In comparing Edward Taylor's "Preface" with Job 38-41 there are several similarities in structure, language and imagery, and answers to the questions being asked in each passage. In Taylor's poem, man is questioning who is responsible for the creation; who God is. In Job 38-41, Job is questioning God because of his long suffering. God responds to Job with a series of questions for the purpose of teaching. Both passages use incredible word pictures to describe creation. God's almighty power and presence in creation are realized in both passages.
The passages both use the question format as their structure. The questions are related to creation. There are many similar questions about creation. In "Preface", Taylor asks, "Who laid its cornerstone?" (line7). From Job 38:6 God said, "On what were its footings set, or who laid its cornerstone .?". All of the questions were asked not to get an answer but to make a point or teach a lesson. By using the question format, the reader gets a sense of God's power.
Another tool used to give the reader a sense of God's power is the language of the passages. Imagery and metaphors are used throughout the lines. One example is in "Preface", line 14, "Who in this bowling alley bowled the sun?". Edward Taylor uses an image that we"re familiar with to try to explain something that is hard to imagine. A familiar image can also be found in Job 38:37-38, "Who has the wisdom to count the clouds? Who can tip over the water jars of the heavens when the dust becomes hard and the clods of earth stick together?". Chapter 41 of Job invokes the imagination with its words about the leviathan. God speaks of all the fearful qualities of the leviathan to show Job that one of his creations can strike that much fear in a man then he has no business challenging God.
The answer to the questions in "Preface" are found in lines 20 through 24: .
"It's only Might Almighty this did do.