John Trapp on Job 1:18

Verſe 18. While he was yet ſpeaking. See Verſ 16.

Thy ſons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine] This was the laſt, but not the leaſt of Satans aſſaults, reſerved purpoſely to the laſt, to cruſh him quite, when he was now ſpent and ſpiritleſſe, as he hoped. Let us look for like dealing, for a tough bout, at death howſoever: and be alwayes ready prepared for another and a worſe encounter.Seneca. It is ſaid of Caeſar, that he ſometimes put up, but ſeldom or never put off his Sword. It is ſaid of Qui Elizabeth, that in the greateſt calm ſhe provided for a ſtorm. It is ſaid or the b[illegible: 1 letter]rd Onocrotalus, that ſhe if ſo well practiſed to expect the Hawk to grapple with her, that even when ſhe ſhutteth her eyes, ſhe ſleepeth with her beak exalted, as if ſhe would contend with her adverſary. Should not we ſtand conſtantly upon our Guard, who have ſo reſtleſſe and pitileſſe an enemy?

Thy ſons and thy daughters &c.] Men may die then with the meat in their mouthes, and in the midſt of their mirth and jollity; as did Amnon, Elah, Balſhazzar. W[illegible: 1 letter]ether therefore we eat or drink &c. do all to the glory of God. 1 Cor. 10.31. Let there be holineſſe to the Lord written upon our pots, Zech 14.21. Let us eat, and drink, and ſleep eternal life. as a reverend Scotch Divine was ſaid to do. Jobs good heart aked and quaked (likely) at the hearing of this ſad newes, of ſo ſudden a death of his children, amidſt their merriments: for he uſed to ſay, when there was no ſuch danger. It may be, my ſons have ſinned, and curſed God in their hearts. Me thinks, I hear him ſaying, or rather ſighing out thoſe ſorrowfull words of Cratiſic[illegible: 3 letters] in Pl[illegible: 1 letter] tarch, Plut. in vit. Cleomenis. when ſhe ſaw her dear children ſlain afore her, Quò, pueri, eſt [illegible: 2 letters] profecti? Poor ſouls, what's become of you? See more on Verſe 13.