Job 38

Job 38:1

WHirld-winde] namely, in the same manner as the Lord was wont to appeare, who did in that manner hide the brightnesse of his Majesty, and shewed the signes of his power, to bring man to feare and humility, see Deuteronomy 4:12. 1 Kings 8:12. Ezech. 1. 4. Nab. 1. 3. Hebrews 12:19.

Job 38:2

Darkneth] darkeneth the soveraign luster of my providences, justice, and wisdome.

Job 38:3

Gird up] now I appeare unto thee as thou hast so often wished, strengthen thy selfe with reasons to argue with we: [I will demand] an ironicall kinde of speech, in answet to Iobsspeech, Iob 13. 12.

Job 38:4

Where wast thou] wast thou my companion or my councellor when I created the world, that thou wilt now be such in the governing of it? [laid the] figurative termes taken from buildings.

Job 38:5

Who] besides my selfe.

Job 38:7

When] namely, when all creatures, especially the heavenly ones being newly created, did glorifie their Creator, every one in its own kind, Psal. 148. 3. He seemeth to take this similitude from the birds which use to sing at breake of day: [The sonnes] namely, the Angels, Iob. 1. 6.

Job 38:8

With doores] figurative termes to expresse the great concavitis wherein the Sea is enclosed: [Brake forth] similitudes taken from birthes.

Job 38:12

The morning] that is to say, the Sunne; causing it to rise at such or such an houre, sooner or later, in such or such a point of heaven, according to the divers degrees and scituations of the Zodiack.

Job 38:13

Take hold] to extend it selfe to the furthest parts: [The wicked] which doe hide themselves by day, and doe flie the light, Iob 24. 13. 17. Iohn 3 20.

Job 38:14

It is turned] the Italian addeth, and cause the earth to hee turned into divers formes as clay, &c. That is to say, that it doth appear various, as a potters vvork of divers figures and colours, whereas the darknesse of the night confounds the aspect of every thing.

Job 38:15

From the wicked] namely, Male factors, who hide themselves in their receptacles for feare of being discovered and punished: [The high arme] that is to say, the violence used by these thieves and night robbers, who are discovered and taken by the benefit of the day.

Job 38:17

The gates] poeticall termes to signifie the subterraneall and infernall parts.

Job 38:19

Where is] poeticall termes likewise, which signifie or meane nothing else, but that God alone without any help, or work of any man appointed, the divers points of Sun rising and Sun setting.

Job 38:20

Shouldest know] as it were to bring it to its lodging.

Job 38:21

knowest thou it] an ironicall speech: [wast then] it may bee thou wast present when I established the course of nature.

Job 38:22

Hast thou] hast thou any part in the bringing forth of these meteors, or dost thou perfectly know the causes and meanes of them.

Job 38:23

Have reserved] as in magazines and armories, for to overthrow mine enemies, Exodus 9:24. Iosh. 10. 11. Isaiah 30:30.

Job 38:24

By what] doest thou know the causes of lightnings, and other fierie meteors, and of tempestuous winds.

Job 38:25

Who hath] who besides me distributeth, a it were by certaine channels and conduits, the raine water upon the earth?

Job 38:26

Where no man is] and therefore this watering can be no effect of humane work, and thereby God sheweth his providence, even over savage beasts, Psal. 35. 8.

Job 38:28

hath the raine] are these creatures produced by causes which are constant and invariable in nature, as humane generation is? doe they not proceed from my pue and simple free-will?

Job 38:30

Are bid] under their frozen superficies in winter time.

Job 38:31

Canst thou bind] hinder the season from becomming more temperate in the Spring-time when the Pleiades rise with the Sun: [Or loose] or doe so that when this ign riseth with the Sunne, it may not draw up vapours from the earth to engender raine, mists, hoary-frosts and stormes.

Job 38:32

Arcturus] ordinarily called the guardian of the beare; and his sonnes are here the other lesser starres of the same constellation, of which the biggest and most noted carryeth the name.

Job 38:33

Knowest thou] either how to order them as Master over them, or to comprehend what they are certainly and perfectly? [Dominion] as well in regard of the motion of the heavens, which varieth the sea sons of the earth, as of the influences and vertue which commeth from thence.

Job 38:37

Who can number] who is it that causeth vapors to arise out of the earth & bringeth forth raine as much as need requireth, according to the order of his wisdome: [who can stay] the Italian, who layeth, that is to say, who can stay the raine: A terme taken from that, when one will poure out any liquor out of a bottle or out of a barrell, they doe lift it up; and when they will stay it againe, they lay it downe upon the ground.

Job 38:38

When they] namely, when it hath rained sufficiently, so that the ground is moistened and the clefts thereof closed up.

Job 38:39

VVilt thou] is there any besides my selfe that provideth for all beasts, and especially your savage ones which frequent not the companie of men, Psal. 104. 21. therefore my providence ought to be acknowledged, and adored without any contradiction, as absolute, and soveraigne.

Job 38:41

His young ones] often times neglected and forsaken by the old ones, who as we read, are very forgetfull: [Cry unto] with all their croaking they move none to help them, but onely God, see Psal. 104. 27. and 145. 5. and 147. 9 [Wander] when they begin to come out of their nests and play abroad.