God long suffreth and leaveth some to vngraciousnes and payeth the mighty mightily And who can deny this Chap. XXV Bildad Although the state of men be on earth confused God on high is terrible to all about him who see his angry face vpō them that despised his covenant of grace but rebelled against him whose worme shall not die and vvhose fyre shall not be quenched On high is terrour so peace his armies of light be innumerable his light overshineth all where sorowfull-man could not abide an angels light And what should he plead justice with the Omnipotent In the moone he teacheth vs that it hath not clearnes of it self neither be starres bright when he will shine in the redemption And what should one of Adam plead vvith God We are but vvormes Chap. XXVI Iob. Thou helpest nothing nor shewest wisdome Who vvould admire so vveak a speach to tell a litle of Gods terrour on high Who knovveth not that or vvho vvould plead justice vvith God I tould you Ch. 9. none can be just before God but as in mercy he held me his servant and I haue run for the goale of the heavenly calling I vvould plead vvhy I am thus punished and touching honour to God for his vvorkes yee shall see vvhat I can say Thou speakest of his povver on high it reacheth to the furthest off The sea bottom hath thinges without life formed as ambre and pearle and topaz and such The lovv earth seeming lost and cast off is shevved to have stones precious and for building and coales He turneth the heavens about vpon no stay and hangeth the earth in the middes The heavie meteores he bindeth beautifieth the ayer as a palace for him self The vnconstant sea he kepeth in boundes and maketh mountaynes as Atlas the Pillars of heaven to shake The divisions of all seas and great rivers through mountaynes shevv his povver By his spirit he trimmed the heavens by a most pleasant situation of starres to be remembred by formes of creatures This on high and belovv his hand hath made the great terrible Whales And these are but part of his vvayes and vvhat a small thing can vve heare of him as vvhen you teach me slenderly hovv to seek to him by repentance Novv the thunder of his povver vvho can vnderstand as hovv the vvicked armies in millions fall to Eternall death and the old vvorld the builders of Babel are cast off and hovv God hath set vnto vvrath all them vvhom he hath not chosen of Eternitie to seek him in this life and here to honour him These be his hid vvorkes Ch. XXVII and XXVIII Now as the Almighty vvhich hath brought my soule to bitternes doth live my lippes shall not speak the vnright I will not justifie you nor remove my integrity from me My enemy shal be as the wicked and my adversary as the vnrighteous This I speak vnto you Eliphaz Zophar and Bildad If I had bene an hypocrite what hope could I have when God should shake off my soule Would the Omnipotent heare my cry I will teach you of Gods hand and ye have seen it Wicked tyrants shall come to nothing eyther in their life or soon after This is the ordinarie course of Gods judgement But God in pacience often suffreth much knowing his heavie punishment God openeth exceeding secrets of his works in the earth but none of them have any resemblance of his dealing in his counsel for men cast off or spared But each one should feare him and labour to eschew evill Chap. XXIX and XXX and XXXI I Iob was in high prosperitie a Prince in our confederate states for sage counsel all gaue place I aey defēded the poore in right I brake the tuskes of the vnright and I was loved accordingly And this was long according to Gods ordinarie favour to the rulers in justice I washed my steppes in butter of sheepes milk Camels milk and I had woodes in stony ground of olives which I bought Ch. 31. 39. Young and aged princes and oratours gaue me place when I went to judgement court They regarded me as the raine and gaped as to the latter showres But now for grave aged and nobles young vile-mens sonnes the basest that can be a vile kind banished from the earth arise against me thrust my feet and hold my heavines a profit They rejoyce as though they had been the better by my sad case As waters in part of a weare broken all tumble so they vpon my miserie And they vex my former noble case become now as a wind And by Gods hand my sicknes is vnspeakeable and he is turned to me as one cruell and I know to death will he turne me When others were in hard case I parched in sorow and should but for some hid judgement of God feel the like Not for my sin as come punishment For my eyes durst not look vpon a mayd I held that adultery and sure of heavie punishment I vsed my servant as knowing that I had a Lord in heaven I let the poore haue what they could wish specially the sad widow the fatherles ate with me The naked I cloathed the orphane I protected covetousnes I hated and starr worship I detested I rejoyced not in my foes hurt passengers by had my servants portion that they tarried for a new dynner to be dressed that they sayd ô that we had the flesh prepared for vs vve vvould soone eat it vp we come so hungry from work The stranger lodged not in the streets I opened my doores to travellers Abraham and Lot taught me such hospitalitie If my folk did any wrong and they complayned I covered not my trespas like Adam hiding my sin of self-love Though I could oppresse a great troup But such families come to basenes That made me shrink and that made me dum that I never went out of doores to plead in injurie but at home made content That all this is true I wish the almighty would plead And lastly this if ever I ran into my neighbours ground to plow or grase without pay then let thornes grow in steed of wheat and darnell in stead of barley Ch. XXXII and XXXIII Elihu the Buzite of Buz Abrahams brothers sonne of the familie of Ram famous then for knowledge Auz was the eldest brother and to the eldest to avoid envie would Abraham send the sonnes of Ketura Auz Buz Ier. 25. are together in Arabia Rebecca Iacob seem to haue left religiō in Nachors house That Elihu should be rare of knowledge He endeth the disputation Nowlet speak Elihu Elihu I am young and yee old therefore I reverenced and feared to shew my mind among you For I thought many yeares will teach wisdome Certes a spirit is in sad-man and the almighties breath to wise them Men of not great time may be wise as the old vnderstand the right Therefore I say ô Iob heare thou me novv I also will shew my
and â—â—ft vp thy countenance vnto the Puissant 27 Thou shalt crave good of him and he shall heare â—hee and thou shalt pay thy vowes 28 And thou shalt decree a matter it shall stand so â—or thee and in thy wayes shall the light shine 29 When others shal be humbled thou shalt speak â—f exaltation as the humble eyed he will save 30 He will spare the innocent who shal be spared for â—hy pure hands CHAP. XXIII THen Iob answered and sayd 2 Yet this day my sighing is holden a rebellion though my stroke be greater then my â—roning 3 O that I knew how to find him that I might come into his throne 4 I would lay the cause before him and fill my mouth with arguments 5. Would know what words he would answer me would perceive what he would tell me 6 Would he by great power plead against me No but he would help me 7 There the vpright doth plead with him so should I â—e quit for ever by my judge 8. Go I Eastward there he is not or westward I 〈…〉 not mark him 9. On the left hand when he worketh I cannot vi 〈…〉 him when he covereth the right hand I can not see him 10 But he knowes what way is with me tryed he mâ— I should come forth as gold 11. My foot hath held his right path his way have kept and not turned away 12. And his lippes lawes I cast not of More then m 〈…〉 dayly bread have I layd vp the wordes of his mouth 13 Yet when he is against me who can stay him h 〈…〉 soule willeth and that doth he 14 Because he furnished me with my dayly breadâ— and many such graces are with him 15. Therefore I shrink at his presence I consider anâ— am afrayd of him 16 For the Omnipotent hath loftened mine hart anâ— the Almighty hath made me shrink 17 Because I have not dyed by thick-darknes nor H 〈…〉 yet hideth gloomynesse from my face CHAP. XXIV WHy should not times be hid by the almighty for none that know him see his wayes 2. Men remove landmarks rob away heards and feed them 3 They drive away the asse of the fatherlesse and t 〈…〉 the oxe of the widow for a pledge 4. They make the poore turne out of the way t 〈…〉 meek of the land hide themselves together 5 Behold the wild in the wildernes go forth to their york rising timely to spoile the vast-ground giveth him â—read for his young 6. They reap the field that is not their own so the wicâ—ed snap of the vineyards grapes 7. The naked they do cause to lodge without garment â—nd without covering in the cold 8. They are moistened with the streams of the mounâ—aines and for want of covert they imbrace the rock 9 Of mischievousnes they rob the fatherles and take â—way as a pledge that which the poor hath vpon him 10 The naked they cause to go without garment â—hey take away the sheaf of the hungry 11 Men make oyle within their walls tread wineâ—resses and are thirstie 12. In the citie folk doe grone and the soule of the â—layne cryeth and the Puissant marketh not the vnsaâ—orie dealings 13. They are of rebellers against the light They know â—ot his wayes nor keep in his pathes 14. With the light the murtherer riseth he killeth the â—eedy and poore and on the night he wil be a very â—heife 15. The ey of the adulterer watcheth the twylight saying No ey shall see me and layeth a visard vpon his face 16. In the dark he diggeth houses which he marâ—ed on the day tyme they know no light 17. For altogether the morning is vnto them the shadow of death if any spy them then come terrours of the shadow of death 18 He is lighter then the face of waters their portiâ—â— is cursed on the earth none will look vnto the way of the vineyards 19 Drought and heat quickly take away snow waters the grave them that sinne 20 The wombe shall forget him he is sweet to the worme he shal be no more remembred and wickedneâ— is broken downe as a tree 21. HE adioyneth the barren which hath not borne child and to the widow HE sheweth no good 22 And HE draweth the stout after him by his might while ech stood none was sure of his life 23 HE would give them security to stay vpon But his eyes was vpon their wayes 24 They were exalted a short while but come to nothing so they are brought low every one are made to skip away they are cutt off as an eare of corne 25. If it be not so now who will prove me a liar and make my wordes nothing CHAP. XXV THen answered Bildad the Shuchite and sayd 2 Dominion and feare be with him he maketh peace in his high places 3. Can his armies be numbred or over whome doth not his light shine 4 And what should sorowful-man plead iustice with the Omnipotent or the borne of woman look to be cleared 5 Look vnto the moon and it will not be bright the starres are not cleare in his eyes 6. Much lesse sorowful-man a worme the sonne of Adam a vermin CHAP. XXVI THen Iob answered and sayd 2 What helpest thou to no strength and savest with an arme having no force 3 What doest thou counsel without wisdome makest advice knowen aboundantly 4 With whom hast thou vttered speach and whose â—oule admired thee 5 Things without life are formed vnder the waters and places neare them 6 The lowest earth is naked afore him and the lost hath no covering 7. He stretcheth out the North vpon the empty and hangeth the earth vpon nothing 8. He bindeth waters in his thick-metcores and the clowd is not broken for them 9. He fasteneth the face of the throne He spreadeth beawtifully his clowd over it 10 A bound he hath made for the face of the waters vnto the end of light with darknes 11. The pillars of the heavens shake and are amazed at his check 12 By his strength he divides the sea and by his wisdome he parted the maine-water 13 By his spirit he garnished the heavens his hand hath formed the long serpent 14 Lo these are part of his wayes and what a small thing can we heare of him And the thunder of his power who can vnderstand CHAP. XXVII ANd Iob proceeded to continue his Oration and sayd 2. As the Omnipotent liveth which hath removed my cause the Almighty which hath brought my soule to bitternes 3. Surely all the while that my breath is in me and the spirit of the Puissant in my nostrels 4. My lippes shall not speake the vnright and my tongue shall not sound vntruth 5. Be it farr from me that I should justify you vntil I give vp the ghost I will not remove myne integritie froÌ„ me 6 I
prayeth God to testify that by his owne judgement Chap. XXXV Iobs justice or sin cannot reach to help or hurt to God the height of the heavens might teach that Oppressed cry but faithles in vain more proude contemners who sayd God will not regard now because neyther Gods justice vpon all nor his pacience is regarded God is angry with Iob. Chap. XXXVI Elihu sheweth Iob of Gods power tendering of his creature of his judgements and mercies and biddeth Iob apply himself accordingly considering Gods judgement Politicall and Physicall in the meteores Chap. XXXVII Thunder lightening snow rain ice sayre weather shew power and mercy towards man that he afflicteth not but provoked that the world may be governed iâ— order Chap. XXXVIII God sheweth Iobs shortnes in vvisdome to plead iâ— Gods causes by the earth how it stands vvhich thingâ— the Angels the first with the heavens admired by the sea how the shores keep it in by night and day hovv they have limits by the bottom of the sea and parts that seeâ— cast off by snow and haile for Gods judgements by lightening and great rain by lesser and dew by ice and frostâ— by the starres for all seasons by their operation vpon the earth by planting wisedome in mans soule by making the clovvdes saphirlike by calling the raine to fall out of them to clod the earth That which may be knowen of God his eternall power and Godhead wisdome may hence see to be vnsearchable Chap. XXXIX The Beasts and fowles on the earth and ayer cal Iob to see weaknes of judgement As how the Lions in the 〈…〉 dennes have beasts to come neare to be caught and how the ravens forgetfull and foule kindes breed The wil 〈…〉 goat among beasts in the high rocks keep their young frâ—â— being taken and hindes hide cunningly their faons Th 〈…〉 wild beast the wild asse hath also a strange course And the Vnicorne or Indians asse a straungier Again in foules the Peacock hath a proud feather the Curlew a flighty the Estrich a brave a braue hath the Estrich the dull of vnderstanding which leaveth her egges in the sand not thinking whether beastes tread them Yet by Gods providence they breed to passe the horse with legges and wing Also the horse sheweth Gods power by his boldnes in snurting digging the ground and desire to fight Also Gods wisdome passeth mans reach in the hauks change to South and North and in the Egles wit to nest on the tooth of a rock and in sharpe sight to find prey a pattern for the godly to search where Christ may be found And none but of sharpe sight wil be cheif guides herein Chap. XL. Iob not knowing Gods counsel in these visible things should not plead with God for justice Now for Gods power as Elihu shewed it in taming the proude Ch. 34. 24. c. so God doth after long pacience to shew his power and justice vpon vessels of wrath bent to destruction And who is he that will plead with God who cannot speak to this Of the Elephant The Elephant sheweth Gods power not a devouring beast but fed with grasse like the oxe what strength is in his loynes what force in the navel of his belly his yard is like the Ceder the nerves of his stones like the branches of a tree his bones and ioynts as iron steel God can tame him who made him a strong one and quiet to ly among willowes and heavie great wight yet not by force will pierce his snorte And thus the power of God passeth mans reach in a quiet dryland beast Chap. XLI The Whale in the sea sheweth that they curse their daâ— that course him and Dionysius the Greek Geographer borne neare Iobs countrey at Teredon on the Persiaâ— gulph remembranceth vvhales hunting there and poetically how they svvallovvship and all If none dare medle vvith a fish in vvatery not hard earth breed vvho dare compare vvith God for Iobs afflictions or as S. Paul citeth this place for election or rejection Rom. 9. 11. vvho first could give to God that he should be bound to repay them Iob the godlyest could not plead but must stand to Gods mercy All that is vnder heaven is Gods Satans fall and all are from him and by him and for him he praedestined them not that is he furthered not their meanes but gaue infinite arguments of better advisement but set them to anger leaving them vnsearchably to rebellion Of the Whale A description of the Whales nature for a waterie creature to teach all of Gods power yea and of the God of this world Satan by Gods iust judgment as the LXX here allude 1. An huck will not dravv him 2. a cord cannot be put in his tongue 3. no rush in his nose 4. no thorne shall perse his chekes He vvill not be taken vvith sharpe pickes in skin or head They are deceived vvho think to take him and vvill not tvvise fight but curse their day Who can bring him out of the sea and take avvay the vvaters the garment that covereth him Who dare medle vvith the iavves of his face vvith a snaffuld his teeth be terrible his skales one continued matter His snurting maketh a light his eyes be great as the mornings his eyes sends forth torches vvith sparkles of leaping fyre and all terribles of a creature is in him Mans weapons hurt him not and he despiseth all all of the earth which should be stronger by mans esteeme then the sea as all other fish be weakeâ— then beasts But God would have his will to rule and over-rule his meanes that his will might be knowen the ground of all who will suffer no pleading for his dealings full of power and justice mercy in Christ as Iob told Chap. 19. Chap. XLII Iob repenteth and his fellowes and sacrifice in Christ pleaseth God and Iob is double happy IOB BROVGHT ON TO FAMILIAR DIALOGUE AND PARAPHRASE FOR EASIER ENTENDEMENT TO WHICH IF ANY REQVIRE FVRTHER RESOLUTION QVAESTIONS VPON THEIR DOVBTS SHALBE ADDED By HVGH BROVGHTON Of Iob brought into dialogue for our familiar speach THe case of Iob that he the godliest in the world should be most afflicted would not be vnderstood of the children of this world But that was to teach that the world of soules was the world of reward as AbrahaÌ„ Isaac Iacob lived here in a peregrinatioÌ„ looking for the heaveÌ„ly citie which God praepared for them in that part of Haides Luc. 16. which was the kingdome of heaven as Chrysostome speaketh vpon 2 Cor. Hom. 6. Although the outward doctrine of the law had not perfection God providing somewhat better for vs that they should not have perfection in this world without vs yet for perfect comprehending of Christ by spirit of prophecy and plenty of grace they far passed vs. In Iob God would revive Abrahams case before the law was geven which taught dull Israel by outward blessings closly after spech of all such how he would
answered the Eternal vnto Iob out of the whirlewind and sayd 2 What a man is this that darkneth counsel by words voyd of knowledg 3. Gird now thy loynes like a man and I will question with thee let me see thy skill 4. Where wast thou when I layd the foundation of the earth tell if thou know vnderstanding 5. Who set her measures for thou wilt be skilfull or who hath stretched the line vpon it 6. Wherevpon are her foundations sunk-fast or who hath cast her corner stone 7. When the morning starres reioyced together and all the sonnes of God showted 8 When he shut vp the sea with doores when it gushed out comming from the wombe 9. When I set a cloud his garment and obscuritie his swadling-band 10. And brake the earth for it by my decree and set barre and doores 11 And said Hitherto thou shalt come but shalt go no further and here shal be an end for the pride of thy waves 12 Hast thou since thy dayes given the morning his charge and hast taught the dawning his place 13. To hold the winges of thé earth that the wicked might be shaken out of it 14 That it should be made diverse as clay to the pictured and things stand vpon it as a garment 15. That the wicked should be restrained of their light and the arme lift vp should be broken 16. Camest thou ever to the springes of the sea or hast thou walked in the border of the deepe 17. Have the gates of death bene opened vnto thee or hast thou seen the gates of the shadow of death 18 Hast thou perceived the breadth of the earth tell if thou knowest it all 19. Where is the way that light dwelleth where is the place of darkenes 20. That thou mayst take it into his border know the pathes of his house 21. Didst thou know that then thou wast to be born the number of thy dayes to be many 22 Hast thou come to the storehouse of snow or hast thou seen the storehouse of haile 23. Which I spare vnto the time of distresse against the day of battell and war 24. By what way is light parted and the eastwind scatterreth it self over the earth 25 Who divided a chanel for the streames and a way for the lightning of thunder 26. To raine vpon the earth where no man is vpon the desert where none of Adam dwelleth 27 To satisfie the wast and vast-ground and to cause the bud of herb to spring fourth 28 Hath the raine a father or vvho begat the misling of devv 29. From vvhose vvomb came the Ice and vvho begat the frost of heaven 30 That the waters hide themselves like a stone and the face of the deep is fastened 31 Canst thou bind the delicacies of Pleiades or loose the bands of Orion 32 Canst thou bring forth Mazaroth in due season canst thou lead Arcturus and her children 33 Doest thou know the rules of heaven or canst thou set his force vpon earth 34 Canst thou lift vp thy voice unto the clowdes that abundance of water cover thee 35. Canst thou send forth the lightnings that they go and say to thee here we are 36. Who hath set wisdome in the reines or who hath given the hart vnderstanding 37 Who could make the ayre Saphir-like by wisedome or distill the barrels of the heavens 38. Sprinkling the dust with this sprinkling that the clods cleave together Chap. XXXIX CAnst thou hunt pray for the hardy-Lion or satisfy the heird of Lions whelpes 2 When they couch in their lodge and tarry in their covert to lye in wait 3 Who could prepare for the raven his food when his young ones cry vnto the Omnipotent they wandring without meat 4. Canst thou know the time when the wild goates bring forth young canst thou mark when hindes calve 5. Canst thou number the monethes that they must fulfill Canst thou know the time when they bring forth young 6. They lie down they calve their young ones passe their travel 7. Their young ones wax strong they grow in the fieldes they go forth and returne not vnto them 8. Who set the wild-asse at liberty or who loosed the bandes of that Arad 9. Even I who made the plaine wildernes his house the barren land his dwelling 10. He scorneth the multitude of the city and will not heare the cry of the driver 11 Chosen places in the mountaynes are his pasture he will seek after every green herbe 12. Will the vnicorne do thee service or will he abide by thy crib 13. Canst thou bind the vnicorne for the furrow by his cords will he plough the valley after thee 14. Mayst thou trust him because his strength is great or leave thy labour vnto him 15 Mayst thou beleev him that he will bring home thy corne or gather it vnto thy barne 16 Couldest thou give the proud wing to the peacock or fether to the stork and estrich 17. Which leaveth her egges in the ground and warmeth them in the dust 18. And forgetteth how a foot may dash them the beasts of the feild may tread vpon them 19. So hard she is to her owne young ones as though they were not hers had laboured in vayn without fear 20. Because the Puissant hath denyed her wisdome not geven her vnderstanding 21. At what time it mounteth on high she scornes the horse and his rider 22. Canst thou give to the horse courage canst thou cloth his neck with thundering 23. Canst thou make him quake as a locust or his proud snurting with terrour 24. His feet will digge in the plaine ground he reioiceth in his strongnes he will go fourth to meet the harnesse 25. He mocks terrour and shrinketh not neither starteth back from the sword 26. Though the quiver rattle vpon him with bright blade with speare with javeling 27 With shaking stirring he beateth vpon the earth will not stand still at the voyce of the trumpet 28. Of the trumpet he will say Heah and from far will smell the battell the thunder and shout of princes 29. Doth the Hauk flee from thy wisdome spreading the winges toward the south 30. Mounts the Eagle on high by thy mouth or doth it make the nest on high 31. He dwelleth and lodgeth on a rock in the edge of a rock and a fortresse 32. Thence he searcheth meat his eyes will see far off 33. His younge nere choke swallowing blood and where carcasses be resort they CHAP. XL. MOreover the Eternall spake to Iob and sayd 2. Who is the pleader that will check the Omnipotent let the reprover of the puissant speak to any on◠of these thinges 3. Then Iob answered the Eternall and sayd 4. Lo I am vile what shall I answer thee I will lay my hand on my mouth 5.