IOB MILITANT WITH MEDITATIONS DIVINE AND MORALL Horat. car lib. 1. ode 17. Dijs pietas mea Et Musa cordiest By FRA. QVARLES SAPIENTIA PACEM PAX OPVLENTIAM F K LONDON Printed by Felix Kyngston for George Winder and are to bee sold at his Shop in Saint Dunstons Churchyard in Fleetstreet 1624. TO THE HIGH AND THRICE ILLVSTRIOVS Prince CHARLES Prince of Wales Duke of Cornwall and Yorke Albany and Rothsay Marquesse of Ormont Earle of Rosse and Baron of Armanoch High Seneschall of Scotland Lord of the Iles and Knight of the most Noble Order of the Garter THrice-hopefull Earnest of a Royall Race Whom Art and Nature to returne Compleate Haue pray'd the Aide of a Diuiner Grace Whereby thou art a Prince as Good as Great Nature and Art haue both been proud e're since In their Composure of so Rare a Prince Rare Prince Oh! let the Influence of thy quickning Ray Affect these faint and indisposed Lines That they may flourish as the Child of May And clime like fresh Aurora's Eglentines That by the smell the World may know this Flowre Hath had th' aspect of such a Sunne as You are Before the Luster of so pure a Light My prostrate heart swolne big with Loyaltic Presents this Legend of a sad Delight Which if made Glorious with thy pleased Eyc My Workes are crowned with like Honour done By Princely Caesar and his Princely Sonne Your Highnesses in Choyce Affection and Chaste Loyaltie Francis Quarles A PREFACE TO THE READER I Present thee with a new worke a work difficult and intricate wherein I confesse I had suffered shipwracke on the first shore had I not been steared by the better Pilots by whose compasse I haue securely sayled and weather-beaten I salute thee serious Reader I commend to thee heere the Historie of Iob in part Periphrased in part Abridged It is not of the nature of a Parable whereon Historicall Faith depends not no feigned thing or counterfeite Sceane as many rash heads would but a true and faithfull record of reall passages as appeares by the holy Scriptures where the Spirit of God pleaseth to mention the name of this our Iob. And Saint Chrysostome in some of his writings saith That his Sepulcher in his dayes was to be seene in Arabia Foelix Who this Iob was and from what stock descended it shall appeare by the consent of the most famous and ancient Writers who absolutely deriue him from the Loynes of Esau Of which opinion is Origen in Epist ad Iulium Affricanum Saint Augustine18 de Ciuit. Dei 47. Saint Chrysostome Concione 2. de Lazaro Saint Gregorie in praefat and many more besides the Septuagints who in these words Post Balac autem Iobab qui vocatur Iob conclude that Iob is but the contraction of Iobab which Iobab is of the Lineage of Esau as appeares in his Genealogie But the aduersaries to this opinion who deriue him from Abraham by Keturah obiect that Esau and his Seede were accursed by God therefore Iob could not being so vpright a man spring from so tainted a Generation To which I answere that though Esau bee said to bee expulsus à primogenitura yet wee reade not that hee is exclusus à foedere And when God in Iustice curses a Generation in generall yet his mercie neuerthelesse which is endlesse hee may extend to some in that Off-spring in particular Touching the time when these things were done it is thought that it was before Moses penned the Law and much about the dayes when the Children of Israel were captiu'd by Pharaoh Who the Pen-man was is not directly concluded and to small purpose to bee enquired Gregorius Romanus saith That it is in vaine to enquire the Writer where it is certaine the holy Spirit is the Author yet by some it is nor without some ground imagined that it was done by the penne of Moses when hee fled into Midian after hee slew the Egyptian in Hexameter Verses from the third Chapter to the fifth verse of the last To conclude Reader I commit this my booke to thy fairer disposition As for Censures I am so ouer-bold that I feare none and I should be ouer-wise if I deserued none An si quis atro dente me petiuerit Inultus vt flebo puer Farewell THE PROPOSITION OF THE WORKE WOuld'st thou discouer in a curious Map That Iland which fond worldlings cal Mishap Surrounded with a Sea of brinie Teares The rocky dangers and the boggie Feares The stormes of Trouble the afflicted Nation The heauy soyle the lowly situation On wretched Iob then spend thy weeping eye And see the colours painted curiously Would'st thou behold a Tragick Sceane of sorrow Whose wofull Plot the Author did not borrow From sad Inuention The sable Stage The liuely Actors with their Equipage The Musick made of Sighes the Songs of Cryes The sad Spectators with their watry Eyes Behold all this comprized here in One Expect the Plaudit when the Play is done Or would'st thou see a well-built Pinnace tost Vpon the swelling Ocean split almost Now on a churlish Rocke now fiercely striuing With labouring Winds now desperately driuing Vpon the boyling Sands her storme-rent Flags Her Maine-mast broke her Canuas torne to Rags Her Treasure lost her Men with Lightning slaine And left a Wreck to the relentlesse Maine This this and more vnto your moystned Eyes Our patient Iob shall liuely moralize Would'st thou behold vnparalell'd Distresse Which minds cannot out-thinke nor tongues expresse Full to the life The Anuill whereupon Mischiefe doth worke her Master-piece for none To imitate The dire Anatomie Of curiously dissected Miserie The face of Sorrow in her stearnest lookes The rufull Arg'ment of all Tragick bookes In briefe Would tender eyes endure to see Summ'd vp the greatest sorrowes that can be Behold they then poore Iob afflicted here And each Beholder spend at least his Teare THE GENERALL ARGVMENT OF THE HISTORIE IOB tryed of God by the losse of his Children Goods and Health is tempted by his Friends to despaire and by his Wife to blasphemie neuerthelesse continues patient for a while but at last yeelds to Passion curses his birth-day and wishes death His Wife and three Friends condemne him of Hypocrisie Iob defends his speeches Gods Iustice and his owne Integritie blaming his Friends for handling Gods cause to an ill end and for accusing him without a cause At length Elihu makes a modest agreement betweene them reprooues them al him for not handling a good cause well and them for handling a bad cause though well Hee teaches Iob Gods greatnesse by his works and that man ought not to pleade with his Maker In fine God himselfe out of a Cloud confirmes Elihu's words by example from his workes puts Iob to silence to confession and repentance rebukes his three Friends commands reconciliation restores Iob his Health doubles his former Wealth and giues him a second Issue of his body TO THE GREAT TETRAGRAMATON LORD PARAMOVNT OF HEAVEN AND EARTH
thriue and goods encrease They shall not prosper nor he liue in peace Eternall horrour shall begirt him round And vengeance shall both him and his confound Amidst his ioyes despaire shall stop his breath His sons shall perish with vntimely death The double soule shall dye and in the hollow Of all false harts false harts themselues shall swallow Then answered Iob All this before I knew They want no griefe that find such friends as you Ah cease your words the fruits of ill-spent houres If heauen should please to make my fortunes yours I would not scoffe you nor with taunts torment ye My lips should comfort and these eyes lament ye What shall I doe Speake not my griefes oppresse My soule or speake alas they 'r ne'r the lesse Lord I am wasted and my pangs haue spent me My skin is wrinkled for thy Hand hath rent me Mine enemies haue smit me in disdaine Laught at my torments iested at my paine I swel'd in wealth but now alas am poore And feld with woe lye grou'ling on the floore In dust and sackcloth I lament my sorrowes Thy Hand hath trencht my cheekes with water-furrowes Nor can I comprehend the cause that this My smart should be so grieuous as it is Oh Earth If then an Hypocrite I be Couer my cryes as I doe couer thee And witnesse Heauen that these my Vowes be true Ah friends I spend my teares to Heau'n not you My time 's but short alas would then that I Might try my cause with God before I dye Since then I languish and not farre from dead Let me a while with my Accusers plead Before the Iudge of heauen and earth my right Haue they not wrong'd and vext me day and night Who first layes downe his Gage to meet me Say I doubt not Heauen being Iudge to win the day You 'l say perchance Wee 'l recompell our word E're simple Truth should vnawares afford Your discontent No no forbeare for I Hate lesse your Censures then your Flattery I am become a By-word and a Taber To set the tongues and eares of men in labour Mine eyes are dimme my body 's but a shade Good men that see my case will be afraid But not confounded They will hold their way And in a bad they 'l hope a better day Recant your errours for I cannot see One man that 's truly wise among you Three My dayes are gone my thoughts are mis-possest The silent night that heauen ordain'd for rest My day of trauell is but I shall haue Er'e long long peace within my welcome graue My neerest kindred are the wormes the earth My mother for she gaue me first my birth Where are my hopes then where that future ioy Which you false-prophecy'd I should enioy Both hopes and I alike shall trauell thither Where clos'd in dust we shall remaine together Meditatio vndecima THe Morall Poets nor vnaptly faine That by lame Vulcans help the pregnant braine Of soueraign Ioue brought forth at that birth Was borne Minerua Lady of the earth O strange Diuinity but sung by rote Sweet is the tune but in a wilder note The Morall sayes All Wisedome that is giuen To hood-wink't mortals first proceeds from heauen Truth 's errour Wisedom's but wise insolence And light 's but darknesse not deriu'd from thence Wisdom's a straine transcends Morality No Vertu 's absent Wisedome being by Vertue by constant practice is acquir'd This this by sweat vnpurchas't is inspir'd The master-piece of knowledge is to know But what is Good from what is good in show And there it rests Wisdome proceeds and chuses The seeming Euill th' apparant Good refuses Knowledge deseru's alone Wisedome applyes That makes some fooles this maketh none but wise The curious hand of knowledge doth but pick Bare simples Wisedome pounds them for the sicke In my affliction knowledge apprehends Who is the Authour what the Cause and Ends It findes that Patience is my sad reliefe And that the Hand that caus'd can cure my griefe To rest contented here is but to bring Clouds without raine and heat without a Spring What hope arises hence The Diuels doe The very same They know and tremble too But sacred Wisedome doth apply that Good Which simple Knowledge barely vnderstood Wisedome concludes and in conclusion proues That wheresoeuer God corrects he loues Wisedome digests what knowledge did but tast That deales in futures this in things are past Wisedom's the Card of Knowledge which without That Guide at random's wreckt on euery doubt Knowledge when Wisedome is too weak to guide her Is like a head-strong Horse that throwes the Rider VVhich made that great Philosopher auow He knew so much that he did nothing know Lord giue me VVisdome to direct my wayes I beg nor riches nor yet length of dayes O grant thy seruant VVisedome and with it I shall receiue such knowledge as will fit To serue my turne I wish not Phoebus waine Without his skill to driue it lest I gaine Too deare an Honour Lord I will not stay To pick more Manna then will serue to day THE ARGVMENT Bildad the whil'st he makes a show To strike the wicked giues the blow To Iob Iobs Misery and Faith Zophar makes good what Bildad saith Sect. 12. SAid Bildad then When will ye bring to end The speeches whereabout ye so contend Waigh eithers words lest ignorant confusion Debarre them of their purposed conclusion We came to comfort fits it then that we Be thought as beasts or fooles accounted be But thou Iob like a mad man would'st thou force God to desist his order and set course Of Iustice Shall the wicked for thy sake That would'st not taste of Euill in Good partake No no his Lampe shall blaze and dye his strength Shall faile or shall confound it selfe at length He shall be hampred with close hidden snares And dog'd where e're he starts with troups of feares Hunger shall bite destruction shall attend him His skin shall rot the worst of deaths shall end him His feare shall be a thousand link't together His branch aboue his root beneath shall wither His Name shall sleepe in dust with dust decay Odious to all by all men chas't away No Son shall keepe aliue his House his Name And none shall thriue that can alliance clame The after-age shall stand amaz'd to heare His Fall and they that see 't shall shake for feare Thus stands the state of him that doth amisse And Iob what other is thy case then this But Iob reply'd How long as with sharpe swords Will ye torment me with your poynted words How often haue your biting tongues defam'd My simple Innocence and yet vnsham'd Had I deseru'd these plagues yet let my griefe Expresse it selfe though it find no reliefe But if you needs must weare your tongues vpon me Know 'T is the hand of God hath ouerthrowne me I roare vnheard His Hand will not release me The more I grieue
HIS Humble seruant dedicates himselfe And Implores the Enfranchising of his Muse 1 GReat God the indebted prayses of thy Glorie If Man should smother or his Muse waxe faint To number forth the Stones would make cōplaint And write a neuer-ending Storie And not without iust reason say Mens hearts are more chdure then they 2 Dismount from Heauen O thou Diuiner Power Handsell my slender Pipe breathe thou vpon it That it may run an euerlasting Sonnet Which Enuious Time may not deuower Oh let it sing to After-dayes When I am Dust thy lowder Prayse 3 Direct the footsteps of my sober Muse To tread thy glorious Path For be it knowne She onely seekes thy Glorie not her owne Nor rouzed for a second vse If otherwise O! may she neuer Sing more but be struck dumbe for euer IOB MILITANT THE ARGVMENT Iobs Lineage and Integritie His Issue Wealth Prosperitie His childrens holy Feast His wise Forecast and zealous Sacrifice Sect. 1. NOt far from Casius in whose bountious wombe Great Pompeys dust lies crowned with his Tombe Westward betwixt Arabia and Iudaea Is situate a Country called Idumaea There dwelt a Man brought from His Linniage That for his belly swopt his Heritage His name was Iob a man of vpright Will Iust fearing Heauen eschewing what was Ill On whom his God had heap't in highest measure The bountious Riches of his boundlesse Treasure As well of Fortune as of Grace and Spirit Goods for his children Children to inherit As did his Name his Wealth did daily wex His Seed did germinate in either Sexe A hopefull issue whose descent might keepe His righteous Race on foote seuen thousand Sheepe Did pay their Summer-Tribute and did ad Their Winter Blessings to his Fold He had Three thousand Camels able for their loade Fiue hundred Asses furnisht for the Road As many Yoake of Oxen to maintaine His houshold for he had a mightie Traine Nor was there any in the East the which In Vertue was so rare in Wealth so rich Vpon a time his Children to improue The sweete affection of their mutuall loue Made solemne Feasts each feasted in his turne For ther 's a time to mirth aswell as mourne And who by course was Master of the Feast Vnto his home inuited all the rest Euen as a Hen whose tender brood forsakes The downy clozet of her Wings and takes Each it's affected way markes how they feed This on that Crum and that on t'other Seed Mooues as they mooue and stayes when as they stay And seemes delighted in their Infant-play Yet fearing danger with a busie eye Lookes here and there if ought she can espie Which vnawares might snatch a booty from her Eyes all that passe and watches euery commer Euen so the affection of this tender Syre Being made more feruent with the selfe-same fyre Of dearest loue which flamed in their brests Preserued as by Fuell in those Feasts Was rauish'd in the height of Ioyes to see His happy Childrens ten-fold vnitie As was his Ioy such was his holy Feare Lest he that plants his Engines euery-where Bayted with golden Sinnes and re-insnares The soule of man turning his Wheat to Tares Should season Error with the taste of Truth And tempt the frailtie of their tender youth No sooner therefore had the dappled skye Opened the Twilight of her waking eye And in her breaking Light had promis'd day But vp he rose his holy hands did lay Vpon the sacred Altar one by one An early Sacrifice for euery Sonne For who can tell said he my Sonnes perchance Haue slipt some Sinne which neither Ignorance Pleaded nor want of heed nor youth can cure Sin steales vnseene when men sleepe most secure Meditatio prima WAnt is the Badge of Pouerty Then he That wanteth most is the most poore say we The Wretch that Hunger driues from dore to dore Ayming at present Almes desires no more The toyling Swaine that hath with pleasing trouble Cockt a small fortune would that Fortune double Which dearely bought with slau'ry then alas He would be deem'd a Man that 's well to passe Which got his mind 's now tickled with an Itch But to deserue that glorious stile of Rich. That done h'enioyes the Crowne of all his labour Could he but once out-nose his right-hand-neighbour Liues he at quiet now Now he begins To wish that Vs'rie were the least of sinnes But great or small he tryes and sweet's the trouble And for it's sake he wishes all things double Thus wishing still his wishes neuer cease But as his Wealth his Wishes still encrease Wishes proceed from Want The Richest then Most wishing want most and are poorest men If he be poore that wanteth much how poore Is he that hath too much and yet wants more Thrice happy he to whom the bounty of Heauen Sufficient with a sparing hand hath giuen T is Grace not Gold makes Great seuer but which The Rich man is but poore the Poore man rich The fayrest Crop of either Grasse or Grayne Is not for vse vndew'd with timely Rayne The wealth of Croesus were it to be giuen Were not thank-worthy if vnblest by Heauen Euen as faire Phoebe in Diameter Earth interpos'd betwixt the Sun and Her Suffers Eclipse and is disrobed quite During the time of all her borrowed Light So Riches which fond Mortals so embrace If not enlightned with the Beames of Grace Being interposed with too grosse a Care They lye obscured and no Riches are My stint of Wealth lyes not in my expressing With Iacobs Store Lord giue me Iacobs Blessing Or if at night thou grant me Lazars Boone Let Diues Dogs licke all my sores at noone Lord pare my Wealth by my Capacitie Lest I with it or it suite not with me This humbly doe I sue for at thy hand Enough and not too much for my command Lord what thou lend'st shall serue but in the place Of reckoning Counters to summe vp thy Grace THE ARGVMENT Satan appeares and then professes Himselfe mans Enemy confesses Gods loue to Iob malignes his Faith Gaines power ouer all he hath Sect. 2. VPon a time whē heauēs sweet Quire of Saints Whose euerlasting Halleluiah chaunts The highest prayse of their celestiall King Before their Lord did the presentment bring Of th' execution of his sacred Will Committed to their function to fulfill Satan came too That Satan which betray'd The soule of man to Deaths eternall shade Satan came too and in the midst he stands Like to a Vulture ' mongst a Heard of Swans Said then th' Eternall From what quarter now Hath businesse brought thee Satan Whence com'st thou Great Lord of Heauen said th' Infernall since Thou hast intitled me the Worlds Great Prince I haue been practising mine old profession And come from compassing my large Possession Tempting thy sonnes and like a roaring Lion Seeking my prey disturbe the peace of Sion I come from sowing Tares among thy Wheate To him that shall dissemble Peters Seate I haue
how he lyes of all his Wealth dispoyl'd He now hath neither Seruant Sheepe nor Child Like a poore man arose the Patient Iob Stun'd with the newes and rent his Purple Robe Shaued the haire from off his wofull head And prostrate on the floore he worshipped Naked ah Poore and naked did I come Forth from the clozet of my mothers Wombe And shall returne alas the very same To th' earth as Poore and naked as I came God giues and takes and why should He not haue A priuiledge to take those things he gaue We men mistake our Tenure oft for Hee Lends vs at Will what we miscall as Free He reassumes his owne takes but the same He lent a while Thrice blessed be his Name In all this passage Iob in Heart nor Tongue Thought God vniust or charg'd his hand with wrong Meditatio tertia THe proudest pitch of that victorious spirit Was but to win the World whereby t' inherit The ayrie purchase of a transitory And glozing Title of an ages Glory Would'st thou by Conquest win more Fame then Hee Subdue thy selfe Thy self 's a World to thee Earth's but a Ball that Heauen hath quilted o're With Wealth and Honour banded on the floore Of sickle Fortunes false and slippery Court Sent for a Toy to make vs Children sport Mans satiate spirits with fresh delights supplying To still the Fondlings of the world from crying And he whose merit mounts to such a Ioy Gaines but the Honour of a mighty Toy But would'st thou conquer haue thy Conquest crown'd By hands of Seraphims tryumph'd with the sound Of Heauens lowd Trumpet warbled by the shrill Celestiall Quire recorded with a Quill Pluck't from the Pinion of an Angels wing Confirm'd with Ioy by heauens Eternall King Conquer thy selfe thy rebbel thoughts repell And chase those false Affections that rebell Hath Heauen dispoyl'd what his full hand hath giuen thee Nipt thy succeeding Blossoms or bereauen thee Of thy deare latest hope thy bosome Friend Doth sad Despaire deny these griefes an end Despair's a whispring Rebbell that within thee Bribes all thy Field and sets thy selfe agin thee Make keene thy Faith and with thy force let flee If thou not conquer him hee 'l conquer thee Aduance thy Shield of Patience to thy head And when Griefe strikes 't will strike the striker dead The Patient man in sorrow spies reliefe And by the taile he couples Ioy with Griefe In aduerse fortunes be thou strong and stout And brauely win thy selfe Heauen holds not out His Bow for euer bent The disposition Of noblest spirits doth by opposition Exosperate the more A gloomie night Whets on the morning to returne more bright A Blade well try'd deserlies a trebble price And Vertu 's purest most oppo'd by Vice Braue minds opprest should in despight of Fate Looke greatest like the Sunne in lowest state But ah shall God thus striue with flesh and blood Receiues he Glory from or reapes he Good In mortals Ruine that he leaues man so To be o'rewhelm'd by his vnequall Foe May not a Potter that from out the Ground Hath fram'd a vessell search if it be sound Or if by furbushing he take more paine To make it fairer shall the Pot complaine Mortall thou art but Clay then shall not Hee That fram'd thee for his seruice season thee Man cloze thy lips Be thou no vndertaker Of Gods designes Dispute not with thy Maker Lord 't is against thy nature to doe ill Then giue me pow'r to beare and worke thy Will Thou know'st what 's best make thou thine owne Conclusion Be glorifi'd although in my Confusion THE ARGVMENT Satan the second time appeares Before th' Eternall boldly dares Maligne Iobs tryed Faith afresh And gaines th' afflicting of his Flesh Sect. 4. ONce more whē heauens harmonious Quiristers Appear'd before his Throne whose Ministers They are of his concealed will to render Their strict account of Iustice and to tender Th' accepted Sacrifice of highest praise Warbled in Sonnets and celestiall Layes Satan came too bold as a hungry Fox Or rauinous Wolfe amid the tender Flockes Satan said then th' Eternall from whence now Hath thy imploymēts driuē thee whēce com'st thou Satan replies Great God of heauen and earth I come from tempting and from making mirth To heare thy dearest children whine and roare In briefe I come from whence I came before Said then th' Eternall Hast thou not beheld My seruants Faith how like a seuen-fold shield It hath defended his Integrity Against thy fiery Darts Hath not thine Eye Thine enuious eye perceiu'd how purely iust He stands and perfect worthy of the trust I lent into his hand persisting still Iust fearing God eschewing what is ill 'T was not the losse of his so faire a Flocke Nor sudden rape of such a mighty Stocke 'T was neither losse of Seruants nor his Sonnes Vntimely slaughter acted all at once Could make him quaile or warpe so true a Faith Or staine so pure a Loue say Satan hath Thy hand so deepely counterfeiting mine Made him mistrust his God or once repine Can there in all the earth say can there be A Man so Perfect and so Iust as Hee Replies the Tempter Lord an outward losse Hopes for repaire t is but a common crosse I know thy seruant 's wise a wise forecast Gricues for things present not for things are past Perchance the tumor of his sullen heart Brookes losse of all since he hath lost a part My selfe haue Seruants who can make true Boast They gaue away as much as he hath lost Others with learning made so wisely mad Refuse such Fortunes as he neuer had A Faith 's not try'd by this vncertaine Tuch Others that neuer knew thee did as much Lend me thy Power then that I might once But sacrifice his Flesh afflict his Bones And pierce his Hide but for a moments space Thy Darling then would curse thee to thy Face To which th' Eternall thus His body 's thine To plague thy fill withall I doe confine Thy power to her lists Afflict and teare His Flesh at pleasure But his life forbeare Meditatio Quarta BOth Goods and Body too Lord who can stand Expect not Iobs vprightnesse at my hand Without Iobs aid The temper of my Passion Vntam'd by thee can brooke no Iobs Temptation For I am Weake and Fraile and what I can Most boast of prooues me but a sinfull Man Things that I should auoyd I doe and what I am inioyn'd to doe that doe I not My Flesh is weake too strong in this alone It rules my Spirit that should be rul'd by none But thee my spirits faint and hath been neuer Free from the fits of sins Quotidian Feuer My powr's are all corrupt corrupt my Will Marble to Good and Wax to what is Ill Eclipsed is my Reason and my Wit By interposing Earth 'twixt Heauen and it My Mem'ry's like a Searce of Lawne alas It Keepes things grosse and lets the purer
passe What haue I then to boast What Title can I challenge more then this A sinfull man Yet doe I sometimes feele a warme Desier Raise my low Thoughts and dull affections higher Where like a soule entrans't my spirit flies Makes leagues with Angels and brings Deities Halfe way to heauen shakes hands with Seraphims And boldly mingles wings with Cherubims From whence I looke askaunce adowne the Earth Pitty my selfe and loath my place of birth But while I thus my lower state deplore I wake and prooue the Wretch I was before Euen as the Needle that directs the Howre Toucht with the Loadstone by the secret power Of hidden Nature points vpon the Pole Euen so the wauering powers of my Soule Toucht by the vertue of thy Spirit flee From what is Earth and point alone to Thee When I haue saith to hold thee by the Hand I walke securely and me thinkes I stand More sirme then Atlas but when I forsake The safe protection of thine Arme I quake Like wind-shaki Reeds and haue no strength at all But as a Vine the Prop cut downe I fall Yet wretched I when as thy Iustice lends Thy glorious Presence from me straight am friends With Flesh and Blood forget thy Grace flye from it And like a Dog returne vnto my Vomit The sawning world to Pleasure then inuites My wandring Eyes The flesh presents Delights Vnto my yeelding heart which thinks those pleasures Her onely bus'nes now and rarest treasures Content can glorie in whil'st I secure Stoope to the painted plumes of Satans Lure Thus I captiu'd and drunke with pleasures Wine Like to a mad man thinke no state like mine What haue I then to boast What Title can I challenge more then this A sinfull man I feele my Griefe 's enough nor can I be Redrest by any but Great God by thee Too great thou art to come within my Roofe Say but the word Be whole and 't is enough Till then my tongue shall neuer cease mine Eyes Ne'r cloze my lowly bended Knees ne'r rise Till then my Soule shall ne'r want early sobs My cheekes no Teares my pensiue Brest no Throbs My Heart shall lacke no Zeale nor tongue expressing I 'le striue like Iacob till I get my Blessing Say then Be cleane I 'le neuer stop till then Heauen ne'r shall rest till Heauen shall say Amen THE ARGVMENT Iob smote with Vlcers groueling lyes Plung'd in a Gulfe of Miseries His Wife to blasphemy doth tempt him His three Friends visit and lament him Sect. 5. LIke as a Truant-Scholler whose delay Is worse then whipping hauing leaue to play Makes haste to be inlarged from the Iayle Of his neglected Schoole turnes speedy tayle Vpon his tedious booke so ill befriended Before his Masters Ite be full ended So thanklesse Satan full of winged Haste Thinking all time not spent in Mischiefe waste Departs with speed lesse patient to forbeare The patient Iob then patient Iob to beare Forth from the furnace of his Nostrell flyes A sulpherous Vapour which by the enuious eyes Of this foule Fiend inflam'd possest the faire And sweet complection of th' abused Aire With Pestilence and hauing power so farre Tooke the aduantage of his worser Starre Smote him with Vlcers such as once befell Th' Egyptian Wizzards Vlcers hot and fell Which like a searching Tetter vncorrected Left no part of his body vnaffected From head to foote no empty place was found That could b'afflicted with another wound So noy some was the nature of his Griefe That left by Friends and Wife that should be chiefe Assister he poore he alone remain'd Groueling in Ashes being himselfe constrain'd With Pot-sheards to scrape off those rip'ned Cores Which Dogs disdayn'd to licke from out his sores Which when his Wife beheld adust and keene Her passion waxt made strong with scorne spleene Like as the Winds imprison'd in the earth And barr'd the passage to their naturall birth Grow fierce and nilling to be longer pent Breake in an Earth quake shake the World and vent So brake she forth so forth her Fury brake Till now pent in with shame and thus she spake Fond Saint thine Innocence finds timely speed A foolish Saint receiues a Saintly meed Is this the Iust mans Recompence Or hath Heauen no requitall for thy painefull Faith Other then this What haue thy zealous Qualmes Abstemious Fastings and thy hopefull Almes Thy priuate Groanes and often bended knees No other End no other Thankes but these Fond man submit thee to a kinder Fate Cease to be righteous at so deare a rate 'T is Heauen not Fortune that thy Weale debarres Curse Heauen then and not thy way ward Starres 'T is God that plagues thee God not knowing why Curse then that God reuenge thy Wrongs and Dye Iob then reply'd God loues where he chastiz'd Thou speakest like a Foole and ill aduis'd Laugh we to licke the sweete and shall we lowre If he be pleas'd to send a little sowre Am I so weake one Blast or two should chill me I 'le trust my Maker though my Maker kill me When these sad tidings fill'd those itching eares Of Earths black babbling Daughter she that heares And vents alike both Truth and Forgeries And vtters often cheaper then she buyes She spred the pinnions of her nimble Wings Aduanc't her Trumpet and away she springs And sils the whispring Ayre which soone possest The spacious borders of th' enquiring East Vpon the summon of such solemne Newes Whose Truth malignant Fame could not abuse His wofull Friends came to him to the end To comfort and bewaile their wretched Friend But when they came farre off they did not know Whether it were the selfesame Friend or no Brim-fill'd with brinie Woe they wept and tore T' expresse their griefe the garments that they wore Seuen dayes and nights they sate vpon the ground But spake not for his sorrowes did abound Meditatio Quinta SAy is not Satan iustly stiled than A Tempter and an Enemy to Man What could he more His Wish would not extend To Death lest his assaults with death should end Then what he did what could he further doe His Hand hath setz'd both Goods and Body too The hopefull Issue of a holy Straine In such a dearth of holinesse is slaine What hath the Lazar left him but his Griefe And what might best been spar'd his foolish Wife Could Mischiefe been more hard though more in kind To nip the Flowers and leaue the Weeds behind Woman was made a Helper by Creation A Helper not alone for Propagation Or fond Delight but sweet Societie Which Man alone should want and to supply Comforts to him for whom her Sexe was made That each may ioy in eithers needfull aide But fairest Angels had the foulest fall And best things once abus'd prooue worst of all Else had not Satan been so foule a Fiend Else had not Woman proou'd so false a Friend Euen as the treacherous Fowler to
the more my griefes oppresse me He hath dispoyld my ioyes and goes about My Branches being lopt to stroy the Root His Plagues like souldiers trench within my bones My friends my kindred fly me all at once My neighbours my familiars haue forgon me My houshold stares with strangers eyes vpon me I call my seruant but his lips are dumbe I humbly beg his helpe but hee 'l not come My owne wife loathes my breath though I did make My solemne suit for our dead childrens sake The poore whose wants I haue supply'd despise me And he that liu'd within my brest denyes me My bones are hide-bound there cannot be found One piece of skin vnlesse my gummes that 's sound Alas complaints are barren shaddowes to Expresse or cure the substance of my woe Haue pitty oh my friends haue pitty on me 'T is your Gods hand and mine that lyes vpon me Vexe me no more O let your anger be If I haue wrong'd you calm'd with what ye see O! that my speeches were ingrauen then In Marble Tablets with an yron Pen For sure I am that my Redeemer liues And though pale death consume my flesh and giues My Carkas to the wormes yet am I sure Clad with this selfe-same flesh but made more pure I shall behold His glory These sad eyes Shall see his Face how-e're my body lies Mouldred in dust These fleshly eyes that doe Behold these Sores shall see my Maker too Vnequall hearers of vnequall griefe Y' are all ingag'd to the selfe-same beliefe Know ther 's a Iudge whose Voyce will be as free To iudge your words as you haue iudged me Said Zophar then I purpos'd to refraine From speaking but thou mou'st me back againe For hauing heard thy haughty Spirit breake Such hasty termes my Spirit bids me speake Hath not the change of Ages and of Climes Taught vs as we shall our succeeding times How vain 's the tryumph and how short the blaze Wherein the wicked sweeten out their dayes Though for a while his Palmes of glorie flourish Yet in conclusion they grow seire and perish His life is like a Dreame that passes o're The eye that saw him ne're shall see him more The Sonne shall slatter whom the Syre opprest And poore he shall returne what he did wrest He shall be bayted with the Sinnes that haue So smil'd vpon his childhood to his Graue His Plenty purchac't by oppression shall Be Hony tasted but digested Gall It shall not blesse him with prolonged stay But euilly come it soone shall passe away The man whose griping hath the poore opprest Shall neither thriue in state nor yet find rest In soule nought of his fulnesse shall remaine His greedy Heyre shall long expect in vaine Soak't with extorted Plenty others shall Squeeze him and leaue him dispossest of all And when his Ioyes doe in their height abound Vengeance shall strike him groaning to the ground If Sword forbeare to wound him Arrowes shall Returning forth anoynted with his Gall No shade shall hide him and an vnblowne Fyer Shall burne both him and his Heauen like a Cryer Shall blaze his shame and Earth shall stand his Foe His wandring Children shall no dwelling know Behold the mans Estate whom God denies Behold thine owne pourtracted to thine Eyes Meditatio duodecima CAn mercy come from bloody Cain Or hath His angry Brow a smile Or can his Wrath Be quencht with ought but righteous Abels Blood Can guiltie Pris'ners hope for any Good From the seuerer Iudge whose dismall Breath Doomes them to die breathes nothing else but Death Ah righteous Iudge wherein hath Man to trust Man hath offended and thy Lawes are Iust Thou frownest like a Iudge but I had rather That thou would'st smile vpon me like a Father What if thy Esau be austere and rough Thou hast a Iacob that is smooth enough Thy Iacobs tender Kid brings forth a blessing While Esau's tedious Ven'zon is a dressing Thy face hath smiles as well as frownes by turnes Thy fier giueth light as well as burnes What if the Serpent stung old Adam dead Young Adam liues to breake that Serpents Head Iustice hath struck me with a bleeding wound But Mercy Powr's in Oyle to make it sound The milke-white Lambe confounds the roaring Lion Blasted by Sinah I am heal'd by Sion The Law finds guiltie and Death Iudgement giues But sure I am that my Redeemer liues How wretched was mans case in those darke dayes When Law was onely read which Law dismaies And taking vantage through the breach of it The Letter kils and can no way admit Release by Pardon for by Law we dye Why then hop'd man without a reason Why Although there was no Sunne their Morning eies Saw by the Twilight that the Sunne would rise The Law was like a mistie Looking-Glasse Wherein the shaddow of a Sauiour was Treates in a darker straine by Types and Signes And what should passe in after-dayes diuines The Gospell sayes That He is come and dead And thus the Riddle of the Law is read Gospell is Law the Myst'ry being seal'd And Law is Gospell being once reueal'd Experience tells vs when as Birth denies To man through Natures ouer-sight his eyes Nature whose curious workes are neuer vaine Supplies them in the power of his Braine So they whose eyes were barr'd that glorious sight Of the Messiah's day receiu'd more Light Inspyred by the Breath of Heauen then they That heard the tidings of that happy Day The man that with a sharpe contracted eye Looks in a cleare Perspectiue-Glasse doth spie Obiects remote which to the sense appeare Through helpe of the Perspectiue seeming neere So they that liu'd within the Lawes Dominion Did heare farre off a Bruit and buzz'd Opinion A Sauiour one day should be borne but hee That had a Perspectiue of Faith might see That long-expected Day of Ioy as cleere As if the Triumph had been then kept there Lord so direct me in thy perfect VVay That I may looke and smile vpon that Day O! bathe me in his Blood spunge euery Staine That I may boldly sue my Counter-paine O! make me Glorious in the Doome he giues For sure I am that my Redeemer liues THE ARGVMENT Earths happinesse is not Heauens brand Arash recounting of Iob's crimes Iob trusts him to th' Almighties hand God tyes his Iudgements not to Times Sect. 13. THen Iob replyde O let your patience proue You came not to afflict me but in Loue. O! beare with me heare me speak at leisure My speech once ended mock scoffe your pleasure Myst'ries I treat not Toyes If then I range A thought beyond my selfe it is not strange Behold my case and stand amaz'd forbeare me Be still and in your deeper silence heare me Search you the hearts of man my Friends or can You iudge the Inward by the Outward man How haps the Wicked then so sound in Health So ripe in Yeeres so prosperous in Wealth They multiplie their House is
th' Almighties power Pleads still his owne Integrity Gods Wisedome no man can discouer Sect. 14. SAid Bildad then With whom dost thou contest But with thy Maker that liues euer blest His Powr's infinite mans light is dimme And knowledge darknesse not deriu'd from Him Say then Who can be iust before Him No man Can challenge Purity that 's borne of Woman The greater Torch of heauen in his sight Shall be asham'd and lose his purer light Much lesse can man that is but liuing Dust And but a fairer Worme be pure and iust Whereat Iob thus Doth heauens high Iudgement stand To be supported by the weaker hand Wants Hee thy helpe To whom dost thou extend These these thy lauish lips and to what end No Hee 's Almighty and his Power doth giue Each thing his Being and by Him they liue To him is nothing darke his soueraigne Hands Whirle round the restlesse Orbs his Pow'r cōmands Th' euen poys'd Earth The Water-pots of heauen He empties at his pleasure and hath giuen Appoynted lists to keepe the Waters vnder The trembling Skies he strikes amaz'd with thunder These these the Trophies of his Power be Where is there e're a such a God as He My friends These eares haue heard your censures on me And Heauens sharp hand doth waigh so hard vpō me So languishing in griefe that no defence Seemes to remaine to shield my Innocence Yet while my soule a gaspe of breath affords I 'le not distrust my Maker nor your words Deserue which Heauen forfend that euer I Proue true but I 'le plead guiltlesse till I dye While I haue breath my pangs shal ne'r perswade me To wander and reuolt from Him that made me Er'e such thoughts spring from this confused brest Let death and tortures doe their worst their best What gaines the Hypocrite although the whole Worlds wealth he purchase with the price on 's soule Will Heauen heare the voyce of his disease Can he repent and turne where-e're he please True God doth sometime plague with open shame The wicked often blurres he forth his Name From out the earth his children shall be slaine And who suruiue shall beg their bread in vaine What if his Gold be heap'd the Good man shall Possesse it as true Master of it All Like Moths their houses shall they build in doubt And danger euery houre to be cast out Besieg'd with Want their lips make fruitlesse moane Yet wanting succour be relieu'd by none The worme of Conscience shall torment his brest And he shall rore when others be at rest Gods hand shall scourge him that he cannot flye And men shall laugh and hisse to heare him cry The purest metall 's hid within the Mould Without is grauell but within is Gold Man digs and in his toyle he takes a pleasure He seekes and finds within the turfe the Treasure He neuer rests vnsped but vnderneath He mines and progs though in the fangs of death No secret how obscure soeuer can Earths bosome smother that 's vnfound by man But the Diuine and high Decrees of heauen What mind can search into No power 's giuen To mortall man whereby he may attaine The rare discouery of so high a straine Diue to the depth of darknesse and the deepes Renounce this Wisedome The wide Ocean keepes Her not inclos'd 'T is not the purest Gold Can purchase it or heapes of siluer told The Pearles and peerelesse Treasures of the East Resined Gold and Gemmes are all the least Of nothings if compar'd with It as which Earths masse of treasure summ'd is not so Rich Where rests this Wisedome then If men enquire Below they find her not or if they higher Soare with the Prince of Fowles they still despaire The more they seeke the further off they are Ah friends how more then men how Eagle-eyde Are you to see what to the world beside Was darke To you alone in trust was giuen To search into the high Decrees of Heauen You read his Oracles you vnderstand To riddle forth mans Fortunes by his Hand Your wisedomes haue a priuiledge to know His secret Smiling from his angry Brow Let shame preuent your lips recant and giue To the Almighty his Prerogatiue To him the searching of mens hearts belong Mans iudgement sinkes no deeper then the tongue Hee ouerlookes the World and in one space Of time his Eye is fixt on euery place He waigh'd the Waters ballanc'd out the Ayre What-e're hath Being did his Hands prepare He wills that Mortals be not ouer-wise Nor iudge his Secrets with censorious eyes Meditatio quartadecima T Is Vertue to flye Vice Ther 's none more stout Then he that ventures to pick Vertue out Betwixt a brace of vices Dangers stand Threatning his ruine vpon either hand His Card must guide him lest his Pinnace runne Vpon Charibdis while it Scylla shun In moderation all Vertue lyes 'T is greater folly to be ouer-wise Then rudely ignorant The golden meane Is but to know enough safer to leane To Ignorance then Curiositie For lightning blasts the Mountaines that are high The first of men from hence deseru'd his fall He sought for secrets and sought death withall Secrets are vnfit obiects for our eyes They blind vs in beholding he that tryes To handle water the more hard he straines And gripes his hand the lesse his hand retaines The mind that 's troubled with that pleasing itch Of knowing Secrets hauing flowne a pitch Beyond it selfe the higher it ascends And striues to know the lesse it apprehends That secret Wiseman is an open Foole Which takes a Councel-chamber for a Schoole The eye of man desires no farther light Then to descry the obiect of his sight And rests contented with the Sunnes reflection But lab'ring to behold his bright complection If it presume t' outface his glorious Light The beames bereaue him iustly of his sight Euen so the mind should rest in what 's reueal'd But ouer-curious if in things conceald She wade too farre beyond her depth vnbounded Her knowledge will be lost and she confounded Farre safer 'tis of things vnsure to doubt Then vndertake to riddle secrets out It was demanded once What God did doe Before the World he framed Whereunto Answere was made He built a Hell for such As are too curious would know too much Who flies with Icarus his father shall Haue Icarus his fortunes and his fall A noble Prince whose bounteous hand was bent To recompence his seruants faith and vent The earnest of his fauours did not proffer But wil'd him boldly to preuent his offer Thankfull he thus reply'd Then grant vnto me This boone With-hold thy princely secrets from me That holy Man in whose familiar eare Heauen oft had thundred might not come too neare The Temple must haue Curtaines mortall hearts Must rest content to see his Hinder parts I care not Lord how farre thy Face be off If I but kisse thy Hand I haue enough
mark'd the Earth of what a bulke she is Know'st thou the place whence Light or Darknesse springs Can thy deepe age vnfold these secret things Know'st thou the cause of Snow or Haile which are My fierce Artill'ry in my time of warre Who is 't that rends the gloomy Clouds in sunder Whose sudden rapture strikes forth Fire Thunder Or who bedewes the Earth with gentle showres Filling her pregnant soyle with fruits and flowres What Father got the Raine from what chill wombe Did Frosts and hard-congealed Waters come Canst thou restraine faire Maia's course or stint her Or sad Orion vshering in the Winter Will scorching Cancer at thy summons come Or Sun-burnt Autumne with her fruitfull wombe Knowst thou Heauens course aboue or dost thou know Those gentle Influences here below Who was 't inspir'd thy Soule with Vnderstanding And gaue thy Spirit the spirit of Apprehending Dost thou command the Cesternes of the Skie To quench the thirsty soyle or is it I Nay let thy practice to the Earth descend Proue there how farre thy power doth extend From thy full hand will hungry Lions eate Feed'st thou the empty Rauens that cry for meate Sett'st thou the Season when the fearefull Hind Brings forth her painefull birth Hast thou assign'd The Mountaine Goate her Time Or is it I Canst thou subiect vnto thy soueraigntie The vntam'd Vnicorne Can thy hard hand Force him to labour on thy fruitfull land Did'st thou inrich the Peacock with his Plume Or did that Steele-digesting Bird assume His downie flags from thee Didst thou endow The noble Stallion with his Strength Canst thou Quaile his proud courage See his angry breath Puffes nothing forth but feares summ'd vp in death Marke with what pride his horny hoofes doe tabor The hard resounding Earth with how great labor How little ground he spends But at the noyse And fierce Alar'm of the hoarse Trumpets voyce He breakes the rankes amidst a thousand Speares Pointed with death vndaunted at the feares Of doubtfull warre he rushes like a Ranger Through euery Troope scornes so braue a danger Doe loftie Haggards cleaue the flitting Ayre With Plumes of thy deuising Then how dare Thy rauenous lips thus thus at randome runne And counter-maund what I the Lord haue done Think'st thou to learne fond Mortall thus by diuing Into my secrets or to gaine by striuing Pleade then No doubt but thine will be the Day Speake peeuish Plaintiffe if th' ast ought to say Iob then reply'd Great God I am but Dust My heart is sinfull and thy hands are Iust I am a Sinner Lord my words are wind My thoughts are vaine Ah Father I haue sinn'd Shall Dust replie I spake too much before I 'le close these lips and neuer answere more Meditatio octauadecima O Glorious Light A light vnapprehended By mortall Eyes O Glorie neuer ended Nor e're created whence all Glorie springs In heauenly bodies and in earthly things O power Immense deriued from a Will Most Iust and able to doe all but ill O Essence pure and full of Maiestie Greatnesse it selfe and yet no Quantitie Goodnesse and without Qualitie producing All things from out of Nothing and reducing All things to nothing past all comprehending Both First and Last and yet without an Ending Or yet beginning filling euery Creature And not it selfe included aboue Nature Yet not excluded of it Selfe subsisting And with it Selfe all other things assisting Diuided yet without diuision A perfect Three yet Three entirely One Both One in Three and Three in One together Begetting and begotten and yet neither The Fountaine of all Arts Confounding Art Both All in All and All in euery part Still seeking Glorie and still wanting none Though Iust yet reaping where Thou ne'r hast sowne Great Maiestie since Thou art euery where O Why should I misdoubt thy Presence here I long haue sought Thee but my ranging heart Ne'r quests and cannot see thee where thou art There 's no Defect in thee thy light hath shin'd Nor can be hid Great God but I am blind O cleare mine eyes and with thy holy Fire Inflame my brest and edge my dull desire Wash me with Hysope clense my stained thoughts Renew my spirit blurre forth my secret faults Thou tak'st no pleasure in a Sinners death For thou art Life thy Mercy 's not beneath Thy sacred Iustice Giue thy seruant power To seek aright and hauing sought discouer Thy glorious Presence Let my blemisht Eye See my saluation yet before I dye O then my Dust that 's bowell'd in the ground Shall rise with Triumph at the welcome sound Of my Redeemers earth-awaking Trumpe Vnfrighted at the noyse no sullen Dumpe Of selfe-confounding Conscience shall affright me For Hee 's my Iudge whose dying Blood shall quite me THE ARGVMENT God speakes to Iob the second time Iob yeelds his sinne repents his crime God checks his Friends restores his health Giues him new issue double wealth Sect. 19. ONcemore the Mouth of heauē rapt forth a voice The troubled Firmament was fill'd with noise The Rafters of the darkned Skie did shake For the Eternall thundred thus and spake Collect thy scattred senses and aduise Rouze vp fond man and answere my replies Wilt thou make Comments on my Text and must I be vnrighteous to conclude thee Iust Shall my Decrees be licenced by thee What canst thou thunder with a Voyce like Me Put on thy Robes of Maiestie Be clad With as bright glorie Iob as can be had Make fierce thy frownes and with an angry face Confound the Proud and his high thoughts abase Pound him to Dust Doe this and I will yeeld Thou art a God and need'st no other shield Behold the Castle-bearing Elephant That wants no bulke nor doth his greatnesse want An equall strength Behold his massie bones Like barres of Yron like congealed stones His knottie sinewes are Him haue I made And giuen him naturall weapons for his aide High Mountaines beare his food the shady boughes His Couerts are Great Riuers are his Troughs Whose deepe Carouses would to standers-by Seeme at a watring to draw Iordan drie What skilfull huntsman can with strength out-dare him Or with what Engins can a man ensnare him Hast thou beheld the huge Leuiathan That swarthy Tyrant of the Ocean Can Thy bearded hooke impierce his Gils or make him Thy landed Pris'ner Can thy Angles take him Will he make suite for fauour from thy hands Or be enthralled to thy fierce Commands Will he be handled as a Bird Or may Thy fingers bind him for thy childrens play Let men be wise for in his lookes he hath Displayed Banners of vntimely death If Creatures be so dreadfull how is he More bold then wise that dares encounter Me What hand of man can hinder my designe Are not the Heauens and all beneath them mine Dissect the Greatnesse of so vast a Creature By view of seuerall parts Summe vp his feature Like Shields his Scales are plac't which neither Art Knowes
how to sunder nor yet Force can part His Belching rucks forth flames his mouing Eye Shines like the glory of the morning Skie His craggie Sinewes are like wreathes of brasse And from his mouth quicke flames of fier passe As from an Ouen the temper of his Heart Is like a Nether-milstone which no Dart Can pierce secured from the threatning Speare Affraid of none he strikes the World with feare The Bow-mans brawnie arme sends Shafts in vaine They fall like Stubble or bound backe againe Stones are his Pillow and the Mud his Downe In earth none greater is nor equall none Compar'd with him all things he doth deride And well may challenge to be King of Pride So said th' amazed Iob bent downe his eyes Vpon the ground and sadly thus replyes I know Great God there 's nothing hard to Thee Thy thoughts are pure and too too deepe for me I am a Foole and my distempered Wits Longer out-strayed my Tongue then well befits My knowledge slumbred while my Lips did chat And like a Foole I spake I knew not what Lord teach me Wisdome lest my proud Desire Cinge her bold Feathers in thy sacred Fire Mine Eare hath oft been rounded with thy storie But now these very Eyes haue seene thy Glorie My sinfull Words I not alone lament But in the horror of my Soule repent Repent with Teares in Sackcloth mourne in Dust I am a sinfull man and Thou art Iust Thou Eliphaz that mak'st my sacred Word An Engine of Despaire said then the Lord Behold full vyals of my Wrath attends On thee and on thy two too-partiall Friends For you haue iudg'd amisse and haue abus'd My Word to worke your Ends falsely accus'd My righteous Seruant Of you all there 's none Hath spoke vprightly as my Iob hath done Haste then before my kindling Fire begin To slame and each man offer for his Sin A Sacrifice by Iob my seruants hand And for his sake your Offrings shall withstand The Wages of your sinnes for what can I If Iob my Seruant make request denie So strait they went and after speedy pardon Desir'd and had the righteous Iob for guerdon Of his so tedious Griefe obtain'd the health Of a sound Body and encrease of Wealth So that the second Haruest of his store Was double that which he enioy'd before Ere this was blazed in the Worlds wide Eares The frozen brests of his Familiars And cold Allyes being now dissolu'd in Griefe His backward Friends came to him with Reliefe To feede his Wants and with sad showring eyes To moane his yet supposed Miseries Some brought him Sheepe to blesse his emptie Fold Some precious Earerings others Rings of Gold God blest his loines from whence there sprang again The number of his children that were slaine Nor was there any in the Land so rare In vertue as his Daughters or so faire Long after this he liu'd in peace to see His childrens children to the fourth Degree Till at the length cut short by Him that stayes For none he dyed in Peace and full of Dayes Meditatio vltima EVill's the defect of Good and as a shade That 's but the Ruines of the Light decay'd It hath no Beeing nor is vnderstood But by the Opposition of Good What then is man whose purest thoughts are prest For Satans warre which from the tender brest With Infant silence haue consented to Such sinfull Deeds as babes they could not doe What then is man but Nothing being Euill His Lunatick affections doe vnleuell What Heauen created by iust Waight and Measure In Pleasures sincke he takes a swinelike Pleasure His span of life and beautie's like a Flower Faire flourishing and fading in an hower He breakes into the World with Teares and then Departs with Griefe nor knowing How nor When. His life 's a Bubble full of seeming Blisse The more it lengthens the more short it is Begot in darknesse hee 's brought forth and cryes For succour passes ore the Stage and dyes Yet like a Moale the earth he vndermines Making the World the Forge of his designes He plots complots foresees preuents directs He hopes he feares he doubts pursues effects Each hath his Plot each one his course doth bend Each hath his Proiect and each one his end Thus restlesse man doth still his soule molest To finde out that which hath no Being Rest Thus trauels sinfull man in endlesse toyle Taking a pleasure in his owne turmoyle Fond man first seeke to purchase that diuine And sacred Prize and all the World is thine Great Salomon made suit for Wisedome and he found Not barely Wisedome but that Wisedome crown'd With Diademes of wealth and faire encrease Of princely Honours with long dayes of peace With safe respect and awfull reuerence To Mystryes Meditation doth commence An earnest doubt Was Iobs dispoyled Flock Restored double Was his former Stock Renew'd with double vantage Did heauen adde To all his fortunes double what he had Yet those sweet Emblemes of his dearest loue His sonnes whom Death vntimely did remoue From off the face of the vnthankfull earth Why likewise sprang not they in double birth Bruit beasts that perish once are lost for euer Their substance and their All consume together Once hauing giuen a farewell to the light They dye and with them is perpetuall night But man vnorgan'd by the hand of Death Dyes not is but transplanted from beneath Into a fairer soyle or as a stranger Brought home secure from the worlds pleasing Danger Iobs Flocks were lost and therefore double giuen His Issu's equall shar'd 'twixt Earth and Heauen One halfe in heauen are glorious in their doome Ingag'd as Pledges till the other come Great God! my Time 's but short and long my Way My Heart hath lost her Path and gone astray My spirit 's faint and fraile my soul 's imbost If thou helpe not I am for euer lost Though Dust and Ashes yet am I thy Creature How e're my sinnes are great thy Mercy 's greater Of Nothing did'st thou make me and my sinne Hath turn'd me back to Nothing once agin Create me a new heart great God inspire My cold Affections with thy sacred Fire Instruct my Will and rectifie my Wayes O teach me Lord to number out my Dayes The Digestion of the whole HISTORIE 1 In Prosperity THou whose lanke fortunes heauē hath sweld with Make not thy selfe by ouer-wishing poore store Husband that Good which else Abuse makes Bad Abstracting where thy base Desire would adde Lines flowing from a Sophoclean Quill Deserue no Plaudit ' being Acted ill 2 In Aduersity Hath heauē withdrawn the Talent he hath giuē thee Hath enuious Death of all thy Sons bereau'n thee Haue foule Diseases foyl'd thee on the floore He earnes no sweet that neuer tasted sowre Thou art a Scholler if thy Tutor doe Pose thee too hard Hee will instruct thee too 3 In Tentation Art thou oppos'd to thine vnequall Foe