Job 4:14

Fear came upon me and trembling, which made all my bones to shake. But when the mind is lifted on high, in proportion as it sees things higher above itself, the more terribly it trembles in itself. And hence it is fitly added, Fear came upon me and trembling, which made all my bones to shake. What is denoted by 'bones' but strong deeds? Of which also it is said by the Prophet, He keepeth all their bones. And it often happens that the things which men do, they reckon to be of some account, because they know not, how keen is the discernment of His inward sifting; but when, transported on the wings of contemplation, they behold things above, in some sort they melt away from the security they felt in their presumption, and quake in sight of God the more, in proportion as they do not even reckon their excellences fit for the searching eye of Him, Whom they behold. For it is hence that he, who had gained ground in doing strong deeds, being lifted up by the Spirit, exclaimed, All my bones shall say, Lord, who is like unto Thee? As though he said, 'My flesh is without words, in that my infirmities are wholly silent before Thee, but my bones sing the praises of Thy greatness. In that the very things, which I thought to be strong in me, tremble at the view of Thee.' It is hence that Manoah shrinking at the vision of the Angel, says, We shall surely die, for we have seen The Lord. Whom his wife immediately comforts, with these words, If the Lord were pleased to kill us, He would not have received a burnt-offering, and a meat-offering at our hand. But how is it that the man becomes fearful at the vision of the Angel, and the woman bold; but that as often as heavenly things are shewn us, the spirit indeed is shaken with affright, yet hope has confidence? […]

Second, he speaks of the disposition of the recipient, and so he adds, "Fear seized me." For men usually are struck with fear at the unusual, and so when someone has strange revelations, he suffers fear in the beginning. To show the greatness of this …

ON HOW HERETICS MISUSE THIS VERSE. Fear came upon me and trembling, which made all my bones to shake. For because they desire to appear objects of wonder for the loftiness of their instructions, they affect to be awed at the accounts which they make up. And whilst it is a less difficulty to hear than to speak, they are bold enough to put forth that, which, forsooth, they feign that they the very same persons were scarcely able to hear.

4 Thy words have upholden him that was falling, and thou hast strengthened the feeble knees. 5 But now it is come upon thee, and thou faintest; it toucheth thee, and thou art troubled. 6 Is not this thy fear, thy confidence, thy hope, and the uprightness of thy ways?

quarantine:scripture (2026-07-29) — verbatim-scripture

Whom God intends to honour he first humbles and lays low, and will have us all to serve him with holy fear, and to rejoice with trembling. The messenger by whom it was sent-- a spirit, one of the good angels, who are employed not only as the ministers of God's providence, but sometimes as the ministers of his word. Concerning this apparition which Eliphaz saw we are here told (

quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens