John Trapp on Job 36:21

Verſe 21. Take heed, regard not iniquity] This eſpecially of blaming Gods judgements, as if they were unequal. No more of that, ſaith Elihu. Cave tibi, ne conjicias oculos ad vanitatem, Beware thou caſt not an eye towards ſuch a vanity or iniquity as that is. This was very good counſel; and it is very well obſerved, that this whole following Treatiſe to the end of the thirty ſeventh chapter, is as it were a gentle lenitive of that foregoing ſharp rebuke which otherwiſe was likely to drive Job beſide all patience.

For this thou haſt choſen rather then affliction] That is, this forementioned iniquity of ſpeaking raſhly and wickedly againſt Gods proceedings with thee; this thou haſt choſen rather then to bear thine affliction (or, thy poverty) patiently. Now this was an ill choice; for,Epiſt. 3. quas non oportet mortes praeligere, ſaith Zuinglius; What deaths ought not a man rather to make choice of, what torments not rather undergo, yea, into what deepeſt gulf of hell it ſelf not rather enter, then wittingly and willingly to ſin againſt God? The ancient Martyrs would not be delivered upon baſe termes, Heb 11.35.Tertul. Daniel choſe rather to be thrown to the Lions, then to violate his conſcience, and ſo to have a Lion roaring in his own boſome. The Primitive Chriſtians cryed out, Ad Leonem magis quam Lenonem. I had rather enter into hell, being clear from ſin and innocent, quam peccati ſorde pollutus, coelorum regna tenere, then go to heaven, if I might, beſmeared with the filth of ſin, faith Anſelm. I had rather leap into a Bonfire and be burnt, ſaid another of the Ancients, then commit any ſin againſt God.Pint[illegible: 1 letter] ir. Daniel. Some write, that there is a certain little beaſt, called the Mouſe of Armenia, which will rather dye then be defiled with any filth: inſomuch that if her hole be beſmeared with dirt, ſhe will rather chuſe to be taken then polluted. Such ought the ſervants of God to be.