John Trapp on Job 13:23

Verſe 23. How many are mens iniquities and ſins] How many? too many to be reckoned: Sin imputed to thee, ſins inherent in thee, ſins iſſuing from thee; commiſſions, omiſſions, failings in the manner of performance (for a good work may be marr'd in the doing, as many a garment is in the making, and many a tale in the telling) thy life is fuller of ſins, then the firmament is of ſtars, or the furnace of ſparks, beſides thy birth-blot and inward evils which might juſtly cauſe thy deſtruction, as a man may die of inward bleeding. When the houſe is well ſwept, and all rooms ſeem very clean, if the Sun do but ſhine into it through the windows, the beams thereof diſcover an infinite number of motes in all places: ſo will it be with the beſt, if narrowly examined. Leſſer ſins, ſecret faults, are of daily, and almoſt hourly incurſion; yet we muſt be cleanſed from them, Pſalm 19.12. or elſe vae hominum vitae quantumvis laudibili, ſaith one, Wo to the life of men, though praiſe-worthy, as the world judgeth. A pardon there is of courſe for ſuch ſins, and they do not uſually diſtract and plunge the conſcience: but yet that pardon muſt be ſued out, and thoſe ſins muſt be diſliked and bewailed.

Make me to know my tranſgreſſion and my ſin] That particular ſin that thou chiefly ſtrikeſt at: for every affliction hath a voice in it, Mic. 6.9. and ſaith to the ſufferer, as thoſe marriners did to Jonas, chap. 1.8. what evil haſt thou committed or admitted? what good haſt thou omitted, or intermitted? Ʋp and ſearch; Iſrael hath ſinned: why lieſt thou upon thy face, as the Lord once ſaid to Joſhua, chap. 7.10, 11? ſomething ſurely there is amiſſe that God would have amended: It is therefore meet to be ſaid unto him, Make me to know my tranſgreſſion and my ſin, yea, the iniquity of my ſin, the filthineſſe of my lewdneſſe, all my tranſgreſſions in all my ſins (as the phraſe is Lev. 16.21.) that is, how many tranſgreſſions are wrapped up in my ſeveral ſins, and their circumſtances. This either Job meant here, or elſe he was afterwards by Elihu tutored to it, chap. 34.31, 32. Surely it is meet to be ſaid unto God, I have born chaſtiſement, I will not offend any more. That which I ſee not, teach thou me; if I have done iniquity, I will do no more.