John Trapp on Job 7:16

Verſe 16. I loath it, I would not live alway] I loath or abhor it, that is, my life, or I loath them, that is, my bones, verſe 15. I would not live alway, that is,Aug. de civitato Dei, l. 9. c. 10. long in this world, and in this condition. Plotinus the Philoſopher held it a ſpecial mercy of God to men, that they were mortal; and did not alwaies live to labour under the miſeries of this wretched life. Ca[illegible: 1 letter]o profeſſed, that if he might have his age renewed as the Eagles, ſo that he might be made young again, he would ſeriouſly refuſe it.Cic. Cato Major How much better might Job ſay thus, ſith the righteous hath hope in his death; and might well take up that of the Poet.

Ʋſque adeóne mori miſerum eſt?

The dayes of the beſt are ſo full of evil both of ſin and pain, that it is good they are not fuller of dayes; if they ſhould have length of life added to heaps of ſorrows, and perpetuity with all their miſery; how miſerable were they! Chriſt promiſeth it as a point of favour to his, that the dayes of trouble ſhould be ſhortned, Matth. 24.22. and that he may put an end to the world, he diſpatcheth away the generations with all the convenient ſpeed that may be.

Therefore let me alone] Some read thus, I cannot live for ever, or very long,Quod citò ceſſat & deficit. Mercer in Pagnin. therefore let me alone,] that is, give over afflicting me, and let me go quietly to my grave, Pſalm 39.13. Here one well obſerveth, that the world and time, while they continue, are alwaies ceaſing; and therefore have their denomination from this word which ſignifieth to ceaſe.

For my dayes are vanity] Hebel, a puffe of wind, or a bubble on the water. Mans body is a bubble, his ſoul the wind that filleth it. The bubble riſeth higher and higher, till at laſt it breaketh: ſo doth the body riſe from infancy to youth, from youth to age &c. till at length it cracketh and diſſolveth. The life of man is a vain life. This Job often beats upon, and why, ſee the Note on ver. 7.