John Trapp on Job 1:7

Verſe 7. And the Lord ſaid unto Satan] either by forming and creating a voice in the air, as Matth. 3.17. Job 12.28. or by an inward word, after an unſpeakable manner, manifeſting his wil, as he willed, to Satan. The School men have great diſputes about the ſpeech of ſpirits: but this they agree in, that the intention of one ſpirit is as plain an expreſſion of his mind by another ſpirit (when he hath a will that the other ſhould underſtand it) as the voice of one man is to another.

Whence comeſt thou?] This the Lord asketh not as if he were ignorant; for he knows all things, and that from eternity, neither is there any creature that is not manifeſt in his ſight, but all things are naked and open before his eyes, Heb. 4.13. yea, in him all things ſubſiſt, Col[illegible: 2 letters]. 1.17. So that there can be no motion of the creature without his privity: God therefore thus interrogateth Satan, that he might ſhew himſelf to be his Judg, and that he might exact a confeſſion out of his own mouth.

Then Satan anſwered the Lord] the word ſignifieth, to speak in witneſſe-bearing, Exod. 20, 16

From going to and fro in the earth] He ſaith not, from inſtigating men to all manner of wickedneſſe, from ranging up and down as a roaring Lion, to devour ſoules, from ſinning that ſin againſt the Holy Ghoſt every moment &c. All this he cunningly diſſembleth, and ſaith in effect, as once Gehezi did, Thy ſervant was no where, or for no hurt to any, when as he is never but doing miſchief; as Pliny ſaith of the Scorpion, that there is not one minute wherein it doth not put forth the ſting. Is not the hand of Joab in this buſineſſe? So, is not Satan in all the ſins of the wicked, and in moſt of the troubles of the godly? He[illegible: 1 letter] quàm furit Satan, & impellis ſecures homines ad horrenda flagitia &c. ſaith Luther! O how doth Satan range and rage, that he may glut himſelf with the blood of ſoules? In proſperity be makes men lay their hearts too near it, in adverſity to lay it too neer their hearts. Upon Job he tried both theſe ſtratagems.

And from walking up and down in it.] A great Peripatetike he is, and he walks the rounds; for he is yet a priſoner at large, only he hath his fetters upon his heeles, Jude 6, and in them he fri[illegible: 1 letter]keth up and down, and fetcheth a circuit to ſpy faults, and to take advantages. Mr. Broughto[illegible: 1 letter] read[illegible: 2 letters]th it, from ſearching to and fro in the earth &c. Non dormit a[illegible: 1 letter] ſemper-vigil ille ſynag[illegible: 1 letter]g[illegible: 1 letter] ſun Epiſc[illegible: 1 letter]pus, ſaith one,Amama. he is vigilant and diligent, reſtleſſs and unquiet [illegible: 1 span] (whom one calleth the divels Patriarch) could ſettle no where, but ran up and down as a fugitive and a vagabond, Gen. 4. It is ſaid Matth. 12.45. that this unclean ſpirit walketh in dry places ſeeking reſt and finding none. Not but that dry and wet are all one with him, but it importeth his reſtleſsneſſe. See the like Jer. 17.5. to run to and fro, is the condition and curſe of thoſe that are once departed from God. Take heed br[illegible: 1 letter]thre[illegible: 1 letter] (ſaith the Apoſtle) leſt there be in any of [illegible: 1 span] evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God, and wandring after worldly vanities. Take heed of giving way to wilful diſtractions in holy duties. Mens hearts are oft ſo divided and diſſipated,Heb. 3.12. that if after any duty they ſhould put this queſtion that God doth here to Satan, Whence comeſt that [illegible: 1 span] From compaſſing the earth. &c.