Job 9

Job 9:2

IT is so] that God is soveraignly just and wrongeth no man, Iob 8. 3. and that man hath no right to contend with him as he is a Creator, and a Iudge. And I know also that God as he is a father, gives unto his children accesse to his throne of grace, to unfold their griefes unto him, and to make him judge of their integrity.

Job 9:9

Arcturus] the Italian, the signes of the wayne, namely, the constellations; whereof Arcturus or the wayne is towards the North. Orion and Pleiades towards the East and West, the other towards the South, and these have here no proper name, being starres of the Antarctick pole, alwayes hidden from our Hemisphere, and at that time utterly unknown.

Job 9:11

He goeth by me] he is incomprehensible as well in his essence, as in his works and judgements, Acts 17:27 Romans 11:33.

Job 9:13

Not withdraw] namely for any feare, or by meanes any of ones resistance.

Job 9:16

If I had called] God hath shewed himselfe so terrible towards me, so that although he were appeased, yet durst I not take courage againe, much lesse durst I presume to contend with him in his anger.

Job 9:17

Without cause] see Iob 2. 3.

Job 9:19

Of judgement] to debate my cause by way of justice: [who shall set] God will not so farre abase himselfe as to stand to plead with mee as a partiy, neither will any one dare to take upon him the quaility of Iudge, to callus both before him.

Job 9:20

If I justifie] the Italian, If I be just, namely, justified by faith, and sanctified by the Spirit, endeavouring my selfe to righteousnesse and innocencie, according to the measure of grace as God hath bestowed upon me, though not in that perfection as may bee answerable to the purity of Gods nature, nor the rigor of his Law, for if I be put to these trialls; I will alwayes freely confesse my vices and defects, Iob. 10. 15. and 14 4. 1 Corinthians 1:4.

Job 9:21

Would I not know] at the brightnesse of that light, I shall finde my selfe to bee quite otherwise then I imagined, I shall abhorre my life, and bee ashamed of it, though before, it did seeme to me to bee prayse worthy and vertuous, see Romans 7:15.

Job 9:22

This is one thing] the Italian, he is all one, that is to say, let me be either just, or guiltie, it is all one upon this tryall, for by it wee shall bee all found guilty.

Job 9:23

If the scourge] the Italian, if it be a scourge, namely, an expresse punishment for some grievous sinne, he would say, Hee often useth the just more rigorously then hee doth the wicked; for these are sometimes destroyed upon a sudden, whereas the righteous doe oftentimes linger a long time in their miseries, God seeming to take no care therfore, Iob 21. 13 Psal.73. 4 Lamentations 4:6.

Job 9:24

The earth] God many times suffereth the wicked, most licentiously to raign in the world: [hee covereth] hee subverteth all order of justice, condemneth and putteth to death, eventhe Iudges themselves. The covering of the face was a mark of a condemned man, held as unworthy of any more enjoying the light, and therefore deprived of the use of it, Esther 7:8 Iob40. 8 Isa. 12. 17. see Iob 24. 22 [if not] the Italian, if God doth not this, can these effects bee attributed to any other supreme cause, then to the providence of God? Amos 3:6.

Job 9:27

If I say] if I doe resolve to beare out the afflictions of the body with the strength of the Spirit, and of the minde, I doe finde my selfe more weak this way, being terrified by thy wrath.

Job 9:29

Labour I] to suppresse my griefe, and to endeavour to strengthen my selfe, in constancie and patience.

Job 9:31

In the ditch] in the abisse of the sense and feeling of my sinnes: [mine own cloaths] a kinde of figurative speech, as much as to say, I should bee deprived of all my ornaments of dignity, estimation, and glory, as being unworthy to weare them.

Job 9:33

Lay his hand] that is to say, use power, ordaine a Law, and enforce to stand to judgement.

Job 9:34

His feare] namely, his divine and terrible Majesty.

Job 9:35

It is not so] I am quite beside my selfe, amazed, and doe not know what I say.