John Trapp on Job 42:8

Verſe 8. Therefore take unto you now ſeven bullocks] God reproveth not his for any other end, but that he may reduce them, and be reconciled unto them. The Sun of righteouſneſs loveth not to ſet in a cloud.

Dejicit ut relevet: premit ut ſolatia praeſtet. Enecat, ut poſſit vivificare Deus.

Seven Bullocks, and ſeven Rams] A great Sacrifice, whether we look to the greatneſſe of the Cattle, or the number; (eſpecially if each of them were to bring ſeven of each ſort as ſome underſtand it) to ſhew the greatneſſe of their ſin, in not ſpeaking right things of God and Job, though of a good intention, and with a very faire pretence. Seven of each they were to bring, which is noted for a number of perfection; and this pointed them of old (for the Ceremonial Law was their Goſpel) to the complete perfect Sacrifice of Jeſus Chriſt, the Lamb ſlain from the beginning of the world, every way ſufficient to expiate their ſinnes, and to ſave them from the wrath to come. Its aſſured them alſo, that God was through Chriſt perfectly ſatisfied, and pacified toward his faithful people.

And go to my ſervant Job] Who was to do the honourable Office of a Prieſt for them (as before the Law Abraham did, and Melchiſedech and others) and is thrice in this verſe called, Gods ſervant, for honours ſake; to the end that his friends might the more reſpect him; whom before they had vilipended, and be reconciled unto him, whom before they had wronged.

And offer up for your ſelves a burnt offering] Holocauſtabit is holocauſtum; a whole burnt Offering: Where we muſt not imagine, that God took delight in the ſmell or rather ſtench of the burnt beaſts hides and all, but in the faith of thoſe that offered them, who alſo were hereby inminded of their ſins (for which they had deſerved to be burnt in hell) and of their duties, to mortifie their earthly members and to preſent their bodies a living Sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, Rom. 12.1.

And my ſervant Job ſhall pray for you] Which as he could do very well, Ezek. 14.14. ſo he ſhould now do, to ſhew his hearty reconciliation; but ſhould have little availed for them, had not they repented, and believed, and prayed for themſelves. For the Juſt ſhall live by his faith; and it is a great vanity in ſome great Papiſts, who preſume to live looſely and baſely, becauſe they have hired ſome hedg-Prieſt to ſay a certain number of prayers for them daily.

For him will I accept] ſcil. Through the Office and perſon of my Son, which herein he reſembleth. The High-Prieſts Office was, 1. To expiate the ſins of the people. 2. To intercede and make requeſt for them. Chriſt is the High-Prieſt of the New-Teſtament; in whom the Father is well pleaſed, and through whom he will deny nothing to his humble Suppliants, for themſelves or others.

Leſt I deal with you after your folly] Heb. Leſt I work fooliſhneſſe with you; that is, (ſaith Beza) leſt I ſo behave my ſelf toward you, as your fooliſhneſs doth deſerve. Or, leſt I ſo handle you, that you may think me no wiſer then I ſhould be ſith you have ſeemed ſo to rough-hew Job out of zeal to me. Thus to the froward God ſeemeth to deal frowardly, Pſal. 18.27. Tremellius rendreth it not folly but hainous offence; others, diſgrace. Mercer.

In that ye have not ſpoken, &c.] And if for hard words and ill language, good men may ſuffer,Flagitium, ignominia. what ſhall become of ſuch, as both with virulent tongues, and violent hands, ſet againſt ſuch as fear God?