Job 33

Job 33:4

THe spirit] I am a man as thou art, and therefore will deale with thee upon even termes, by reason of common right, fitted unto mans capacity, to which thou mayest freely reply without feare of being overcome by my majesty, as thou hast said of God, Iob9. 32. and 16. 21.

Job 33:7

My terror] these were the two conditions, that Iob would have made with God, to treat with him, Iob 9. 34. and 13. 20.

Job 33:10

Occasions] namely, causes and matters of ite, Iob. indeed had not used the selfe same termes, but such as meant as much, Iob 13. 26. and 23. 13. 14.

Job 33:12

In this] thy immoderate justifying of thy selfe, thy complaining of God, and thy desire to argue with him, are the heads whereof I doe accuse thee, and for which I reprove thee, I let thy fore-passed life goe concerning which I doe no way tax thee: [God] and therefore it was fitting for thee to shew greater humility, and respect to his infinite Majesty, and not treat with him upon equall termes.

Job 33:13

For he giveth not] for this had been Iobs frequent complaint, that hee could not know the reason of this his so hard usage, Iob 10. 2. and 13. 23. and 19. 7. and 23. 45.

Job 33:14

For God speaketh.] the Italian addeth, it is true that God, that which thou desirest, indeed happeneth sometimes, namely, that God by revelations, or expresse apparitions, doth warn men of their sinnes, for which he punisheth or threatneth to punish them, but that is not so continually, see Gen. 20. 7. and 31. 24 Daniel 4:5.

Job 33:16

Openeneth] he revealeth his councels unto them, see Iob 36. 10. 15 [sealeth] hee proposeth it unto them as firme and concluded; if so be they doe not repent, and imprinteth in their minde the certainty of the happening of it, and the true cause of it.

Job 33:19

He is chastened] the Italian addeth, but sometimes also man is, sometimes God punisheth men, and not reveale his thoughts so expressely unto them, but remitteth them to the ordinary ministery of his word by men, to produce the same effect for their amendment: Now Elihu would inferre that, if God hath not granted Iob the first meanes of particular revelation, yet he hath not denied him the second in this visitation, having raised him who was his servant to speak unto him in his name: [bones] his members, & most strong and solid part.

Job 33:23

A Messenger] a Prophet or Officer of his Church, bringing the ambassage of reconciliation, 2 Corinthians 5:20. Hebrew, an Angell, as Mal. 2. 7. and 3. 1 Rev 1:20 [an interpreter] or a mediator that will intercede to make peace: [one among] this seemeth to be added to shew the scarcity of good Ministers, and faithfull and wife Distributers of Gods graces, or that the vertue of the holy ministerie doth no depend upon the personall qualities and excellencies of the man, but that God operates by whom hee pleaseth, when the person is but warranted with with a lawfull calling: And so Elihu in modestie would make himselfe one of the ordinariest sort of Gods servants as much as concerned his person, still reserving its weight and vertue to his words which came from God, see Iob 32. 6. 10 [to shew] to tell him the only meanes to obtaine grace and pardon at Gods hands, which is true conversion in faith and repentance.

Job 33:24

And saith] namely, to some Angell a minister in this healing, Psal. 107. 20. or to that Prophet which shall bring him word of this restoring, accompanying the Prophets word with his owne power to produce the effect of it: So the works of Gods grace are attributed, to the instruments of the word, by the certaine co-operation of God, when his ordinances are observed, Obadiah 1:21. Romans 11:14. 1 Corinthians 9:22. 1 Timothy 4:16. Iam. 5. 20. [I have found] by my soveraign will and by mine infinite wisedome, I have set down the meanes of redeeming mankinde from their condomnation, namely, the death and passion of my son, which I now accept of for this penitent man, Math. 20. 28. 1 Timothy 2:6.

Job 33:25

His flesh] God shall restore him to full health, and new vigor of body, 〈◊〉 figure of the restauration of the soule, Psal. 103. 5.

Job 33:26

Shall see] hee will cause the beames of his garce to shine upon the looking glasse of his conscience, within the which he shall see God appeased and propitious unto him, 2 Cor. 3. 18. and 4. 6 [render] hee will set him into his precedent state of garce, and will restore unto him the feeling of the remission of his sins, wherein consists the sinners true righteousnesse before God, Rom. 4. 5. 6. Or after that a sinner is converted unto God in justice and righteousnesse; God shall make him feele the effects of his grace in all manner of blessings, in stead of the calamities, which he had drawn upon himselfe with his sins.

Job 33:27

He looketh upon men, &c.] the Italian hath it, and he afterwards shall turne himselfe towards men and say, &c. that converted sinner shall preach Gods grace towards men, and shall propose himselfe for an example.

Job 33:32

I desire] I would heare such reasons come from thee, as that I might yeeld the right to bee on thy side, I being no way subject to passion in this businesse, but being thy true friend.