John Trapp on Job 33:24

Verſe 24. Then is he gracious unto him, and ſaith] If the ſick man, thus counſelled and comforted, repent and believe the Goſpel, delivering himſelf up to God, and to that his Meſſenger by the will of God, Mercy and Truth ſhall be with him, he ſhall be cured on both ſides, as that Palſie man was, Matth. 9.2. the Lord ſhall raiſe him up, if it may ſtand with his eternal welfare. But howſoever, if he have committed ſinnes, it ſhall be forgiven him, James 5.15. Both the guilt and filth of them ſhall be taken away, ſo that he ſhall be able to look death in the face with everlaſting comfort, as being made to him [illegible: 1 letter]anua vitae, porta coeli; a poſtern to let out temporal, but a ſtreet door to let in eternal life.

Deliver him from going down to the pit] Tel him from me, that he ſhall not dye, but live, and declare the works of the Lord, as Pſal. 118.17. Nay, ſay to this righteous man, tell him ſo from me, that it ſhall be well with him, and very well, Iſai. 3.10. Redeem him from going down to the infernal pit: that is, declare that Redemption to him wrought for him by Chriſt, and apply it to his conſcience, powre the oyle of grace into his broken veſſel, and aſſure him in mine name, and by mine Authority, that I am his ſalvation. Whoſe ſinnes ſoever ye, my faithful Miniſters remit, they are remitted unto them; and whatſoever ye looſe on earth, ſhall be looſed in heaven, Matth. 18.[illegible: 1 letter]8 Joh. 20.23. But all this miniſterially and declaratively, not abſolutely and out of a full liberty and power, as Popiſh Prieſts arrogate.Mr. Ley his Pattern of Piety. 145. I have known one (ſaith a very grave Divine) who neither by education or affection was diſpoſed to Popery, who having the ill hap (when his conſcience was perplext) to fall into the hands of a Popiſh Prieſt, upon this reaſon, (becauſe (as the Prieſt ſuggeſted) that Religion afforded more comfort, becauſe it had, and exerciſed, a power to pardon ſin, which our Miniſters neither did, or durſt aſſume unto themſelves) he became a Papiſt. But it is honour enough to Miniſters (and may be comfort enough to their hearers,) that God gives them commiſſion to deliver a penitent man from hell; not as the Meanes (for that is Chriſt alone) but as Inſtruments, 1. To apply Chriſt crucified, or rather riſen again unto him. 2. To pronounce his ſafety and ſalvation upon the due uſe of that means. And this is the greateſt honour that ever was done to any mere creature. Angels never had ſuch a Commiſſion. They indeed are Miniſters for the good of thoſe that ſhall be heirs of ſalvation, Heb. 1.14. But Miniſters are called Saviours, Obad. 21. 1 Tim. 4.16. Jam. 3.20.

I have found a ranſom] Or, An attonement; a cover for his ſin; as a thing is covered with plaiſter; or as under the Law, the Ark covered the Decalogue, the Mercy Seat upon it, and over them two Cherubims covering one another; all which ſhewed Chriſt covering the Curſes of the Law, and expiating the ſins of his people, which things the Angels deſire to pry into, as into the patterns of Gods deep wiſdom, who hath found out ſuch a ranſom, which he now profeſſeth to accept for this penitent man, 1 Tim. 2.6. Pſal. 32.1.