John Trapp on Job 21:14

Verſe 14. Therefore they ſay unto God, Depart from us.] Leſt any ſhould think, ſaith Merlin here, that Job ſpeaks of ſuch wicked as uſed a moderation in ſinning, and (as the Hiſtorian ſaid of the Emperour) rather wanted vice, then were vertuous.Magis extra vitia, quam cu[illegible: 2 letters] vir[illegible: 1 letter]utib[illegible: 1 letter]m. Tacit. He deſcribeth their great impiety by a rhetorical imitation, expreſſing the language of their heart, which is moſt baſe and blaſphemous. For firſt they beſpeak God as if he were ſome low-prized ſcoundrel; Apage, Be packing: thus they reject his acquaintance, and would be rid of his company. Porro rejiciunt Deum quot quot verbum e[illegible: 1 letter]us contemnunt, ſaith Brentius here: Now they reject God, who ſlight his Word, and caſt his commands behind them, Pſal. 50.17. Hence it follows by way of explication.

For we deſire not the knowledge of thy wayes.] Lo, they proſeſſe themſelves to be of the number of thoſe, Qui us liberius peccent, libenter ignorant, who are wilfully ignorant, and like not to retain God in their knowledge. Rom. 1.28. or if they profeſſe to know him, yet in works they deny him, being abominable, diſobedient, and to every good work reprobate, Tit. 1.16. Wicked men cannot abide God, ſuch is their evil heart of unbelief, Heb 3.12. they get as far from him as they can, with Cain, and not only deſire him to depart out of their coaſts with thoſe ſwiniſh Gergefires, but churliſhly ſay unto him, as here, Avaunt, Room for us. They will neither have God in their heads, Pſal. 10.4. nor hearts, Pſal. 14.1. nor words, Pſal. 12.4. nor works, Tit. 1.16. See this exemplified in thoſe perverſe Jewes, lying children, children that would not hear the Law of the Lord; which ſaid to the Seers, ſee not, —Get ye out of the way, turn aſide out of the path; i.e. out of this tract of truth in dealing ſo plainly, and reproving us ſo roundly, Cauſe the Holy One of Iſrael to ceaſe before us, let us henceforth hear no more of him, Iſai. 30.10, 11. Now for ſuch miſcreants as theſe, who can ſay, it is otherwiſe then righteous, that God ſhould regeſt one day upon them, Depart from me, ye wicked? (He loves to retaliate.) And that they who now ſay unto him, We deſire not the knowledge of thy wayes, ſhould hear from him, I tell you, I know you not, Luke 13.27?