John Trapp on Job 21:12

Verſe 12. They take the Timbr[illegible: 1 letter]l and the Harp] They take them, and are taken with them, being melted in ſenſual delights, which wiſe men ſlight. The Philoſopher told the Fidlers, that he could be merry without Muſick. Ariſtotle ſaid, Jupiter is happy,Plut, [non-Latin text not transcribed]. and yet no Muſician. One in Plutarch ſaith of the Scythians, That though they had no Muſick nor Vines amongſt them, yet they had God. It is here alledged as a piece of their laſciviouſneſſe and luxury, that they took or touched the Timbrel, &c. Not but that Muſick is lawful, for it is the giſt of God, and a noble Note there) theſe wicked and their children lived in pleaſure upon earth (which is not a place for ſuch a purpoſe: God did not caſt man out of one Paradiſe; that he might make himſelf another) James 5.5. and were like the people of T[illegible: 1 letter]mbu[illegible: 3 letters] in Affrica, who are ſaid to ſpend their whole time in ſinging and dancing. It is not good for men to take pleaſure in pleaſure, to ſpend too much time in it, as Salomon did, and afterwards Cleopatra. It was not ſimply a ſin in Eſau to go a hunting: but yet the more he uſed it, the more profane he waxed, and came at length to contemn his birth-right.

They rejoyce at the ſound of the Organ] Their mirth was meerly carnal, they did rather revel then rejoice. Their chearfulneſſe did not end in thankfulneſſe; their Muſick made them not more heavenly minded, as it did that late Learned and holy Mr. Eſty, who when he ſat and heard a ſweet conſort of Muſick,D. Hall Art of Div. Medit. ſeemed upon this occaſion, carried up for the time before hand to the place of his Reſt, ſaying very paſſionately, What Muſick may we think there is in heaven? The Inſtrument here mentioned, hath its name (as Mercer noteth) Ab amore oblectatione, & luſu; From love, delight and ſport. Amabit ſapiens, cupient caters, ſaith S[illegible: 1 letter]utea.