John Trapp on Job 23:6-7

Verſe 6 Will he plead againſt me with his great power?] No, for then you were in a wo-caſe. For if Gods breath blow us to deſtruction, as ſo many duſt heaps, Job 4.9. if he frowne us to death, and nod us to deſtruction, Pſal. 80.16. What ſhall we think of his Almighty power, which none can abide or avoid? Difficile eſt contra en[illegible: 2 letters] ſcribere qui poteſt proſcribere: It is dangerous dealing with him, who hath at his command thirty legions, ſaid the philoſopher to the Emperour, who would needs crack an Argument with him. And ſhould Job dare to do it with the Lord of hoſtes as if ſtronger then he? The thunder of his power, who can bear? The ſtouteſt men quake before him; and as the wormes when it thundreth, wriggle into the corners of the earth, ready to run, as Caligula did, under any bed, or any benchhole.

No. Merlin. but he would put ſtrength in me] Sic enim ex fidei [non-Latin text not transcribed]. perſuaſus, ſaith an Interpreter. Thus was Job perſwaded out of the full aſſurance of his faith, that God would deal with him as a loving Father, and not as a ſevere Judge: for who can ſtand before his wrath, or withſtand his will? No man ſurely can contend with God, unleſſe he put ſtrength in him, as he did into Jacob, Gen. 32. whom he upheld with the one hand, as he ſtrove againſt him with the other. This foregoing with therefore of Job, hath an excellent commendation in it of his faith and integrity, yet ſo as that in ſome things it is blameworthy. For who can come to Gods Seat, ſith he dwelleth in light unapproachable? neither can any one ſee God and live, Exod. 3.4. For this boldneſſe therefore of his he ſhall be hereafter ſharply reproved; firſt by Eli[illegible: 1 letter]u, and then alſo by God himſelf, ſtepping forth as it were from behind the hangings, overhearing him, and ſaving, Who is this that talks thus? how now? chap. 38.2, 3.

Veſe 7. There the righteous might diſpute with him] There for Th[illegible: 2 letters]; ſcil. when God ſhall put ſtrength into him: the upright or honeſt man (who draweth neer with a true heart, in full aſſurance of faith, having his heart ſprinkled from an evil conſcience by the blood of Jeſus Chriſt, Heb. 10.22.) might diſpute with God, but not unleſſe he have that Advocate with the Father, Jeſus Chriſt the Juſt One, to appear in the preſence of God for him, Heb. 9.24. as the Lawyer appeareth for his Client to put by and non-ſuit all accuſations, to plead his cauſe, and to juſtifie him by the only merit of his righteouſneſſe and obedience. All Saint Pauls care was to be found in Chriſt, when fought for by the Juſtice of God; not having his own righteouſneſſe which is of the Law, but that which is through the faith of Chriſt, Phil. 3.9. for ſordet in conſpectu judicis, quod fulget in conſpectu operantis, Aug that which is highly eſteemed amongſt men, is abomination in the ſight of God, Luke 16.15 They only may diſpute with God, that is, in an humble and laudable manner plead with him, as did Jacob. Gen. 32.24. and Jeremy, chap. 12[illegible: 2 letters]. who partake of Chriſts righteouſneſſe imputed and imparted; oppoſing to the appearances of Gods wrath the firme perſwaſion of his grace, by the Seal of his Spirit, Et[illegible: 1 letter] quam h[illegible: 2 letters] non eſt [illegible: 1 letter]mnium! This is few mens happineſſe.

So ſhould I be delivered for ever from my Judge] Who would quit me by Proclamation: and then I ſhould the leſs care to be condemned by you my fellow-priſoners. I care not for mans day fith he that judgeth me is the Lord, 1 Cor. 4.3, 4. Where note, what boldneſs and confidence the upright have in God; neither ſhall they be herein deceived, as Job was not.