John Trapp on Job 19:29

Verſe 29 Be ye afraid of the ſword.] Heb. Be ye afraid for your ſelves, form the fact of the ſword; Gods ſore, and great, and ſtrong ſword, Iſai. 27.1. that hangeth over your heads as it were by a twined thred. O tremble at Gods judgements, whilſt they hang in the threat[illegible: 1 letter]ings. He that trembleth not in hearing, ſhall be cut to pieces in feeling, in that Mar[illegible: 1 letter]y[illegible: 1 letter] ſaid, Gods ſword [illegible: 1 word] the re[illegible: 2 letters], Ezek. 21.13. If Job be under his rod, they that perſecute him, under what pretence ſoever, ſhall feel the dint of his Sword, of his deep diſpleaſure. Now it is a fearful thing to fall into the puniſhing hands of the living God. And cruelty toward others, (toward his own eſpecially) he will be ſure to puniſh, for he is gracious, Exod. 22.27. Fugite ergo à facie gladii, flee therefore from the face of the ſword, (ſo the vulgar rendreth this text.) The ſword is an inſtrument of death; it hath its name in Hebrew from laying waſte; and the face or faces of the ſword ſhew that divine vengeance is near at hand. Aug in Pſ. 30. It is a mercy to men that God whets his Sword before he ſmites, and firſt takes hold on judgement, before his judgements take hold on us, Deut. 32. 41.

For wrath bringeth the puniſhment of the ſword.] It is from diſpleaſed love, that God chaſtizeth his children; but from fierce wrath, that he plagueth his enemies: Some of theſe God puniſheth here, leſt his providence, but not all leſt his patience and promiſe of judgement ſhould be called into queſtion.

That we may know that there is judgement.] Wherein they that raſhly judge others ſhall be judged by God, Math. 7.1. And this Jobs friends knew well enough, but well weighed not, to fright themſelves from raſh cenſurings. He minds them therefore of their, danger, and labours to prevent their ſorrow, who had ſo much cauſed his. See the like in Jeremy chap. 26.15. in our Saviour, in St. Stephen, &c. and learn to be like charitable; though your ſucceſs be no better than Jobs was, upon whom, in lieu of this love they fell more foul than before, as will appear by their following diſcurſes.