John Trapp on Job 6:14

Verſe 14. To him that is afflicted] Heb. melted, viz. in the furnace of affliction, which melteth mens hearts, and maketh them malleable, as fire doth the hardeſt metals, Pſal. 22.15. Joſh. 7.5.

Pity ſhould le ſhewed from his friend] By a ſweet tender melting frame of ſpirit, ſuch as was that of the Church, Pſal. 102.13. and that of Paul, 2 Cor. 11.29. Who is weak[illegible: 1 letter] and I am not weak, ſc. by way of ſympathy? who is offended, and I burne not? when others are hurt, I feele twinges; as the tongue complaineth for the hurt of the toe, and as the heart condoleth with the heele, and there is a fellow-feeling amongſt all the members: ſo there is likewiſe i[illegible: 1 letter] the myſticall body.

From his friend] who is made for the day of adverſity, Prov. 17.17. and ſhould ſhew [illegible: 1 letter]ove at all times, [non-Latin text not transcribed]. Et cum fortuna ſtatque cadis que fides. and eſpecially in evil times: but poor Job bewaileth the want of ſuch faithfull friends. David alſo complaineth to God (his onely faſt friend) of thoſe that would be the cauſes, but not the companions of his calamity, that would fawn upon him in his flouriſh, but forſake him in his miſery, My lovers and friends ſtand aloof &c. they looked on him, and ſo paſſed by him as the Prieſt and the Levite did the wounded paſſenger, Luke 10.32. But God takes it ill that any ſhould once look upon his afflicted, unleſſe it be to pity and relieve them, Obad. 12.13. and hath threatned an evil, an only evil, without the leaſt mixture of mercy, to ſuch as ſhew no mercy to thoſe in miſery, Jam. 2.13.

But he hath forſaken the fear of the Almighty] Which whereſoever it is in the power of it, frameth a man to all the duties both of piety and charity. O[illegible: 1 letter]adiah feared God greatly, and it well appeared by his pity to the perſecuted Prophets. Cornelius feared God, and (as a fruit of it) gave much almes. Acts 10.2. Not ſo Nabal, that ſapleſſe fellow, whoſe heart was hardened from Gods holy fear: nor Judas the traitor, who had no bowels of compaſſion toward his innocent maſter; and therefore he burſt in the midſt w[illegible: 2 letters]h an huge crack, and all his bowels guſht out, by a ſingular judgment, [non-Latin text not transcribed] Acts 1.18. There are many other readings of this text, as that of the [illegible: 1 letter]igurine tranſlation, It were fit for friends to ſhew kindneſſe to their friend that is in miſery: but the feare of the Almighty hath forſaken me, as you pleaſe to ſay. See what Eliphaz had ſaid to this purpoſe, chap. 4.6. with the Note. Others read it thus, to him that is afflicte[illegible: 1 letter] ſhould reproach be given, that he hath forſaken the feare of the Almighty? q.d. Muſt a man therefore be reviled as irreligious, becauſe he is calamitous? The vulgar tranſlation runnes thus, He that taketh away pity from his friend, hath forſaken the fear of the Almighty &c.