Commentary on Ezra Nehemiah Ester Job and Psalms, Commentary 4 · Chapter 6

Commentary on Ezra Nehemiah Ester Job and Psalms · Commentary 4 · Chapter 6

p. 60CHAP. VI Verſe 1. But Job anſwered and ſaid]

ELiphaz thought he had ſilenced him, and ſet him down with ſo much reaſon, that he ſhould have had nothing to reply, yet Job deſirous to diſaſperſe himſelf, and to clear-up his reputation, anſwered and ſaid. For indeed Negligere quid de ſe p. 61quiſque ſentiat, non ſolum arragantis eſt, ſed & diſſoluti, ſaith one; that is, altogether to neglect what others think or ſpeak of a mans ſelf, and not to make apology, is the part not only of a proud, but of a diſſolute perſon … ſilence ſometimes argueth guiltineſſe, or at leaſt it ſtrengtheneth ſuſpition.

Verſe 2. O… that my griefe were throughly weighed] Heb. were weighed by weighing. The word rendred griefe ſignifieth alſo Ang…, and is th… ſame with that wherewith Eliphaz began his ſpeech, chap. 5.2. where he ſaith, Wrath killeth the fooliſh man, pointing at Job, as an angry man exalting folly. Here therefore Job beginneth his refutation: wiſhing, that that, anger or griefe of his, ſo hardly cenſured, were duely weighed in an even ballance for then it would appeare that there was ſome reaſon for his paſſion, that he had enough upon him to cry for, and that he had not complained without a cauſe. We read of a certaine Philoſopher, who hearing of his ſons death, brake out into a loud lamentation: for which being reproved, Permit…e, inquit, ut homo ſim, ſuffer me, I pray you, (ſaid he) to ſhew my ſelf to be a man; that is, ſenſible of my ſufferings.

And my calamity laid in the balances together] That is, that my calamity were accurately ſet againſt my grief, my laments and my torments equally poiſed; it would then appear that I have not yet grieved or complained up to the height or weight of thoſe calamities which are upon mee. Even to day is my complaint bitter, (ſaith he elſewhere in anſwer to Eliphaz too, interpreting his complaints to be rebellion againſt God) My ſtroake is heavier the… my gro…ning, chap. 23.2.

Verſe 3. For now it would b… heavier then the ſand of the ſea] How light ſoever thou, O Eliphaz, eſteemeſt it, as being in a proſperous condition. It is eaſie to ſwim in a warm bath: and every bird can ſing in a ſunſhine-day. But grief lieth like a load of lead upon the ſoule, heavy and cold; afflicting it, as an unſupportable burden doth the body. It ſo oppreſſed the poor Iſraelites in Egypt, that they had no mind to hearken to Moſes, E…e…d, 6.9. Solomon cryes out, A wounded ſpirit who can beare? Prov. 18.…4. My ſoule is very heavy, and exceeding ſorrowful, even unto death, ſaith our bleſſed Saviour, Matth 26.37, 38. then when the Father made all our ſins to meet upon him, and be bare our griefs and carried our ſorrowe…, Iſa. 13.4, 12. Sure it is, that had he not been God as well as man, he had beene utterly cruſhed by that unconceivable weight of ſin and wrath that he then groaned under. Oh what will all Christ leſſ… perſons do in hell, where God ſhall lay upon them and not ſpare! they would faine fly out of his hand, Job 27.22. bur that cannot be.

Therefore my words are ſwallowed up] Vix loqui poſſum, vox faucibus haevet: I want words, which yet, if I had them at will, would be far too weak to utter the grief of my mind. Broughton rendreth it, Therefore my words fall ſhort, they are ſemeſa, ſaith Junius, half-eaten before ſpoken: I am (as it were) gagg'd with grief: or, my words are even ſmothered up with ſighs and ſobs. Thus Job rhetoricates, and yet thinkes himſelf greatly word-bound.

Verſe 4. For the arrowes of the Almighty are within me] What marvel then though his fleſh had no reſt, but he was troubled on every ſide, ſith without were fightings, within were feares, 2 Cor. 7.5. The arrowes not of a mighty man, as Pſal. 127.4. but of an Almighty God, Troubles without, and terrours within? David felt theſe arrowes, and complaineth of them heavily, Pſal. 38.1, 2. He ſhall ſh…ot as them with an arrow, ſuddenly ſhall they be wounded, ſaith he of thoſe his enemies who had bent their bow, and ſhot their arrowes at him, even bitter words, Pſal. 64.3, 7. God will make his arrowes drunk with the blood of ſuch perſons, Deut. 32.42. But the arrowes Job here complaines of, were poiſoned or invenomed arrowes.

The poiſon whereof drinketh up my ſpirits] Dryeth them up, and corrupts the blood in which the ſpirits are, ſprinkling in my veines a mortall poiſon, working greateſt dolour, and deſtemper. The Scr…hians and other nations uſed to dip their darts in the blood and gall of Aſps and Vipers, the venemous heat of which, like a fire in their fleſh, killed the wounded with torments, the likeſt hell of any other: and hereunto Job alludeth.

The terrours of God do ſet themſelves in array againſt me] i. e. the terrible ſtrokes of God who ſeemeth to fight againſt me with his own hand, to ruſh upon me as the Angel once did upon Balaam with a drawn ſword in his hand, threatning therewith to cut off my head, as David did Goliah's, yea to ſend me packing to hell in the very p. 62ſuburbs whereof, methinks, I feel to be already, and ſhall not I be ſuffered to complain? a galled ſhoulder will ſhrink under a load, though it be but light; and a little water is heavy in a leaden veſſel. But the word here uſed for terrors, noteth the most terrible terrors, helliſh terrors, and worſe, for they are the terrors of God, ſurpaſſing great, 2 Cor. 5.11. which made Jeremy pray ſo hard, Be not thou a terrour to me, O Lord, and then I care not greatly what befalleth me. Whiles I ſuffer thy terrors, I am diſtracted, ſaith Hemun, Pſalm 88.15. Adde hereunto, that theſe terrours of God had ſet themſelves in array, they were in a military manner marſhalled and imbattailed againſt him, as Jer. 50.9. God afflicted Job methodically and reſolvedly; he led up his army (as a Reverend man phraſeth it) exactly form'd to a pitcht battel againſt him, and this was truly terrible; for who, ſaith Moſes, knoweth the power of his wrath? ſith the apprehenſion and approach of it was ſo terrible to an upright-hearted Job, to an heroicall Luther, upon whom Gods terrors were ſo heavy for a time,In epiſt. ad Melanc. ut nec calor, nec ſanguis, nec ſenſus, nec vox ſupereſſet: that neither heat, nor blood, nor ſenſe, nor voice remained, but his body ſeemed dead, as Justus Jonas an eye-witneſſe reporteth: agreeable whereunto is that memorable ſpeech of Luther, Nihil eſt tentatio vel univerſi mundi, & totius inferri in unum conflata &c. The temptation and terrour of all the world; nay, of all hell put together is nothing to that, wherein God ſetteth himſelf in battle-array againſt a poore ſoule: In which caſe, that is excellent counſel that one giveth in theſe words; When thy ſins and Gods wrath meeting in thy conſcience make thee deadly ſick, as Iſai. 33. then powre forth thy ſoul in confeſſion: and as it will eaſe thee (as vomiting uſeth to do) ſo alſo it will move God to pity, and to give thee cordials and comforts to reſtore thee.

Verſe 5. Doth the wilde aſs bray when he hath graſſe?] q. d. Sure they doe not. As if theſe creatures, wilde or tame, want neceſſary food, you give them leave to fill the aire with their out-cryes; yea, you ſupply their wants; but for me ye will do neither, ſuch is your tenderneſſe and love toward me. Nay, ye condemne me for that which is naturally common to all creatures. Ye muſt needs think I am not without aylement that make ſuch great lamentations, unleſſe ye conceit that I am fallen below the ſtirrup of reaſon, nay, of ſenſe. It is eaſie for you who want neither graſſe nor fodder, or mixt meat. (as the word ſignifieth) who lie at rack and manger, as it were, and have all that heart can wiſh, or need require; it is eaſie, I ſay, for you to reſt contented, and to forbeare complaints. But why am I ſo ſeverely cenſured for impatient, who am ſtript of all, and have nothing left me, praeter coelum & coenum, as he ſaid, but only aire to breath in, and a dung-hill to ſit on; not to ſpeak of my inward troubles &c.

Verſe 6. Can that which is unſavory be eaten without ſalt?] Or can that which is unſavory for want of ſalt be eaten? Hunger will downe with unſavory or unpleaſant food, though ſalt or ſawce be wanting: but when meat is putrified for want of ſalt, and full or maggots, it will hardly be eaten, unleſſe it be in extreme famine: it is as if he ſhould ſay, a man doth with no good will feed upon unſavory or loathſome meats; how then can I uſe ſuch moderation as you deſire I ſhould, my evils being extreme, ſweetned with no kind of comfort, nor ſeaſoned with any thing that is any way toothſome or wholeſome? that I ſpeake not of your taſteleſſe and inſulſe ſpeeches, which are no ſmall vexation to me.

Verſe 7. The things that my ſoul refuſed to touch &c.] I ſuffer ſuch torments even in my very ſoule, as the very thought of them would heretofore have affrighted me. Thus Mr. Dio…ate. Others take ſoule here for the appetite, and ſo make this the ſenſe: Thoſe things which I exceedingly loathed, and would once have thought ſcorn to have touched, are now my ſorrowful meat: I am forced with an heavy heart to feed upon them for want of better: and they go down the worſe, becauſe you vex me with your hard words (who have little need of ſuch choke-peares) and will not allow me the liberty of a needfull lamentation, which yet I muſt needsly take (leſt heart ſhould breake) and ſay as before chap. 3. though with ſome more reſpect to God, the object of my preſent prayer;

Verſe 8. O that … might have my requeſt!] How heartily begs Job for death, as a medicine of all his maladies and miſeries; as that which would bring him m…l…rum ademptio…em, …orum, adepti…nem, freedome from all evil, fruition of all good: By p. 63the force of his faith, he lookes upon death as the beſt phyſician that would cure him of all infirmities inward and outward, and of all at once, and for ever. Job might likely be of the ſame mind that Cha…cer was, who took for his Engliſh motto Farewell Phyſick; and for his Latine one, Mors arumnarum requies, death will be a ſweet reſt from all my labours: the ſame …o a believer death is, that mount Ararat was to Noah, where his ark reſted after long toſſing: or as Michel was to David, a meanes to ſhift him out of the way when Saul ſent to ſlay him: or as the fall of the houſe was to Samſon, an end of all his ſorrowes and ſufferings: hence it is that he rejoyceth under hope, and with ſtretcht out neck, looks and longs for deaths coming, as dearly as ever Siſe…a's mother did out of a window for the coming of her ſon laden with ſpoiles from the battel. As when death is come indeed, he welcometh it, as Jael did the fame Siſena (but much in one heartily) with Turn in my Lord, turn in to mee, Judg. 4.18. and further beſpeaketh it, as Jacob did his brother Eſau, at their interview; Surely I have ſeen thy face, as the face of God who hath made thee to meet me with kiſſes in ſtead of frowns, and hath ſent thee to guard me ſafe home to my fathers houſe.

And that God would grant me the thing that I long for.] Or, have long looked for. Heb. my hope or my expectation as that which will put a period to my miſeries, and poſſeſſe me of heavens happineſſe, as that which will be a poſtern to let out temporall life, but a ſtreet-door to let in eternal.

Verſe 9. That …t would pleaſe God to deſtroy me.] That is, to diſpatch me out of this world, and fend me to a be…ter. A diſſolution would be far more acceptable to Job, then that reſtitution which Eliph…z ſeemed to promiſe him, chap. 5.24. Its as if Job ſhould ſay; Take you the world amongſt you, ſith you like it ſo well, I have move then enough of it: I am neither fond of life, nor afraid of death, but the cleane contrary: I had rather die then dine, and crave no greater favour then to have more weight laid upon me that I may die out of hand. Feri Domine, feri …nam à peceatis … Luther once ſaid, ſtrike Lord, ſtrike deepe, for thou haſt pardoned my ſins, and wilt ſave my ſoule.

That he would let looſe his hand] That now ſeemeth tied, or hound behind him, Manus ligata vide…u… quando parcit, ſaith Vatablus. God had chained up Satan, and ſtrictly charged him not to take away Jobs life: but this is it that Job would fain have done. Mortality he would account no ſmall mercy: he deſired nothing more then to be diſſolved, and to be with Chriſt, he might do it becauſe he knew that his Redeemer lived &c. So might Simeon, becauſe he had ſeen Gods ſalvation: and ſo might Paul who had fought a good fight, and kept the faith. But how could Plato ſay in the eighth of his lawes, The communion of the ſoule with the body is not better then the diſſolution, as I would ſay, if I were to ſpeak in earneſt?foreign. Plato. His maſter Socrates, when to die, was nothing ſo confident: for he ſhut up his laſt ſpeech with theſe words, as both Plato himſelf, and Cicero tell us, Temp… eſt jam hinc abire… It is now high time for us to go hence; for me to die, and for you to live longer: and whether of theſe two is the better, the gods immortall know; hominem quidem arbir…or ſciro neminem, it is above the knowledge, I believe, of any man living. Thus he: but Job was better perſwaded; otherwiſe he would have been better adviſed then thus earneſtly to have deſired death.

And cut me off.] Avidè me abſumat quaſi ex morte mea ingens lucrum reportatur…. Let him greedily cut the … (ſo the word ſignifieth) even as if he were to have ſome great gain,Pi…eda. or get ſome rich booty by my blood.

Verſe 10. Thou ſhould I … have comfort, yea, I would harden my ſelf in ſorrow &c.] I would take hard on, and bea… what befalleth me as well as I could, by head and ſhoulders, had I but hopes of an end by death; as having this for my comfort;

I have not concealed the words of the Holy One.] I have boldly profeſſed the true Religion, Pſ. 40.10. & 116.10. & 119.43. not …ared to preach the truth ſincerely to others for Gods glory, and their good; however you may judge of me. I never rejected the word of God, but have highly honoured it; ſo that my deſire of death is not deſperate, as you may conceive, but an effect of good aſſurance that by death heaven advanceth forward that happy term, when all my miſeries ſhall end at once: and hence it is, that I am ſo greedy after the grave.

p. 64Verſe 11. What is my ſtrength, that I ſhould hope?] q. d. Thou haſt told me (O Eliphaz) that if I frame to a patient and peaceable behaviour under Gods chaſtiſement, I ſhall go to my grave in a good old age: &c. but, alaſſe, it is now paſt time of day with me for that matter: my breath is corrupt, my dayes are extinct, the graves are ready for me, chap. 17.1.] Were I as young and luſty as ever I have been, ſome ſuch things as ye have promiſed me might be hoped for; but alaſſe, the map of age is figured on my forehead, the calenders of death appeare in the furrowes of my face: beſides my many ſores and ſickneſſes, which if they continue but a while, will certainly make an end of mee.

And what is mine end] i.e. The later part of my life: what is that elſe, but trouble and ſorrow? ſee this elegantly ſet forth by Solomon, Eccleſ. 12.2, 3, 4, &c.

That I ſhould prolong my life] That I ſhould deſire my life to be prolonged or eeked out to that?De re r…ſt. lib. 1. cap. 1. Rather let it be my …are with Varro, ut ſarcinas colligam antequàm proficiſcar è vita, to be ready for death, which ſeemeth ſo ready for mee.

Verſe 12. Is my ſtrength the strength of ſtones? Or, Is my fleſh of braſſe?] Is it made of marble, or of the hardeſt metal? as it is ſaid of one in Homer, that hee was foreign, of brazen bowles, and of Julius Scaliger, that he had a golden ſoule in an iron body: he was a very Iron ſides, but ſo was not Job: he had neither a body of braſſe, nor ſinewes of iron, to ſtand out againſt ſo many ſtormes, and beare ſo many batteries; he felt what he endured, and could not long endure what he felt. As for the damned in hell, they are by the power of God upheld for ever, that they may ſuffer his fierce wrath for ever; which elſe they could never do. And as for thoſe deſperate Aſſaſines, Baltaſar Gerardus the Burgundian, who ſlew the Prince of Orange Anno Dom. 1584. and Ravilliac (Ferale illud prodigium, as one calleth him, that hideous hel…hound) who ſlew Henry the fourth of France in the midſt of his preparations, and endured thereupon moſt exquiſite torments; this they did out of ſtupidity of ſenſe, not ſolidity of faith; and from a wretchleſſe deſperation, not a confident reſolution.

Verſe 13. Is not my help in me?] Have I not ſomething within wherewith to ſuſtaine me amidſt all my ſorrowes, viz. the teſtimony of my conſcience, that in ſimplicity and godly ſincerity, I have had my converſation in the world, 2 Cor. 1.12. …o, this is my rejoycing, this is my cordial &c. Innuit innocentiam ſuam, a… vita integritatem, ſaith Druſius: he meaneth the innocency and integrity of his heart, and this was the help Job knew he had in ſtore, this was the wiſedome or right reaſon he ſpeaketh of in the following words, and is wiſedome (or vertue) driven quite from me? no, no; that holdeth out and abideth when all things elſe in the world paſſe away and vaniſh…, as the word Tuſhijah importeth. Job had a ſubſiſtence ſtill: for his life conſiſted not in the abundance which he had poſſeſſed, but was now bereft of. The world calleth wealth ſubstance, but God giveth that name to Wiſedome only. The world he ſetteth forth by a word that betokeneth change, for its mutability, Prov. 3.8. and the things thereof he calleth Non-entia, Prov. 23.5. Wilt thou ſet thine eyes, ſaith he, upon that which is not? and which hath no price but what opinion ſetteth upon it? Grace being a particle of the divine nature, is unlooſable, unperiſhable. — Virtus poſt funera venit.

Verſe 14. To him that is afflicted] Heb. melted, viz. in the furnace of affliction, which melteth mens hearts, and maketh them malleable, as fire doth the hardeſt metals, Pſal. 22.15. Joſh. 7.5.

Pity ſhould le ſhewed from his friend] By a ſweet tender melting frame of ſpirit, ſuch as was that of the Church, Pſal. 102.13. and that of Paul, 2 Cor. 11.29. Who is weak… and I am not weak, ſc. by way of ſympathy? who is offended, and I burne not? when others are hurt, I feele twinges; as the tongue complaineth for the hurt of the toe, and as the heart condoleth with the heele, and there is a fellow-feeling amongſt all the members: ſo there is likewiſe i… the myſticall body.

From his friend] who is made for the day of adverſity, Prov. 17.17. and ſhould ſhew …ove at all times,foreign. Et cum fortuna ſtatque cadis que fides. and eſpecially in evil times: but poor Job bewaileth the want of ſuch faithfull friends. David alſo complaineth to God (his onelyonly faſt friend) of thoſe that would be the cauſes, but not the companions of his calamity, that would fawn upon him in his flouriſh, but forſake him in his miſery, My lovers and friends p. 65ſtand aloof &c. they looked on him, and ſo paſſed by him as the Prieſt and the Levite did the wounded paſſenger, Luke 10.32. But God takes it ill that any ſhould once look upon his afflicted, unleſſe it be to pity and relieve them, Obad. 12.13. and hath threatned an evil, an only evil, without the leaſt mixture of mercy, to ſuch as ſhew no mercy to thoſe in miſery, Jam. 2.13.

But he hath forſaken the fear of the Almighty] Which whereſoever it is in the power of it, frameth a man to all the duties both of piety and charity. O…adiah feared God greatly, and it well appeared by his pity to the perſecuted Prophets. Cornelius feared God, and (as a fruit of it) gave much almes. Acts 10.2. Not ſo Nabal, that ſapleſſe fellow, whoſe heart was hardened from Gods holy fear: nor Judas the traitor, who had no bowels of compaſſion toward his innocent maſter; and therefore he burſt in the midſt w…h an huge crack, and all his bowels guſht out, by a ſingular judgment,foreign Acts 1.18. There are many other readings of this text, as that of the …igurine tranſlation, It were fit for friends to ſhew kindneſſe to their friend that is in miſery: but the feare of the Almighty hath forſaken me, as you pleaſe to ſay. See what Eliphaz had ſaid to this purpoſe, chap. 4.6. with the Note. Others read it thus, to him that is afflicte… ſhould reproach be given, that he hath forſaken the feare of the Almighty? q.d. Muſt a man therefore be reviled as irreligious, becauſe he is calamitous? The vulgar tranſlation runnes thus, He that taketh away pity from his friend, hath forſaken the fear of the Almighty &c.

Verſe 15. My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a brooke] Even you, whom I eſteemed as my brethren (for to them he applyeth this ſpeech, verſe 21.) prove hollow and helpleſſe to me: like the river Araris, that moveth ſo ſlowly, that it can hardly be diſcerned, ſaith Caeſar, whether it flow forward or backward: or rather,Caſ. de bell. Gal. l. 1. to a certaine fiſh in that river Araris, called Scolopidus: which at the waxing of the Moon, is as white as the driven ſnow; and at the wayning thereof is as black as a burnt coal. Job here elegantly compareth them not to a river which is fed by a ſpring, and hath a perennity of flowing; but to a brook ariſing from rain or melted ſnow, the property whereof is, in a moiſture (when there is leaſt need of them) to ſwell; in a drought (when they ſhould do good) to fail. It is reported of the river Novanus in Lombardy, that at every mid-ſummer-ſolſtice it ſwelleth and runneth over the bankes, but in mid-winter is quite dry. Such were Jobs deceitfull brethren; good ſummer-birds &c. The ſame Author telleth us, that in that part of Spaine called Carrinenſis, Plin. lib. 2. cap. 103. Idem ibid.there is a river that ſhewes all the fiſh in it to be like gold: but take them into thine hand, and they ſoon appeare in their natural kinde and colour. Job found that all is not gold that gliſtereth.

And as the ſtream of brooks they paſſe away] i. e. as an impetuous land-flood, they faile me; and now, that I have moſt need of their refreſhments, they yeild me none; but the contrary rather: like as land-floods by their ſudden and violent overflow doe much hurt many times to corn and cattle. I can goe to theſe ſtreames of brookes, ſaith Job, and ſhew my friends the face of their hearts in thoſe waters.

Verſe 16. Which are blackiſh by reaſon of the ice] Or froſt, a black-froſt we call it, which deceiveth thoſe that tread upon it. Or if hard enough to beare up paſſengers it promiſe to be a ſtore-houſe of preſerving ſnow and water againſt the ſcortching time of Summer, yet there's no truſting to it: for theſe waters as they are in winter lock'd up with froſts, ſo they will be in Summer exhaled, and dried up by the Sun.

Verſe 17. What time they wax warm, they vaniſh: when it is hot &c.] Lo ſuch is the fruit of creature-confidence, of making fleſh our arme, of truſting in men or meanes; whereas Deo co…fiſi nunquan confuſi, they that truſt in the Lord ſhall never be diſappointed. This thou canſt never do, unleſſe (unbottomed of thy ſelf and the creature) thou ſo lean upon the Lord, as that if he fail thee thou ſinkeſt, and not otherwiſe.

Verſe 18. The paths of their way are turned aſide.] i. e. They being (as it were) cut into divers ſmall rivers running here and there, by little and little,Beza. and being reſolved into vapours, at length quite vaniſh away.

They go to nothing and periſh] Metaph…ra inſignis & Hieroglyphicum, ſaith an Interpreter; this is an excellent metaphor, and a lively picture of the vanity of ſuch as make a great ſhew of piety and charity, which yet floweth not from the ſpring of true faith; and therefore cannot but, after a while, go to nothing and periſh. A failing p. 66brook, ſaith another, is a cleare emblem of a falſe heart, both to God and man. Lavat…r thus explaineth the compariſon: 1. As brookes run with waters then when there is leaſt need of them: ſo falfe friends are moſt officious when their courteſie might beſt be ſpared. 2. As the ice of ſuch brooks is ſo condenſed and hardened, that it beareth men, horſes, and other things of great weight, ſo counterfeit friends promiſe and pretend to be ready to doe their utmoſt to ſuffer any thing for our good and comfort. 3. But as thoſe brookes are dried up in ſummer, and frozen up in winter, ſo that we can ſet no ſight on them: in like ſort theſe are not to be found when we are in diſtreſſe and affliction. 4. As brooks in winter are covered with ſnow and ice: ſo theſe would ſeem to be whiter then ſnow when their a…fections towards us are colder then ice. 5. Laſtly, as the ice that was hard and firm, upon a thaw breaketh and melteth: ſo falſe friends leave us many times upon very ſmall or no diſlikes; as being conſtant only in their unconſtancy.

Verſe 19. The troopes of Tema looked, the companies of Sheba waited for them] The troops, that is, the travellers, the Caravan or company of merchants from thoſe parts, paſſing through dangerous and dry deſerts, expected reliefe from thoſe brooks which they had marked out for themſelves againſt ſummer: But with what ſucceſſe?

Verſe 20. They were confounded, becauſe they had hoped &c.] Heb. They bluſhed, or they were abaſhed, becauſe diſappointed and defeated of their hope and expectation. See Jer. 14.3, 4. Joel 1.10, 11. Gods people have a promiſe, that hoping in him they ſhall never be aſhamed, Joel 2.26. Rom 9.23 Their hope is unfallible Rom. 5.5. becauſe founded upon …aith unfained, 1 Tim. 1.5. Hence they are commanded to rejoyce in hope, Rom. 12.12. and to conceive gaudium in re, gaudium in ſpe, gaudium de poſſeſſi…e, gaudium de promiſſione &c. joy for what they have in hand, and in preſent poſſeſſion; joy alſo for what they have in hope, and in reverſion. Wicked mens hopes may hop headleſſe (as the proverb is, and as theſe troopes of T…ma experimented) they come to the worlds felicities, as they do to a lottery with heads full of hopes, but return with hearts full of blanks; not ſo the Saints: God will be better to them then their hopes: and when at worſt, they can confidently ſay, it is well for the preſent, and it will be better hereafter.

Verſe 21. For now ye are nothing] i. e. To me nothing worth: I have no more joy of you then if you were not at all: ye are not unlike him who ſaid to his friend, I am all yours, except body and goods: ye are not ſo much as friends at a ſneez…, who will come out with a God bleſſe you: or as thoſe great benefactors in St. James, chap. 2.15, 16. that were free of their mouth-mercy: ye are meere mutes and ciphers, nullities, as to me juſt nothing; that is, ye are no ſuch thing as I expected. And here Job brings the fore-going ſimilitude home to his friends by cloſe application. And according to the Hebrew margin called Keri, it may be rendred, Fuiſtis …i ſimiles…, ſc. Torrenti; ye are like to it, that is, to the brook forementioned: ye fail me as much as it did the thirſty paſſengers.Druſ.

For ye ſee my caſting down, and are afraid] There is an elegancy in the Original that cannot be engliſhed: your eyes ſee what you had before heard of only be the hearing of the eare, that I am at a great under, dejected and impoveriſhed: you are therefore afraid of me, leſt I ſhould ask you ſomething for the ſupply of my wants; or elſe you keep at a diſtance, as more afraid of catching mine evill, then deſirous of curing it; ye viſit me, but are not moved with any compaſſion toward me. So the Septuagint.Horrore perculſi r…ſi…atſt i… à me veluti ſi quiſpiam vip…ram calcaſſet. Lav.

Verſe 22. Did I ſay, bring unto me? or give &c.] Did I ever charge you for my reparation or redemption? This interrogation is more emphaticall then a ſimple negation, q. d. I never did it, and therefore unleſſe you had been at more charge with me, you ſhould have beſtowed better words upon me: thoſe would have coſt you nothing certainly.

Verſe 23. Or deliver me from the enemies hand &c. Reſcue me, ranſome me from thoſe that have robbed and wronged me: fetch back my loft goods by price of force. The word rendred mighty, ſignifieth alſo formidable, terrible, breac…-makers. The word is opened by St. Paul, Phil. 1.28. Where he uſeth a metaphor from horſes, ſ…or…ing,foreign. and ſtarting when …gh…ed.

Verſe 24. Teach me, and I will hold my tongue] If I be in an errour, I am willing to be rectified. Hitherto you have miſtook my caſe, and ſo your ſpeech hath p. 67been to ſmall purpoſe. But if you will come home to my caſe indeed, and weigh things in an even ballance, I ſhall gladly ſubmit to your more mature judgement and direction. Teach me, and you ſhall find that I am not indocible, that I am not as horſe and … that have no under standing Pſalm 32.9. nor will learn any muchleſſe then the creature called Rhinoceros, untameable and untractable. It ſhall appear to you that I am not utterly uncounſel…able, as thoſe of whom Bail complaineth, qui q…id verum ſit neque ſciunt, neque ſustine diſ…e…e, that neither know what truth and right is, nor will endure to be taught it. Job was not to be told that it was eaſier to deale with twenty mens reaſons, then with one mans will!Epiſt. ad E…gr. 10. he promiſeth therefore not to ſtand out againſt his friends, becauſe hee will ſtand out. It is not my will, ſaith he, that oppoſeth what you have ſpoken, but my underſtanding. I am a ſlave to right reaſon: and if convinced thereby, I ſhall ſoon lay down the bucklers. Teac… mee, and I will hold my tongue, and not ſtrive for the laſt word to lengthen out the contention: I am willing to reaſon, but not to wrangle. See Prov. 30.32.

Cauſe me to underſtand wherein I have erred] An humble man will never be an heretick▪ erre he may (that's common to mankind, iriſte mortali at is privilegium) but convince him by ſolid reaſons, and good arguments, and he will not long ſtand out; … child ſhell lead him, Iſa. 1… 6 It is by pride that contention cometh, Prov. 13.10. for it maketh a man drunk with his own conceit, Hab. 2.5. and who ſo wilfull, ſo quarrelſome as he that is drunk? An heretick may be condemned of himſelf, Tim 3….10. but he will not be convinced by another (ſuch is his pertinacy, or rather, obſtinacy) no, though he be ſtoned with hardeſt arguments, holden out of that cryſtal-brook of the holy Scriptures, he ſtands as a ſtake in the midſt of a ſtreame: and you may as ſoon remove a rock,Lapidandi ſunt b…r…tiel. Ath…n. as cauſe him to underſtand wherein hee is out in his judgment or practiſe.

Verſe 25. How forcible are right words!] How ſweet, ſaith the Chaldee interpreting it by Pſal. 119.103. It may be he read Nimle ſu for Nimre ſu; but the word is well rendred forcible, potent, valid. It noteth alſo, ſaith one, acrimony, ſharpneſſe, or ſmartneſſe, becauſe right words have a pleaſing acrimony upon the palate of the ſoule, and a power upon the judgment to ſway and carry it.Mr. Caryl. … dictis animos &c. Audite ſ…nem juvenes qu…m juvenem ſen…s audierunt; theſe few words from Augustus falling right, quieted the mutineers in his army: and the like is reported of Alexander the great, of Menenius Aggripp… &c. But we have better inſtances, as that of Abig… treating with David; the woman of Abel with J…ab; Nicodemus by a few ſeaſonable words, diſſolving the Council gathered together againſt Chriſt, John 7.50 53. Pap…nutius ſtickling for the married Clergy at the Nicene Council, &c. One ſeaſonable truth falling on a prepared heart, hath oft a ſtrong and ſweet operation. Luther having heard Sta…picius ſay that that is kind repentance with begins from the love of God, ever after that time the practice of repentance was ſweeter to him; This ſpeech alſo of his tool well with Luther. The doctrine of predeſtination beginneth at the wounds of Chriſt: but before any of this, he was much wrought upon by conference with an old Prieſt about juſtification by faith. So was that Italian Marqueſſe Galeacius Caracci…lus by a ſimilitude uſed by Pe…er Martyr reading upon the firſt to the Corinthians Neſcio quid divinum in auſcultatione eſt, ſaith one, there is a kind of divine force and efficacy in hearing, more then in reading the word we may ſay of it as David once did of Goliahs ſword, There is none to th…. And yet it cannot be denied, that the word read alſo hath a mighty force and powerfull influence upon the conſcience. Hence thoſe many praiſes of it, Pſal. 19.7, 8. The ſtatutes of the Lord are right &. right for every man… … and purpoſe …o penned, that every man may think they ſpeak d… ſe in re ſuâ… of himſelf in his particular caſe, as … hath it. So right the good word of God is and ſuitable; how then can it be but forcible (ſee Heb. 4.12. 2 Cor. ….4, 5.) And how forcible it is none can tell but thoſe that have … it; nor thoſe neither: … this …preſſion by way of … Oh … …ffectual are right words.

But what doth your … ] Heb. What doth your …? What force, what energi… is in your argument? how … and … they? … appear they? and how little to the … Ta… fa… dil…ntur argumenta veſtra, quam v…lp…s co…eſt pyrum. I can … off my hand. Strong is the Truth (I grant) and … p. 68e…nceth the things that are true; but to conclude truths from … (is that I am an hypocrite becauſe afflicted) that ye can never do.

Verſe 26. Do ye imagine to reprove words?] … and haſty words, which have more ſound then ſenſe? Think you that I doe onelyonly make a noiſe, or rave like a mad than, and a… accordingly to be dealt with? ye have not hitherto had …, windy words from me, bur words full of weight and matter, words of truth and … wherefore then do ye ſpeak thus? Do ye imagine to reprove words?

And the ſpeeches of one that is deſperate, which are as wind? Do ye thinke I ſpeake like one that is diſtracted, who knowes not what he ſpeakes… of that I have at once loſt my hope and my wits? It is an eaſie and a compendious way of refuting … a man can ſay, to ſay, he is mad, his words muſt needs be but without weight, who is himſelf without reaſon. Mr. Broughton readeth, Do ye … the … of the … wind? ſhall the poor mans wiſedom be deſpiſed (as Solomon asketh) and his words not be heard? Ecc, 9.16 Some refer this alſo to J…b friends, … it thus, Ye frame … only to reprove (ye are good for little elſe but to find fault) and bring forth words againſt the wind: ye beat the empty air with your bubbles of words, and ſenſeleſſe ſaying….

Verſe 27. …, you overwhelm the fatherl…ſſe] Heb. ye throw your ſelves upon the fatherleſſe, that is, upon miſerable …e, who am helpleſſe, comfortleſſe. See Gen. 43.18. that he may … himſelf upon us, and fall upon us, ſay they there, as hunters and wilde beaſts fall upon their prey.

And you, dig a p… for y…ur friend] Who had better deſerved of you, and expected better uſage from you. Here he taxeth them for craft, as before for cruelty, and this to their friend, whom they ſought to circumvent, and to drive into deſperation. Some read the words thus, you make a feaſt upon your fr…end; you banquet upon your companion, and make great chear, as being glad of my calamity which you make an argument of mine impiety. See chap. 41 6. 2 King… 6.23.

Verſe 28. Now therefore be c…ntent, lo…k upon me] Let it ſuffice you to have thus hardly handled me; caſt now a more benigne aſpect upon me, and be not henceforth ſo hot, and ſo harſh. Now therefore be content regard me: ſo Mt. Broughton tranſlateth it; or look upon me, ſc. with a critical eye: what guiltineſſe can you find in my face? do I look like an hypocrite, and can you read my conſcience in my countenance?

It … to you if … ] You may ſoon ſee mine integrity if you plea… for my heart fitteth and ſheweth it felt in my fore-head, neither can I collude; I am one of thoſe children, that will not lie; So be God my Saviour, Iſa 63 8.

Verſe 29. Returne, I pray you] Change your mind of …e, and your language to me; B…na ver… …: what need all this heat of ſpeech, and …eight of ſpirit he …etter adviſed, I beſeech you, ch…p 17.10. and 19.28. ſome think that Jobs friends were riſing to be gone: and he ha…tily calleth them back again.

… ] Judge charitably, and make not the worſt of matters I may be … but am not wicked. Or thus, take heed that God faul… you no… … …urping his right: taking Upon you to judg of ſecret things, even egainſt your neighbour with calumniations and cruelty.

Yea▪ returne again I See you do it at your perill: either you muſt doe it, or doe worſe.

My righteouſneſſe is in it] I am ſurely in the right: and that will appear to you upon better conſideration. I ſhall be …, and you utterly miſtaken. Uprightneſſe, … boldneſſe, and dare put it ſelf upon God …, as David did, P…alm … 20.5.

Vereſe 30 … ] yea, or … you ſhall … for a … man, and well able to … the whole body, Jam. 3.2. St. Paul Rom… … natural man, ſtandeth more upon the organs of ſpeech, his tongue, lips, mouth, throat, &c. then upon all the other members.Jam. 1.26.Jas 1:26 … my taſte diſcerne perverſe things] … p. 69wrong, truth and falſhood? Job 12.11. and 34.3. Is my mouth ſo farre out of taſte &c? It is an heavy judgement to be given up to an injudicious mind. Rom 1.28. a reprobate ….