John Trapp on Job 33:1-2

CHAP. XXXIII. Verſe 1. Wherefore Job, I pray thee, hear my ſpeeches.

PLain Job, for flattering Titles Elihu would give one, chap. 32.22. only in prefacing to his Diſcourſes he is very large, witneſſe the whole former chapter, which may well ſtand for a common exordium to all the five following; and the ſeven firſt verſes of this; wherein he both calleth upon Job for audience, and uſeth Arguments for that purpoſe. An Orator he ſheweth himſelf all along: for in his Introduction, he hath [non-Latin text not transcribed], milder affections, which ſuit beſt to inſinuate; and toward the concluſion he hath [non-Latin text not transcribed], pathetical expreſſions, that may leave an impreſſion in his Hearers.

And hearken to all my words] And not to ſome of them only, picking and chuſing what pleaſeth you, and turning a deaf eare to the reſt, as he in Tacitus did, who ſaid, Tulingua, ego aureum dominus; You may ſay what you pleaſe, but I will hear no more then I like, and lift. This is an evil ear, and muſt be healed (as the Orator told his Country-men) ere any good can be done. The good ſoul lyeth low at Gods feet and ſaith, Speak Lord, for thy ſervant heareth. All that the Lord our God ſhall ſpeak unto us, that will we hear and do, Deut. 5.27. Now therefore we are all here preſent before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God, Act. 10.33. It is ſign of an honeſt heart to take the Precepts; together with the Promiſes, and to tremble at the threatnings, as well as to reach after the comforts of Gods holy Word, which laſt every hypocrite will be catching at, as children do at Sweet-meats, paſſing by the better proviſion.

Verſe [illegible: 1 word]. Behold now, I have opened my mouth] I have taken upon me to be a Speaker, an Arbitratour in this Controverſie, which is uſually a thankleſſe Office; for he who interpoſeth in buſineſſes of this nature, if he had two friends before, is likely enough to loſe one of them. I muſt of neceſſity blame both parties, however I come off with them. Thy three friends have had their ſhare in the former Chapter, and now comes thine which ſhall be found though ſharp, of matters weighty and important, as Pſal. 78.2. Habebis ſermonem ſerium, & de re gravi: for ſo much the Hebrewes intend by this expreſſion of opening the mouth. In the Revelation, whereever we read that heaven opened, ſome great matter followed: ſo when ſuch open their mouthes as have the Law of God in their hearts, Pſalm [non-Latin text not transcribed], à Lucian[illegible: 1 letter] & Ariſtophane dicun[illegible: 1 letter]ur. 37.32. Prov. 31.26. Fools indeed have their mouthes ever open, bluſtring out whatſoever lies uppermoſt, raſhly and without conſideration. But a wiſe man weigheth his words before he uttereth them; and ſpeaketh not, but for ſome good purpoſe.

My tongue hath ſpoken in my mouth] Heb. In my palat, or under my palat, which are two chief of thoſe mine I[illegible: 1 letter]ſtruments of ſpeech, none of which can well be wanting Let God be glorified for, and with that peculiar facultie; and let our praiſes proceed, not from the palate only, or roof of the mouth, but from the root of the heart. The voice which is made in the mouth is nothing ſo ſweet, as that which cometh from the bottom of the breſt. One Interpreter ſaith, That by theſe words, My tongue hath ſpoken in my mouth, Elihu meaneth, that he would not ſpeak clamorouſly, but as it were, whiſperingly, to his eare, in ſecret.