John Trapp on Job 29:23

Verſe 23. And they waited for me as for the rain] Which in thoſe hot Countries was highly prized, and dearly longed for.

And they opened their mouth wide] Stupebant, me loquente, & ere blabant; They gaped, as if they would have eaten my words: they liſtened as for life.

As for the latter rain] A rain which came very ſeldom in that Countrey, ſaith Diodate; but was much deſired for the refreſhing and nouriſhing of the corn and other fruits and benefits of the earth, Prov. 26.1. Zach. 10.1. Merlin collecteth from this text, that Job came not into the publick Aſſemblies there to ſpeak, and g[illegible: 1 letter]ve counſel, but upon deliberate premeditation. Demoſthenes would not be drawn to ſpeak extempore to an Audience. Ariſtides being by the Emperour put upon ſuch a task, anſwered, Propound to day, and I will anſwer to morrow: [non-Latin text not transcribed] S[illegible: 1 letter]e his life by Mr Clark. for I am not of thoſe that ſpet or vomit out my conceptions; but of thoſe that weigh things before I utter them, and poliſh before I publiſh them. Mr. Bradſhaw was called the Weighing Divine: and Melancthon took time to Anſwer Eckius his cavils; though by him, and his Popiſh-party, he was jeared for ſo doing. It muſt be an elaborate ſpeech that ſhall perſwade or prevaile much. Among the Roman, the Prince was not to be treated with, otherwiſe than by writing. Caeſar brought in this cuſtome, that he might have time to conſider of that which was demanded, and what Anſwer to return. Auguſtus ſermones libello habuit; nè plus minuſve lequeretur; Auguſtus had his ſpeeches ſet down in a book,Suetòn. leſt he ſhould ſay more or leſs than that he thought of.