Matthew Poole and continuators on Job 14:4

4. Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean ? Not one .

I do not say, I am clean, as Zophar pretendeth, Ch. 11. 4. but confess that I am a very unclean Creature, and therefore liable to thy Justice, if thou wiltst deal rigorously with me: but remember that this is not my peculiar case, but the common lot of every Man, who, coming from sinful Parents, and being infected with original Corruption, must unavoidably be unclean. Why then doest thou inflict such peculiar and extraordinary Judgments upon me, for that which is common to all men? And although my original Corruption do not excuse my actual Sins. yet I hope it may procure some mitigation to my punishments, and move thy divine Pitty, which oft sheweth itself upon such occasions. See Gen. 8. 21.

i. e. No man can cleanse himself, or any other from all sin. See 1 Kin. 8. 46. Psal. 14. 3. Eccles. 7. 21. This is the Prorogative of thy Grace, which therefore I humbly implore of thee.

Marginal references: Heb. [illegible: 1 word], will give.; Gen. 5. 3. Psal. 51. 5. Joh. 3. 6. Rom. 5. 12. Ephes. 2. 3.