In thoughts from the visions of the night, when deep sleep falleth on men,
Ver. 13. In thoughts from the visions of the night, &c.] Or, in thoughts of the visions of the night. It appeareth by this and other circumstances that this vision was no fiction or holy fraud (as some have conceited) to bring Job to a sight of his sin. Let Papists praise their St Dominic for his holy hypocrisy which he taught his disciples to make use of, to bring people the better to a good esteem of the faith and love of virtue. Eliphaz was a better man than to deal in such depths of the devil, and with such deliberate gravity put a lie upon God. He was really plodding, he was in thoughts, the word properly signifieth branches, or boughs of trees, which are many, thick, intertwined, and crossing one another, In the multitude of my perplexed thoughts within me, saith David, thy comforts have refreshed my soul, Psalms 94:19. The same word is rendered vain thoughts, or wavering cogitations, Psalms 119:113, such as David's soul hated. Carnal hearts are exchanges and shops of vain thoughts, stews of unclean thoughts, slaughter houses of cruel and bloody thoughts; a very forge and mint of false, politic, undermining thoughts: but Eliphaz's thoughts were better busied; his top thoughts, those uppermost branches of his soul, were concerning God, and the things of his kingdom: when other men became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened, he had visions of God. In the night season, when dead sleep fell upon others, he slept, but his heart waked, and was free to receive revelations, and to contemplate them; or, perhaps, he was wide awake at that time of night, that he might the better converse with God and his own soul. Abraham had many such sweet visions: Isaac walked out into the fields for the purpose: Jacob met with God in this manner, both at Bethel and at Penuel. Daniel had visions both in the day and in the night: so had Paul, and other apostles. The monks make long relations of revelations and apparitions that they have had. So do the enthusiasts and high attainers; but we are not bound to believe them. Matthew Paris reporteth of Gilbert Foliot, bishop of London, A. D. 1161, that one night musing about the difference between the king and Becket, archbishop of Canterbury, he heard a terrible voice, saying, O Gilberte Foliot, dum revolvis tot et tot, Deus tuus est Ascarot. O Gibert Filiot, then you turn back to much and so much. Your God is Iscariot. He, taking it to be the devil, answered boldly, Mentiris, daemon: Deus meus est Deus Sabaoth. Lying devil my God is the God of Hosts. Aeneas, in Virgil, is said to have his visions and conferences with his deceased friends. Satan loves to imitate God in what he can, that he may deceive with better success; but we have a most sure word of prophecy, and yet a more glorious light of the gospel, Hebrews 1:2, the promised daystar being risen in our hearts, 2 Peter 1:19 .