John Trapp on Job 23:11

Verſe 11. My foot hath held his ſteps.] I have followed God ſtep by ſtep, walking as I had him for an example, and preſſing his footſteps. This Job ſpeaketh of himſelf, not as vaunting, but as vindicating and defending his own innocenty; and as giving Eliphaz to know, that he had already done, and ſtill continued to do as he had in the former Chapter exhorted him, verſe 21, 22. Acquaint now thy ſelf with God, &c. That's not now to do, ſaith Job; for my foot hath held his ſteps. Be at peace: I am ſo, ſaith he, for his way have I kept and not declined. Now, can two walk together, and they not be agreed? Receive, I pray thee, the Law from his mouth. What elſe have I done, faith Job, when as I have not gone back from the commandment of his lips? Lay up his words in thine heart; this I have done ex inſtituto, ſaith he; vel pre demenſo, more than my neceſſary food, have I eſteemed the words of his mouth. So exact a pattern of the rule was Job; ſo conſonant to Eliphaz his good counſel. Plain things will joyn in every point one with another; not ſo, round and rugged things: ſo do plain ſpirits cloſe with holy counſels; not ſo, ſuch as are proud and unmortified. Let theſe be touched never ſo gently, nettle-like they will ſting you. Deal with them roughly and roundly, they ſwagger, as that Hebrew did with Meſes, ſaying, Who made thee a man of Authority, &c? Exod. 2.14. Good Job was of another ſpirit with God, (as it is ſaid of Caleb, Numb. 14.24.) and followed him fully; ornavit doctrinam coeleſtem piis [illegible: 1 letter]fficiis, heavenly doctrine was as the mould, and he as the metal which takes impreſſion from it in one part, as well as another. His conſtant endeavour was to expreſs God to the world, and to preach forth his vertues or praiſes by a ſutable practiſe, 1 Pet. 2.9. Greſſum ejus retinuit pes mens.

His way have I kept, and not declined.] ſc. In exceſs or defect, and therefore I am no ſuch flagitious perſon, as thou, Eliphaz, wouldſt make of me.