John Trapp on Job 33:23

Verſe 23. If there be a meſſenger with him] An Angel ſay ſome: but one man may be an Angel to another, as Bradford was to Dr. Taylor Martyr, who uſually called him. That Angel of God John Bradford. If ſome Prophet or Teacher ſent of God (See Judg. 2.1. Mal. 3.1. Rev. 1.20) to the ſick man, who ſeeth his face as the face of an Angel, and receiveth him as an Angel, yea as Chriſt himſelf, Gal. 4. in whoſe ſtead he is, 2 Cor. 5.20. bringing the Embaſſage of reconciliation, ibid. then which what can be more acceptable?

An Interpreter] ſcil Of Gods holy Will, who may aſſure the ſick party that it is God who viſiteth him in very faithfulneſſe, that he may be true to his ſoul; that he doth it in mercy and in meaſure, not to ruine him, but to reduce him by repentance from dead works, and by faith in Chriſt Jeſus, &c. who may alſo ſet him in a courſe, and pray for him, as James 5.16. Dr. Ʋſher tells us, that even in the times of Popery, amongſt our forefathers, the ordinary inſtruction appointed to be given to men upon their death-beds was, that they ſhould look to come to glory, not by their own merits, but by the vertue and merit of the Paſſion of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt; that they ſhould place their whole confidence in his death only, and in no other thing: and that they ſhould interpoſe his death betwixt God and their ſinnes, betwixt them and Gods anger.Serm. on Eph. 4.13. This was right, and conſidering the times, admirable. This was better then that blaſphemous direction they give elſewhere to dying men to ſay, Conjunge D[illegible: 1 letter]mine, &c Conjoyn, O Lord, mine obedience to all thoſe things which Chriſt ſuffered for me, &c.

One among a thouſand] Ʋnus è millibus, not Ʋnus è ſimilibus; as the Vulgar Latine hath it by a groſs miſtake, ſuch as that Tranſlation hath many. One among a thouſand, he is ſaid to be, for the ſcarcity of ſuch as can time a word, comfort the afflicted conſcience, and ſpeak to the heart of a poor diſtreſſed Creature, who laboureth under the ſenſe of ſin, and fear of wrath. O quam hoc non eſt omnium; This very few can skill of. Luther, who was excellent at it himſelf, telleth us, That it is a work every whit as hard, as to raiſe the dead to life again. Go ye rather to them that ſell (ſaid the wiſe to the fooliſh Virgins) and thoſe are rare; ſcil▪ ſuch faithful and wiſe diſtributers of Gods grace,Iſaiah 50.4 as having the tongue of the Learned, and being inſtructed for that purpoſe to the Kingdome of heaven, can comfort the feeble minded, ſhore up and ſupport the weak, &c. ſuch a choice man is worth his weight in gold; and O how beautiful are his feet, Angelicall his face!

To declare [illegible: 1 letter]n o man his uprightneſſe] Or, His Righteouſneſſe, that is, Either the righteouſneſſe of Chriſt who is his peace; or His, that is, the righteouſneſſe of his own experience, how he hath been raiſed and received to mercy. Or, His, to clear up to him his ſpiritual eſtate, and ſhew his evangelical righteouſneſs, conſiſting more in purpoſe then in practice; in confeſſion of our imperfection, then in any perfection we can attain unto. It is not ſo much our inherent righteouſneſſe, in regard of the worth, dignity and excellency of it, much leſſe purity and perfection in it, but as it is a fruit of Gods love and token of his favour, a ſigne of our Adoption and Juſtification, and a pledge of our glorification, that yeeldeth comfort. And this it will do, when skilfully made out to a poor ſoul by a godly Miniſter, and ſet on by the hand of that holy Spirit, whereby the Saints are ſealed to the day of Redemption, Eph. 4.30. and 1.13.