John Trapp on Job 15:11

Verſe 11. Are the conſolations of God.] Sic faſtu[illegible: 1 letter]ſe ſuas conſolationes appellat & ſociorum, ſaith Mercer: ſo Eliphaz. with ſtate enough, calleth the comforts that he and his fellowes had miniſtred to Job, promiſing him mercy from God upon his ſound repentance; but telling him withal, that unleſſe he would yeeld himſelf an hypocrite, thoſe promiſes would profit him nothing at all. Had Job ſlighted the precious promiſes, thoſe conduits of comfort, he had been much to blame, as he was doubtleſſe, who ſaid, My ſoul refuſed comfort, Pſal. 77.2. Like ſome ſullen child, that will not eat his milk, becauſe he hath it not in the golden diſh. The ſoul is ready to turn the back of the hand, and not the palm, to the ſtaff of divine conſolations, ſaying, Oh my ſtubbornneſſe! &c. and rather to ſhift and ſhark in every by corner for comfort, then to ſuck it out of thoſe breaſts of conſolation, and be ſatisfied, Iſai. 60.11. The Apoſtle taxeth his Hebrewes, that they had forgotten the conſolation (ſo the words may be read) which ſpake unto them as unto children ſaying, My ſon, &c. Heb. 12.[illegible: 1 letter]. Wrangling with God by caviling Objections, when they ſhould rather have wraſtled with him by earneſt ſupplications, putting the Promiſes in ſuit, and drawing waters with joy, out of thoſe wells of conſolation, Iſai. 12.3. Job was not altogether clear of this fault. He was ſo poor and ſore without, and within ſo full of horrour and terrour, that he was ready with Rachel, to refuſe to be comforted. Mercies were offered unto him, but he was ſcarce in caſe to receive them. The ear which taſteth words as the mouth doth meat, was ſo filled with choler, that he could hardly relliſh any comfort. The eaſieſt Medicines or Waters are troubleſome to ſore eyes. The fleſh with her roarings and repinings maketh ſuch a din, that the voice of the Comforter cannot well be heard in the beſt heart ſometimes. The Spirit knocks but there is none to open: Hence he goes away grieving, and that ſhould not be.

Is there any ſecret thing with thee?] Haſt thou meat to eat that we know not of? Are there with thee conſolations of thine own better then thoſe of God, which we have miniſtred unto thee? Some render it, And lyeth there any hidden thing within thee? that is, Either ſome greater and more profound wiſdome then every man knoweth; or elſe ſome ſecret ſin which muſt be caſt out ere comforts can faſten. For as the wound cannot cloſe and heal, as long as any part of the iron weapon remaineth in it; ſo herein the Cordiaca paſſio, or paſſion of heart, the heart i[illegible: 1 letter] ſo oppreſſed and over-covered, that the moſt refreſhing cordials cannot come at it, ſo that it is even ſuffocated with ſorrow. In alluſion whereunto, the Church prayes, La[illegible: 1 letter]. 3.65. Give them ſorrow of heart. This was Spira's caſe; and for the time might be Jobs. Poſſibly ſome ſin or ſorrow might lye at the fountain-head, and ſtop the courſe of his comforts. This Eliphaz fiſheth after, and would have found out, and remedied.