Again, Not to suffer a man to take his breath, before he hath done such a thing, is a* Proverb, for speedy doing. Like that used by some of the Ancients, to do a thing with one spit, that is, in as little time as a man may spit. When theb Italians would express acting without delay, they say, Go about this business, and do not fetch a breath till you are here again, go and come with a breath. That direction given by Elisha to his servant Gehezi, when he sent him to restore the Shunammite's son (2 King. 4.29.) Take my staff in thine hand, and go thy way, if thou meet any man, salute him not, and if any salute thee, answer him not again, &c. And that of Christ to his Disciples, when he gave them their Commission to preach the Gospel (Luk. 10.4.) Salute no man by the way, are of the same intendment. Christ did not mean that his Disciples should be uncivil (nor Elisha his) he did not forbid them to use common courtesies to men, when they went to call men to special grace. No, but his meaning is, Go speedily about the work, do not stand complementing and talking with, How do you, and how do you? by the way: do not entertain the time, or trifle it away with Ceremonies, having an employment of such infinite concernment put into your hands. So he seems to allude to, and reprove that ill custom of idle servants, who when they are sent forth upon business, will yet stand and talk with every one they meet. Now, as not to suffer a man to talk a word while he is upon a service, imports sudden dispatch: So when Job saith, He will not suffer me to take my breath in these my sufferings, his meaning is, mine are no lazy, dull sufferings, I am forced to be active at them, I cannot stand breathing and cooling my self, I have no leisure, no vacation at all from this passive service; He will not suffer me to take my breath.
Again, Not to suffer a man to take his breath, before he hath done such a thing, is a* Proverb, for speedy doing. Like that used by some of the Ancients, to doe a thing with one spit, that is, in as little time as a man may spit. When theb Italians would expresse acting without delay, they say, Goe about this businesse, and doe not fetch a breath till you are here again, goe and come with a breath. That direction given by Elisha to his servant Gehezi, when he sent him to restore the Shunammites son (2 King. 4.29.) Take my staff in thine hand, and go thy way, if thou meet any man, salute him not, and if any salute thee, answer him not again, &c. And that of Christ to his Disciples, when he gave them their Commission to preach the Gospel (Luk. 10.4.) Salute no man by the way, are of the same intendment. Christ did not mean that his Disciples should be uncivil (nor Elisha his) he did not forbid them to use common courtesies to men, when they went to call men to speciall grace. No, but his meaning is, Go speedily about the work, doe not stand complementing and talking with, How doe you, and how doe you? by the way: doe not entertain the time, or trifle it away with Ceremonies, having an imploiment of such infinite concernment put into your hands. So he seems to allude to, and reprove that ill custome of idle servants, who when they are sent forth upon businesse, will yet stand and talk with every one they meet. Now, as not to suffer a man to talk a word while he is upon a service, imports sudden dispatch: So when Iob saith, He will not suffer me to take my breath in these my sufferings, his meaning is, mine are no lazy, dull sufferings, I am forced to be active at them, I cannot stand breathing and cooling my self, I have no leisure, no vacation at all from this passive service; He will not suffer me to take my breath.
- *Fortosse proverb••n erat, ad significandū facere aliquid indesinenter & absque ulla vel minima morula aut intermission Una saliva. Hieron. in ep. [Greek or Hebrew], i. e. uno spiritu aliquid facere est diligenter facere. Theoph. in Charact. Clivum istum uno si potes, spiritu exupera Shem.Fortosse proverb••n erat, ad significandū facere aliquid indesinenter & absque ulla vel minima morula aut intermissione Ʋna saliva. Hieron. in ep. 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, i. e. uno spiritu aliquid facere est diligenter facere. Theoph. in Charact. Clivum istum uno si potes, spiritu exupera Sē.
- bVa presto, & non fietare, q. d. uno halitu egressum & regressum perfice.
