John Trapp on Job 2:3

Verſe 3. And the Lord ſaid unto Satan] Before he would condemn him, he thus interrogateth him (which he would not vouchſafe to doe, when he had deceived our firſt parents, Gen. 3.14.) but with a very bitter taunt and ſharp reprehenſion; as if God ſhould have ſaid, Beza. Art thou not aſhamed Satan, thus to anſwer me, as if I had forgotten what I granted thee in our laſt aſſembly, and thus in my preſence to diſſemble &c?

Haſt thou conſidered my ſervant Job] See chap. 1.8.

One that feareth God &c.] This he did not without God (according to that clauſe in the new covenant, I will put my fear into their hearts. Jer. 31.40. I, is emphaticall and excluſive, q. d. I, and I alone) yet God giveth him the honour of it: as if he himſelf had been the ſole doer. Certum eſt, nos facere quod facimus; ſed ille facit ut faciamus, ſaith Auſtin; Sure it is, that we do what good we doe; but as ſure it is, that God doth all our works in us and for us, Iſai. 26.12.

And ſtill be holdeth faſt his integrity] which thou haſt ſtriven quaſi [illegible: 1 letter]icedulà extorquere, by wrinch and wile to get from him; but he hath hitherto held it faſt as with tooth and naile. This was a ſingular commendation, and that's a rare faith, which being long tryed, doth not flag and hang the wing. By reaſon of the overflow of iniquity the love of many ſhall wax cold, (ſaith our Saviour) but he that endureth to the end ſhall be ſaved, Ma[illegible: 1 letter]th. 24.12, 13. Lo, it is but a He, a ſingle man that retaineth his integrity; when Many loſe their firſt love, and fall from their former ſtedfaſtneſſe, as faſt as leaves fall in Autumne. Job would not part with his integrity to dye for it: when all was taken away, he laid faſt hold on that, and reſolved to let go his life ſooner. Chriſt he ſaw ſtanding over him (as once Steven did) and ſaying, Revel. 3.11. Hold faſt that thou haſt, that no one take thy crown from thee. Omnia perdidit qui fidem amiſit, ſaith Seneca. In a common combuſtion, a man will be ſure to ſecure his jewels, what ever become of his lumber.

Although thou movedſt me againſt him] That is, againſt his perſonall eſtate, and his children, which are called himſelf; againſt theſe Satan is ſaid to have moved the Lord, to have incited and inſtigated him, ſtirring him up with reaſons and arguments; as he is an excellent Orator, if he may but have audience. But that the Lord was hereby moved to do ought againſt Job, muſt be wiſely and rightly underſtood; for God is immutable and unmoveable: neither can he be drawne to do any thing, but what he hath decreed to do from before all beginnings: but here he ſpeaketh after the manner of men, as if he were prevailed with by Satans ſollicitations.

To deſtroy him] So Satan would have had it, when God meant to try him only. See the like, Rev. 2.10.

Without cauſe] or for nothing (as the word ſignifieth, chap. 1.10. Doth Job fear God for nought?) without any provocation or cauſe on his part procuring it. Not but that there is cauſe enough in the beſt, why God ſhould afflict them: But as there was no peccatum flagrans in Jacob, Numb. 23.21. No foule ſin of that people, flaming at that time in the eyes of God, or ſtinking in his noſtrels; and therefore Bala[illegible: 2 letters] (the divels Spel-man) could do nought againſt them by his inchantments, verſe 23.Job non erat flagitioſus, Lavat. So there was not in Job that groſſe hypocriſie, wherewith Satan had falſely charged him: he was not that mercenary that Satan would have made of him. In vaine did that arch-ſlandere[illegible: 1 letter] and accuſer of the Saints move the Lord againſt Job, Gratis, id eſt, Fruſtra, ſaith Lyra; in vaine did he aſſault this ſtout champion, &c.