An exposition with practical observations continued upon the fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh chapters…

Here is one circumstance more in the Text about this vision very ¹remarkable; it was not only in the night, but in the night when deep sleep falleth on men, or on sorrowful man, man wearied with labour and travel. This is a more distinct description of the time than the former. It was in the night, and in that part of the night, when deep sleep falleth on men; that is, in the former part or beginning of the night for the first sleep is the deep sleep; and we use to say that a man, especially a weary hard-wrought man, is in a dead sleep, when he is in his first sleep. The word signifies an extraordinary sleep. It is used (Gen. 2. 21.) where it is said, that God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, when he took ⟨p. 88⟩out his rib and formed the woman. The Seventy translate it, ecstasy. ²Some compare it to a Lethargy; a man in a Lethargy can hardly be awakened. Such a sleep as Saul was in, 1 Sam. 26. 12 when David came into the trench, and took away the Spear and the Cruse of water from his bolster. Such an one as Jonah was in, while the ship was almost sunk with the tempest, Jonah 1. 5. In both places we have this original word. At the time when such sleep falls on wearied man, Eliphaz had this vision. And be speaks very ³elegantly, that this deep sleep falleth on men; because such sleep seems to oppress the spirits, as a heavy weight the body; it falls as heavy as Lead upon all a mans senses, and overcomes them: we say ordinarily, a man falls asleep, and it is as true of sleep, that it falls upon a man, and falls with such a weight, that man is not able to stand under it. We say also, a men is heavy to sleep, for sleep like a heavy thing, comes down upon him, and then down comes he. Heathen Poets tell us, that at this time they had visions, or delusions rather. Satan imitates God in what he can, that he may deceive with better success.