or frequently renewed wo…k of God in o…de ing and alte…ing the face and mo…ion of the Heavens. A… if he h…d …ai…, H…ſt thou with him, when the Sky ſeeming to be wrapped up in d…rk…eſs, and rent with thunder and ſtorms; haſt thou then with him ſcattered the darkneſs, and cleared up the air, making all ſtrong or whole again? Thus he is ſuppoſed ſpeaking of a thing often done, even after every ſtorme, not of ſpreading the Sky at firſt.
The Vulgar Latine renders it ironically, in the ſecond ſenſe;Tu forfitan cum illo fabricatus es coelos. Vulg: Thou perhaps didſt joyn with him in making the Heavens! As if Elihu had ſaid, 'Tis like, or belike thou waſt with him when he made the Heavens; Thou ſurely wast the Giant or Mighty man who aſſiſted at the ſpreading out of that vaſt Canopie. Didſt thou poor worm, contribute thy help, or lend thy hand to God in the creation of the World? are we beholding to thee that the Heavens which we behold, compaſſe in all things with their embraces? you ſpeak of your ſelf at ſuch a rate, as if you had been a partner or coadjutor with God in the Creation, and had with him ſpread out the Heavens. Thus the words are a ſtrong Negation; Thou hadſt nothing to do with God when he ſpread out the Heavens in the work of Creation; why then art thou ſo buſie with God about the works of his Providence, and particularly about his dealing with thy ſelf? The ſum of Elihu's argument in this matter may be thus conceived; If God call not man in other things as a Counſellor or Judge of his actions, nor can be required of any man to do ſo, nor may any man preſume to ſpeak againſt his ordering the Heavens and Meteors, which yet concern the great good or hurt of thouſands; then it muſt needs be a very unequall thing that any one man ſhould expect of God a reaſon of his particular dealing with him, but patiently ſubmit unto it, not at all queſtioning, either his juſtice or his goodneſs, how greatly and grievouſly ſoever he is afflicted.
Firſt, Taking the Heavens, either ſt…ictly, or, as many do, ſynecdochecally, a part being put for the whole work of Creation,
Note; God made the world;
He ſp…ead the Heavens, and ſtretched out the Earth, Heaven and Earth a…e the wo…k of his hands.
Secondly, God had no partner in his work. Haſt thou with him ſpread out the Sky? The Scripture is much in exalting the honour of God, as the ſole Agent and Efficient in ſetting up the frame of the Wo…ld, (Iſa 44.24.) Thus ſaith the Lord, I am the Lord that maketh all things, that ſtretcheth forth the Heavens alone, that ſpreadeth abroad the Earth by my ſelf. The P…o…het brin…s in God ſpeaking thus, to com…t his ancient people when they ſaw none to help them. What cannot God do alone, who ſtretcheth out the Heavens alone? Cannot he bring back the Church of the Jews out of Babylon alone, who ſtretcheth out the Heavens alone? cannot he raiſe up Cyrus for his Shepherd, and move him to make Proclamation for their return, when there was none to move him about it? He fruſtrateth the tokens of the liars, and maketh Diviners mad. Thoſe lying Diviners ſaid, the Jews were faſt enough for coming out, but God fruſtrated their tokens, and made th…m mad at their diſappoyntments. Now as this may exceedingly comfort and encourage the people of God all the world over in their greateſt ſtraits, that God made the world, and ſpread ou… the Sky alone, ſo it doth exceedingly advance the power and glo…y of God. If a man have but a great Carpet or Coverlet to un…old, he muſt call in the help of two or three to ſpread i… and hold it up, one man cannot do it alone: But God ſpread out the H…aven, that mighty Canopie of the Heavens alone. And his ſpreading of it was the making of it; The mighty God by one act gave the Sky both its being and its forme: And all this he did without either Counſellor or Coadjutor. No man ever did any very great thing in the world, but it was either by the help of other mens heads in contriving, or by the help of their hands in effecting. To be a ſole-Agent of Great things, is the ſole-priviledge of the Great God. And ſurely if the Lord God had no aſſiſtant in the great work of Creation, he needs no aſſiſtance in his greateſt works of Providence. He who made the world without help, can do what he pleaſeth in the world without help. Our help (ſaith the Pſalmiſt 124.8.) is in the name of the Lord, who made Heaven and Earth; but the Maker of Heaven and of Earth, fetcheth all his help from his own Name.
Elihu having magnified the power of G…d in ſpreading out the Sky, takes occaſion to give us a deſcription of the Sky, Haſt thou with him ſpread out the Sky Which is ſtrong, and as a molten Locking-Glaſſe?
We have here two things conſiderable in the Sky; Firſt, the ſtrength of it; Secondly, the clearneſs of it. But is the Sky ſtrong? that may be thought an improper and incong…uous Epithete: The Sky ſeemeth to be a weak thing, and the Ai… will ſcarce bear a feather; yet ſaith he, Haſt thou with him ſpread out the Sky which is ſtrong? How are the Heavens or Sky ſtrong? Philoſophers and Interpreters upon this place, have largely diſcourſed the matter of the Heaven…, which to our ſence are a very thinn ſubſtance, and therefore ſeem to have little ſtrength in them.
I anſwer, Though to ſenſe and view the Sky or Heavens ſeem to have little ſtrength in them, yet indeed their ſtrength is beyond that of Rocks and Mountains. The learned Languages, both Greek and Latine, expreſſe the Sky by words which properly ſignifie ſtrength and firm…eſs; Firmitas tribu…tur coelo propter immutabilitatem, unde Septuaginta dicunt foreign Latini Firmamentum.and we following the Latine word commonly call it in our Engliſh tongue, The Firmament, as much as to ſay, a firme thing. When the Apoſtle would ſet forth the ſteadineſs (or as we tranſlate) the ſtedfaſtneſs of the faith of the Coloſſians, he makes uſe of this word (foreign Chap. 2.5.) As if he had ſaid, I rejoyce to behold the firmament of your faith, or that your faith is as fi…me as the Firmament. Surely then the Sky or Firmament is very ſtrong, elſe the ſtrength of faith (which being ſtrong, is the ſtrongeſt thing, both actively and paſſively, in the world) had never been expreſſed by it. The Heavens are ſaid to be ſtrong (as ſaith is) becauſe of their laſtingneſs and duration. The Angels are pure Spirits, they are purer and of a more ſpiritual ſubſtance than the Sky or Heavens, yet they are ſtrong, ſo ſtrong and powerfull, that they are called Powers; their ſtrength is not a corporal ſtrength of fleſh and bone, as ours, and that of beaſts is, nor is it a ſtrength by compactneſs of earthy parts, as that of Stones and Metals is, but 'tis a ſtrength of laſtingneſs and activity ariſing from their ſpiritualneſs. Thus the Sky, eſpecially taking it for the Heavens above th… air, is pure, there is a ſpiritualneſs in its nature, and ſo a ſtrength of laſtingneſs in it,foreign fuſile a foreign ſuadere liqui ſacere, non a foreign coar…are. Merc: beyond that of any earthly or elementary body. The Heavens are not made up of contrary qualities, as elementary bodies are: In them heat and coldneſs, moyſture and drineſs, are mingled together, and theſe contending with each other, at laſt ſubdue each other; whence all elementary bodies become weak and corruptible. The Heavens have ſome cognation with elementary bodyes, yet without the contrariety of active qualities. Heaven is like the Element of the Earth, in regard of firmneſs and ſolidity; it is like the water, in regard of its moveableneſs; it is like the air, in regard of its pellucidneſs or clearneſs; it is like the fire, with reſpect to its activeneſs. Heaven ſhines, yet 'tis without heat; 'tis ſolid, yet without dryneſs; 'tis compact, yet without moyſtneſs; 'tis diaphanous and pellucid, yet without po es, or thoſe ſmall and unſenſible holes, whereby ſwea… and vapours paſs out of the body. So then the Scriptu…e calls Heaven ſt…ong or firme, not as groſſe bodyes are called fi…me and ſtrong, bu… becauſe of its perpetual conſiſtency and (as to nature) indiſſolubility; which doth the more highly advance and commend the power of God, who hath given it a ſtrength and firmneſs, beyond that of R…cks and Adamants: For how fluid and moveable ſoever the Heavens are to view, yet they are the moſt ſtrong and durable part of the whole Creation. Haſt thou with him ſpread out the Sky which is ſtrong, And as a molten Looking-Glaſſe.
Some …ead theſe words as an en… …nrence, Which is ſtrong as a m…lten Lo…king-Glaſſe. So Mr Broughton, Couldſt thou make a Firmament with him of the …ir, ſetled as Glaſſe molten? We put it diſti…c… in two parts, which is ſtrong, a…d as a molten Looking-Glaſſe. Poe… v…teres foreign app…llarunt.Some of the old Poets u…ed a like Epithete concerning Heaven, they called i…, The Brazen Heaven. What the Lord threatens as a judicial affl…ction (Deut. 28.23.) The Heaven that is over thine head ſhall be B aſſe, that Heaven reſembles in its natural conſtitution, 'tis like B…aſſe, o… like a molten Looking-Glaſſe, by reaſon of its ſhining brigh…neſs. That which we commonly call Glaſs, or a Looking-Glaſs is molten: of which we read (Ex…d 38.8.) M…ſes made the Brazen Laver of the Looking-Glaſſes of the Women. The godly women among the Jewes made a bette uſe of thei Looking-Glaſſes, than to dreſs themſelves by, they off…red them to the ſervice o God in the Tabe…n…cle.
foreign Eſt videre; inde vijus & ſp culum. R…b: Kimhi in lib: rad:One of the J…wiſh Doct…s wa…ns us to conſider that the word which we rende… a Looking-Glaſſe, may be taken for a look, or for the appearance …f a thing: As if …e had ſaid, The Heavens are not only ſtrong, but cleare, L oking like, or being, o look on, like a thing that is mol…n. Glaſſe is a diaphanous ſplendid body, we may ſee through i…, or ſee the repreſentation of objects in it. Thus th… Heavens are ſtrong as ſteele, and cleare as a molten Looking-Glaſſe.
Hence …bſerve;
Fi…ſt, The Heaven are durable, they are ſtrong.
Secondly, The Heavens are tranſparent, they are as a Lo…k ng Glaſſe.
From this latter we may infer, There is much to be ſeen in the Heavens;
They are a L…oking-Glaſſe which repreſent many things to us. It hath been ſaid, The whole world is a Looking Glaſſe,Se…ulum ſpoculum. every Age we live in is a Looking-Glaſſe, in which many, both things and perſons, are diſcovered: I may ſay much more, the Heavens are a Looking Glaſſe, wherein we may behold much of God, and much of our ſelves. And becauſe the Heavens are called a Looking-Glaſſe, it ſhould mind us to look upon the Heavens; they may mind us,
Firſt, What God is, who hath made the Heavens (Pſal. 19.1.) The Heavens declare the glory of God, and the Firmament ſheweth his handy work. We may ſee God by the Heavens;
Firſt, In his nature, that he is pure and holy. He that hath made ſuch a pure thing as the Heaven is, how pure is he! There is no dirt in the Sky, no filth in the Heavens, no uncleanneſs there; the duſt or filth of this world can get but a little into the air, it cannot reach the Heavens. The purity of God is ſuch as may ſhame the purity of the Heavens, and make them bluſh; though the Heavens are the pureſt part of the world, yet comparatively to God they are impure. This Eliphaz aſſerts expreſly (Chap. 15.15.) Behold, he putteth no truſt in his Saints, yea, the Heavens are not clean in his ſight. Biluad puts it yet further (Chap. 26.5.) Yea, the Starrs (which are the moſt pure and reſplendent part of the Heavens) are not pure in his ſight.
Secondly, The Heavens are a Glaſſe, wherein we may behold the power of God. How unconceiveable is his power, who hath made ſuch a Canopie, and ſpread it over the heads of all Creatures! And if the viſible Heavens are ſo glorious, what is the Heaven of Heavens! The Heaven which we ſee, is but the pavement of that which is unſeen. God hath made ſuch a Ceeling for this Houſe below, as never needed mending, or repaire, he hath ſet ſuch a Roof upon it as abides all weathers.
Thirdly, We may ſee in this Glaſs the wiſdome of God, …is wonderfull wiſdome in contriving and fitting ſuch a beau…ifu…l roof for this great Houſe, the Wo…ld▪ We admire the skill and wiſdome of Architects in ſome peices of their wo…k. O the wiſdome of God in this!
Fourthly, We may ſee in the Heavens the unchangeableneſs of God. If he hath made the Heavens of ſuch a laſting nature, that they have continued many thouſand years without alteration; ſurely then he himſelf hath continued and will continue for ever without change, as he is at this day. The unchangeableneſs of God infinitely exceeds that of the Heavens. We find the Spirit of God by holy David infinitely preferring the God of Heav…n, before the Heavens …f God, in his unchangeableneſs (Pſal. 102.26, 27.) Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the Earth, and the Heavens are the …o…k of thy hands; they ſhall periſh, but thou ſhalt endu…e; yea, all of them ſhall wax old l…ke a garment, and as a veſture ſhalt thou cha…ge …hem, and they ſhall be changed: but thou art the ſame. The Heaven… have but a ſhadow of unchangeabl…neſs, compared with God, W…th whom is no variableneſs nor ſhad…w of changing.
Fifthly, In this Glaſs of the Heavens we may l…ok upon or contemplate the wonde full goodneſs of God to the ſo… of men, (Pſal. 8 3.) When I conſider the Heavens, the work of thy ſingers, the Moon, and the Starr… wh ch thou haſt ordained: What is man that thou art mindful… …? and the ſon of man that thou viſiteſt him? When-eve… w… b… old the Heavens, it ſhould mind us of the mercy an… … of God to man two wayes. Fi ſt, in making the H…avens … uſe, while he dwels on the Earth. Secondly, … he h…h p epared and provided him ſuch a dwelling houſe, when he ſhall leave this Earth (2 Cor. 5.1.) We know that when the earthly houſe of this Tabernacle ſha…l be diſſ…lved, we ha…e a building of God, an houſe not made with hands, eternal in the Heavens.
Again, The Heavens are a Looking-Glaſs, wherein we may b…old our ſelves.
Firſt, We may behold our weakneſs and impurity, and ſo our unlikeneſs to the H…avens, much more to the …od of Heaven. When …ppoſi es are ſet one by o… …ver againſt the othe…, they illuſtrate each other. In the ſpotl…ſs Heavens, we may …ee our ſpo…s; The pure Heavens may ſhew us our im…u i…y.
Secondly, As in the Heavens we may ſee what we a…e, ſo what we ſhould be. The purity of the Heavens tells us we ſhould be pure, they tell us we ſhould be heavenly-minded, that is, ſet our minds chiefly upon heavenly things; yea, that our minds ſhould be like the Heavens, pure and ſpotleſs. It is ſaid of the Church (Cant. 6.10.) Who is this that looketh forth as the morning, fair as the Moon, clear as the Sun? Such, in a qualified ſenſe, are all the parts and true members of the Chu…ch. Shall a man ſay, he hopes for an inheritance in the Heavens, when his mind is earthly, or when he minds only earthly things? Worldly men are not only earthly-minded, but their minds are earth, and themſelves are called earth (Jer. 22.29. and Rev. 12.16.) Surely then they are earthly. On the other hand, godly men ſhould not only mind heavenly things, but be a Heaven before they come to Heaven. The Chu…ch on Earth is called Heaven (Heb. 12.26.) Yet once more I ſhake not the Earth only, but alſo Heaven; that is, the Church ſtate. St John ſaith (Rev. 12.7.) There was war in Heaven: But is there war in Heaven? is it not all peace and joy th…e? How then ſaith that Scripture, There was war in Heaven? By H…aven there he means the Church on ea…th, which is called Heaven; Firſt, becauſe there is not a more lively repreſ…ntation or reſemblance of the higheſt Heavens (which is the habitation of Gods holineſs, and of his glory) than the Church here below, which is a company of Saints and faithfull ones. Secondly, becauſe the Church, while on Earth, hath more to do in Heaven, and for Heaven, then in or for the Earth; and that in three reſpects.
Firſt, Her birth is from Heaven, being bo…n of God.
Secondly, Her traffick is in and for Heaven. The Apoſtle ſaith of himſelf, and of all ſuch as are truly the Chu…ch of God (Phil. 3.20.) Our converſation is in Heaven; our trade is in Heaven. Though we have buſineſs on Earth, yet that which is our buſineſs indeed is in Heaven. The Church hath more to do in Heaven than on Earth; her paines and labours, her cares and endeavours are more fo… heavenly than for earthly things. They that beſtow moſt of their labou… upon ear…hly things, are earthly. In all things we ought to be heavenly, and in every thing we do, we ought to be doing for Heaven.
Thirdly, Becauſe her Head and her Inheritance is in Heaven. Here ſhe is a ſtranger, there is her home; nor is ſhe ever truly at home, till ſhe comes thither.
Thus as H…aven is a Glaſs, wherein we may ſe what we ought to be now; we ſhould labour to be pure, …an, and of an unvariable temper, as the Heavens are; ſo what we ſhall be, and ſhall have hereafter: 'Tis ſuch a Glaſs as God hath made for us to behold our ſelves in, and above all to behold him…elf, his bleſſed ſelf in. Let us dreſſe our ſelves by this Glaſſe every day.
Let it not ſatisfie us to look upon the Heavens, that we may ſee and be taken with their own beauty and excellency, as Philoſophers do in their diſcourſes of Heaven; but let us ſee God in them, let us ſee Grace and Glory in them. The…e is ſo little of God in the diſcourſes of Philoſophers (ſaith one) that they are colder than the Froſt and Snow, of which they often diſcourſe. But let us ſee God in this Looking-Glaſs of the Heavens, and therein alſo let us ſee our ſelves, and learn to be fitting and preparing our ſelves for heavenly joyes and enjoyments. We have never looked well upon or in this Glaſs, till we have mended our dreſſe, and are become better and more beautifull by looking in it.