John Trapp on Job 15:1

CHAP. XV. Verſe 1. Then anſwered Eliphaz the Temanice, and ſaid.]

LApides, locutus eſt: In this ſecond encounter, Eliphaz falls upon Job, not ſo much with ſtronger Arguments, as with harder words; reproving him ſharply, or rather reproaching him bitterly, Facundiâ quadam caninâ, with more Eloquence then charity. So hard a thing is it (ſaith Beza) eſpetially in diſputing and reaſoning, to avoid ſelf-love, as even in theſe times experience daily teacheth us. He hinteth (I ſuppoſe) at the publick Conference betwixt himſelf and Jacobus Andreas at Mompelgard, Lib. 35. Hiſt. whereby the ſtrife was rather ſtirred then ſtinted, as Thuanus complaineth. Or elſe at the Diſputation at Poſſiacum, wherein Beza, Speaker for the Proteſtant party,Hiſt. of Counc. of Trent 453. (before the Queen Mother of France, the young King Charles and many Princes of the Blood) entring into the matter of the Euchariſt, ſpake with ſuch heat (unleſſe the Hiſtorian wrongs him); that he gave but ill ſatisfaction to thoſe of his own ſide, ſo that he was commanded to conclude. Such meetings are ſeldome ſucceſſeful (ſaith Luther); becauſe men come with confidence and wit for victory rather then verity. In this reply of Eliphaz to Job. we may ſee what an evil thing it is to be carried away with prejudice and pertinacy, which make a man forget all modeſty, and fall foule upon his beſt friends. Here's enough ſaid to have driven this ſorrowful man into utter deſpaire, had not God upheld his ſpirit whiles, he is fiercely charged for a wicked man,Non affert ulla[illegible: 2 letters] conſolationem, non invitat eum ad panitentiam: ſed poti[illegible: 2 letters] ad deſperationem complelas. Lav. and hated of God: neither doth any of his friends henceforth afford him one exhortation to repentance, or one comfortable promiſe; as Lavater well obſerveth.