John Trapp on Job 24:14

Verſe 14. The murderer riſing with the light] Betimes, whiles it is yet darkiſh: for here Job ſheweth how thoſe that do evil hate the light, and take the fitteſt opportunities for a diſpatch of the deeds of darkneſs, daily digging deſcents down to Hell, and haſtening thereto, as if they feared it would be full before they come thither. They ſpend therefore the whole day in wicked pranks and practiſes, proùt videtur commodum, as ſhall ſeem beſt for their purpoſes, interdin latrones, nocte fures agunt. By day they do what miſchief they may in woods and deſarts: at night they return into the City, and there play the theeves, hoping to do it un-obſerved.Bernard. Thus every ſuch one may better ſay then that Ancient did, Totum tempus perdidi, quia perdite vixi, I have loſt all my time, by ſpending it looſely and baſely: I have been too faithful a drudge to the Devil, whom Chriſt calleth a murth[illegible: 1 letter]rer; Joh. 8. and Tertullian calleth Furem Veritatis, a thief of the Truth. Two notable Theeves of Naples, Rain. de Idol. Rom. prafat. (whereof one was called Pater-noſter, and the other Ave-Maria) had murthered an hundred and ſixteen ſeveral perſons, at ſeveral times and in divers places. Theſe were worthily put to a cruel death by the Magiſtrate: who poſſibly might by his connivence and ſlackneſs in doing his office, be himſelf guilty of ſome of thoſe murders: ſith, to reſtrain juſtice, is to ſupport ſin: and not to correct, is to conſent to the Crime. Hemingius maketh mention of a Felon, who was indicted of ſeven murders: while the Judge was ſtudying what grievous puniſhment ſhould be inflicted upon ſuch a bloody villain, an Advocate ſteps to the Bar, and pleading for him, proved, That the Judge was guilty of ſix of the murders: for th[illegible: 2 letters] the Felon was not put to death for the firſt offence.

Killeth the poor and needy] Without Authority, (ſuch as Magiſtrates have to kill Malefactors, and Souldiers in a lawful Battel to kill their Enemies: Sum Talbotti pro occidere inimic[illegible: 1 letter]s meos; Speed. this blunt boiſterous ſentence was written upon the renowned L. Talbots Sword, whileſt he warred in France) and without any preſent neceſſity for his own lawful defence, as Exod. 2.22. when he muſt either kill or be killed: provided that he endeavour firſt to ſave himſelf by flight if poſſibly he can: For that Tenet of Soto, a Popiſh Caſuiſt, is the moſt falſe,Quia fugs eſt ignominioſa. That it is lawful for a man in his own defence to kill another, becauſe it is a ſhame to flie. And that alſo of Navarrus, that for a box on the ear, it is not unlawful to kill another,Ad bonor em recuper [illegible: 1 word]. for the recovering of his honour.

And in the night is as a thief] That is, very thief: for this as, is magis expre[illegible: 2 letters] [illegible: 1 word] veritatis, as Mercer ſpeaketh, he would not ſeem to be, but yet is an arrant thief, ending the day with theft, which he began with murder. How theſe two ſins go commonly coupled, ſee Hoſ. 4.2 and Iſai. 13.16.