Page 128
CHAP. XXV.
DOminion and fear are with him, and he maketh peace in his high places: * 1.1 Is there any number of his Armies, and upon whom doth not his light arise? These words of Bildad seem to have reference to that which Iob had sayd, Ch. 23. desiring that he might come to the seat of God, to argue about his case, provided that God would not oppresse him with his Majesty, and greatnesse, To this Bildad here sayth; this was an audacious provoking of God into the lists indeed, for a man to spealt thus, for why, with him are Dominion and fear; or as the Vulg. hath it, Terrour more aptly, as if he had sayd, he is the Ruler of the whole world, and of such dreadfull ma∣jesty, that it is enough to strike any man dead, that shall approach neare unto it, and this Majesty he will not lay aside for any mans pleasure; but what meaneth he by saying, he maketh peace in his high places: Vulgar, In sublimibus suis; it may be referred either to places or persons, and there∣fore by some the Heavens are understood, which move always orderly one by another, there being no jarring amongst them; by some, Tempests com∣ing from above, which are soon appeased again by his power: Some un∣derstand the Angells of Heaven, amongst whom there is Unity and Concord, and never any varience, so that there should be any need of keeping a Court, as it were, to heare and determine cases, as Iob desired, that it might be about his case. For they all unanimously submit to the Will of God, neither is there any of them that makes complaint before him. Therefore Job did ill to of∣fer to make a disturbance there, where there was all peace; and this seemeth to be the best: Is there any number of his Armies, as if be had sayd, yet of Angells he hath Armies innumerable, so that it is the more to be admired, that he needeth such constant, and continual peace amongst them, for it is not so with men, the mightiest among whom yet is of little strength, and his forces are as nothing in comparison; but amongst these peace can hard∣ly be kept: And this is spoken to shew the dreadfull power of God, as the next words to shew his wisdome and omniscience and beneficence: And upon whom doth not his light arise? For hereby is meant, that he both seeth and knoweth all things in Heaven and in Earth, and is beneficiall to all making his Sun, which is his light, to shine upon all parts of this world, whereby all things are made to grow that spring out of the earth and have life in them, to the use and benefit of Men both Good and Evill: He then that is so Mighty, so Wise, and so Good, how can any man tax him for any hard measure offered unto him, or provoke him to come into judgment as if he had any thing to say against his most severe proceedings, for the mighty, good, and wise God can do nothing but justly and righteously. And if it be so it is vain for any man, suffering misery, to seek to justify him∣self, there being cause enough in him, or in any man that is borne of a wo∣man to suffer in all extreamity, as he sheweth, Vers. 4. See the same, Chapt 4. 17.
Behold even the Moone and it shineth not, and the stars are not pure in h•…•… * 1.2 sight. See a passage touching the Angells, like unto this, Chapt. 4. 18. The meaning is, that the very shining of the Moon and the Stars, is nothing in com¦parison of his shining in purity and holiness; and therefore the purity of the most righteous man is nothing for him to bear himself upon, as Job seemed t•…•… him to do, which sense is made up thus full, V. 6. wherein man is called〈…〉〈…〉 Worm, as Ps. 22. In comparison of the Heavenly Lights. * 1.3