tears and deforming themselves with rending their mouths and sprinkling dust upon their heads in token of their humbling themselves before God at the sight of his judgements 13. Thus all of them having at the first sight of him their hearts stricken with the awfull feare of God as also in pity of him whom they beheld in such misery when they came to him sate them downe by him in that very place upon the ground eying and considering him with such astonishment as that they spent the most part of seven daies and seven nights in that very place with him without giving almost any regard to their ordinary rest and sustenance And all that while they kept silence because they thought him uncapable of discourse by reason of his extreme paine and griefe CHAP. III. 1. AFter this long time spent in silence wherein Job had hoped to have heard a word of comfort from his companions but perceiving none and therefore seeing every thing helping on his misery and empty of reliefe he himselfe at last to give his heart some ease gave liberty to his lips to vent his griefe but still retaining the feare of God he brake not out in an enraged manner immediatly against the Lord himselfe as Satan hoped but discharged his passions upon his owne originall and through the weaknesse of the flesh to stand it out any longer his infirmities so farre prevailed as that hee fell foule upon the day of his birth and cursed it 2. In this manner 3. O that I might have my will upon my birth-day and the night belonging to it which gave originall to all these miseries that they might henceforth be utterly rejected of God and unserviceable to man so that not a minute thereof may ever be usefull or comfortable any more 4. O that it may be branded with unpleasing darknesse and may never be favoured of God with vouchsafing the dew of heaven and such like blessings on it as on other daies yea let the Sunne breake off his course and make a stand at that day not daining to afford it the honour of his light 5. But in stead thereof let its beauty be turned into a black darknesse even such an one as may resemble the very grave it selfe and let there be no intermission but let a thicke and gloomy cloud uncomfortably over-shadow it from end to end let it be so eclipsed with darkenesse as may represent such a dismall blacknesse that may not onely beget discomfort but the very terrour of a finall and immediate dissolution of all things 6. As for the night belonging to this day which nature it selfe hath appointed to be darke let darknesse her selfe henceforth make it her habitation yea let nature quite disclaime it and utterly abandon it for having any place in the computation of time either by Sunne or Moone 7. Yet further let that night bring forth nothing but mourning and disconsolation let there be no pleasing stilnesse therein as in other nights to invite the melodie of musicke 8. Let those mourning women which for hire are wont at funeralls with dolefull execrations to lament the day of their benefactors death alwaies remember this for one yea with their joint forces and bitterest exclamations let them curse it 9. Let it not be blessed with the common blessings of other nights let it neither according to the course of nature partake of the light of the stars in the beginning but in stead thereof be overtaken with an unwonted and unexpected darkenesse neither let it be so happy as to give occasion which else of course it should do to the next daies dawning 10. These curses I lay upon that day and night wherein first I came into the world and not without cause for that was the time which made me capable of all these calamities and gave beginning to this my miserable being which it might have prevented by hindering me to have beene borne 11. O therefore that I had beene borne dead or else that I had received my ending together with my beginning and had left the world by death so soone as I came into it with life 12. Or that the Midwife had not beene so carefull of me but had exposed me to my fatall helplesnesse in the moment of my birth or that my Nurse had after let me famish 13. Then should I not now need to have complained thus but in stead thereof have lien unmolested in the grave and beene quiet from these troubles I should then have slept without sense of any these paines and beene at rest from them 14. And in stead of this miserable state then had I beene equall in condition with the most renowned of the world for power and policie who ambitiously people and edifie the waste and uninhabited countries of the world for the inlargement of their dominions and spreading of their fame 15. Or be they otherwaies famous for riches though they abounded in never so great wealth yet then had neither these nor those gone beyond me 16. Or which is all one to mee so I had never knowne these calamities I should have been as those that never were knowne to be nor never knew themselves to have a being 17. Then had I beene in an estate capable of no earthly molestation for there the wicked neither by power nor policie can doe any harme and those that either by their travells or troubles are weary of this life doe there enjoy a perpetuall freedome and rest from both 18. There the poore slaves enjoy their freedome and are from under the command of their mercilesse task-masters 19. There cannot be but freedome because there is an equall parity The great is as the small and the servant is as his Master no better and worse 20. Seeing then that death affords remedy for all miseries why is it denied to mee and why in stead thereof doe mine eyes still enjoy the light of the Sunne or why is my life any longer continued seeing that though these are desireable and commodious to others yet because of my misery I account not of them but as burthensome evills 21. I take no felicity in them but doe infinitely preferre death before them It is strange then I cannot have my desire to exchange light for darkenesse and life for death which how ever it be a thing odious to other men yet doe I desire and prize it above all the riches that the bowells of the whole earth can afford 22. Wherefore then is it denied me that am so far from fearing or refusing it that I should exceedingly rejoyce and be glad at my very heart and no doubt so would all men in my case if my houre were now to die 23. Why doth God continue to bestow light and life on me whom he regards not and whom hee hath made unavoidably miserable 24. For alas my extremity is such
fro quite throughout 5. And you your selves cannot but see in what miserable estate I am beyond all compare for it is apparant how that my body even now whilest I am alive is overrunne with wormes and as with a garment am I covered over with scabbie clods of dirt and dust congealed in ulcerous matter which issueth from my sores which together with my skin is chopped and broken as the earth in drought in most lothsome and formidable manner 6. Why then should not I desire an end seeing my miseries crave it and every thing tendeth toward it for you see evidently how all my former daies of prosperity are in a moment quite dispatched and those that remaine you see them also waste without all hope of ever being better 7. Consider therefore these two things to wit The extraordinary end that my former daies have received how like a puffe of wind they are suddenly blowne over and that withall I am never like to see more good in this life 8. Hee that hath seene mee in my prosperity shall never see mee so againe thou thy selfe seest how irreparable my state is so that I have reason to expect and looke for no other than an absolute conclusion 9. For as the cloud is consumed by degrees till it vanish quite away so he that is going by degrees toward his grave as I am must needs looke for no recovery but necessarily expect a finall determination 10. Which shall certainly conclude him never to enjoy any part of his former condition againe 11. Seeing therefore that death by Gods appointment must certainly be the end of these I will not spare to presse him to hasten it but will lay my misery open to the uttermost and by all the arguments I can use will seeke to obtaine it speedily 12. Am I of so robustuous and untamable a disposition that thou must needs hold me in with such sharpe and mighty afflictions 13. In so much that when I dispose my selfe to sleepe in hope to find some ease and to gaine some small intermission of my torment 14. Even then thou disappointst my hope interrupting my sleepe with frightfull dreames and visions letting me take no rest 15. So that if I might be mine own carver I would choose the very worst of deaths so that I might but be sure to die rather than to live any longer in these intollerable pressures 16. Which makes life how pleasing soever to others to be most irkesome to mee in so much as though other men could be content to live alwaies yet am I of a quite differing mind wishing rather not to live at all and therefore I pray thee O Lord prolong not my life but give way to my miseries to make an end of mee seeing that all the remainder of my life must needes be empty of content and full of vexation 17. Lord what is man is he any better than a thing of naught which thou thus seemest to esteeme and make such account of 18. Exercising a continuall providence over him for his daily preservation not suffering him rather to turne to dust as else hee would and exercising him under long and lingring afflictions not dispatching him at once as if thou wouldst thou couldst 19. How long wilt thou hold on this extremity affording me no release not so much as a breathing while or whilest I might swallow my spittle 20. Wouldst thou by these tortures racke the confession of my sinnes out of me I confesse Lord I am a sinner but alas what recompence can I make thy justice by my suffering it is not in me to expiate my owne sinne it is thy mercy onely must save and acquit me for thou art the one Saviour why then doest thou as it were try thy skill and power upon mee in my exquisite torments so that I am become a very burthen to my selfe 21. And dost not rather according to thy gracious nature give some comfortable and refreshing testimonies of the pardon of my transgressions and the doing away of mine iniquities that so I may praise thee before the Sunne of my life be quite set and I lie downe in the grave for now I shall die and then when thou lookest to receive thy morning sacrifice of praise as aforetime I shall not be found to give it thee CHAP. VIII 1. BIldad the Shuhite another of Jobs friends having all this while given eare to the reply which he made to Eliphaz at last interposed himselfe and said 2. How long wilt thou persevere to take such liberty of language toward God and by thy violent passions and storming speeches bring upon thy selfe fierce destruction 3. Wilt thou make God to be unrighteous in judgement and the Almighty to goe against the rules of justice by conceiving him to inflict punishment and not for sinne 4. Take heed what thou doest and be not stubborne but confesse the Lord to be just although thy children having sinned against him hee hath suddenly and in his fierce displeasure even utterly thus cut them off for their transgression 5. And make timely use of it for thy selfe let it move thee before it be too late whilest God in mercy gives thee time to lay aside thy stubbornnesse and to repaire unto him in humble confession and with supplication of his pardon for thy owne sinne 6. And doubt not but if thou dost now turne unto the Lord in sincerity by repentance not justifying thy selfe but confessing thy sinnes unfeignedly without hypocrisie which hath brought this punishment upon thee from the Lord hee would not any longer thus forget thee but would certainly remember thee in mercy and make thee and all that belongs unto thee prosperous and blessed 7. And though thou art now but poore and miserable yet then shouldst thou see the power of the Lord bringing to passe a wonderfull alteration in thy behalfe by making thee both rich and happy 8. And that thou maist be the better perswaded to believe mee and to take this course consider and call to minde all the former ages of our long-lived forefathers from the beginning of the world 9. For wee desire not to oversway thy faith by our owne testimony who in comparison of our fathers are of no experience nor knowledge by reason of the shortnesse of our lives now to what theirs was then 10. And therfore I gladly put thee over to the testimonies of former times wherat thou canst not except for partiality and they will all teach and tell thee and bona fide confirme unto thee the very same which I have said How that God never punished any but for their sin nor rejected a penitent person 11. And look how ordinary a thing it is for a mis-rooted rush that quickly springs up out of a little moisture but not much mire or the flag that growes without the river in
should proceed not onely to lay upon me the extremity of affliction but should also thereby bring me to deaths doore yet I would continue to relie upon his mercy and withall I would defend mine honest sincerity before him to the last 16. For I am sure notwithstanding my extreme affliction the Lord both is and will be my salvation pardoning my sinne and accepting my person in confidence whereof I dare put my selfe into the presence of God which no hypocrite dare doe 17. Therefore doe not rashly censure me but give good heed to that which I speake and to the profession of my faith which I make 18. For though you through ignorance and prejudice know not how to judge of mee yet be sure I have examined my selfe and maturely considered mine own case my faith and good conscience and therefore whatsoever you think I know upon good grounds that for all mine affliction God doth not punish mee for my sinnes but that still hee accounts mee innocent and righteous 19. Whereof I am so confident as that I dare encounter any upon this point and indeed you have so tormented me by your reasonings as that if I have not liberty granted me to justifie mine owne innocency my heart will burst within me 20. And if it shall please the Lord himselfe to argue this case with me I will but desire two conditions of him and then I will not feare even to appeare before him 21. One is that he would take off from mee this heavie hand of his present affliction which overwhelmeth me with the violence of it till my matter be heard the other is that hee would give mee courage to beare out this my humble contestation so as I may not be confounded with the terrour of his dreadfull greatnesse so far surpassing mee 22. Then oppose thou and I will answer or let mee speake and answer thou me 23. Therefore I humbly aske of thee is it for any such greatnesse and multitude of iniquities and sinnes as these men would beare mee in hand that thou thus afflictest me Then I beseech thee make me to know that great transgression and sinne that hath so enraged thee against me for I am not conscious to my selfe of any such nor can I make it sinke into my mind that thou thus afflictest me upon any such ground 24. And if not then wherefore dost thou thus terribly frowne upon me so as to give the world cause to thinke thou hatest me Alas am I fit to be esteemed an enemy worthy thy contesting with 25. Or dost thou thinke it will be any glory to thee to try thy strength and to fight hand to hand with mee who am a weake and feeble creature not able to stand against thee no more than a leafe before the winde or stubble before the fire 26. For thou arrestest me with manifold bitter plagues and seemest as if thou couldest not be severe enough against mee and makest mee oft-times to remember my former sinnes of old with fresh feare as if they were unpardoned and as if thou didst lay the punishment of them all on mee now at once 27. For thou proceedest with all severity against me as against a grand malefactor laying mee fast in afflictions as in stocks so that I can move no way to finde ease and hast set as it were a watch over me surrounding me with plagues lest any way I should get liberty and followest mee with continuall pursuit as a prisoner that is dog'd at heeles by his keeper from place to place lest he should escape 28. And now alas what glory will all this be to thee at last seeing I a man am not able to stand against thee but rot and consume away under thy plagues which wasteth me as a moth wasteth a garment CHAP. XIV 1. THou knowst also that if thou didst not use extraordinary meanes against me yet by my very nature and kind coming of mortall parents I like other men should in a short time consume and die and this life as short as it is is also of it selfe full of troubles 2. We thou knowest bring mortality and transitorinesse into the world with us and that little temporall felicity which wee enjoy is quickly at an end for as the flowers so we have no more than a spring and a fall or as the shadow of a diall our lives are continually hasting to their period and never make stop 3. And dost thou set thy selfe strictly to view the imperfections of such a creature and to question mee in the rigour of thy righteous judgement 4. Why thou knowest if thou proceed in that way I must needs be cast that am even borne a sinner as every man else is for must not a corrupt tree needs bring forth corrupt fruit 5. But seeing that as we are sinners by nature so by sinne we are mortall and that thou hast determined death as a condigne punishment unto man and so to me so that he must certainly undergoe it at the time appointed by thee nor is he able to lengthen his life a minute further than thy decree 6. O then in mercy let that suffice thee and make not his whole life a death but take thy heavie hand off him that hee may be able to fulfill his appointed time in thy service here which is but short 7. 8. 9. For what will it availe thee to destroy man seeing it is not with him as it is with other of thy creatures for let a tree be felled and though the root thereof lie in the earth as a dead man does in the grave yet there is a great deale of difference for there is hope to him that owneth it that it will spring againe and be profitable to him by reason of some sap and moisture that it will draw out of the earth whence it hath his vegetative life and being 10. But it is quite otherwaies with man for when hee dieth the earth nor nothing else can contribute any thing to him to make him live againe or in the least measure be serviceable to his owner here but on the contrary he consumeth to dust and becommeth utterly uselesse for when man once gives up the ghost there is no further hope of him 11. For as the waters which after some exundation of the Sea or some great river are separated and left upon the refluxe thereof behind the rest upon the land which cannot returne nor continue but therefore utterly drieth up and evaporate 12. So man having once given up the ghost is quite separated from the source of life never to be united nor to live againe till the day of the utter dissolution of all things 13. O that this were my lot and that thou wouldest grant me the grave for my portion so to escape the horrours that are upon me and that so doing thou wouldest set
very point of death ready to breath out his soule and his life in continuall jeopardy by his deadly plagues 23. Now when God hath brought him to this passe and he still continues blind and none of all this will make him perceive his errour and Gods intention if then besides this God so order the matter as that in his gracious providence he further provide for his instruction and send as a speciall messenger as hee does mee to thee a man faithfull and able which is a singular gift of God and very rare to bring him to a sight of his sinne and to set him upright in the sight of God by repentance 24. This soone altereth the case for hereupon God is presently appeased toward him and graciously accepts him comfortably cheering his heart with an assured freedome from death and hell his sinne upon his repentance being done away in the sight of God by the blood of his Son which he sees accepted in his behalfe 25. And then as before through anguish of his spirit his body was consumed so now through the abundant consolation thereof he grows revived and becomes as fat and faire-liking as ever he was in his life 26. And whereas before all his complainings and out-cries stood him in no stead now he shall humbly put up his suit to God for favour and shall finde it and whereas if hee did but thinke of God he was troubled now being justified from his sinne he shall have abundance of joy and peace in his soule toward God 27. For God longs to be gracious to mee and waites that hee may be so looking when a man will see his sinne and confesse it how that he hath gone out of the way and justly suffers by it 28. Such a man shall soone have his pardon sealed his feare banished and his soule comforted so that for afterwards he shall lead a happy life 29. Lo I have told thee what varieties of waies and diversity of meanes God is oftentimes faine to use toward such a man as he meanes well to 30. Aiming onely at his good that his sin unrepented of be not his death and destruction but that in the sight and feeling of Gods grace and favour towards him hee may lead a comfortable and happy life 31. Iob I pray thee consider well what I say as that which neerely concernes thy good let mee yet further have thine attention without interruption for I have more to speake 32. Not that I desire to stop thy mouth if thou questionest any thing that I have said and hast any just exception against it in thine owne defence if thou hast speake freely for I desire not to condemne thee in any thing wherein thou art justifiable only thy pride I tax which is apparant 33. But if so be thou canst take no just exception then doe not needlessely interrupt me but let me goe on and I make no question but before I have done I shall make thee understand thine errour and Gods just dealing and shall shew thee the way to finde mercy CHAP. XXXIV 1. WHereupon Elihu goes on further to question Iob of and to give answer to the words he spake against God and appealing to his friends touching them hee said 2. I pray you listen well to what I say and according to your wisdomes judge of it give eare to what I speake and let your understandings censure if it be not right 3. For a judicious and considerate eare can as aptly judge of things that are spoken as the palate of a man can naturally distinguish and relish meats that are eaten 4. Let us not plead against Iob by ungrounded conjectures but let us state the controversie against him so as it is that it may hold water let us goe knowingly to worke according to apparant truth which is the likely way to prevaile with him 5. For Jobs miscarriage of himselfe is evident and how presumptuously he hath justified himselfe and accused God is knowne to us all saying I am righteous and God doth not doe me right accordingly but dealeth too rigorously with mee 6. I should lie and wrong my selfe if I should not justifie my righteousnesse and maintaine it that this my so grievous affliction is without just cause 7. Did we ever heare the like or was there ever any man that durst in this manner as he hath done so mightily upbraid and reproach God as if hee thirsted to despite him in the way of revenge 8. Who hath so farre forgot himselfe as that his carriage under his afflictions is equall and makes him like to those that never had knowledge of God but have ever lived in sinne and prophanenesse yea hee walks just in their steps and doth as the wicked do when God afflicts them 9. Uttering impatient presumptuous speeches for upon the matter he hath said That a man is never the better for loving God and walking with him the whilest hee justifies his owne righteousnesse and taxeth God of cruelty 10. Therefore hearken to what I plead against him and in your wisedoms judge if he be not to be blamed for it for is it not a monstrous thing to fasten injustice upon God and to dare to lay iniquity to the charge of the Almighty which is so utterly contrary to his nature and can by no meanes belong to him but to us 11. For it is both his covenant and custome to render to men according to their works and to judge them according to their waies 12. Which he is well able to make appeare whatsoever we thinke to the contrary for there is nothing more certaine and sure than that God will not doe wickedly neither will the Almighty who is Judge of all the earth deale unjustly 13. Who hath put him in office or charged him with the supervisourship of the earth that he should be questioned by him and account to him or who but himselfe thinke we is fit to dispose of the world and all things in it in wisdome and justice 14. If God set his heart against man and resolve ether in his absolute soveraignty or for punishment of his sinne to unmake him againe by taking from him that which at first hee gave him to live and subsist by that is his soule and spirit 15. Then of necessity man-kinde must all at once perish and be annihilated or turned into the matter hee made him of that is to dust and this may he most justly doe 16. Now then Job if thou hast understanding as I know thou hast consider with thy selfe how justly he may doe thus by thee who art but one seeing that of his good pleasure onely it is that all subsist And now yet further hearken to what I shall say for thy confuting 17. Shall he whom thou wouldest make to delight in doing wrong be fit to governe and
me afraid of him 16. For in this respect God melteth and weakeneth my heart and spirit with feare and astonishment as the wax before the fire and I confesse the thoughts of his Almightinesse is no little trouble to me 17. For because I see he useth it altogether against me and not for mee for by an Almighty power it is that he hath brought mee into this extremity and therewith still continues me under it and hath not rather prevented these intolerable evills by it through death CHAP. XXIV 1. IF God be bound by his justice to punish evill-doers in this life why then is it that he who knows the length of their life and the time of their departure hence yet suffers them to die unpunished and why then doe not the godly and they that serve him alwaies see it so but oft-times the contrary 2. Yea to instance in all sorts of wicked men some goe point-blancke against Gods Commandement and privately doe injury to their neighbour for their owne advantage robbing him of his right by removing his land-marke and others with strong hand take away other mens goods and cattell and securely feed thereon 3. They cruelly oppresse the fatherlesse and mercilessely exact upon the widow 4. They put poore folke to extreme shifts so as they know not how to live and drive them to so narrow a scantling by inlarging their territories that they are faine to croud together like Bees in a hive and for cruelty and oppression dare not shew their faces 5. See if they rather like beasts than men doe not rove and ramble up and downe the earth for booty for them and theirs and care for no body else nor how they come by that they have 6. There is nothing scapes them but other mens both corne and wine by oppression they wickedly usurp and swallow all 7. They are utterly mercilesse having no charity nor pity but destitute the poore of their very bed-clothes inhumanely exposing them to the extremity of cold without clothing 8. Driving them to endure most miserable hardship even to lie out of doores in vehement stormes and tempestuous weather and to take up with the holes of the rockes for houses to dwell in 9. They cruelly extort even the very necessary food that should maintaine and keepe alive the widow and the childe and contrary to all law of God and nature unmercifully take and detaine the poore bodies pledge to his utter undoing 10. Not sticking to strip him starke naked of all both clothing and food that should either cover his nakednesse or satisfie his hunger 11. These oppressors make the poore labouring man to toile hard and to scruze out for them their oile and their wine in the places where they themselves dwell safe and at ease and yet compell him to suffer thirst the while being by their cruelty abridged of his wages and livelyhood dearely earned and not suffered so much as to taste of his owne labours 12. In so much that the miserable grones and outcries of the oppressed that can have no justice done them are vehemently breathed forth to heaven even as a man that lieth mortally wounded at the point of death which one would thinke were an apt occasion and a fit season for God to shew himself in to right the poore innocent and to punish the wicked oppressour and yet for all this we see he keeps silence and doth not plague them 13. Yea is not this true even of such men whose lives are so notorious that they hate the very light which reproves and discovers their evill doings does not I say God spare even them whose owne consciences condemne themselves driving them to act their deeds of darknesse by night and not by day secretly and not openly 14. As for instance the murtherous and cruell-minded man he early executes his mischievous designes with all speed and diligence upon the poore and needy soule that can make no resistance and then obscures himselfe in the night as a thiefe 15. And so againe the adulterous Whoremonger he contrives and longs to fulfill his sinne which hee also effects in the darke by close and cunning carriage 16. The thiefe in the like manner 〈◊〉 the night-bird making use of the day to plot and of the night to exâ—â—â—re his villany not loving the light as inconvenient for his purpose and vexatious to his mind 17. For when the morning comes hee is strucke with feare like a man ready to die he is in miserable dread lest hee should be knowne or found of any 18. He staies not long in a place he flieth all company his conscientiousnesse makes him lead a most miserably solitary and base life not daring to come nere any high way or place of concourse 19. And so they spend their daies and will never leave sinning till death but like as the snow remaines unwasted till the Summer sunne comes and melts it into the ground so doe the wicked subsist and goe on some in one way of wickednesse some in another till the period of death finish their course 20. Then indeed he shall be extinct and be as if he had never been returned shall he be to the dust againe and his memory shall perish and his flourishing in wickednesse shall then have an end as a tree that is broken or blowne downe with the wind 21. But yet in the meane time God may let him live long to doe much mischiefe and to act many injuries unpunished both evill intreating the solitary barren woman who hath none to pity her or take her part as others have and to offer violence in stead of yeelding succour to the friendlesse widdow 22. Yea not onely oppressing the poore thus but also bringing the rich to poverty by his overtopping might dominering and tyrannizing over all sorts of men and making them live in perpetuall feare of him and bondage to him 23. But though he live never so long in safety and prosperity exercising these courses and rest never so confidently on it yet I know he shall certainly be plagued at last though not here for the eyes of God marke him and hee will be sure to reward him with just punishment 24. Though God do which no man can deny exalt them here for a while yet I acknowledge that in justice hee must and will give an end to their waies and by death cut them off but yet oft-times no otherwaies than other men not by any notorious judgement but by a common and naturall death without making difference like corne in harvest 25. And if this be not true that God doth many things above and contrary to mans reason and that hee lets wicked men spend their daies in wickednesse and reserves their judgement till death let any disprove mee that can CHAP. XXV 1. BIldad the Shuhite being moved at Jobs boldnesse toward
hypocrisie 7. For my part I am sure I am no such man as you conceit me to be nor doe I account my selfe ever the lesse righteous or the lesse favoured of God for these my sufferings but it is mine enemy and hee that hath done mee wrong that is both the unrighteous and the unhappy man it is the wicked and not the afflicted that is out of favour with God 8. As may appeare by the hopelesse and comfortlesse state which the wicked oppressour is in though he be never so prosperous and hath gained never so much when God once summons him by death 9. For how in vaine doth God let him cry for comfort not giving him any when the conscience of his sins torment him and the feare of death approaching seiseth on him 10. And what little joy he hath to thinke of God and how unable hee is to sustaine or comfort himselfe with faithfull and constant seeking and praying to the Lord. 11. I will shew you by mine owne observation of Gods usuall proceedings toward wicked men what hee hath in store if that he pleaseth to execute it for such wicked wretches as have done me this wrong thus unjustly to oppresse and rob mee being innocent for what I know to be a truth touching the Almighty I will neither deny nor conceale it though I thereby oppose your false conclusions and collections touching your prescribing God and wronging me 12. Nor is it any other than what your selves have confessed and affirmed to have noted as well as I onely by the way tell me then how you can be so inconsiderate in what you say as to affirme outward prosperity and wealth to be the signe of Gods favour and the contrary a signe of his disfavour 13. Seeing as I say you know that this is the portion that God hath allotted to wicked men and that which is due to them from the Almighty and which they often actually receive 14. That is that they shall be accursed both they and theirs and shall be unhappy in their happinesse for though their children multiply never so it shall be but the more to serve and satisfie Gods revengefull displeasure against them who will wrathfully devour and cut them off with the sword of his Justice and though they multiply and lay up never so much for their children yet God will bring them to want and penury 15. Both themselves and all that come of them shall be hated so that no man shall speak well of them when they are dead but their name shall be buried and shall rot with them yea they shall die undesired and unlamented of their owne very wives which they leave behinde them and of those funerall-women which are wont to bewaile the deaths of the well-deserving and to weepe over their graves 16. How ever they abound in all kinde of worldly wealth 17. Which I confesse for present God may permit them to doe but they nor theirs shall be never the better for it it shall come againe to the just and innocent from whom they had it 18. They may lay up and build but to little purpose for all shall b◠lost and puld downe againe in a very little time even as the moth is brushed out of the garment where shee had made her nest or as the shepheard removes his Cabin 19. The rich oppressour for all his riches shall one day die as other men doe but he shall not be brought to his grave as others are with sorrow for his death upon his death-bed hee shall looke about for comfort and recovery but in stead thereof shall see himselfe departing from all his former happinesse and death at hand 20. And then shall an infinit weight of terrors oppresse him and the wrath of the Lord shall take him away when he expected it least 21. The fierce anger of the Lord shall force him hence full sore against his will never to returne againe which shall with irresistable strength thrust him out of his Paradise 22. For God shall heape afflictions on him as thicke as hailestones without shewing him any mercy at all and in vaine shall he seeke to escape him 23. Nor shall any man be sorry for his death but hee shall depart hence with the reproach and obloquie of all men CHAP. XXVIII 1. THe secrets of nature though they be hid and very obscure yet they are found out and knowne both where they are placed by nature and how they are to be used by Art through the naturall wisdome that God hath given to man as we see in the most hiddenest mysteries of nature such as is the silver veine which though deepe in the earth and farre out of sight yet is found out and knowne as also is the Art of fining it and gold from their drosse to make them usefull 2. So also it is knowne how Iron and Brasse comes out of the earth though it be a notable secret in nature and the art of melting it out of the stone is found out and practised 3. By the skill that God hath given to man he is able to bring to light and gaine the knowledge of the most remote unknowne things and by searching to finde out all the perfection of nature the pretiousest stones and things that are ingendred and bred in the darkesome and deadly vaults of the earth 4. He knowes how to divert great rivers out of their channell and for his use to turne their course from those that dwelt upon them so that he leaves them dry-foot and they wonder what is become of them 5. He knowes how to put the earth to all uses for the superficies of it that yeelds him bread and lower downe out of the inwards of it he digges the materialls of fire as coles c. or finds out bright shining metalls and sparkling stones created of a sulphurous matter 6. Hee knowes where the riches thereof are as pretious stones and gold how to come by them and where to finde them the one among the quarries the other among the dust and mold of the earth 7. Hee by his skill and industry goes as low under ground for these things as the fowles flie high hee makes and findes out such waies in the earth as the most piercing sighted or most prey-seeking bird in all the aire never found nor saw 8. Neither did the most ranging or fierce prey-seeking beast ever tread 9. He attempts and effects the hardest matters and doth difficult things for the very rocks escape not his hand neither can the mountaines withstand him but by art and industry hee mineth them and works his will on both to find the things he seekes for 10. By his labour and skill he cuts out passages soughs in the hard and stony rocks to cōvey away the subterranean torrents that would hinder his mining No rich commodity that
went and feasted in their houses every one his day and sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them 5. And it was so when the daies of their feasting were gone about that Iob sent and sanctified them and rose up earely in the morning and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all for Job said It may be that my sonnes have sinned and cursed God in their hearts Thus did Iob continually 6. Now there was a day when the sonnes of God came to present themselves before the Lord and Satan came also among them 7. And the Lord said unto Satan Whence comest thou Then Satan answered the Lord and said from going to and fro in the earth and from walking up and downe in it 8. And the Lord said unto Satan hast thou considered my servant Iob that there is none like him in the earth a perfect and an upright man one that feareth God and escheweth evill 9. Then Satan answered the Lord and said Doth Iob feare God for nought 10. Hast not thou made an hedge about him and about his house and about all that he hath on every side thou hast blessed the worke of his hands and his substance is increased in the land 11. But put forth thine hand now and touch all that he hath and he will curse thee to thy face 12. And the Lord said unto Satan Behold all that hee hath is in thy power onely upon himselfe put not forth thine hand So Satan went forth from the presence of the Lord. 13. And there was a day when his Sons and his Daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brothers house 14. And there came a messenger unto Iob and said The Oxen were plowing and the Asses feeding beside them 15. And the Sabeans fell upon them and took them away yea they have slaine the servants with the edge of the sword and I only am escaped alone to tell thee 16. While he was yet speaking there came also another and said The fire of God is falne from heaven and hath burnd up the sheepe and the servants and consumed them and I onely am escaped alone to tell thee 17. While he was yet speaking there came also another and said The Caldeans made out three bands and fell upon the Camells and have carried them away yea and slaine the servants with the edge of the sword and I onely am escaped alone to tell thee 18. While he was yet speaking there came also another and said Thy sonnes and thy daughters were eating drinking wine in their eldest brothers house 19. And behold there came a great wind from the wildernes and smote the foure corners of the house and it fell upon the young men and they are dead and I onely am escaped alone to tell thee 20. Then Iob arose and rent his mantle and shaved his head and fell down upon the ground and worshipped 21. And said naked came I out of my mothers wombe and naked shall I return thither the Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away blessed be the name of the Lord. 22. In all this Iob sinned not nor charged God foolishly 1. Againe there was a day when the sonnes of God came to present themselves before the Lord and Satan came also among them to present himselfe before the Lord. 2. And the Lord said unto Sathan From whence commest thou And Satan answered the Lord and said from going to and fro in the earth and from walking up and downe in it 3. And the Lord said unto Satan hast thou considered my servant Iob that there is none like him in the earth a perfect and an upright man one that feareth God and escheweth evill and still he holdeth fast his integrity although thou movedst me against him to destroy him without cause 4. And Satan answered the Lord and said skin for skin yea all that a man hath will hee give for his life 5. But put forth thine hand now and touch his bone and his flesh and he will curse thee to thy face 6. And the Lord said unto Satan Behold hee is in thine hand but save his life 7. So went Satan forth from the presence of the Lord and smote Iob with sore boyles from the sole of his foote unto his crowne 8. And he tooke him a potsheard to scrape himselfe withall and he sate downe among the ashes 9. Then said his wife unto him Dost thou still retaine thine integrity Curse God and die 10 But hee said unto her Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh What shall wee receive good at the hand of God and shall we not receive evill In all this did not Iob sinne with his lips 11. Now when Jobs three friends heard of all this evill that was come upon him they came every one from his owne place Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite for they had made an appointment together to come to mourne with him and to comfort him 12. And when they lift up their eyes a far of and knew him not they lifted up their voyce and wept and they rent every one his mantle and sprinkled dust upon their heads toward heaven 13. So they sate down with him upon the ground seven daies and seven nights and none spake a word unto him for they saw that his griefe was very great 1. After this opened Iob his mouth and cursed his day 2. And Iob spake said 3. Let the day perish wherein I was borne and the night in which it was said There is a man-child conceived 4. Let that day bee darknesse let not God regard it from above neither let the light shine upon it 5. Let darknesse and the shaddow of death staine it let a cloud dwell upon it let the blackenesse of the day terrifie it 6. As for that night let darkenesse seize upon it let it not be joyned unto the daies of the yeere let it not come into the number of the moneths 7. Lo let that night be solitary let no joyfull voice come therein 8. Let them curse it that curse the day who are ready to raise up their mourning 9. Let the stars of the twilight thereof be dark let it looke for light but have none neither let it see the dawning of the day 10. Because it shut not up the doores of my mothers wombe nor hid sorrow from mine eyes 11. Why died I not from the wombe why did I not give up the ghost when I came out of the belly 12. Why did the knees prevent me or why the the breasts that I should sucke 13. For now should I have lien still and beene quiet I should have slept then had I beene at rest 14. With Kings and Counsellers of the earth which built desolate places for themselves 15. Or with Princes that had gold who filled their houses with silver 16. Or as an hidden untimely birth I had not beene as infants which never saw
believe that he had hearkened unto my voyce 17. For he breaketh me with a tempest and multiplieth my wounds without cause 18. Hee will not suffer me to take my breath but filleth mee with bitternesse 19. If I speake of strength lo he is strong and if of judgement who shall set mee a time to plead 20. If I justifie my selfe mine owne mouth shall condemne me if I say I am perfect it shall also prove me perverse 21. Though I were perfect yet would I not know my soule I would despise my life 22. This is one thing therefore I said it he destroyeth the perfect and the wicked 23. If the scourge slay suddenly he will laugh at the triall of the innocent 24. The earth is given into the hand of the wicked he covereth the faces of the Judges thereof if not where and who is he 25. Now my daies are swifter than a post they flie away they see no good 26. They are passed away as the swift ships as the Eagle that hasteth to the prey 27. If I say I will forget my complaint I will leave off my heavinesse and comfort my selfe 28. I am afraid of all my sorrowes I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent 29. If I be wicked why then labour I in vaine 30. If I wash my selfe with snow-water and make my hands never so cleane 31. Yet shalt thou plunge me into the ditch and mine owne clothes shall abhorre me 32. For hee is not a man as I am that I should answer him and wee should come together in judgement 33. Neither is there any daies-man betwixt us that might lay his hand upon us both 34. Let him take his rod away from mee and let not his feare terrifie mee 35. Then would I speak and not feare him but it is not so with me 1. My soule is weary of my life I will leave my complaint upon my selfe I will speake in the bitternesse of my soule 2. I will say unto God Doe not condemne me shew me wherefore thou contendest with me 3. Is it good unto thee that thou shouldest oppresse that thou shouldest despise the worke of thine hands and shine upon the counsell of the wicked 4. Hast thou eyes of flesh or seest thou as man seeth 5. Are thy daies as the daies of man are thy yeeres as mans daies 6. That thou inquirest after mine iniquity and searchest after my sin 7. Thou knowest that I am not wicked and there is none that can deliver out of thine hand 8. Thine hands have made me and fashioned mee together round about yet thou dost destroy me 9. Remember I beseech thee that thou hast made me as the clay and wilt thou bring me into dust againe 10. Hast thou not powred me out as milke and cruddled mee like cheese 11. Thou hast clothed mee with skin and flesh and hast fenced me with bones and sinewes 12. Thou hast granted me life and favour and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit 13. And these things hast thou hid in thine heart I know that this is with thee 14. If I sinne then thou markest mee and thou wilt not acquit me from mine iniquity 15. If I be wicked wo unto mee and if I be righteous yet will I not lift up my head I am full of confusion therefore see thou mine affliction 16. For it increaseth thou huntest mee as ' a fircce Lion and againe thou shewest thy selfe marvellous upon me 17. Thou renewest thy witnesses againd me and increasest thine indignation upon me changes and war are against me 18. Wherefore then hast thou brought mee forth out of the wombe Oh that I had given up the Ghost and no eye had seene me 19. I should have been as though I had not been I should have been carried from the wombe to the grave 20. Are not my daies few cease then and let me alone that I may take comfort a little 21. Before I go whence I shall not returne even to the land of darknesse and the shadow of death 22. A land of darkenesse as darknesse it selfe and of the shadow of death without any order and where the light is as darknesse 1. Then answered Zophar the Naamathite and said 2. Should not the multitude of words be answered and should a man full of talke be justified 3. Should thy lies make men hold their peaces and when thou mockest should no man make thee ashamed 4. For thou hast said My doctrine is pure and I am cleane in thine eyes 5. But oh that God would speake and open his lips against thee 6. And that he would shew thee the secrets of wisdome that they are double to that which is know therfore that God exacteth of thee lesse than thine iniquity deserveth 7. Canst thou by searching finde out God canst thou finde out the All-mighty unto perfection 8. It is as high as heaven what canst thou doe deeper than hell what canst thou know 9. The measure thereof is longer than the earth and broader than the sea 10. If hee cut off and shut up or gather together then who can hinder him 11. For he knoweth vaine men he seeth wickednesse also will hee not then consider it 12. For vain man would be wise though man be borne like a wilde Asses colt 13. If thou prepare thine heart and stretch out thine hands towards him 14. If iniquity be in thine hand put it farre away and let not wickednesse dwell in thy tabernacles 15. For then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot yea thou shalt be stedfast and shalt not feare 16. Because thou shalt forget thy misery and remember it as waters that passe away 17. And thine age shall be clearer than the noon-day thou shalt shine forth thou shalt be as the morning 18. And thou shalt be secure because there is hope yea thou shalt dig about thee and thou shalt take thy rest in safety 19. Also thou shalt lie downe and none shall make thee afraid yea many shall make sute unto thee 20. But the eyes of the wicked shal faile and they shall not escape and their hope shall be as the giving up of the ghost 1. And Iob answered and said 2. No doubt but yee are the people and wisdome shall die with you 3. But I have understanding as well as you I am not inferiour to you yea who knoweth not such things as these 4. I am as one mocked of his neighbour who calleth upon God and hee answereth him the just upright man is laughed to scorne 5. He that is ready to slip with his feet is as a lampe despised in the thought of him that is at ease 6. The tabernacles of robbers prosper and they that provoke God are secure into whose hand God bringeth abundantly 7. But aske now the beasts they shall teach thee and the fowles of the aire and they shall tell thee 8. Or speake to the earth and it shall teach thee and the fishes of the sea shal declare unto thee 9.
My bones are pierced in me in the night-season and my finewes take no rest 18. By the great force of my disease is my garment changed it bindeth me about as the collar of my coat 19. He hath cast me into the mire and I am become like dust ashes 20. I cry unto thee and thou dost not heare me I stand up and thou regardest me not 21. Thou art become cruell to mee with thy strong hand thou opposest thy selfe against me 22. Thou liftest mee up to the wind thou causest mee to ride upon it and dissolvest my substance 23. For I know that thou wilt bring mee to death and to the house appointed for all living 24. How be it he will not stretch out his hand to the grave though they cry in his destruction 25. Did not I weepe for him that was in trouble was not my soule grieved for the poore 26. When I looked for good then evill came unto mee and when I waited for light there came darknesse 27. My bowels boiled and rested not the daies of affliction prevented mee 28. I went mourning without the Sun I stood up and I cried in the congregation 29. I am a brother to Dragons and a companion to Owles 30. My skin is blacke upon me and my bones are burnt with heat 31. My harpe also is turned to mourning and my organ into the voice of them that weepe 1. I made a covenant with mine eyes why then should I thinke upon a maid 2. For what portion of God is there from above and what inheritance of the Almighty from on high 3 Is not destruction to the wicked and a strange punishment to the workers of iniquity 4. Doth not he see my waies and count all my steps 5. If I have walked with vanity or if my foot hath hasted to deceit 6. Let me be weighed in an even ballance that God may know mine integrity 7. If my step hath turned out of the way and mine heart walked after mine eyes and if any blot hath cleaved to my hands 8. Then let mee sow and let another eat yea let my off-spring be rooted out 9. If mine heart hath beene deceived by a woman or if I have laid wait at my neighbours doore 10. Then let my wife grinde unto another and let others bow downe upon her 11. For this is an hainous crime yea it is an iniquity to be punished by the judges 12. For it is a fire that consumeth to destruction and would root out all mine increase 13. If I did despise the cause of my man-servant or of my maid-servant when they contended with me 14. What then shall I do when God riseth up and when hee visiteth what shall I answer him 15. Did not hee that made mee in the wombe make him and did not one fashion us in the wombe 16. If I have withheld the poore from their desire or have caused the eyes of the widdow to faile 17. Or have eaten my morsell my selfe alone and the fatherlesse hath not eaten thereof 18. For from my youth hee was brought up with mee as with a father and I have guided her from my mothers wombe 19. If I have seen any perish for want of clothing or any poore without covering 20. If his loynes have not blessed me and if hee were not warmed with the fleece of my sheepe 21 If I have lift up my hand against the fatherlesse when I saw my helpe in the gate 22. Then let mine arme fall from my shoulder-blade and mine arme be broken from the bone 23. For destruction from God was a terrour to me and by reason of his highnesse I could not endure 24. If I have made gold my hope or have said to the fine gold Thou art my confidence 25. If I rejoyced because my wealth was great and because mine hand had gotten much 26. If I beheld the Sunne when it shined or the Moone walking in brightnesse 27. And my heart hath beene secretly enticed or my mouth hath kissed my hand 28. This also were an iniquity to be punished by the Judge for I should have denied the God that is above 29. If I rejoiced at the destruction of him that hated me or lift up my selfe when evil found him 30. Neither have I suffered my mouth to sin by wishing a curse to his soule 31. If the men of my tabernacle said not Oh that we had of his flesh I we cannot be satisfied 32. The stranger did not lodge in the street but I opened my doores to the traveller 33. If I covered my transgression as Adam by hiding mine iniquity in my bosome 34. Did I feare a great multitude or did the contempt of families terrifie mee that I kept silence and went not out of the doore 35. O that one would heare mee behold my desi e is that the Almighty would answer me and that mine adversary had written a book 36. Surely I would take it upon my shoulder and bind it as a crowne to me 37. I would declare unto him the number of my steps as a Prince would I goe neere unto him 38. If my land cry against me or that the furrowes likewise thereof complaine 39. If I have eaten the fruits thereof without money or have caused the owners thereof to lose their life 40. Let thistles grow in stead of Wheat and cockle in stead of Barley The words of Job are ended 1. So these three men ceased to answer Iob because he was righteous in his owne eyes 2. Then was kindled the wrath of Elihu the sonne of Barachel the Buzite of the kindred of of Ram against Iob was his wrath kindled because hee justified himselfe rather than God 3. Also against his three friends was his wrath kindled because they had found no answer and yet had condemned Iob. 4. How Elihu had waited till Iob had spoken because they were elder than hee 5. When Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these threemen then his wrath was kindled 6. And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said I am young and yee are very old wherefore I was afraid and durst not shew you mine opinion 7. I said daies should speake and multitude of yeeres should teach wisedome 8. But there is a spirit in man and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding 9. Great men are not alwaies wise neither doe the aged understand judgement 10. Therefore I said hearken to me I also will shew mine opinion 11. Behold I waited for your words I gave eare to your reasons whilest you searched out what to say 12. Yea I attended unto you and behold there was none of you that convinced Iob or that answered his words 13. Lest yee should say Wee have found out Wisedome God thrusteth him downe not man 14. Now hee hath not directed his words against me neither will I answer him with your speeches 15. They were amazed they answered no more they left off speaking 16. When I had