John Trapp on Job 24:13

Verſe 13. They are of thoſe that rebel againſt the light] Againſt the common light of the Sun, ſay ſome, which they are ready to curſe, (as the Atlantes, a people of Ethiopia, Her[illegible: 1 letter]dot. are ſaid to do) and could wiſh extinct, that they might ſin unſeen. Others more fitly underſtand it of the light of Nature and Scripture; againſt which wicked Atheiſts riſe up and rebel; as malecontents and mutineres do againſt lawful Authority. In the poor blind Ethnicks it is to be ſeen that ſome few Principles and Notions of good and evil, right and wrong, truth and falſhood, are yet to be found in corrupt Nature: like as when Cities and great Buildings are over-thrown by War, ſome Towers, ſome Pinacles ſurvive the violence. Now ſome deſperate ſinners againſt their own ſouls, take the boldneſs to tear out theſe Principles, that might any way diſturb their courſe in ſin; and to take an order with their natural conſciences, clapping up thoſe Prophets from God, cloſe Priſoners, Rom. 1 18. till at length all that little light is loſt, that ruſh-candle quite extinct. When wine is powred out of a cup, the ſides are yet moiſt. But when it is rinſed and wiped, then remaineth not the leaſt taſte. Even ſo that glimmering of divine Light left in the natural man is ſo defaced by obſtinacy in ſin, that not the leaſt ſpark thereof remaineth. Theſe Bars have flown ſo long againſt that light, that at length they have put it out. And whereas to thoſe that live under the Ordinances, there is another light riſen, viz. that of Gods Word and works, graceleſs wretches ſhut their windows, leſt this light ſhould come in upon them, as the Phariſees did: they hate it becauſe their deeds are evill, ſaith our Saviour: they ſpurn and ſcorn at it, ſaith Solomon, Pro. 1. they are willingly ignorant, Joh. 3.18. ſaith Peter; they wink wilfully, ſaith Juſtin Martyr; Ʋt liberiùs peccent, libenter ignorant, ſaith Bernard: they rebel againſt the light, as Balaam did when he ſet his face toward the wilderneſs, and would needs curſe howſoever. Or as Pharaoh, who ſat not down under the Miracle Moſes wrought, but ſent for the Magicians. How many are there at this day, who after conviction, get the Bit betwixt their teeth, like unruly Horſes, and run away?

They know not the ways thereof] A carnal heart is not willing to know what if ſhould do, leſt if ſhould do what it would not do. Of ſuch Bernard ſaith,Feſtucam quorum us occules cruans. that they ſeek ſtraws to put out their own eyes with. If they ſeek after Gods wayes, it is but as a coward ſeeketh after his enemy, with an hope he ſhall not finde him: So he is loth to find, and fears to know; therefore he ſearcheth no further, than wil ſerve his turn; and the little light he hath, he putteth not under a buſhel, but under a dunghil Woe be to theſe rebels, theſe Soli[illegible: 1 letter]uga, that refuſe, or abuſe Goſpel-light. Turks and Pagans ſhall have an eaſier judgment. It had been better for them not to have known the way of righteouſneſs, ſaith Peter, then after they have known it, &c. 2 Epiſt. 2.21. Gravis eſt lux conſcientiae, ſaith Seneca; but grav[illegible: 1 letter]or eſt lux Evangelii, ſay we: if this light be hated by any, it is meerly becauſe it ſtands in the light of their wicked wayes, as the Angel did in Balaams way to his ſin.

Nor abide in the paths thereof] They have no ſtability,Hoſ. 6.3. nor ſettledneſs in well-doing. They follow not on to know, but ſoon give over the purſuit and practiſe of holineſs; not caring to adde to Faith Vertue, and to Vertue Knowledge, &c. 2 Pet. 1.3.