John Trapp on Job 2:6

Verſe 6. And the Lord ſaid unto Satan] who hath his requeſt: it is not alwayes a mercy to have what we wiſh. Deus ſaepè dat iratus, quod negat propitius. Be ſure we bring lawful petitions, and true hearts, Heb. 10.22. and then we ſhall have good things, and for our greateſt good.

Behold he is in thine hand] Here God puts his child into his ſlaves hand to correct, but not to deſtroy. And ſurely, if we give reverence to the fathers of our fleſh, who correct us for their own pleaſure, ſhall we not much more be in ſubjection unto the Father of Spirits,Heb. 12 9, 10. Buſbeq. chaſtning us for our profit, and live? The Turks, though cruelly laſht, are yet compelled to return to him that commanded it, to kiſſe his hand, and to give him thanks, and to pay the officer that whipt them. This laſt we need not do, but the former we ought, taking Gods part againſt our ſelves, and reſting contented; though as Paul delivered up ſome to Satan, that they might learn not to blaſpheme, ſo God deliver us up to him and his agents (ſuch as Satanically hate us, and are divelliſhly bent againſt us, Pſal. 32.21.) cauſing us to ſuffer more then any ever did out of hell; that we may learn not to be proud, ſecure, ſenſuall, and may preach forth the vertues of him who hath brought us out of darkneſſe into his marvellous light, 1 Pet. 2.9. Let us not ſay, if God would take the rod into his own hand, I could better beare it: but the tender mercies of that wicked one and his imps are meer cruelties. For 1. this is as if the child ſhould ſay, If I might chooſe my rod, I would not care to be whipt: or the condemned Noble-man, If I might chuſe mine executioner, I would not care to loſe mine head. 2. It is but one hand, and many inſtruments that God ſmiteth us with. Our enemies are but the men of Gods hand, Pſal. 17.14. that can do no more then is given them from above, John [illegible: 1 letter]9.[illegible: 2 letters]. Gods Maſons, to hew us here in the Mount, that we may be as the poliſhed corners of the Temple, Pſal. 144.12. Gods ſcullions, to ſcowre up the veſſels of his houſhold, that they may ſhine upon the celeſtiall ſhelf, as that Martyr ſaid. 3. God ever reſerveth to himſelf the royaltie of ſetting them their task, limiting them their time, and letting out their [illegible: 1 letter]edder; hitherto ye ſhall go, and no further. 4. If they exceed their commiſſion (as they are apt), Gods jealouſie will ſmoke againſt them, Zech. 1.14.

But ſave his life] Heb. his ſoule; put oft for the life, the cauſe for the effect: Satan ſhook his chain at Jobs ſoul, and would have deſtroyed it; but that he might not do: ſcratch him he might with his pawes, but not faſten his fangs in him. Job could ſay (for a ſeaſon at leaſt) as that dying Saint did, My body is weak, my ſoul is well. His afflictions, as afterwards St. Pauls, reached but to his fleſh, Col. 1.24. And ſee that thou ſave his life too, ſaith God: (ſee how he chaineth up the divel, who would faine have been ſucking Jobs blood, and ſwallowing him down his wide gullet;Iſa. 57.16. 1 Pet. 5.8.) Save it, that is, ſpare it; ſee that the Spirit faile not before me, and the ſoul that I have made; I have yet ſome further uſe of him, though a lamentable Lazar.Gal. 4.13, 14. You know how through infirmity of the fleſh; that is, notwithſtanding the infirmity and weakneſſe of my body, I preached the Goſpel, ſaith Paul. and my temptation which was in my fleſh you deſpiſed not. Daniel, though ſick, yet did the Kings buſineſſe; and Job, though ſcabbed all over, was yet of great uſe, and reſerved to great honour: therefore Save his life, ſaith God: and the divel, ſay the Rabbines, was as much vexed and wounded with this reſtraint, as Job was with all his wounds and ulcers. It is ſurely a vexation to malice, not to do its utmoſt.