John Trapp on Job 17:9

Verſe 9. The righteous alſo ſhall hold on his way] Stumble he may for a time at his owne calamity, and worſe mens felicity; but as he that ſtumbleth, and yet falleth not, gets ground; ſo fareth it with the righteous in this caſe. Once David ſaid, Verily I have cleanſed my heart in vaine, and waſhed my hands in innocency: For all the day long have I been plagued, when had men have been proſpered. Hence he began to repent of his repentance, and to miſcenſure the generation of Gods children as thrice miſerable, Pſal. 73.13, 14, 15. but after a while, and upon better conſideration, he ſaid, This is mine infirmity; yea, he befooled and be beaſted himſelf, ver. 22. for ſo ſaying. And the like will all thoſe at length do, that belong to God, though for the preſent offended at Gods proceedings, and by their paſſions miſcarried to their coſt; yet they return to their right minds: forwards they may fall ſometimes, but not backwards, for that were far more dangerous. Lord, to whom ſhould we go, ſaith Peter? ſith thou alone haſt the words of eternal life, John 6.68. Neither know we where to mend our ſelves, by gadding about to change our way, Jer. 2.36. The righteous ſhall hold on his way, merdicùs tenebit, he ſhall hold it toughly, hold it as with tooth and nail, not going aſide a nailes bredth; [non-Latin text not transcribed], he ſhall ſtick to it, as the Greek hath it.

And he that hath clean hands] Upright Innocent. Righteous, cleane handed, theſe all are the good mans adjuncts and Titles of honour, far beyond thoſe of the worlds greateſt Magnifico.

Shall wax ſtronger and ſtronger] Heb. Shall add ſtrength, Not only ſhall hee hold his own, but get more grace; not only perſevere, but proceed and make progreſſe. He ſhall take boldneſſe, Sumet audaciam. ſay the Septuagint, and (by an holy Antipenſtaſis) get heart of grace, as they call it, from the evil attempts of others againſt him; the more outragious they, the more couragious he; like as by Saint Pauls bonds many waxed confident, Phil. 1.14. and as the Primitive Chriſtians, the more they were killed up, the more numerous they became. True zeal is of a moſt maſculine,Plures efficimur quoties mctimur. Tertul. and couragious nature: it is inkindled, by quench-coales, quickened by rubs and remora's. Ba[illegible: 1 letter]uc repaired earneſtly, burſting out into heat, nehem. 3.20. Shall ſuch a man as I flye? ſaid that heavenly Spark, chap. 6.11. Shall I change my opinion, becauſe hoc Ithacus velit? Remit of my diligence, becauſe of a frown or a frump? becauſe ſuch a Perſecutour threatneth me? Oh that I might enjoy thoſe wild beaſts prepared for my death, ſaid Ignatius! Oh that I might have the maidenhead of that kind of ſuffering for Chriſt, ſaid that Martyr to Bonner, threatning to whip him, &c.