seem to represent In all his actings something of a Saint Yet then he cryes then he repines a main Then he complaines of poverty and pain O then he railes upon that providence Which was in former times his sole defence For now all sorrow wrath and desperation He thinks on nothing less then restauration Whereas before he thought he was so sure His wealth to generations would endure Well I have seen some Gallant in his pride Inâ—ulsly laugh at all the world beside Fix'd and firme-rooted as he did suppose And proof against the batterie of his foes When on a suddain providence would frowne And this same fool would tumble headlong down With all his sins about him in a tryce Kill'd by the fall from glories precipice Then would I say this man deservedly Doth fall and with him all his family Is levelled with dust because he did In such vain transitory things conside For by fair justice he shall be destroy'd And all his unjust purchases made voide Then after he has justly forfeit all He without pity shall most justly fall Those who are hungry shall eat up his grain And reap the profit of his nine Months pain Nay they shall sweep his grounds and fields so clean As his poor children shall find nought to glean The thirsty travellers who for rain doth gape Shall drink up all the substance of his grape For thou must know afflictions do not come By accident as is suppos'd by some On any man nor do Heavens noble laws Allow that any one without a cause Should suffer punishment no not at all There 's no such thing as that you fortune call 'T is a meer notion a device of men To palliate their sins and entertain A proud opinion of their innocence And lay the blame of all on Providence Which they call fortune and conclude from thence When any are afflicted at the rate As thou art now that they 're unfortunate Unlucky and I know not what alace Why should we with such sopperies as these Abuse our selves when certainly we know Who know there is a God things are not so But that our God doth formally arraigne For every sin convict and punish men Then know That no affliction comes by accident But that all Judgements to our doors are sent By rule of Heavens Court where information Is made and prov'd preceeding condemnation Besides as sparks by nature upwards fly So man to sorrows born doth live and dye In a continued sweat of toyle and care With dregs of anger for his daily fare Tortures of mind and body all at once Do suck the marrow from his very bones Nor can he pleasure to himself project Or joy and comfort in this earth expect Were I then in thy lamentable case I 'd not repine but humblie make address To my good God from him I would demand A patient mind and learn to understand From whence such floods of evils do proceed And in my sorrows I my sins would read To him alone my self I would apply To whom the world belongs who sits on High To whom all Creatures in subjection are Whose Jurisdiction doth exceed by far All Powers on Earth who things unsearchable Performes of which we are not capable To give a Judgement things beyond our reach Things which to act no humane Art can Teach 'T is he who makes the Rain from Clouds to fall By which the Earth made pregnant yeelds us all Our Hearts can wish affords us dayly Bread Drink Cloaths and Med'cine and what else we need For Maintnance of that Fabrick which he fram'd To Lodge the Soul and it the Body nam'd The Body O a thing most excellent For whose Subsistence we should even torment Our Souls a very precious thing indeed That on the Labours of the Soul should feed The Body a meer piece of useful Dust Demis'd for some time to the Soul in Trust. Though for its use the too kind Soul at best Payes a severe and dreadful Interest Whilst to afford it pleasure legally It forfaults its own true Felicity What is 't we hugg then what do we esteem A dying thing which scarce deserves a name A thing so long as Soul doth it inspire Moves for a time like Puppet on a Wyre That gone it moves it prats it squeeks no more But a dull piece of Clay as 't was before Breathless and Sapless on the Ground it lies Yet in its Fall its Maker glorifies As well as in its Frame because from thence We learn what Honour and Obedience We owe to him who this fair Fabrick raises And by a Breath destroyes it when he pleases Besides who 'd not in Duty be exact When still before his Eyes he sees the Rack The Axe the Gibbet and in Mind doth feel Sad apprehensions of the dreadful Wheel Is not our case the same do we not see How many thousand Shapes of Death there be Dayly presented to our view to show That after all all to the Grave must go From this fair Topick let us argue then He is our God and we poor sinful men Therefore since to him we owe Life and Breath We should live well that when invading Death Approaches he may find us on our Guard Not by his gastly looks to be out-dar'd For though he seize the Body yet on high The Soul shall live to perpetuity 'T is he the mighty God 't is he alone Who in the Heavens has set up his Throne From whence he orders all things and doth raise This man to honours and that man debase That to th' afflicted he may comfort give And make those whom the world abhorreth live The subtile plottings of our knowing men He disappoints and makes their projects vain He laughs at all their consults and despises Both them and all their silly state devises So that what e're those Crocodiles project Their Machinations never take effect He spoiles their counsels and makes all their wit Like salt whose savour's lost down-right unfit For any thing save at a round of Ale To be the subject of some Country tale For the Worlds wisdom in Gods eyes is folly Their Art but th' product of dull Melancholly Their reasoning is notional and vain Erring in things even evident and plain Things manifest things clear as noon-tide-light To them are dark as to one in the night Who nothing sees gropes but no rode can find And stands confounded betwixt raine and wind Whil'st at each justling shrub his joints do tremble Thinking the Night-thieves round him do assemble Lord what is all we brag of then for what Keep we such toyl on earth is 't only that We may be thought more wise than others are And be esteemed wits 't is very fair A rare designe indeed well worth our pain When after all we learn or can retain All our fine wisdom in Gods eyes is vain For when our Politicians counsel take How they the just and pious man
from the Mothers Nature A creature black with sin Original Before it well its self a man can call One whose defect doth with its life begin And in the Womb becomes acquaint with sin Can he be clean can such a one as he For all the World be esteemed free From all that 's evil Man of a Woman born can he be clean Pray what by such expressions dost thou mean Can any thing that 's good from one proceed Who so much mischief to the World doth breed Who plagues us all with sin that cursed root Which in its season yields no other fruit But sin alone which we do soon disperss Through all the corners of the Universe A fruit in which men drive a constant trade And toil as much as for their daily bread To purchase this dear fruit at any rate In this all mortals do negotiate But after all this Traffique when at last Man on his Death-bed doth begin to cast Th' accounts of this same dismal trade alace How doth he look when all the passages Of his past life before him doth appear And he poor soul already dead with fear Sees by account what profit he has made Through all the course of this unlucky trade Sin upon Sin Loss upon Loss he cries Shuts up his Books curses this trade and dies Yet is this all that Woman doth produce Beseech thee then my friend do not abuse Thy self with fancies as if any thing That 's good from such a tainted root can spring No no wee 're all unclean wee 're sinful all No man on earth himself can upright call What! while the very Saints while travelling here Bedaub'd with sin did in his sight appear Nay even the Heavens themselves are in his eye Grossely unclean full of Deformity Will man pretend that he is clean will he Who 's sin in the superlative degree Who in provocking God takes such delite As in his food and sins with appetite Who greedily sucks in iniquity Shall he pretend i' th' least to purity No sure thou err'st my friend but if thou 'lt hear What 's for thy good I freely will declare What I have seen and in my time have learn'd What with great pains and labour I have earn'd I 'le tell thee things which prudent men of old Have by their Reverend Ancestors been told What these did not think fit to be conceal'd But for their childrens benefit reveal'd Who by learn'd Sayings and wise Apothegms In History have Eterniz'd their Names Who by their Prudence did so moderate And mannage that which God had allocate To them for their inheritance so well With such Discretion and did so excell I' th' art of Government mentaining peace With all their Neighbours living in such case Amongst themselves as none durst undertake T invade them or atempt i' th' least to break Their firm confederacy which of old They had so founded as nor Steel nor Gold Could cut that Knot nor could the smiling tricks Of States-men countermine their Politicks In short they did possess and govern all As if their Land had been Allodial As if it had belong'd to them alone And save o' th' King of Heavens they held of none Those men have told us that the wicked are Most miserable in continual fear In pains like those of Child-birth still they lie Exclaiming in the extream agonie Of a sad troubled conscience which alace Allowes them ease scarce a small moments space The cruel man is never void of fear But fancies Death attends him every where For when he calls to mind by what Oppressions He has enlarg'd his Titles and Posessions How many he has ruin'd and undone And eat up all their means since he begun To set up for himself how cunningly ' Has turned out many a goodly family And sent them all a begging he from thence Infallibly concludes All hate him curse him do his name abhorr And as they ask their alms from door to door They tell by whose oppression they are poor Then when he thus reflects and calls to mind How hateful he s become to all mankind The unjust Tyrant doth not think it strange That all the world should meditate revenge Against their common Enemy a man Proscrib'd and out-law'd by the publick Ban Of all just pious men who in their prayers With fervent zeal and floods of bitter tears Accuse them to their God and constantly For Justice Justice in Heavens Court do cry Against him then he stares and looks about And even his own Domesticks he doth doubt Upon his life have some design and those Who break his bread are now become his foes With horrour thunder-struck with care oppress 't This miserable soul can have no rest Before his eyes strange visions appear His mind is sore belaboured his ear Is still infested with a noise of fear A dreadful noise like that of Passing-bell Which doth his nigh-approaching death foretell In which he 's not deceiv'd for by and by Even in the solstice of prosperity Down from the Mountains falls some injur'd Lord Who and his hungry crew with fire and sword This mighty mans Dominions invade And wasting all before them make a Trade Of pillaging appearing every where Like lightning sometimes here and sometimes there So through his territories nimbly fly Seizing his Towns and Castles speedily Advancing still in a vindictive rage Until in Battel with him they engage Defeat his Forces put them all to flight Then to his glory he bids long-good-night Thus ends the whip and terrour of his age For to him so his mind did still presage I' th' noon-tide of his blesse he durst not hope Or fancy any other horoscope Then a most wretch'd and miserable end Which makes him in perpetual horrour spend The best of all his time enjoyes no ease But is disturb'd in mind for still he sees The raging Sword before him and he fears His Enemies are still about his ears At length when misery doth come indeed Like one that wanders to and fro for bread So doth this great man ramble every where And makes what shifts he can for daily fare Carelesse of Honour outward Pomp and State And costly Dyet now content of what Nature affords a simple Peasants Food To him is pleasant and he finds it good He eats he sleeps no more he doth demand Because he knows his death is nigh at hand Anxiety affliction grief and care Which stir up good mens hopes make them despair Despair down-right in fiery rage exclaim ' Gainst-what the precious fool doth Fortune name And in his humours openly blaspheme Transported drunk with fury he cryes out In fits and like a mad man runs about The Towns and Countrey-fields vents all his passions In angry wrath and horrid execrations 'Gainst him at length despair doth so prevail He becomes faint and all his spirits fail Curs'd be the Stars that rul'd my Birth he crys With a strong sigh thrusts out his Soul and
were known From upright men and so would fain perswade Th' afflicted man that he had merited All he did undergo and with what art On th' other hand he laboured to assert His innocence and without heat or passion Did prove by many a lively demonstration That where mens antecedent sins did call For punishment on earth yet after all Heavens gracious Monarch freely did permit Those men to live and dy as they thought sit Whilst pious men were often visited With sad afflictions and overlaid With plagues and torments and that some of those Whom they call'd sinful suffered many woes Even in this life from whence he did conclude What they affirm'd must not be understood To be a general rule which did admit Of no exception and that all their wit Was mis-imploy'd on such an argument And that they 'd surely fail of their intent If by the threatning of their Eloquence They thought to fright him from his Innocence One might ha' thought I say those learned men Would now no longer labour to maintain A thing not only so ofttimes deny'd But prov'd so learn'dly to be false beside Yet will they not their arguing give o're But still assert as stiffly as before Their former Doctrine for to all was said The Temanite this stubborn answer made Why friend sayes he I have with patience Heard thee descant upon thy Innocence I 've heard thee talk much like those quibbling fools Who for the reputation of their Schools Will upon any subject frame debate And even deny what is homologat By all the knowing World who will assert Falshoid it self t' express their prurient art And argue pro or con on what you will As Juglers shift their Balls to show their skill Nay they 'll not stick to prove by argument That the Sun shines not in the Firmament And by their pestilentious parts are able To make all things created disputable So thou to show thy wit art not asham'd T' affirm such things as ought not to be nam'd Thou tell'st us thou art pure and innocent And why should the Almighty thus torment One in the reputation of a Saint I see indeed thou fain wouldst us perswade 'T is not for sin that thou art punished No not at all for thou insistest much That thou art just and always hast been such Even in the hight of thy prosperity And still abhoredst all impiety And being yet such in thine own conceit At least why thy Creator doth think fit T' afflict a man pure just and innocent Only to try a new experiment That he may know how good men will behave Under his Rod not that men should conceive That all afflictions are th'reward of Sin No by no means for if they should begin To entertain such thoughts they might conclude The very Saints cannot be understood To have been just since none ere suffered In all the world more sorrows than they did And then demandst us if God punish none As we affirm but sinful men alone Why do these wretches who in sin abound Flourish on Earth why are so many found Guilty of Sin and yet not punished Why here 's a contradiction indeed Sayst thou a Riddle which I cannot read This is thy Doctrine in this error thou Endeavourest to maintain with much adoe Thy innocence but trust me 't is in vain For we perceive how evident and plain Thy misdemeanours are For even in this that thou so frequently Valuest thy self upon thy Piety And boast est so much of thy righteousness Thou sin'st though there were no more in the case For I do lay it as a principle Beyond all question most infallible That let a man be never so devout Zealous and just in heart it booteth not For this to God no profit doth afford It yields him no advantage in a word All we can do all that our hearts are able To muster out is no wayes profitable To our great God for let us fast and pray Let us give alms and labour every day By all the lawful means which mortals use To make their Court with Heav'n we but abuse Our judgements if by these we do suppose To merit favour of him for God knows When we have labour'd and done all we can To serve our Maker be perform'd by man Yet one with reason may us freely call Unprofitable servants after all For 't is not so with God as 't is with men Where one by parts and prudence may attain To profit and enrich his mind with all The Revenues of what we knowledge call Or feast his Soul with Heavenly Contemplations And frequently imploy in Meditations His heart with pleasure and so happily Improve the noble art of Piety No no all these God values not a whit Of all our works he maks no benefit Then what avails it for a man to boast Of what God doth not value what at most Yields but some profit to himself and so I must with calmness tell thee that although Thou wert ev'n such as thou pretendst to be Just Upright Zealous and from Errors free As we conceive thou are not yet alace Thus to brag of it as a great trespass Next then my friend as he who sits on hie Reaps no advantage by thy Piety So on the other hand I 'd have thee know He fears no hurt from thee nor doth he show Himself offended at thy righteousness As in thy passion thou dost oft express No no mistake it not for certainly God quarrels no man for integrity Nor doth he think it is his interest That such an one as thou should be supprest Lest if perhaps thou shouldst become too wise His Majesty might suffer prejudice By thy practising with his enemies For as th' Almighty doth not apprehend Thy merits to be such as do transcend The power of his reward So fears he not thou wilt become so great But that by his eternal rules of State Though thou shouldst to the Highest pitch attain In power with him can be acquir'd by men Yet he with ease can take thee down again Since then for what is good we plainly see The God of Justice doth not punish thee Nor any man because his upright Laws Ordain that no man should without a cause Be punished why sure we must conclude These thy afflictions must be understood Either to be thy punishment for sin Or else for nothing And how absurd it were for one t' assert I'th'least the verity of the latter part Of this alternative I freely leave it To th' judgement of good men but I conceive it To be an error of so deep a dye As falls within the verge of blasphemy And now dear Friend at length I must be free And tell thee out what are my thoughts of thee Since thou wert pleas'd to say that all this time We spar'd thy person and reprov'd thy Crime 'T is true indeed in pity of thy case We did forbear to tell thee in thy face Thou wer 't the unjust man whom
bright and fair Highly esteem'd because it is so rare With this in value never can compare The finest Gold which we poor Mortals hugg Compar'd with this is but a very Drugg From whence this wisdome then from whence from whence This sacred wit this high intelligence Which doth all humane knowledge far exceed Whence doth it spring in what place doth it breed Where doth it breed pray where is 't to be found In Fire or Air above or under ground What shall we do then shall we yet enquire What thing it is or our invention tyre In finding out its place which yet no eye Ev'n the most piercing ever did espy A thing which still the more we strive to know The less we in its knowledge forward go A thing as not conspicuous to our eyes So far exceeding the abilities Of our created Souls to comprehend A thing in search whereof there is no end 'T is true we may by long experience Attain some knowledge of its excellence We may indeed by daily observations Upon Gods great and various dispensations Attain some random-notions of the thing Especially when by canvassing Th' affairs o' th' world and viewing carefully VVith serious eyes the instability Of humane state we see what shines to day Most brightly and is gloriously gay To morrow is obscur'd what now is high Beat down annon in lowest dust doth ly Thence in some measure we may learn to know What is this Wisdom For when we do observe how Providence 'Mongst mortal things doth make no difference But sometimes here and sometimes there le ts fall Blessings or Plagues without regard at all To this mans well improven Piety Or ' t'others gross habitual villany Yes when we see how all our art and care In guarding of our Souls by daily prayer In thinking speaking doing what is good Though of our claim to Heaven we are not proud Nay even our pure and Dove-like innocence Can not prevent a blow when Providence Thinks fit t' afflict us and on th' other hand How wanton sinners do securely stand Rooted in their Possessions and appear As safe from danger as they are from fear Then sure in some proportion we may guess What is this Wisdom by such acts as these For God with good intention beats his own That he from thence may make their virtue known Which in the Sun-shine of Prosperity Even in the best of men but soberly Makes an appearance like a Candles-light Which only shines i' th' dark or in the Night And for those others who their God do hate And yet their Bread in peace and plenty eat Nay to our outward senses do appear Not ordinarly to their Maker dear Why if wee look aright upon their case We 'll find God only suffers such as these To live in plenty 'cause he doth not care What becomes of 'em and doth only spare Those slaughter-fed Bread eaters for some space That they their little short liv'd Happiness All they desire may peaceably possess But of destruction certain they at last When all their days of jollity are past Perceive there is a Divine Wisdom too As well as Earthly which they never knew Till now and find that by its ordinance Hell and Damnation's their Inheritance But O to our great God to him alone This Divine Wisdom is exactly known To him to him it is appropriat And no man with him can participat In that high Knowledge for by that alone He gives directions from his lofty Throne For th'Government o' th' World for well he knows He knows exactly what we but suppose Or faintlie guess although indeed we find No little satisfaction to our mind When having in our recess meditat By what strange means what hidden Rules of state This World is govern'd whilst by what we here Observe in earthlie courts these do appear To counter-act all wise proceedings there When we I say with contemplations eyes Have view'd at random what beyond the skies Is the procedure in the Government Of this vast Fabrick and how evident In it that Divine Wisdom doth appear Which is not to be learn'd or valued here Then finding how our curious Thoughts have reacht Their ne pâ—â—s ultra From Heavens high Court we modestlie retire And with great pleasure do these things admire We cannot learn since to our God alone The Government o' th' world is only known For who can manage this vast Government But he alone who is Omniscient Who everie moment views with searching eye All that lies under Heavens Canopie Who onlie knows who onlie understands How this great bodie which his mightie hands Have fram'd and moulded must be governed Who by his wisdom has so ordered And all affaires dispos'd so prudentlie As far exceeds all Human Policie For not one puff of wind i' th' air doth blow Nor from the clouds do anie waters flow Without his special Tolerance for when By his Decree some quantitie of rain Is on the earth let out or when from high Out of his Cage swift Lightning is let flie When all these for their sudden march are clear Ere they dare move before him they appear Where with a serious and perpending eye He takes review of them and carefullie These fierce Invaders strength doth estimat And sees it onlie be proportionat For his Design whether for Punishment A second Deluge lies in his intent Or that he means by lightning to destroy Men Beasts and Fruits o' th' earth and thence annoy Some sinning Nations whose lewd practices Have call'd to Heavens for such returns as these That they may not be able to offend The passive World more than he doth intend From whence my friends 't is plain and evident That the eternal solid Government Of all things which his mighty hands have made Is by this Divine Wisdom managed Then to conclude my friends from henceforth pray Let us forbear let us forbear I say To argue on the Rules of Providence For sure we cannot well without offence Make enquiry in things which certainlie The King of Heavens from all Eternitie Resolv'd should from his Creature be conceal'd And to himself belong No more debating then but let us here Content our selves with things that do appear Obvious to our reason and enquire No further in Gods secrets but admire His Government o' th' world for after all To know this thing we Divine Wisdom call Is not our business but if we would learn To know what our Salvation doth concern Of all that Knowledge here 's th' abreviat Let us fear God all sinful courses hate Our Neighbours love to each his right allow And in this world we have no more adoe This this is all the Knowledge this is that We ought to study without more debate For this alone for this we should implore For who endeavours to know any more Will find i' th' end he spends his time in vain In searching what he never can obtain But this by
knows at best his life is but a span And in a little interval of breath He lives but troubled still with thoughts of death For when his God thinks fit that he should die Then must he quit this breath and instantly In the cold grave lye down and be no more A living mortal as he was before All flesh shall perish every creature must At his command be pounded into dust Then why of God should any man complain When he injures him not or why in vain Should he upbraid him with his innocence When he 's afflicted as if providence Were ty'd to th'rules of his convenience And now because my friend what I have said Concerns thee most I 'de fain my self perswade That thou dost with attention hear me speak And dost thy own use of my Doctrine make If thou hast understanding then take heed To my discourse for thus I do proceed You see then how I 've urged all along That our just God to no man can do wrong Nor that he in inflicting punishment On any man though ne're so innocent Can be esteem'd unjust since he can never Do an ill thing on what account soever For were he such how could he regulate The Universe in every rank and state With so much justice mercy and compassion As no created thing can in that fashion Govern some Petty Province yet doth he With great discretion govern all we see Although he here and in Heav'ns knows not what 'T is in dominion to be limitat How in thy raving then dar'st thou express Thy self in such unheard of terms as these Which I have tax'd how darst thou thus exclaim Against the justice of thy God for shame For shame such exclamations forbear And let 's no more of thy complaining hear For pray now let me ask thee is it fit Dost think for any man of solid wit To tell an earthly Monarch in his face That he 's unjust or doth in any case That which is sinful would'st thou tell a King Hee 's such as he deserved not to reign Would'st tell him flatly that his Government Were arbitrary and did represent The seas whose politicks tyrannical Allows the great fish to eat up the small Would'st speak at this rate prethee to a King A Potentate or any ruling thing That sits in State I doubt thou wouldst not do So foul a thing especially thou Who know st all pow'rs on earth from God proceed And upon him depend as on their head By him Kings rule and in their Royal seat Impartial Justice do administrat To all their Subjects ' countable to none For any actings but to God alone To God alone whose mighty hands did frame This Universe and to it gave the name Of earth Which he has slyc'd in many Provinces And over them has plac'd those Deputies Whom we call Princes men of great esteem Since the great King of kings is pleas d to them To grant Commissions of Lieutenancy Each in his own distinct Locality In all the parts of earths vast Monarchy Hence all men are oblig'd in conscience To pay that due respect and deference To all in power which God has ordered Especially to a Crowned head Whose individual power in Government Doth that of Heav'ns more highly represent Then any other Government as yet Devis'd by men for in that single state He represents his God who gave him power And who in his great wisdome to this hour Maintains the state of Kings and will defend The Crown and Scepter to the worlds end His power is such as none should countermand Or when he strikes should bid him hold his hand Nay though he act unjustly yet should none Accuse him for it since to God alone Hee 's countable and though he should commit The worst of sins I do not think it fit Each Subject should reprove him or because Of his few pers'nal failings slight his Laws Or enter into plots of discontent To alter or subvert his Government Because he is not such as they would have him Or with their clamorous tongues and pens out-brave him No not at all for though a Prince may erre As other mortals we should not inferre From thence that it is lawful to rebell Against him for as such bad thoughts from Hell Are prompted to us so we should forbear T' have entercourse with any rebels there Whose work it is to raise rebellion here For though the Prince should erre th' authority Is still the same which flowing certainly From the Almighty we should all obey And to our soveraign Kings all honour pay I ask thee then would'st think it fit to use Such language to a King wouldst thou accuse A Monarch in his face I think indeed Thou would not so imprudently proceed With any such but rather hold thy peace Then run the risque whatever were thy case Of his displeasure or at least I doubt Wouldst use smooth words and be thought wise to boot If then to Kings on Earth thou wouldst not speak In such rude language why art thou so weak As in such jargon boldly to addresse Thy self to th' King of Kings I must confess This is a piece of that extravagance As I admire thou hast the countenance To look up t' Heavens when thou dost reflect How insolently thou didst lately speak Of their great Monarch one before whose Throne All Kings most bow and with submission own Him as their Patron and their Soveraign too And think 't their greatest honour so to doe One who has no regard for this or'tother Who e're he be nor one before another Esteems as we do here because he 's great Wears costly Diadems and sits in State For they 're but all his Creatures and depend Upon their God how e're they may pretend To soveraignity here whilst they abuse Their power and with fine titles would amuse Their fellow mortals but 't is all in vain For God alone above all Kings doth reign He governs all that Nature comprehends And fully acts what ever he intends Whilst Kings and Princes with their swords in hand Before him ready for performance stand Of all that he thinks proper to command Yet none of these can really be said Actively to concur and furnish aid To him in all his glorious operations The thoughts of which exceed our meditations More then if one should undertake to prove That wheels in Engines by themselves do move Without a Spring or that without all air A man can live which clearly doth declare That all these Monarchs whom we here adore Not mov'd by the first Mover are no more With all the force they to the field can bring Then Wheels in Engines are without a Spring For as so many puppits here below By th' hand of God they 're hurried to and fro While he is pleased to keep up the Show But when he doth withdraw his mighty hand They move no more O this great Monarch of the universe Who can his glorious Attributes rehearse Who can
so great measure As far exceeded all his Wealth and Treasure For his seven Sons who we suppose had now Attain'd mans age and that he did allow T' each of 'em distinct Farms off his Estate Did mutually each others kindly treat In Peace and Plenty they their hours did waste And call'd their Sisters when they mean't to Feast But Job considering in such 〈◊〉 How many strong temptations do ly For sinful lewdness scarce to be evited By such whose Blood and Brains by Wine are heated He would next morning early stir and pray That GOD would pardon sins o'th'by-past day Committed by his Children For sayes he I do suspect how ere the matter be There 's something sinful in the case since Feasting Is still at least accompany'd with Jesting Thus with himself in private reasoning Hee 'd for each Child make a Burnt-offering And whilst their Feasting lasted every day Job for his Childrens sins would Fast and Pray In short if Jobs Felicity we rate By Birth and Knowledge Honour and Estate A goodly Issue bless't with unity Amongst themselves unspotted Piety Sincerity in all his Dealings Grace Frugality and Virtue we may trace All Histories with which the World doth swell And 'mongst them all not find his parallel For sure this worthy Gentleman appears T' have been a Patern for some hundred years To all about him and we here may see How God thinks fit his Memory should be To this same day preserv'd that we may thence Precisely understand at what expence Of true Devotion we should live and know When with Afflictions God doth bring us low As this same Good man was how to endure With Patience the hottest Calenture Of Sorrows fever and may likewise see What silly Expectations those be On which we feed in our Prosperity As if we fancy'd Perpetuity Of our Enjoyments here and that our God Lov'd us so well he 'd never use his Rod But with soft Hand would clap our Heads and lay Our Pillows every Night and every Day Afford us every thing we can project For our poor Fastings and our Prayers sake No no that Man who ere he be that thus With fond Delusions doth his Soul abuse Dâ—th shreudly erre for in this Precedent We may perceive how clear and evident The contrair doth appear and calculate From thence the folly of a great Estate For now as longest Day must have its Night And Darkness must at length succeed to Light As greatest Calms do Storms prognosticate So greatest Joyes do Sorrowes antidate And this Good-man whom in Serenity Under the Zenith of Prosperity Wee 've lately seen must now 〈◊〉 prepare To show his Virtue in another Sphere For at a General Sessions of Heaven Held at that time when Liberty was given To all that in that Court do make abode To see the Face of the Almighty God When Heavens Great Monarch in Majestick State Environ'd with his Troops of Angels Sate He too who once was of that Corporation As Eminent as any of that Station Until with foolish Pride he did so swell Because he thought he was not us'd so well As his great Services requir'd and so He with some others would a Plotting go Against his Prince and think to model too As all our discontented States-men do The Government of Heavens but instantly His Plot was opened and he by and by With all his Friends about him poorly fell From thence by Deportation to Hell This wretched Head of Rebels too appear'd Amongst the Just demanding to be heard In some shrewd Accusation patly lay'd Against some Champions of the praying Trade At least that he might shortly understand Upon what Service God would him command He there as Serjeant of the Court did waite To receive Orders at the Utter-Gate But as when Damnster doth in Court appear The Condemnation of some Man we fear So this Old Rebel did prognosticate The Alteration of some Persons State By his officious presence This thing appearing then well known by name Of Satan God did ask him whence he came Not but that all his Wandrings he did know With all his Plots and Projects here below But that from his own Mouth he might express His villanous Toilling and Unwearyedness In doing evil and that since he fell From Heaven he every hour doth merit Hell Satan makes answer I have been abroad Compassing all this Earth of thine Great God There I have walk'd at randome to and fro And view'd the State of all things here below I 've seen how thou dost constantly suppress Me and my Subjects by thy watchfulness On all our Motions as if all to thee Belong'd by Right and nothing else to me But thy displeasure yet I 'le not resign My claim for all that nay I still design Where ever thou a Colony shall plant I and my Friends shall all their Meetings haunt And make that Church at best but Militant For since I 'm not allow'd 〈◊〉 Priviledge Of my Creation but with bitter rage Am to this day secluded from my Right Why should not I with all the Force and Might That I and my poor banish'd Friends can raise By constant In-roads still disturb the Peace Of those whose constant Prayers do combine To ruine further yet both me and mine As if already I were not undone By thy Displeasure these for sooth must run A sharper Scent and by their Prayers baull For my Destruction yet for good and all Nay know Heavens King for so I must confess Thou art indeed that I am not the less A Prince on Earth and will endeavour still To keep that Right do with me what you will Yes I 'll mentain now what I do possess And still will make it my great business T' enlarge the Limits of my Empire here Since in thy Heavens I date no more appear As formerly allow me then Great God To wander sometimes here and there abroad To view my Interest though yet after all I am thy Servant and obey thy call Then sayes the Lord since thou goest every where A-wandring since thou couldst not chuse but hear Of my great Servant Job sure thou dost know How of all Mortals that live there below He 's the most just scarce to be equalled On Earth him sure thou hast considered As one of thy chief Enemies for he Is a most Loyal Subject to me A Man most Honest Pious and Upright Just shunning Evil doing at my sight What I Judge candid good and equitable And for his Heavenly Interest profitable One who by Standart of true Piety Doth measure all his Actions constantly What say'st of him Is he not such now say For all thy Art can'st fall upon a way To make that Man break his Allegiance To me can'st thou thy Interest advance With him or tempt him to do any thing That may i'th'least displease his God and King Yes says the Divel thy Servant Job I know And have considered too why be it so That he is such as truth I
give me strength to bear My Losses so as all men may confess Who see me in this miserable case That thou hast not depriv'd yet of Grace Lord theâ— what shall I say thou giv'st thou tak'st Thou raises thou throws down again thou mak'st And thou unmak'st O let thy glorious Name Sound in the Trumpet of eternal Fame For all thy Actings are both just and fair And well thou know'st what Criminals men are And what they do deserve O make me then Highest of late but lowest now of men O make 〈◊〉 wiâ—â— a 〈◊〉 patience Endure what thou art pleased to dispense Thus though we see Jobs Grief was answerable To his Condition which was lamentable Yet in his greatest paroxism of woe He did not sin nor treat his Maker so As if he would accuse him foolishly For th' only author of his Misery Then happy he who can his loss sustain With patience and not of God complain For when Afflictions Storms from Heavens do fall We ought to suffer and not cry at all Because we know that God affliction sends Upon a many whom he least intends â— extirpate in his anger for we shall See this good mans afflictions after all Converted to a fair and pleasant Scaene Of Wealth and Honours and a most serene Aspect of Favour when our God doth show To Job his Face ex Postliminio Cap. II. HEre 's a Grand-Tryal then awake all you Who ever in your lives Affliction knew Sum up your Sorrows reckon all your Woes And all your wreaking Miseries unclose Your Crosses and your Losses all declare See who with Jobs afflictions can compare Or with his Patience For now his Issue Wealth and Honours gone His Body must be sadly rack'd anon And put to horrid torture as if what He yet had lost were not proportionate To th' merits of so great a Criminal He must endure the question after all See here then God again in Judgment set Environed with Majesty and State Before whom numerous Angels do appear As if for jury they impannelled were He who by Virtue of his late permission Had to a most deplorable condition Reduc'd this pious man appears there too To see if there was more mischief to do Satan from whence says God from compassing The Earth and there securely travelling In every corner doing all I can Says he to dissappoint the Hopes of Man I 've done what thou allowd says he and â—ow I ask if thou hast any more to do For me on earth is there another there Whom thou thinkst just and upright let me hear Is there a man for whom thou hast esteem Under the Heavens pray let me know his name And by thy good permission I shall try The utmost Force of his Integrity I 'le soon reduce him to the same estate As I have done thy other man of late And then thou 'lt see that all those upright men Are but thy Servants for their privat gain Not so says Heavens King for yet I see My faithful Servant Job doth honour me The Man whom thou so falsly didst accuse As though he like a Hireling would refuse To serve me were his wages taken from him See now thy malice cannot overcome him Th' hast cut off all his Family and tane His means from him yet he doth not complain He thou didst move me without cause t' oppress See he continues firm in uprightness True says the Enemy of Man 't is true To give thy faithful Servant Job his due He bears his Losses yet with that Submission As I expected none in his condition Could well ha' done for by this time I thought The Bitter Potion would a shreudly wrought But yet when I consider these mean Creatures Whom thou call'st men I do observe their Natures To be above all things most prone to live For Skin for Skin all they possess they 'll give For one hours breath so yet thy Servant Job Because as of his goods I cannot robb Him of his life truly he doth dispense With loss of these since the convenience Of breathing is allow'd him still I know The man is in great misery and wo. His Losses do oppress his Spirits sore Yet as a Ship-wrack'd-man when got a-shore Glad to have ' scap'd with life doth soon forget His losses and though wearyed faint and wet To the next Village hee 'll a begging go For men will rather beg than dye we know So Job though stripp'd of all yet still in health Already has forgot his former wealth So glad hee 's yet alive he has forgot The loss of Children Honours Fame what not He with Contentment begs and eats his bread And only sighs for those are lately dead Nay now he with some ease doth spend his years Because hee 's free of all his former cares But pâ—â—â—â—â—â— now great God stretch out thy Hand And touch his Body let me but demand This favour of the once for all and then I 'le make this Job of all the Race of Men The most impatient then thou 'st quickly see What is his true Opinion of thee For with his paines I 'le alter soon the case And make him curse thee to thy very face Then says the Lord his Person 's in thy hand But save his Life I strictly do command And thou shalt surely see all thy designs Soon disappointed by his countermines Of Piety and Patience Out flies the Devil and instantly doth fall On Job by Execution Personal He baits his Body with a thousand sores And makes an humour issue from its pores So pestilentious hot and purulent So foul so loathsome and so virulent As soon his Body doth appear all o're To be but one continued scabby sore Merciful Heavens What a sad sight is here Pouldred with Ulcers Job doth now appear All Comforts and Subsistence from him taken His Body with a scorching Feaver shaken Of loathsome sores what shall this poor man doe Thus cruciat in Mind and Body too Why patiently he sits on Dung and Asâ—â—s Not bursting out in angry fits and flashes As in like case a many sure would doe But with a peice of broken pitcher now He scrapes the putrid matter from his sores And silently his sad Estate deplores But all th' efforts of cruel Poverty With Heavenly thoughts and smiles of Piety One of undaunted spirit will make sweet Though he can neither have to drink nor eat Diseases of the Body often too Afford such thoughts as Health will scarce allow Our Entertainment for when free of pains And in the ouzy channels of our Veins Our Blood flows smoothly then we think on pleasures On Honours and in hoording foolish Treasures And on these things we rest like silly â—ops Feeding our Minds with vain fantastick hopes But when Diseases on our Bodies seize And in our Veins our Blood begins to freeze When th' motion of our Pulse seems at a stand Scarce to be felt â—y the Physicians hand When with excessive pains our
me since without dispute Had I then dy'd my happiness had been As great this very day as is my pain For I had now secure from trouble sleep't And in the silent grave my quarter keep 't I in the grave the grave to be envy'd And wish'd beyond all Palaces beside 'T is there 't is there 't is there where only all The groaning world themselves can happy call There both those who opprest and were opprest On earth enjoy uninterrupted rest There all are Friends there all our Picques and Jarrs Our Plots our Forraign and our Civil Wars Ly buryed with us I we all appear To be so many dormant Brethren there The boistrous Tyrant who in life did rage To whom no sleep could give an hours Soulage Who betwixt King and Prisoner spent his years Amidst a thousand jealousies and fears In deaths cold arms when he encircled lyes Hee 's free from all his Royal Miseries The valâ—ant Warriour who in life enjoy'd But little rest and was most part employ'd In action ready still to march or fight And knew no difference betwixt day and night Free from Allarm of Trumpets under ground He sweetly sleeps until last Trumpet sound Poor Prisoners who were in life distrest And by their cruel Creditors opprest In grave together comfortably rest No Usurer against them doth declare In Court no Action lies against them there Free from the gingling noise of Chaines and Keyes And weekly threatnings for their weekly Fees In Deaths low Rooms the Wretches sleep with ease There there both poor and rich both low and high Princes and Peasants undistinguish'd lye Those who in life imagin'd they excell'd All others and with vain Opinion swell'd Of their own parts do in the grave appear But even as those whom they call Dunces here The Servant there is from his Master free No former quarrels make them disagree The slave who all his life-time made no gain But what he earn'd betwixt the whip and chain Who oft his freedom would with tears demand And long'd to be turn'd by his Masters hand But still deny'd in grave that blessing hath And only owes his liberty to death O Death who can thy Excellence declare What state of life can we with thine compare In life we waste a few unhappy years In a continued Labarinth of tears 'Twixt envy and compassion here we breath Preferring worst estate of life to death For O this notion of life this bare And mean conception of a breathing here Doth in our wanton ears so sweetly sound That we abhorre the thoughts of under-ground Fools who 'd be rather toss'd 'twixt wind and wave Than sleep on Bed of Roses in the grave Whilst all bedaub'd with sweat in noon-tide-light Does not the wearied Labourer long for night That free from toyl he may enjoy at best But the poor Favour of a few hours rest Though quickly rouz'd before the Sun appear With morning-blush upon our Hemisphere Hee 's forc'd again to toil Then O how much then o how much should those Who in this sleep of life find no repose Wish sor the sleep of death in which they may Beyond the fear of interrupting day Though thunder round this lower world should roar Sleep undisturb'd while Heavens shall be no more Then why should one be thus compell'd to live That fain would dye Why should th' Almighty give A Lease of Life to one who seriously Hates it so much that he doth long to dy For what is life to one that 's destitute Of all the favours it can contribute What man is he on earth that can be able When of what even doth make it tolerable This life is spoil'd ah who is he who then For love of life would suffer so much pain As I endure Then why should one desire to live who lyes Environ'd with a thousand miseries A wretched man a man who hardly knows What life is now only he doth suppose By th' figure of his present suffering This life must be some very naughty thing Some naughty thing yes sure it must be such As wise men never can despise too much A thing it is esteem'd by none but Fools A thing which Boyes are even taught at Schools To undervalue nay each man doth boast Himself the bravest who contemns it most The Cob web-product of a toiling breath Never compleat while finished by Death A silly toy which as we come to years Still to us more ridiculous appears 'T is true this lise bestowes all empty pleasures On men on earth it gives them Honours Treasures Revenge and Success yes these Life doth give For which these Aery Fools desire to live As those who dream to sleep but after all When they on serious Contemplation fall When their own minds do tell them all is vain Which they thought here was Permanent O then O then how they abhor this Life and fain Would be out of its Intrigue yes at length When they perceive how all their wit and strength Is baffled by some pitiful disease Which on their bodies then begins to seise Lord how they 're vext and penitently think Of Life as men next morning after drink When the sad pleasures of their Cups now make Their Stomachs sick their Heads with horrour ake I then as these their Cups so these abhor Their Lives and swear they 'll never love them more But wearied of the Inconvenience Which Life affords with great Impatience O how they long to be a trudging hence With groans they hast the Journey of their breath And never rest till they arrive at Death Should any then extravagantly sad As I am now be yet alace so mad As wish to live no sure or if he do That man deserves no pity For a poor living man with grief oppressâ—t I horrid grief should have in mind no rest Whilst clogg'd with Fetters of a lingring Breath But in his Torments force resisting Death Yes and in Joyes mad excesse fondly rave When he 's so happy as to find his Grave Then why is Life upon a man bestow'd That would of Death be insolently proud Of Death I and esteem that favour more Then all the Blessings he enjoy'd before O then kind Death now let me see thy Face O wilt thou me in thy cold Arms embrace Make haste make haste for I 'me with Life opprest If thou hast any love for me make haste Haste haste for Heaven sake haste For why is Life upon a man bestow'd To whom his God no Comfort hath allow'd Why should I be condemn'd to Live when all What in this World I could Pleasure call Is gone when Felons are allow'd to Dye After the Fisque has stripp't them why should I Not yet not yet convict of any Crime Bear the sad threatnings of insulting Time Insulting Time that doth my Case proclaim Whilst gentle Death would cover all my shame Then let me dye yes dye and never more The benefit of a poor Life implore Of a poor
to dye Nor should I offer to expostulate ' And with my Maker enter in debate Is there an Umpire to oblige us both And tye us by Subscription and Oath To stand to his award for who is he Dares arbitrate betwixt my God and me But let him hold a little and at least For some small time forbear at my request To torture me let him withdraw his Rod And let th' hot Pincers of an angry God Piece-meal my Soul no more O let his wrath Be satisfied with a single death Then would I boldly speak and without fear Before him in my own defence appear Then would I argue with such Eloquence As in short time would clear my Innocence But 'cause at present I am not in case For speaking I think fit to hold my peace Cap. X. MY Soul 's cut off and though I seem to breath Yet am I coop'd up in the jaws of death My Soul is fled my days of life are gone And this poor widow'd Body left alone To be the subject of some country fable As in its ruines only memorable This fashion'd piece of Earth which formerly One would ha' thought would shift Mortality For many years a Body which of late In health and vigour fully animate With a most cheerful Soul seem'd to imply As if at least some small felicity Were to be found below the Heavens this point Of the Creation framed joint by joint Into a reasonable shape at last By griefs consuming fury quite defac't Has now no figure but doth every day Like Wax before the Candle melt away For as a stranded Vessel by no hands To be got off and sticking on the Sands Obnoxious to the rage of every Tide Whilst each rude Wave beats ribs out of its side In its dimensions every day decreases Until at length 't is shattered all to pieces And then what was a statelie Ship before In Planks and Boards is cast upon the Shore So this frail Body which in health and strength Look'd like a tall Ship in its Course at length Stranding upon the Shelves of foul diseases In its proportion every hour decreases And that it may be ruin'd with dispatch Each ulcerous Billow doth large Gobbets snatch Out of that vigorous Body which alace Is now in a most despicable case Hence what remains is that this shattered frame Void of all honour beautie shape and name Should like infected Goods by no man own'd In Skin and Bones be hurried under ground Then what is Life O let me but admire What idle expectation can hire Insipid man upon this Earth to dwell And love that thing which we call Life so well Life like the Mornings-dew upon the Grass Exhal'd e're Noon-tide Life a simple lease At will and pleasure of a homelie Farm For us to toile in where we 're hardly warm In the possession of it when anon Our Lease runs out and we must all be gone Life but the parcels of a few years breath Summ'd up at last i' th capital of death Times wast-book health and strengths extinguisher Heavens great derider Hells remembrancer The old mans profit and the young mans loss The rich mans Idol and the poor mans cross Sins active Pander for some little space Then to Repentancea sad looking glass Pleasures mean vassal times obedient â—alve And a most faithful servant to the Grave Death charges Time Time charges Life by Roll To make account of every living Soul The grand Collector by just calculation Himself discharges of each Generation In deaths exchequer then begins afresh T' exact the impost of all living flesh This is that we call Life this is the thing Of which poor Mortals make such reckoning As if the sum of all their happiness Lay in their breathing for some little space Alace that men of reason thus should lye Sick of an universal phrenesie And not rouz'd up at length perceive for shame What is this Life which they so much esteem This Life a thing so burdensome to me As how I hate it you do clearly see May I not then oppress 't with Life repine Since there 's no Life comparable to mine The dregs of Life that do with me remain Are but the meer fomenters of my pain For who extended night and day on rack Would not with all his heart Death welcome make O let me then to God make my address O let me to himself my woes express He is a God of mercy and will hear Th'oppress't and have regard to every tear That drops from pious eyes A sore complaint then on my self I 'l make And in the anguish of my Soul I 'l speak I 'l say to God condemn me not and why Wilt thou contend with such a thing as I An Eagle take the pains to kill a flee Contend with me a thing not to be nam'd A thing of which even Nature is asham'd A piece of Earth that serving for no use Is thrown out on the Dung-hill as refuse The dross of human frailâ—â—y the abstract Of all that 's mouldy low decay'd and crack't A thing now grating at the gates of death Retarded only by a gasping breath A thing so mean as is not worth thy wrath Then why good Lord dost thou take so much pleasure T' oppress so mean a thing beyond all measure What doth this to thy Glory contribute How doth such usage with thy Justice sute Alace I know not how the matter stands But thus t' undo the labour of thy hands Thus to destroy a Creaure thou didst frame And once didst think it worthy of a name Nay as thy Creature thou was 't pleas'd to own Thus to reject it with a sullen frown Me thinks is strange What may the Atheists say When thy own servants are oppress 't this way Why they will surely in their scoffing mode Blaspheme the ever glorious Name of God See here they 'l say a man who seriously Apply'd his mind to th' art of piety Who his great God above all things ador'd A most devoted Servant to his Lord. One who not pleas'd with what his neighbours us'd Despised their Religion and refus'd T' acknowledge any of their Deities But in a zealous phrensy did devise A Deitie to himself peculiar Out of an humour to be singular See now they 'l say see how his God doth treat him See how his Lord he so much lov'd doth hate him How he doth whip him how he takes delite To vex a man who us'd himself to write A most obedient Servant to his God See how he beats him with a heavie Rod. Let him complain weep pray do what he can Let him cry out yet still this pious man Finds none to comfort pity or deplore him And for his God ' has no compassion for him But on the contrair doth appear t' abhor him Sure this will be their language thus alace Those impious wretches will themselves express Yes this will be their Table-talk I fear O then forbear for thy own sake
innocent on trust Should men with silence hear thy precious lyes Or when thou dost make faces shut their eyes As if forsooth 't were finful to behold Such a sad Object Dost think but we all with compassion see Thy case although we cann't comply with thee In all thy doleful foolish exclamations Nor second thee in thy expostulations Thou who so often hast thy Neighbours blam'd For such vain talk shouldst thou not be asham'd To prate so idly Shouldst thou not be asham'd thus to assert Thy uprightness when he who knows the heart Doth laugh at thee pray' with what impudence Dost thou upbraid us with thy innocence Thinkst thou that we believe that all is true Which now thou speaks't no if thou hadst thy due And all thy words were well considered ' Stead of being pitied shoulds't be punished Thou blameless in thy Life thou innocent Thou one of whom no man can make complaint Thou in the sight of God upright and clear Bless us what foolish arrogance is here Was ever wise man in discourse so weak Did ever man so like a mad man speak Was e're such talking heard wouldst thou lay claim To what no Mortal can attain for shame Forbear such words forbear this canting strain And of thy Maker do no more complain For all thy exclamations are in vain But since we cann't prevail with thee and since I see we are not able to convince The of thy Errors O that he would speak Who fram'd the Tongue that for his Justice sake Since what we argue is but lame and faint Himself would please to take up th argument And lay thy sins before thee all a row That so we might by demonstration show How much thou' rt in the wrong and let thee see In short how like for all the world to thee The fool doth prate who when in humour cross't And overpower'd with judgements thinks all 's lost O that our God himself would take in hand To answer thee and make thee understand Wisdom's true value which if thou didst know Thou wouldst not through impatience bluster so As now thou dost nor clamour at this rate For were thy punishment proportionat With thy foul sins as thou hast merited Thou shouldst indeed be doubly punished Know therefore that because of thy offence God hath forgot thee and will not from hence Acknowledge thee as he has done before And in his presence shall 't appear no more But say now thou who dost to Wit lay claim And thy own Knowledge dost so much esteem Thou who thy friends and neighbours fools do'st call And think'st thou knowest much more than we do all Vexing us with a pitiful relation Of all thy former Life and Conversation With Tales of thy pretended patience And formal Stories of thy Innocence Cans't thou my friend conclude with all thy art What trulie God is cans't thou for thy heart Reduce thy Maker to his proper kind Or thy Creator in perfection find Say canst thou do this wilt thou take in hand To answer me the question I 'l demand In the first place then I desire to know How high the Heavens are say now canst thou show What bounds that spacious Vault doth comprehend How far it doth from East to West extend On what foundations the proud Pillars stand Which that vast arch support what mighty hand Did found them in each of 'em how much space Doth lye betwixt the Chapter and the Base No 't is in vain thou mayst thy labour spare Such things beyond thy scantling knowledge are For as Heavens are immeasurably high So the Foundations of those Pillars lye Deeper then Hell it self thou canst not reach Their true dimensions which no art can teach Nor can the same by Theorems express For all your Artists do but faintly guess What really and truly these things are For O how mean and low they do appear Demonstrat in a Map a Globe or Sphere By our vain plodding Charlatans of Art Who cannot comprehend the smallest part Of the Creation and yet soar so high As nought below th' Empyrean Canopy Can satisfie their curiosity Nay even those who pretend by art to know The measure of the Heavens and boldly show Their Longitude by Lines imaginary Even those same fools in their opinions vary And cann't agree what bounds they should allow For that capacious Fabrick far less thou Void of all art canst make us understand How far that Powerful All-creating Hand The wings of Heaven beyond the Earth has spread How much in breadth they do the Seas exceed Yet if our God at any time intend To pull down all this Pile and make an end Of what with admiration we behold And so esteem its worth cannot be told If God intend to cut the Heavens assunder And blast the universal Globe with Thunder Pray who can stop him who can turn him back Or to desist from his intentions make If once he thus intend he 'l surely do it And see what any Mortal dares say to it For O he knows vain men he knows us all Full well and what we Wit and Parts do call He names meer folly and can clearly show The wisest man on Earth doth nothing know He knows our private Cabin-thoughts full well In vain from him our sins we do conceal He knows them all no winged thought can flye From Pole to Pole so soon but instantly Our God discovers from whose Breast it came And in that instant can its owner name He sits in all the Councils of the Heart And undiscovered laughs at all our Art By which we mannage every close design So covertly as those who dig a Mine Unseen by any yet he plainly sees What we intend by all such thoughts as these Yet would vain man fain be esteemed wise And think each one injures him who denys To him that goodlie Epithet although This self conceited fool doth nothing know Stupid insipid ignorant and dull Rude as a Boobie of a thick hard scull Is this same man at best a very brute And while refin'd by art without dispute Like a wild Asses Colt so dull a Creature As he appears no more oblig'd to Nature Then rugged Flints untill by Artists hand Polish'd and cut But after all though mankind in hIs eyes Be of no value yet he still will prize Religious thoughts and quickly understand True sighs and pious motions of the hand If evil from thy heart thou'lt banish far And against fin declare a formal War If thou in thy own house as Judge wilt sit Acting in all things what is just and fit Suff'ring no Crime within thy walls to sleep But in a most assiduous method keep Strict watch upon thy actions and practise Good things and use Religious exercise When thou art private with thy Family As an instructer in true Piety Then shalt thou glory in thy Innocence And in thy well Reformed Conscience Enjoy a sweet serene tranquility Beyond
lye Am I not punish'd yet sufficiently Not yet not yet O may it not suffice That I am wrap'd in such calamities As hardly any one has suffered But I must yet be further punished Shall there be no end of my Miserie May not I now have libertie to die For thou hast fill'd my bodie with such pain As in me there doth no more life remain Than what doth serve to make me sensible Of what I fuffer O most terrible Consuming Wrath now let me die good Lord I can endure no more pray now afford This favour to a man in dying case That like Moth-eaten Garment rots apace Then since I cannot live O let me die Since Life it self is but Mortality For mortal man at best I do conceive To be a thing that like a Floating-wave Swells in the Cradle breaks upon the Grave Cap. XIV MAN of a Woman born in cares and teares Enjoyes a few but miserable Years He sucks in sorrow with his infant Breath And. in his husk he bears the seeds of death In his short life he nothing doth perceive But Seas of troubls Wave succeeding Wave He knows no pleasure nor contentment he Nor is he ever from some passion free Yet must this wretch be born Though it were better for him certainly He were not born than thus be born to dye 'T were better for him he lay buried With all his hopes about him covered With the thin notion of an entity Under the arch of possibility Then that he should exist But O he must be born he must appear On Earths wide and capacious Theater To act with mighty pomp and vanity His part o' th' fable of mortality Though 't were but fool o' th' play For whilst i' th' womb he safely lyes immur'd Free of all woe of aliment secur'd By others labour yet he thinks he 's there At best but a well treated prisoner Hence in the belly languishing he lyes And fain would make escape to feed his eyes On things abroad and fully satiate His Virgin-longing with he knows not what At length impatient of this kind restraint He 'l be no longer in this Cloyster pent But with his fellow-mortals he 'l b'acquaint At any rate what e're the event be And in this humour justles out to see This foolish world This world of which he fancies some such things As Beggars when they dream they 're mightie kings And yet no sooner into it he peeps Then instantly the changeling cryes and weeps Appearing in some inward perturbation As disappointed of his expectation In it he wastes his time in fear and pain And oft of being born he doth complain Yet when he goes out of it weeps again As if unwilling after all to part Sad as it is from what his soul and heart Doth truly love which that he might possess He could dispense with all its painfulness Inconstant Creature whom no state can please To whom nor life nor death can purchase ease Whose humorous fancy nought can satisfy Who knows not whether he should live or dye Yet is this man of so much worth and fame Whom all the Creatures have in great esteem This this is he who is so vainly proud Of the three souls which God has him allow'd Whilst those who do his actions strictly view Hardly believe that he has more than two For of the third he takes so little care As one would say his reason lay not there So that of all endu'd with growth and sense He least deserves that heavenlie influence This this is man who doth no sooner come A native naked Beggar from the womb Then assoon Food and Rayment God provides For him with every other thing besides Of which he stands in need ordering all The other Creatures to attend his call Yet after all when he 's accommodat By Providence at such a princelie rate The wretch becomes to him the most ungrate Of any thing that lives For as we know Beggars can bear no wealth So now endu'd with riches health and strength In these external things he puts his trust And quite forgets who rais'd him from the dust This is that formal piece of dâ—llest clay That moulded and unmoulded every day A thing from Heavens only with breath inspir'd That he who gave this breath might be admir'd And not the thing that breaths yet on this breath The Grashoper himself â—o valueth As he with lofty pride and arrogance Above his fellow creatures doth advance And thinks the world his sole inheritance Whilst many Brutes as we may daily see Both longer time and with more peace than he Possesse the same for he poor soul alace Can scarce enjoy but for one half hours space The full possession of what Life and breath Affords him when an enemy call'd Death Doth turn him out of all and then annon Ere he can view it well he must be gone This is the Source from which by progresse springs The Stream of all our Emperours and Kings Those men who with an armed foppery Blow up the pipes of vain Chronology Those men who when in their carreer withstood Will make the world swim around in blood Only to purchase to themselves a name And never think to have their fill of fame Whilst mean time ah poor souls how Iregrate There as ridiculous as illustrious state With all their glorious power they but appear To us like squibs that squandring here and there Put the admiring rabble in a fear Who know not what they are but men of sense Are not afraid of of their imperâ—nence For in an instant as with crackling noise Affording only sport to wanton Boyes These fly in smoak so these men in a tryce After they 've damp'd us with their cruelties Afford us sport in their own Tragedies This then is Man who rambles every where To catch a name who doth no labour spare T' attain his point running he cares not whether Killing and spoiling mixing all together In his hot fury sparing no expence To show the world his great magnificence Whilst really he 's but like one of those Who at our Fairs do set up publick Shows And with his Drums and Trumpets makes a noise In Streets and Lanes assembling all the Boyes And Girles about the Town but by and by His Licence now run out he silently Packs up his Trinkets and by break of day Out of the Town he meanly sneaks away So man on Earth for a small term of years Makes no small noise and then he disappears Have you not seen a silly Butter-flee Attacque the flaming light and wantonly Hover about it for some little space Until its wings begin to burn apace And then the helpless Creature in a tryce Sticks to the Candle spurns a while and dyes So on this dangerous Earth Stuck full of all the species of death Th' adventuring mortal arm'd with single breath Boldlie appears what next why in he flies Buzzes a while about the world and dies Is this the thing then
we call Man alace This the Heir Male of the first mortals race This Man of Woman born whose foolish years Are wasted in a tract of cares and tears If this be he that proud and lofty creature Who calls himself the Master-peece of Nature Why sure he seems to me so mean a thing As he is hardly worth our mentioning Strange then kind Females should be at such pain In bringing to the world a thing so mean A thing which valued by just Estimation Is scarcely worth the pains of Procreation Yet after all say of him what we can This empty thing is all we have for Man Yes in this very piece of miniature So long indeed as Heavens and Earth endure We see the Image Glory Wit and Power Of him who fram'd him so that to this hour In this same Man with no small admiration We read th' Abridgment of the whole creation This is the Lord of Earth yes this is he Who holds o' th' King of Heaven in capite This goodly Mannor and that as appears In Mort main too to him and all his Heirs For payment only of some Tears and Pray'rs I this same fair and fruitful Seigniory Was once indeed his settled Property For ever in his Person to endure Full and in peace before the forfeiture But O thâ—u man to whom in Paradise This fair Appanage God did first demise Man not of Woman â—orn thou poorly sold What was not to be purchassed for Gold Both thine alace and our felicity For a mean toy and for thy fault we dye Ah! hadst not thou with dull indifference Exchang'd thy opulent state of Innocence For this poor mortal state which we possess What Art could have express'd man's happiness He could for ever have retain'd his breath And bid defyance to the force of death He had with great convenience eat his Bread And call'd himself the Lord of Earth indeed But now that in continued miseries He lives a while then miserably dies He owes to thee and for thy curious Crime He and his Race are eaten up by time As Oxen eat up Grass Then what are all these things we pleasures call Wealth Honours Issue Fame What are they all When man must dye when he must formally Abandon all these pleasant things and dye Yes dy e and as into the world he came Naked and poor go out of it the same For as a flower its beauty doth display And suddainly doth moulder and decay So man in gâ—y and verdant youth appears Most glorious in the Summer of his years Void of all sorrow and anxiety Spread like a Garden-flower but by and by When he is cross'd with thoughts and businesse His Tulip-colours disappear apace And as a shadow when the Sun is gone Appears no more but vanisheth annon So all his beauty vanisheth and now Wrinkles succeed it and with much ado His face is known to those who formerly Knew him i' th' days of adolescency At length Time fairly turns his Glass and now The Fable's done and there 's no more to do But that Wrapp'd up in Home-spun Winding-sheet O brave The Lord of Earth be thrown into his Grave Almighty God! what fluctuating thing Is this same Man how frail and perishing How subject to himself how much a slave To passion from the Belly to the Grave Nay such a piece of meer formality Though Mantled with a glorious vanity Of Wit Birth Riches Learning Honours all Which he doth his appurtenances call That even himself when with impartial eye In Reasons Looking glass he doth survey His worldly state perceives that all he can Pretend at most to is to be a Man A man of woes and sorrows cares and fears A poor retainer to some painful years A short-liâ—d man who rarely doth attain To th' age of sixty and doth still complain Either of pains of Body or of Mind So long as within bounds of Life confin'd So that if th' hadst not let him understand He 's chief of all the Labours of thy Hand He 'd think himself in this same contemplation The very meanest part of the Creation Yet dost thou Lord thou high and Heavenly King Take special notice of this foolish thing Thou look'st upon him with a careful eye And tak'st the pains for his security T' enclose him with a wall of Providence And keeps't a constant Watch for his Defence Both day and night so that the power of Hell Cannot against him with their Plots prevail Whilst guarded thus and so well for tifi'd By his Creators Art on every side Yes and of late too I was one of those Whom thou with a strong Rampart did'st enclose But now thou'hast deserted me and I Unfenc'd lye open to the Enemy Now my accusers in great throngs do bring Their several Charges before thee my King Before thee I as Criminal appear At Bar and am environed with fear Now thou dost try me now thou dost intend To bring me quickly to a shameful end Lord what am I a wretched dying thing Not worth thy wrath not worth thy noticing Why try'st ' me then with such severity And of my actings maks't such scrutiny As if of all men I had most transgress'd Thy Divine Laws thou hear'st I have confess'd I am a sinner dost thou Lord expect That mortal man can other answer make When thou dost charge him with impiety Then I do now I do not Lord deny That all the Judgements I do now endure Were merit long ago for I am sure That man was never born since Adams Fall That can affirm he never sinn'd at all What then wouldst ' have me say I do confess I am all sin I am all guiltiness Can any thing that 's good from me proceed No sure then judge me for I cannot plead Not guilty I 'm unclean and who can bring That which is clean out of an unclean thing Then since it is so since I cann't deny I have abounded in iniquity Since I 'm found guilty and condemn'd why then I ask but what is granted amongst men On such occasions to a Criminal Who freely at the Bar confesses all Of what he hears himself accus'd and so Himself on mercy of the Court doth throw Then what I beg great Judge what I demand Is not to live because I understand As I am sadly circumstantiat now Death will oblige me more than Life can do But only since I have confess'd my Crime I may be but reprived for some time That I may have some leasure to repent And not at least out of the World be sent With all my sins about me Remember Lord how man is in his prime But a poor Gleaner of a scattered time A calculator of some triffling years An Almanack of sorrows woes and tears Are not his days and months determined His bounds design'd which he cannot exceed Let then his bitter persecution cease That for some time this Creature may have peace That he at least may be allow'd to live Until
dyes O thus let all Oppressors end thus all The enemies of God Almighty fall Let thus such men who in prosperity Lift up their faces and their God defy Who laugh with pleasure at Omnipotence And make a formal jest of Providence Who in their actings do their God deride And spit against the Heavens in their pride Let them all perish thus O let them dye Without compassion in great misery For though vain man may to the World pretend He 's proof of judgements can himself defend Against th' assaults of Heaven and proudly boasts In Power he 's equal with the Lord of Hosts Our God doth smile and for some time permits This fool to Revel in his frantick Fits But when he 's blown up to the hight of pride And undervalues all the World beside Then will he fall upon him overthrow All his defences bring this Champion low And make th' insulting Rebel understand The difference 'twixt an Almighty-hand And that of Flesh his choisest Coat of Mail Shall not resist his thrusts God shall prevail 'Gainst all his strength that men may learn to know What great submission to their God they owe. And not imagine in prosperity Because in wealth and honour they are high They can the strength of our great God defy For whilst in plenty we our years do waste Void of all sorrow with no care oppress 't But in our Myrtle Groves deliciously We feed and sleep in deep security Whilst hopeful Children do about us stand Like Guards o' th' Body and on every hand Our Friends Dependants Servants in a row By their attendance do their kindnesse show As well as their submission and we fear No enemy but all things do appear As tributary to our happinesse And we all Earthly blessings do possesse Then then alace we do become such fools As to forget that God Almighty rules This lower World and think our selves so sure In our Possessions as we can endure Heav'ns wrath and not be mov'd But let us once but tumble in distresse Then we 're at length obliged to confesse That God is all in all that he alone Rules all from Spade and Shovel to the Throne And though those impious fools who here despise The Power of God and think themselves so wise As they can purchase Lands in soveraignity And independant of Gods Majesty The Princes here on Earth may vainly dream They 're fully blessed yet in his esteem They are accurs'd condemn'd and destinate For Wrath and Torment dire Revenge and Hate Let them to purchase to themselves a name Erect stupendious Monuments of fame Repair wast houses Cities desolate Rebuild and their design to found a seat For them and there accurs'd Posterity ' Spite of that Mighty God that lives on high Nay let them languish in the Golden-itch And by all means endeavour to be rich Yet shall their toil and labour be in vain Nor shall they have more profit for their pain Than daily bread nay that ere all be done Shall be deficient too and they anon As in a Glass their folly shall behold And see on what they have bestow'd their Gold Those high fllow'n Projects which their aery minds Did entertain those fancies of all kinds Which did their heads possess shall now be broke And all their notions vanish into smoak Their buildings none shall ever see compleat For all their substance shall evaporat Before the Roofs ar set on and these fair And sumptuous Fabrick to the open air Shall be expos'd they never shall grow old For their Materials shall be bought and sold To pay the Workmens Wages and if ought The naked walls perhaps remain unbought Why these shall be a simple Volary Where ill-presaging Owls by nights do cry Rooks and Jack-dawes by day do make a noise And he who rais'd the Building scarce enjoys A covered corner in that spacious Nest Where he with his poor Family may rest Where he with his poor Family may dwell And with sad groans and numerous sighings tell The story of his former life and show The vanity of all things here below Where he may teach his Children to take care By his example never to out-dare Th' Almighty God or think that any thing Can here be bless'd to us when Heavens King Has vow'd the contrair or imagine that We can be happy here at any rate Unless God favour us then with a groan Shut up his story and retire alone To some dark hole where he intends to lie And pass his days in sad obscurity Until the time arrive that he should die But ere he die he shall spread flowers and leaves Temper'd with tears on all his childrens graves His branches thus lop't off the Saples Trunk With'red and dry in grief and sorrow sunk At length shall burst and in a flood of Tears O're wheml'd shall end the Legend of his years Thus shall he die whom while his sun did shine And every thing appeared to combine To raise his happinesse and make him glad No power of Eloquence could ere perswade That all his glory all his gallantry Was but meer air and glittering vanity Therefore since he such speeches would not hear Nor to grave admonitions give ear By which good men endeavoured to teach What thoughts were proper for him and did preach Faith and Repentance to him every day But not reguarding what they all did say Would still continue in his high conceit Laugh at those serious Councellors and treat Their grave advices as ridiculous And meer cunn'd Lessons serving for no use But to keep fools and children every where By such Predictions in continual fear Therefore his end shall be all Vanity And he th' example of inconstancy In Human Glory laugh'd to scorn by all Poor wretched and unpitied shall fall Poor and bereav'd of issue he shall die And of him there shall be no Memory Only his name like Beacon shall appear In History to warn all men to stear Another course than he who wilfully Did Ship-wrack on this Rock of Vanity For as sower Grapes unpleasant to the taste Not worth the eating but Hogs-food at best Men use to spitt out as the Olive tree Doth cast her Flower so he who ere he be Who thus doth live who thus consumes his time Shall by our God be cast off in his Prime For all the Race of those poor Souls who hate Their Great Creator shall be desolate Such as by Poling Cheats and Bribery Have from the Dung-hill rais'd a family And become Men of Substance by oppressions Shall all at length from their unjust Possessions Be by the God of justice totally Ejected and their masqued Villany Shall to the World be publish'd that from thence All men may learn to place their confidence In God alone and not believe that all The Wit of Mankind can prevent their Fall When God intends it who did all creat Of nothing and can all annihilat For such men pregnant with
they did before Because the hand of God hath made me poor Since thou hast made me odious to all And none do pity or lament my fall But even my friends men who I thought had known My temper and at such time would ha' shown Their kindness to me in my sad distresse By their proud words afford me nothing lesse Nay those whom blood to me had rendred dear Insult upon my woes and now appear More fierce more cruel more in Rancour di'd Than all my prating Enimies beside Then let me die at length Lord let me die That I may here shut up the History Of a most miserable Life and close In my last Groan the Fable of my woes For why Lord should I any longer see The light of Heaven who am condemn'd by thee No with my Mantle wrapp'd about my head Let me be to the place of dying led Where I may quicklie find what I desire And in the twinkling of an eye expire Expire O happie word to ease my pain Let me but once repeat that word again Expire alace I fear that favour yet Will not be granted I must longer wait For that last blow and in this panting breath Still live yet feel the horrid pains of Death A thing that should not live yet cannot die Lord what a goodly spectacle am I Poor Lean Diseas'd Sun-dry'd and Withered My Face with Wrinkles deeply furrowed All these do shew it is not fit that I Should live and yet I 'm not allow'd to die Was ever man in such a dismal case Was ever mortal tortured thus alace I 'm torn to pieces by the Divine Wrath And yet deny'd the Liberty of Death I 'm become odious in Gods sight he hates The verie thoughts of me he meanlie rates All my Pretensions nay he frowns upon me Denies his presence will hear no more on me As a notorious Traitor I am us'd The priviledge of council is refus'd To me and which is worse oblig'd down right To answer my Inditement without sight And 'cause th' Almighty doth me thus despise My Enemies in wrath against me rise They rise against me with great Violence And with sharp words assault my innocence With grinding teeth and eyes all in a flame They stare about them when they hear my name With such disdain they do upon me smile As if forsooth it were not worth their while To notice such as I appear to be Or eye such a poor wretched soul as me With mouths wide open they upon me gape As if they 'd me devour and seem to ape The Hectors of the Ocean when they chase With open mouths before them through the seas Shoals of small Fishes and most bitterly With Tongues like Scorpions they continually Do whip my Soul they whisper to each other They go aside and there consult together How they may vex me further they devise With all their force and art that in them lies How to undo me and bring evidence T' invalidat my Plea of Innocence Now it appears alace that God indeed Has me rejected and delivered Me as a slave into the hands of those Who are both his and my declared foes I was in Wealth and Honour and Esteem In great respect of all who heard my name I knew what plentie was I liv'd at ease And no cross-dealings did disturb my peace Now I am poor now I am desolate And forfeit both of Honour and Estate Now I am pinch'd and in great Penury Now I am poor and on the Dung-hill lie Like an old useless Jade expos'd to die The Wrath of God has shattered me to pieces And yet that wrath against me still encreaies As Grim-fac'd Archers Executioners Of earthlie justice do themselves disperse In quest of Malefactors beat the Woods Willowes and Reeds that grow among the Floods Survey the Mountains and the Champaign Ground And give not over while their prey be found So have Gods Archers compass'd me around I 'm now their Captive by those I am led Whether they list pinion'd and fettered They spare me not their fury knows no bounds They 've made me all a Masse of Blood and Wounds With heavy stroaks and blows ingeminat I 'm broke to pieces I 'm excoriat By Furrowing Stripes such cruel usage sure Never yet breathing Mortal did endure As a fierce Giant with his monstrous Spear Banded and pointed beyond ordinar With violence upon his foe doth run So by the strength of God I am undone For this cause I upon my Skin have sow'd A doleful Sack-cloath and my head have bow'd Low to the ground for this cause I lament For this cause I my cloaths have torn and rent My head have shav'd and in this sad Estate Each minut I my Threnody repeat My face with weeping is all withered Death o're my eyes its coverlet hath spread The pretty guardians which did formerly Protect my wearied eyes from injury Now weak and sore with watching overspent And by uninterrupted weeping faint Have quite their stations and take no more care Of their poor charge but now quite uselesse are O let me once again then but demand Of my great God that I may understand From him what is the cause of all my woe Just King of Heavens why am I punish'd so I am not conscious of such horrid guilt As may deserve this do then what thou wilt Cut me to pieces let my flesh be thrown To Dogs for food my bones dispers'd and sow'n Upon the highwayes that each Passenger Who travels on the Road may without care Trample upon them yet I still must cry O my good God with thy good liberty I bear a heart that doth entirely love Its great Creator and each hour doth prove By fervent prayer with what alacrity It doth perform all works of piety And is not guilty of hypocrisie O Earth to Mortals common Source and Grave Who kindly dost all breathless dust receive If I be such as men would have me be Let my foul blood no shelter find from thee But let my Corps expos'd upon the place Be to Spectators shown with open face That if I dy fo great a Criminal As men would have me I may by all Voted unworthy of a burial Why be it so then let me be condemn'd By man on Earth let me be thus esteem'd A lying Rogue a Hypocrite a Cheat Of Principles false and adulterat Yet the great Judge o' th' World doth know my cause And well I hope by tryal of his Laws To be acquit my witnesse is on high My Records in the Heavens securely ly By those one day I hope to make appear How from those Crimes I 'm innocent and clear Then to my unkind friends who on pretence Of consolation vent their eloquence Against the most unpitied of men Accusing me poor wretch once and again Present I shall no other answer make Then that my God I hope at length will speak And from his mouth resolve
cruel in his punishment So when thou sendst afflictons on the just And godly men who in thy mercy trust Thou 'lt not permit that any should conclude From thence that such men must be understood Guilty of all that 's evil for if so The blessed Saints in Heaven might undergo The censure of the most ungodly men That ever liv'd on Earth since it is plain None ever such afflictions endur'd As those and yet to say their sins procur'd All that they suffered and that all they felt Whilst in the land of misery they dwelt Was but the product of their faults and that Their judgements hardly were proportionat To their foul Crimes were inallowable Since thou O Lord hast made them capable Of thy eternal favour Nay this were To prove Religion were no more but Air That none were pious that no man did call Upon Gods Name aright no none at all But that all those goodly Inhabitants Of Heaven known to us by the name of Saints Were the meer dregs o' th' World Since in this Earth they knew no other state Of life then what we do commiserat Even though deserv'd in any whom we see In sad affliction though none pity me I do concclude then 't were a consequence Of dangerous import if we should from thence Infer that because that good men do endure Afflictions in this life that therefore sure Such men are impious vile and execrable For shame let none be so uncharitable As to maintain this error For I 'm perswaded Lord that one may be Under griat troubles and yet lov'd by thee Next Lord I hold it as a rule that all By thy just Statutes are not Criminal Who black with sorrow and o're come with pain Of their afflictions modestly complain If joint with such complaints they prayers send To Heavens and from their hearts do recommend To thy kind mercy the consideration Of their estate and mildly plead compassion Lastly I am perswaded after all That though sad woes like sheets of Snow should fall From Heavens upon a man who puts his trust In his Creator yet like blowing dust These clouds of woes shall vanish into air And their succeeding life shall look more fair Then that in sorrow gloomy did appear These are my principles good Lord from whence With thy good leave I would by consequence Infer that I 'm unjustly tax't by these Who call themselves my friends who proudly raise Themselves against me and do argue still My numerous sins alone say what I will Have brought upon me all that I endure And therefore hold me guilty and impure Thou seest then Lord how these my case mistake Then why should they themselves my Judges make Who in their Censures are so partial And to their own opinions wedded all Me thinks themselves they rather should decline Then by joynt council cunningly combine Under pretence of friendship to encrease My troubles by such arguments as these Should they be Judges they who openly Do value men by their prosperity And look on those who in afflictions waves Do swim with pain as men do look on slaves Coupled in chains Such flattery our God will not permit To go unpunish'd but when he thinks fit Upon those flatterers he 'll such judgements send As in a few dayâ—s space may make an end Not only of their persons but of all What these proud fools a memory do call Shall all their worldly pageantry deface And in his anger root out all their Race Now I remember whilst my sun did shine In its full Oâ—b and all things did combine To make me happy as a man might be In this vain world then would I daily see My friends in crouds within my walls appear Protesting nothing to them was so dear As was my interest and with cast-up-eyes Perswading me that they would sacrifice Their Means their Lives and should occasion call To do me service they would venture all That men call dear I 'm become poor of late By th' hand of God I 'm become desolat With sorrows on all hands environed And all my noon-tide friends are vanished My life is chang'd and all my friends are gone And in distresse I 'm visited by none But three whose visits I may say have been The worst affliction I have ever seen For truly I esteem those Visitants No Comforters but subtile Disputants Men who retain no pity in their hearts But would on this occasion show their parts On me in this deplorable estate Not meaning to condole but to debate Would they had spar'd their unkind kindnesse too And left me here as well as others do Then had I been more easy than I 'm now For all my other friends those Parasites Those Cuckows of my life those Hypocrites That gull the World with a fair pretence Of Love and Friendship are all marched hence Nay would their venimous malice rested there And as they 've quit me so they would forbear The mention of my name and when they meet At their Festivals would they would forget That ever such a thing was born as I am Would that some other Subject might supply'm With new Discourse and I had Liberty At least in dark oblivion here to die But O I 'm now become the Table-talk Of all my friends nay all men when they walk In Streets or Fields of my afflictions prate And speak with pleasure of my sad estate I 'm now the rabbles talk at Wakes and Faires My present sorrows sounding in their Ears Like a melodious Consort and God knows Hearing of my calamities and Woes Those Clowns are no less pleas'd than when they hear The noise of Tabret Fife or Dulcimer Nay so my foes have now their malice spread As those who never knew me never had Acquaintance of me when they hear my name So much bespattered by a foul-mouth'd fame Admire what curs'd and wicked thing I am My eyes with weeping for this cause are dim My heart with springs of grief swoln to the brim Both Day and Night affording new supplies Of brinish liquors for as water rise By force of Pump so from my bursting heart By force of Sighs without all help of art Fresh Streams are suck'd up hourlie issuing out Through either eye as through a Water-spout By this uninterrupting Flux at length With sorrows I perceive my former Strength Is quite exhausted and I now appear Like a meer shadow or a Damp of air This at first view may all good men surprize To see a man plung'd in such miseries A man who thinks at least God doth not hate His Person nor doth so excruciat Him as a Malefactor though he knows That all his sorrows all his pains and woes Are but his Merits these my sufferings May possibly occasion murmurings Amongst the best of men when they perceive My sad condition which though some believe To be the product of my sins yet these Know better things and viewing of my case Upon their own Deportment do reflect
you see My body thus piece-meal'd but you must be While you pretend my losses to condole The cruel Executioners of my soul. Is 't not enough you see my body pin'd But you must likewise thus distract my mind Ah will your tedious arguing never cease Would as for seven daies you did hold your peace When first you hither came so to this hour You ne'r had spoke alace how lean and poor All your Discourse is on my present state Expressing not so much your wit as hate Still varieing still mistaking of my case Still anvilling on one poor common place As if 't were meritorious to assert Though pious in my words yet in my heart I am a rotten Hypocrite indeed If you intend in railing to proceed In my opinion truly it were fit You should at least those threed-bare tropicks quite You should your former Batteries neglect And on new grounds new arguments erect And truth I think by what I 've spoke of late I 've furnish d you with matter adequat To more then any of you hath spoke as yet Proceed my friends then do your worst let all Your wits joint forces brisquely on me fall All your insults I shall with patience Endure and with my miseries dispence When I reflect on my own innocence My innocence I ever will assert For not your logick not your wit and art Shall wheadle me into acknowledgement Of your so oft repeated argument No no I never will confesse what you To have conceded keep so much adoe No I 'm so far from being asham'd of what I 've spoke since we did mannage this debate That I could wish my words were registrat I care not who hereafter do revise The memoires of my woes and miseries I am indifferent who hereafter read My Plea and see how I have answered Your pointed arguments I care not who In after ages do peruse what now I speak although the words that from my mouth Do issue are not so polite so smooth So fine so quaint so fraught with Eloquence As yours are yet I do presume the sense Imports as much as if you had abus'd Your Parts and most injuriously accus'd A man who ' spite of all your argument And pungent talk will still plead innocent O that my words were keep 't upon record O that my God such favour would afford That what I speak in this my agony Might be transmitted to Posterity In such a fair and lasting character As all our Edicts Laws and Statutes are Would they were graven with an Iron pen In Lead or Brass that all the race of men Might still remember on this conference And see how firm I 've stood to the defence Of my as yet unspotted innocence Nor would I have you think my friends that I Value my self on my integrity Or boldly plead my innocence because I fall not under reach of humane Laws Or that I did on Earth no tryal fear Because my Padlock't-sins did not appear By evidence expos'd to publick view But cunningly were all conceal'd from you No God forbid that e'r I should assert My innocence i'th'least if in my heart By strictest search I found on record that Which my assertion might invalidat No no such practises I do detest I keep a constant Jury in my breast By which I 'm hourly try'd no allegation No fain'd excuse no specious information No falshood no corrupted evidence In that impartial Court of Conscience Will ever be receiv'd at any rate From this same Court I have certificat Of my pure innocence For I 'm perswaded my Redeemer lives I firmly do believe 't is he that gives Assurance to all those whom he doth love That he will interceed for them above I know in him I have some interest And upon that security I rest I know he will at last on Earth appear And make the sinful World quake for fear Of his approach when like a mighty king He shall i' th' Clouds appear and in a ring Oh Heav'ns great Host stand circled all around Issue his Edicts and by Trumpet sound Command both dead and living to appear In Judgement where each mortal thing may hear His just Procedure there he will indite Him whom you call the cunning Hypocrite As well as th' open sinner him he will Find guilty and condemn for all his skill If I be such then as you 'd have me be In that great day my friends you 'll clearly see What shall become of me For after this my Body Worms have eat And with their substance 't is incorporat After my Bones are squandred in the Ground And of my Flesh no vestige can be found My Scull my Arms and Thigh-bones thrown aloft By th' Shovel of the Grave-maker as oft As for new Guests new Rooms he doth provide And in the Earth my Corps are putrifi'd After my Dust about the Grave is roll'd Yet in the Flesh I shall my God behold Yes with these eyes these individual eyes With which I now behold these glorious Skies I then shall see that glorious Architect Who for his glory did the Heavens Erect For though some think our Bodies made of Clay Which crumble in the Grave on rising day Shall not stand up but some of thinnest Air Compos'd shall in their place that day appear Yet I 'm convinc'd that this numerical This Earthly Body this organical Composure which we here a Body name Shall on that day appear the very same Only as Earth when vitrify'd is still But Earth though richly polish'd by the skill Of knowing Artists so this peice of Clay Shall be refin'd and at appearance day Shall with such beauty grace and glory shine As God thinks proper for the grand design Of its perpetual true Felicity Which join'd with Soul in heavenly harmony It shall enjoy impassible of all Those thwarting ills which here we troubles call Then in this Body with those very eyes I shall perceive him with none else but these I shall behold my Saviour I believe Firmly that in the Flesh I shall perceive My bless'd Redeemer though my very Reins Are shrunk within my Back and all my Veins Choak'd up with stagnant and corrupted Blood Are now like Ditches full of Dirt and Mud. Although my moisture is all spent and gone And I am nothing now but skin and bone Though I all humane shape and form have lost And in the eyes of all more like a Ghost Then like a living man I do appear And no man will come nigh me now for fear Of my contagious breath yet after all This bodie this same individual And putrid bodie shall again revive And I again as formerly shall live And my Redeemer with those verie eyes I clearlie shall behold when from the skies He shall descend to judge the Quick and Dead And with those verie eyes I then shall read The Journals of his Actings then I shall Before my Heavenlie Judge convince you all I am no Hipocrite as you assert But
for the love we bear to thee would fain Reclaim thee from thy errors but alace I fear 't is all in vain we do expresse Our selves as men that really do fear Their God in all our words and do appear To be thy friends but hitherto we see There 's no convincing such a man as thee For it appears that thou art obstinate In error and with all thy soul dost hate To be reformed esteeming none thy friend Who in discourse will be so free and kind As tell thee of thy faults and let thee see How many men have been as well as thee Oppress'd in spirit and in body too And yet have never kep't so much adoe As thou hast done in all their sufferings Nor us'd so many sinful murmurings Against their Maker not to speak of us Thy friends whom thou dost openly abuse For I 've observ'd friend that when Eliphaz Did learn'dly speak thou told him in his face He did not understand so much as thou Did know of Gods great works when Bildad too Express'd his mind in golden Eloquence And truly spoke with as much deference To thy condition as men did of late When thou didst triumph in thy prosprous state Thou said his tale had formerly been told And so on what he spoke thou laid no hold For he knew nothing but to rail and scold As for my self however I did speak Thou told me all my arguments were weak For my part therefore seing 't was in vain To speak I was resolved to abstain From further talking but that now I see Thou' rt pleas'd of late forsooth to challenge me As one who has injur'd thee hence I find My self oblig'd again to speak my mind My thoughts are numerous and my brimful heart Will burst if I the same do not impart In words for which those numerous thoughts do call And therefore I 'm constrain'd to utter all I think with freedom and I must make haste To speak too for this speech shall be the last That I shall use to thee hear me and then Thou shalt have no more reason to complain Of my discourse let thy two other friends As they most learn'dly can expresse their minds Continue to expostulate with thee Thou shalt hear no more arguing from me Allow me then my friend to vindicat My self from those aspersions of late Thou' rt pleas'd to throw upon me for I 'm touch'd To hear my self so frequently reproach'd Even in my face what man will be so us'd And hold his peace I must then be excus'd If I make answer to thy late Oration Reflecting so much on my reputation Why then my friend were I as much a slave To passion as alace I do perceive Thou art should I give vent to wrath as thou Hast all this time done without more adoe I 'd fall a railing on thee all my words Should be like pointed knives or shearing swords My Tongue I 'd with such acrimony whet Stare with my Eyes and in such order set My Teeth against thee and with clutched Fist Whilst in my burning fury I persist To menace thee so thunder out my wrath As should make thee I doubt wish more for Death Than yet th' hast done I 'd so belabour thee With whips of speech as thou shouldst quicklie see Thy foolish error in provoking me I would so threaten terror and revenge As I suppose would make thy colours change For all thy courage I 'd so tartly speak As would make all thy joints and sinews quake But God forbid that I should be so mad As to practise such an unlawful trade That I should to my passion give such vent Of which hereafter I 'd no doubt repent No my good friend indeed thou dost mistake If thou believe that yet I am so weak No thou shalt hear me with great calmness speak For since thou hast reproach'd me to my face I cannot sure in honour hold my peace But must make answer to what thou hast said Though after all indeed I am afraid I 'le have not better success than before Only since I intend to speak no more Hear me but for some time with patience And then descant upon thy innocence Even as thou wilt for seriouslie I shall In a few mild Expressions sum up all What I intend to speak so I have done And then if thou think'st fit I shall be gone I doubt not friend but thou art fully read In Naturals and hast much laboured To know the real true Origination Of all the glorious work of the Creation I also know by reading History Thou hast great knowledge of antiquity Whence I conclude sure thou dost understand How that since with a high and mighty hand The King of Heavens did first the Earth Create And in its full possession enstate That ungrate thing call'd Man Since that time sure thou can'st not chuse but know How God Almighty brings the wicked low For that accursed man who doth despise His great Creator though in wealth he rise Above his neighbours and in honours sphere A Star o' th' greatest magnitude appear Though like a tall Oak he doth overtop The lower shrubs o' th' World and in his hope Devours whole Kingdoms Cities Common-weals States Empires Districts or what ever else May bring him profit honour and delite And answer his voracious appetite Although he triumphs in the spoiles of those Whose riches only make great men their foes And seizes on all that unhappy ground Belong to whom it will where can be found That Idol of the World which men call Gold To purchase which that Creature will make bold To swim through seas of blood and venture all For what wars Nerves and Sinews he doth call Yet are his triumphs all but empty shows And all his bloody purchases God knows Of which that Heavens-contemning fool doth boast Are scarce well setled when they 're wholly lost His joys do only for a moment last And when his glorious days are overpast And troubles to his former joys succeed What miserable life shall that man lead Each moment haunted by the memory Of his few years spent in prosperity Which galls him more then he had never seen Those whiffling days nor in his life had been Above the rank of those who meanly beg Along the high ways and will make a leg For a poor farthing for its own'd by all That he who for his pride of old did fall From that great share of heavenly happinesse Which whilst he fear'd his God he did possesse Is now more tortur d by the memory Of his so poorly loâ—t felicity Then he had ne'r those higher Regions known Or seen the splendour of the heavenly Throne But had been still in horrid darknesse bred And from his first Creation Billâ—ted I' th' Bowels of the Earth where for his pride He 's now condemn'd for ever to reside That man I say then who doth God despise Although in wealth and honour he Should rise Above all others and
prosper as you stifflie plead That such by him are onlie punished No my good friends I am not to maintain A point whereof the contrair is so plain I 'm not so much in love with vain debate Nor am so wedded to my own conceit As you appear to be that I should call What I have said so purelie general As it of no exception can admit No I do not pretend to so much wit As to maintain with Reasons full extent The truth of such a foolish Argument For I do onlie say that some not all Of those same men whom you do wicked call Are bless'd on earth because I understand As well as you that on the other hand Many of them do in this life sustain The Wrath of God and undergo much Pain Much Hatred much Contempt and Povertie Whilst here on earth and suffer Miserie In its extream Degree I know that some Unhappie men are whollie overcome With Plagues and Sorrows and before they die Reap the reward of their impietie Though such as in this earth are punished And by afflictions terrors visited Are not so numerous if we do compare Their list with those on Earth who blessed are How oft pray do we see such sinful men Expos'd to Gods displeasure one of ten Perhaps are so 't is true when God doth fall Upon those villanous men root branch and all He doth destroy their glory quickly dyes As doth the spark from flame that upward flyes Or as the light of Candle when its head Is turned down is soon extinguished It s splendid lustre instantly is spent Evaporating in a noisome scent As Chaff or Stuble driven 'fore the Wind Scattered along the Fields we daily find Such when God is incens'd shall be the state Of those poor men they shall be dissipat Upon the face of Earth their Families Shall go to ruine and their Memories Shall with themselves expire their former glory Shall not be entred in the Page of Story Nay that they may be further punished Their misery shall not be limited To their own persons for before their eyes They shall perceive horrid calamities Invading of their so late happy Race Destroy their pleasures and disturb their peace Shall see their dearest Children beg their Bread And with sad roots their hungry Stomachs feed Shall see them scattered every where abroad Sitting half-naked in each common Road With lift up hands most lamentably cry For Alms from every one that passeth by All this they shall perceive and quickly know When God for any man designs a blow Though he 's long-suffering and slow to wrath And takes no pleasure in a sinners death Yet when his Choller once begins to rise Judgements like Lightnings issue from hit Eyes Upon these wretches which with sudden flash Them and their issue all to pieces dash For when Heavens Monarch doth in wrath appear His Judgements are so heavy and severe No Mortal Shoulders can his loadnings bear And where they 'd cheer their spirits formerly With expectation that their memory Might be preserved and men may clearly read Their glorious names ingrav'd when they were dead I' th' several Fore-heads of their fruitful Race Which might proclaim their worth from place to place Alace what pleasure now can these men have When all their Race is swallowed by the Grave In their own time when all their pleasure dyes And all their memories are before their eyes By th' very hand of God obliterat So that no vestige of their former state Doth now remain and they are in their prime E're they 're well entred in the books of Time Shiffled out of the World and quickly sent To their so oft derided punishment Since then my friends our God is pleas'd to blesse Some sinful wretches letting them possesse All pleasures here on Earth and makes them dye As they had liv'd in soft tranquillity Whilst others of 'em are so sore oppress 't By plagues on Earth as they can have no rest But wearied of their lives incessantly Cry our for help from death until they dâ— Who 's he dares say that none are punished But sinful men that God has limited His Judgements only to such men as these Whilst all the truly godly live in peace What man is he will undertake to teach God what he ought to do or vainly preach Upon a text so far above his reach So then my friends I hope you will allow Th' Almighty God knowes better things then you And is not to be taught at any rate How he his Judgements should proportionat With this or t'other subject as you dream And in your crazy judgements do esteem No no my friends as God doth fully know So he doth fully judge both high and low Even as he pleaseth nor can humane wit Prescribe to God methods so just and fit As he doth use in all his dispensations Upon the sons of men Yet must we not imagine or suppose That he who all men most exactly knows Who all things fram'd who all things did create Who judges men of every rank and state With a true knowledge and deliberatly That he should let his plagues at random fly On this or t'other as it were by chance No none are punish'd but by ordinance And firm decree of Heaven in which doth shine The glory of his Majesty Divine For though indeed we cannot understand The Almighties ways when we perceive his hand Sometimes on this sometimes on t'other fall As if he did observe no rule at all In governing o' th' World yet if we do In sad sobriety observe but how He lets some live in wealth and happinesse Whilst others in great sorrow and distresse Consume their days how some in peace do dye Larded with riches to whom penury Was never known whose calm and quiet years Void of all cares anxieties and fears In a course so serene so smooth and slow As streams do gentlie through the Meadows flow Slide softlie to the grave as one should think Those men knew nothing but to eat and drink How with such plentie those same men are blest As scarce by Humane Art can be exprest Their bodies healthful strong and vigorous As tempered Steel nothing obnoxious To th' force of anie violent disease But as they liv'd so go to death with ease Their breasts with milk their bones with marrow fall In earthlie pleasures become soft and dull Whilst others of those men our God permits To live and die in such tormenting fits Of Poverty Fear and Anxiety With all the species of Adversity As all their lives they have no other fare But tears and do not know what pleasures are In tears they sleep in tears they do awake Their hearts with sorrow alwaies seem to break Oppress 't with tears and sighs they eat and drink Nor can their minds on anie pleasure think But in the bitter anguish of their Soul Conjure all living Creatures to condole Their sad disasters fretting constantlie At others
we did mean But since thou put'st me to ' t I shall be plain For thus I argue He whose wickedness Caus'd many cry to Heaven for redress He who was not asham'd to make profession Of that foul sin which men do call Oppression That man I say 't is plain and evident Deserves from God severest punishment This I have still esteemed from my youth A proposition of eternal truth But so it is thou in thy life hast been As is but too well known the worst of men In sin thou didst thy Neighbours all exceed And therefore thou art justly punished But here because I know thou wilt deny What I subsume I 'le prove it instantly Here is my charge then stand to thy defence For thus I do impeach thy innocence Who 's he of us that cannot say his ears Have been infested now these many years With th'horrid noise of thy lewd practices Whilst thou without distinction didst oppress Each living Soul that came within thy reach And seiz'd on all as far as thou couldst stretch Thy grasping Talons may as we have heard Thy avarice so palpably appear'd And thy â—oul dealings were so understood By all the people of thy Neighbourhood As no men durst with thee negotiat Save those who better understood to cheat Then thou didst and we hear they were but few Besides thy self my friend who so well knew The art of Couz'ning nay besides we hear Thy crueltie was such thou wouldst not spare Thy nearest Kins-men but at all occasions Wouldst justle them out of their just Possessions When having lent them money in their need Upon a Mortgage by some Counter-deed After true payment of the Principal Just Interest Expences Costs and all Under the Title of some scurvy lease After Redemption thou wouldst still possess And lest thy Title should be quarrelled Thou'd quicklie purchase in some Latent-deed Which carry'd the reversion and then Th' extinguish'd Mortgage openlie retain Nay more thou didst not onlie strangers use After this fashion but wouldst even abuse Thy very Brother if necessitie Oblig'd him to demand from thee supplie For thou wert rigid cruel and severe In all thy dealings as most rich men are And for thy Soul alace thou took'st no care Interest allow'd by Law would not content Thy covetous mind but even cent per cent Thou'd take from some and Pledges to the boot Worth thrice the money which thou didst lend out Then lest the Statutes might thy dealings reach And thee for bloody usury impeach Thou'd licitat the Goods and for the fashion Cause a led Jury put a Valuation Upon them far below the sum thou lent And then wouldst sell them to the full extent Nay which is strange as we 're inform'd the poor Who daily begg'd their alms from door to door Thou sometimes with provisions wouldst supplie And make the gleanings of thy Usâ—rie In publick pass for acts of Charitie But how pray didst thou order thy affair With those poor Souls say now didst thou forbear To take a Pledge from such for what thou lent Nay my good friend 't was never thy intent For e're thou'd wanted all thou even wouldst seize On their poor rags and make such things as these Yield thee some profit Whilst overcome with cold and penurie Those naked creatures in the streets would die In fine both rich and poor thou us'd to rob For no such famous Usurer as Job Did in these Countries live this was thy Trade By this a great Estate th'hadst latelie made And for this now on Dung hill thou art laid Then as thou did in avarice abounds So in thy petriâ—yed heart was found No room at all for love and charity For thou the thirsty never would supply With one cold cup of water or in need Afford the hungry one poor loaf of bread But O in these days there was no complaining On such as thee as there was no regaining Of what thou took'st thou then didst rule the land And hadst both power and statutes in thy hand Men knew no other laws but thy command And though thou wouldst unmercifully treat The poor yet thou wouldst fawn upon the great And rich men of the land and countenance Them in their law-suits that thou might'st advance The interest of thy self and family And raise thy brats by open bribery Lastly which is the greatest of oppressions When some poor widows would at general Sessions Implore for justice where thou didst preside Protesting they did starve for want of bread And therefore beg'd their suits might come to tryal To this thy answer was a flat denyal Either because some great men were concern'd In these same actions or that thou hadst learn'd It was the interest of some puny friend Those peoples tryals should not have an end The orphans too when thou in Judgement sat And acted as a bribing Magistrat Did starve for want of sustenance and cry'd Aloud when dying Justice was deny'd Hence 't is that woes environ thee around And sudden fears thy spirits do confound Hence 't is that thou art levell'd with the Dust 'Cause whilst thou wert a Judge thou wast unjust Hence 't is that thou art every way undone And with a flood of sorrows over-run Hence 't is that spoil'd of goods health family In an abysse of troubles thou dost ly But O whilst thy proud honours did endure Thou thought'st thou were from punishment secure For God saidst thou who lives above the skie And has his habitation more high Then that of fixed stars can never know What we do act who live so far below The pavement of his Heavenly Residence Will he be at the pains to view from hence The base and silly actions of men No 't is below him sure to entertain Such worldly thoughts sure he has no regard To our mean actings but as we 're debarr'd From seeing of him so his Majesty Employ'd in thoughts more elevate and high Disdains to keep intelligence with such Whose practises he doth not value much Thick vapours saidst thou all our actions shroud From him can he perceive through darkest cloud What we do here on Earth pray can he see What daily passes betwixt thee and me Can 't be imagin'd that he doth perceive What here we act or shall a man believe That through so many Orbs as roul between The Heavens and Earth our actions can be seen No no wrapp'd up in coverlets of clouds He sees us no more then in thickest woods We can perceive the Sun he knows no more How we do live then men upon the shore Can tell us what the several motions be Of Fishes in the bortom of the Sea Noâ— he knows neither what we act or talk But undisturb'd in Heavens large Court doth walk Further my friend I tremble to repeat What were thy thoughts of God whilst thou were great For as most men in grandeur vainly think That at their splendid errors God doth wink And on the rabble only
judgements sends To keep the great-men of the Earth his friends So thou didst think when thou didst live in state God thought it fit thou shouldst be alwayes great As being one so justly qualifi d For Government as there were none beside In all the Countrey to supply thy place Wer 't thou undone and therefore if in peace His Majesty would govern all above He thought it not his interest to remove From Government so great a Minister As thou wer 't hence thou vainly didst infer That having left all to thy management Reward thou might but never punishment Expect from God O principles most Atheistical Opinions to be abhorr'd by all Dost think that God who all things did create Who plac'd us all in every rank and state That he whose eye views all things should not know What all of us think speak or act below His Heavenly Throne dost think the thickest cloud From him who holds them in his hands can shroud Our actings here on Earth dost think but he Whose eyes see clearly through the thickest Sea And through the body of the Earth can tell What all those things do act who live in Hell Dost think but he with far more ease doth see Through all those rouling orbs and clouds what we Act here on Earth dost think that he 'll permit The sons of men to live as they think fit Whilst as a meer spectator he looks on Indifferent and concerns himself with none No sure thou thinkst not as thou speakst for so Thou mightst as well pretend thou didst not know Whether there were a God in Heavens or no. For to conclude with thee that Providence Doth rule the World with such indifference As sometimes here it strikes and sometimes there Sending out plagues or blessings everie where As th' fatal Dye doth turn upon the square As points out each mans Destiny were even To fancie a grand Lottery in Heaven Or think that God who all men fullie knows Should by mistake at anie time send blows Where blessings should be sent allow me then To tell thee that none but the worst of men Should vent such errors in which thou appears To be involved over head and ears For thou thinkst not enough thus to denie That providence doth rule with equitie But dost thy error proudlie justifie Thou argu'st too by reason as do all Those whom the knowing world do Athiests call But were there no more arguments to confute Thee and those prating Fellows who dispute The actions of their Maker this alone May teach you all God will be fool'd by none That though those wretches firmlie do believe There is no God yet still they do conceive There 's some such thing for in their mind they doubt Although they are asham'd to speak it out Whether what they believe be reallie true Or not for to give providence its due They find all 's ordered by some supream hand Though whose it is they will not understand So though in their opinions positive Yet by their doubtings we may well perceive That they with contrare thoughts are still opprest And maugre all their braving cannot rest On such opinions but still apprehend God out of Heav'ns will view them in the end And on their old-age heavy judgements send Take heed I do beseech thee then from hence My friend how thou dost talk of Providence And ask no questions pray why wicked men To great enjoyments in this life attain Whilst pious men are strictly punished As if here Providence did erre take heed And do not think such things for if thou dost Assure thy self thou art for ever lost Then use no more that trivial defence So oft repeated of thy innocence For we are all perswaded that our God Without just cause doth never use the Rod. Remark but th' History of former times Thou 'lt see how men have suffered for crimes Hast thou not heard how men before the Flood Behav'd themselves as if they had withstood The power of Providence and would not bow To the great Prince of princes or allow That homage to him which the Creature owes To its Creator he did so dispose Those Clouds in which thou think'st he 's wrapp'd a round As in a few dayes all those men were drown'd He who by power of his Almighty Hand Clear'd all the Marches betwixt Sea and Land And by the same power doth restrain the Floods Above us in Borrachios of Clouds Was pleas'd then in his wrath t' unty them all Which caus'd a Deluge Epidemical That race of Creatures which not long before He had created he did then abhore Because they had his Government disclaim'd And all his reverend Orators contemn'd Whom he had sent with open mouths to tell 'em Of those sad things which afterwards befel 'em But they with open mouthes those men did mock And told them that they knew not what they spoke Nay when the Good-man whom the Lord design'd To be the great Restorer of Man-kind By special Direction did begin In view of all to build an Ark wherein The Seeds o' the World might be preserv'd entire Whilst all the rest did in the Flouds expire Those silly Fools did laugh at his intent And oft would ask what the old Fellow mean't So in their errors these men did proceed Still living as they were accustomed In wanton pleasures regulating still Their Lives by order of their foolish will Hence when the Cataracts of Heaven did swell And Floods out of the Skies upon them fell They were catch'd napping in their Festivals And minding nothing but their Bacchanals Were in that universal Deluge drown'd With all their sins about ' em But O the man who as they thought had rav'd Was in that Ark which they derided sav'd With all his Family he safety found Amidst those rowling Waves in which they drown'd And the Good-Master of Heavens only Barque With all his Passengers did in his Ark O'r'e-top the Flouds Then on might see when that Spring-tide was full The Stock of Mankind floating in a Hull The hopes o' th' world the Origination Of every future Kingdom State and Nation Shut up below Decks under Boards and Dails Without the help of Masts Ropes Oars or Sails Rudder or Compass Steer they knew not whither Upon the Waters many days together And yet at length as well as any now Who with great Art and Skill the Ocean plow Arrive at their wish'd Port of Ararat From whence they quickly did Disseminat In fruitful Colonies giving Birth to all Who now do scramble 'bout this Earthen-ball Such wicked men then did not dy in peace Nor did they step into their Graves with ease Who said to God depart from us good Lord What more than we enjoy can'st thou afford And generally were so insolent In sin as they disdained to repent As thou affirm'st no they were visibly While living punish'd for Impiety Yet after all with thee I must confess 'T is strange to think how our good God did bless
silver and his Gold In little Barrs and Ingots soon are cast In Plates his Copper Lead in Pigs at last All weigh'd and stamp'd entred and registrate In Books by these he reckons his Estate Then next because he doth perceive one Vein Two different Mettals often do contain For naturally with all Silver Ore And Copper Grains of Gold some lesse some more Are always mix'd with Silver too some Lead And Iron with Copper i' th' same Vein do breed In Lead and Iron some Silver too is found As from the Veins he draws them under ground He quickly finds a way to separate The mixed Mettals at an easie rate By Aqua Fortis Gold from Silver Ore To which i' th' Vein 't was marryed before Is soon divorc'd and other Mettals are By Allum and Nitre separate with care But lastly when he has all separat One would suppose he 'd Nature imitat When mixing all those Mettals once again Some in the same proportion with the Vein Others in such proportions great and small As for his ends are fit which he doth call Temperatures out of these mixtures too He 's so acquainted with all Mettals now He frames new Mettals as when by his art To four of Gold of silver a fifth part He adds he quickly a new Mettal frames Out of that Masse which he Electrum names With many others such as those we call Bell-mettal Soldure Pot-mettal and all That are not Mettals i' th' Original But what needs more I think by what I 've said Any impartial man I may perswade That God is great above what we can reach By art which even those Minerals do teach Suppose all th' Works of his Omnipotence Could not afford another evidence Of his great Worth and Glory Yet man may bring those hidden things to light Though one should think they to perpetual night Were by his Divine Ordinance confin'd Yet he may bring them out and please his mind As with the Search before they can be found So with the enjoyment of 'em above ground But O should man employ his wit and art In searching after things which for his heart He cannot find as if he 'd run the Scent And trace the steps of Heavens Government Or study to find out the reason why This or that good man lives in misery Whilst sinners revel in prosperity Should he attempt by the same rules to know The things above as he doth these below Should he his Reason couple with his Sense And go a hunting after Providence And proudly think when he has found it out From it he 'll have intelligence no doubt Of all Gods Cabin-thoughts and thence may know The reasons of his actings here below Should he thus use his wit thus entertain His mind thus foolishly torment his brain In studying to find out his policy By which this universal Monarchy Is govern'd by which all Gods actings are Amongst us mortals brought upon the square Why this same study were not only vain Foolish presumptous full of uselesse pain But shrewdly sinful and unlawful too For such high knowledge God will not allow To mortal race Nor will he let them know at any rate What is not fit should be communicat To humane wit because he wisely knows If we did know such hidden things as those And what to each man were predestinat Which must be sent upon him soon or late 'T would certainly cause so much pride and fear As what betwixt presumption and despair The world would split in two and men should know Too much to damn them all if things were so To th'case my friends then why should you debate On things above your reach why should you state The Question in the works of Providence To which we cannot sure without offence Prescribe those Rules by which our actings here Are rui'd from whence it plainly doth appear There is a Wisdome which we cannot reach A Divine Knowledge which no Art can teach A Wisdome to our God peculiar With which no Earthly Wisdome can compare A knowledge which to know our fond desire On no account should foolishly aspire Then O where is this wisdome to be found This heavenly knowledge which doth quite confound And with one simple dash oblit'rat all That which we vainly understanding call Where is it pray whence is it to be had On what Coast do we for this wisdome Trade This wisdome O this wisdome this divine And God-like knowledge from what secret Mine Is it extracted in what hidden Pore In Heav'ns or Earth doth this Seraphick Ore Branch out its Veins this wisdome mystical This Art of Arts this supernatural And un-born knowledge whither shall we run To find this wisdome shall we with the Sun Take Journey and view all the World about with searching eye to find this wisdome out Or shall we on the wings of contemplation Fly upward in some pious meditation In search of what on earth we cannot find And reach that thing by labour of the mind That hands cannot perform a thing in vain Our curious reason studies to attain A thing our Faith which Reason doth transcend On this side time can hardly comprehend For what it is no mortal man can know Or where 't is to be found 't is hidden so By him who all things fram'd we cann't conceive What thing it is but only must believe This divine wisdome is not to be found By Art of man 't is not a thing the ground The Seas or Air afford 't is not a thing To which we can attain by reasoning No 't is a thing of which we neither know Its beeing nor its value for although We search with Reasons Taper in our hand The darkest Creviss both in Sea and Land To find it out our toil is all in vain For to its knowledge we can ne're attain But after that by strength of contemplation We think of it to learn some information We 're forc'd at length to rest in admiration In admiration yes contentedly We must admire what all our industry Our wit art thinking cannot comprehend A wisdome that all value doth transcend 'T is not in Commerce 't is inestimable 'T is not by Gold or Silver purchasable No no this thing cannot be bought or sold At any rate not Tunns of Ophir Gold Not Cargoes of that precious Mineral Not heaps of Stones and Jewels which by all Are valued at the highest estimation Can for this knowledge make a valuation Not finest Gold nor Chrystal of the Rock O' th' purest hue can make a bartring Stock For such a rich Commodity not all What Merchants here inestimable call Can make provisions suitable to buy Such an inestimable Commodity Talk not of Coral 't is a mean Sea-weed Nor Pearl which with us silly Oysters breed No nor of Rubies though their Crimson Dye Appears most rich and glorious to the eye Nor of their beauty cut in Faucet tell For this high wisdome doth them all excell Your Aethiopian Topaz
enjoy Not worth my thoughts nor would I e're employ The least part of my time in valuing My self in that contentment Gold doth bring For though as much as many I possess 't Yet on that dust my spirit did not rest I never look'd on 't as a sure defence 'Gainst misery nor plac'd my confidence In that weak Rampart as if all my store Although I had possess'd some ten times more Had e're been able to withstand one hour The Battery of Divine Wrath. No no what 's all that we on Earth possesse Our Lands our Stores our Money what alace Do all these triffles signify when wrath From Heaven assault us or approaching Death Hangs out his bloody Flag and bids us soon Yeeld up our Fortresse or he 'll throw it down O where are all our Stores and Treasures then Where all our Wealth which with much toile and pain We'd had rear'd up as a most sure defence Against all troubles where 's that confidence Which in our count'nance did before appear Where 's all our hope where all our courage where Are all our mighty Allies where is all The valour of our boasting Mineral Oh where is all its force when death appears And we 're invested by an host of fears Nay where are they when Heavens King in wrath Against their master doth his Sword unsheath Why these same peaceful Warriors assoon As they perceive the enemy take down Their glorious Ensigns pack up all anon And in a moment they are fled and gone Leaving their hopelesse master all alone Tendure the Siege O brave Assistants O stout Legionaries O hopes of men O firm Auxiliaries Who make your owners foolishly believe You can do wonders when they do perceive What glorious show you make in time of peace But dar not look an enemy i' th' face Who then would trust to those same cowardly troops In time of trouble who would place their hopes In such a crew of aery painted things Which we call riches Creatures that have wings And on the high boughs of prosperity Do sweetly chirp but when adversity Begins to fire away like smoke they fly In such vain things then would I never trust Nor valu'd them more then as useful dust By which we live with some convenience But in them ne're would place my confidence Because I knew such emptie things as these Were only the Concomitants of Peace And when afflictions winds began to roar In rising Billows signify'd no more Then wicker anchors hausers made of dust Or Ropes of Feathers in which none would trust Therefore my friends I never valued My self upon what I had purchased I never thought I should be more esteem'd Cause I was rich or should be happy nam'd Because in plenty or 'cause Means encreass't To be repute above my neighbours bless't Or because wealthie that I liv'd in ease No I knew always better things then these I knew indeed and to this hour I know There 's nothing more ridiculous here below Nothing more silly nothing more absurd Nothing more indiscreet yea in a word Nothing more wilfully irrational Amongst us mortals then for men to call This or that Person Prudent Knowing Wise Only because he 's rich and to despise Others 'cause poor and say they have no wit Because they have not reap'd such benefit In their transactions as those others have And so by each mans successe do conceive He 's wise or foolish Whereas commonlie The first are men of small sagaciâ—â—e Dull and Phlegmatick and the latter are Often in parts and prudence singular For God has ordred in his Providence It should be so that men may learn from thence Th' Art of contentment whilst they seriously Observe with what discreet variety He doth bestow his Gifts Knowledge to these Wealth to these others and that none possess All blessings upon Earth for he whom Wealth Doth crown with plenty usually of health Is destitute whilst he whom poverty Puts to sad pinches with his Family Enjoys it fullie he whom parts adorn Is despicably poor and laugh't to scorn By those whom Means have rendred boldly proud Whilâ—â— of rich fools the world doth talk aloud As th' only wise men To some he allows Wealth without issue others he endows With a fair Off-spring but scarce competence For feeding of 'em with convenience To others he gives both but thinks not fit T' enrich them with a treasury of wit And all that God to us would signify By this remarkable variety Of Dispensations is undoubtedly This only That since all blessings do from him alone Proceed and that 't is in the power of none To become masters of these qualities And be Rich Fruitful full of Health and Wise Or to attain by toile or strength of art That which he only freely doth impart To whom he will that men may not be proud Of what to them is by his Grace allow'd Nor boast of any prosperous condition Which cann't be say'd to be their acquisition Besides if we 'll but think how mean esteem God has for Riches we will quickly blame That vulgar apprehension which doth pitch It s silly slubbering fancy on the rich Who generally are but men of base Unworthy and unhallowed Principles Men of mean spirits and deceitful hearts Great Master of the most pernicious arts Of couz'ning and oppression men of wealth Term'd by the world because by cunning stealth They 've rais'd Estates men they are seldom bred In any Learning scarce intituled To moral virtue men who take no pleasure In any Science but upon their treasure Do fix their Souls and yet dare do no more Then with devout eyes gaze upon their Ore But thinks't a sin to touch that sacred score Hence those poor Silk-worms with great toile and pain Spin out their Bowels to make orhers gain Not living mean time on the precious fruit Of their own Labours which without dispute Is none of theirs on Leaves they meanly feed And ' midst their riches are half-famished They 're men whose sordid labours have no end For when great store of riches they have gain'd They vex themselves no lesse in the tuition Of these sad toyes then in their acquisition For there 's a certain Idol on which all Those Sons of Earth do every moment call An Idol by these had in great esteem Which in their phrase security they name This they with vows this they with offerings load This is their patron this their houshold god Yet that security they can never find For all their art in which their troubled mind Doth fully rest for still some point doth lake Of this or 'tother evident to make A compleat Right and sure establishment Of what these men have purchased or lent So on they go in all the Chicanries Which their well hired Scriv'ners can devise To make it out though to make them secure Many an honest Fam'ly should endure Great want and hunger for they seize on all Their Debtors means and constantly do baule About the
yet for some years to live At this his sicknesse shall decrease apace His spirits shall return and in his face The blossoms of new life shall then appear As when the Spring doth usher in the year His flesh shall be as soft and delicate As it appear'd once in his infant state But that 's not all for as to health restor'd So God to him most kindly shall afford That sweet communion with himself which all Esteem so much who on his Name do call And that bless'd comfort which afflictions cloud So long time from this poor mans soul did shrowd Shall then more bright appear and shine again As when the Sun triumphant after rain Unto the longing Earth himself displays And chears her up with warm refreshing rays Then he shall be above all calumny And shall rejoice in his integrity Shall pray to God with successe and no more Sadly suspect as he had done before That he who dwells in Heaven did disdain So much as t' hear him when he did complain And all his tears and prayers were in vain For our good God in mercy infinite Be sure my friend doth take no small delite To save a sinner that is penitent When he perceives him heartily repent For often upon men he casts his eye Where if he in a corner doth espy Some poor heart-bursting sinner on his knees Whose outrun eyes are now upon the lees Whose voice with crying to that note is shrunk As if he mutter'd through a hollow Trunk Who after many a sad and killing groan Whose heat would almost melt a heart of stone In a few words can only stammer out Lord I have sinn'd and now what doth it boot What doth it boot good Lord what after all My trade of sin can I my profit call Ay me good God to what by just account Doth th' provenue of all my sins amount What have I gain'd alace what have I gain'd To what have I by my dear sins attain'd How foolishly good Lord as now appears Have I consum'd my profitable years And spent the cream of all my youth and strength In prosecution of what now at length Affords no profit to my soul but brings The thoughts of sad and execrable things Into my mind which though I do deplore And by thy grace intend to act no more Yet the remembrance of my wanton years Present a prospect of perpetual fears Before my eyes and I still apprehend That I shall justly suffer in the end For all my sins unless that thou in Grace Wilt hear me and have pity on my Case This poor convinced sinner God will hear And to him soon most gracious appear He will not let him perish but will save His soul from Hell his body from the Grave Thus then by Dreams by Visions and Diseases And by his Preachers whensoere he pleases He warns us of our danger and commands His killing Angels oft to hold their hands For a few years at least that he may see What the effects will of these Warnings be For in mens ruine he no pleasure takes But even suspends his Justice for their sakes That they may have some leasure to repent And not be reeking in Offences sent Like Devils t' endure eternal punishment But of their foolish Errors undeceiv'd Spite of themselves they may at length be sav'd Then pray my friend remark what I have said And to what I have yet to say take heed Observe me pray and to my words give ear For it is fit thou with attention hear What God has by Commission ordered me To speak dear friend in reference to thee Yet if th' hast any thing to say my friend In thy defence I 'le not be so unkind As to command thee silence but allow Thee liberty to speak and argue too Against what I have said for my intent I' th' series of my present Argument Is if I can to prove thee Innocent If not pray hold thy peace be silent pray And with attentive mind mark what I say Mark what I say for by his Divine Grace Who ordered me to speak upon this Case I 'le teach thee Wisdom more then ever yet Thou understood'st although thou wert of late Renown'd for Wit and Literature at least In Reputation rank'd amongst the best Of those sharp Wits who live here in the East Cap. XXXIV AFter some pause as if he did expect An answer seeing Job no answer make To what he said he thus continued To speak and argue on the common Head And now says he you see how I am sent By warrand from my God to represent His judgment of the Question in hand And therefore I must let you understand As I 'me commanded with Authority Where you 've done right and where your Errors ly Shall then request you of my audience Whom I esteem men of great eminence For wit and parts to hear with patience What I am now to speak For I am not to speak before a Rabble O' th' Vulgar but before those who are able To judge of my Discourse before such men As on this Subject can themselves explain Better then I and handle with more wit The Question if their Passion would permit Let 's then impartially consider now Without all heat what 't is we have to do With moderation let 's the Question state And understand on what we 're to debate For I am not ambitious in the least Nor do I entertain within my breast Such a proud thought as that I may be said T' have had the better of you no indeed I 'me none of those that argue for applause Or love to preach for reputations cause Or in discoursing make it all my care To angle Ears and become Popular By flourishes of studied Eloquence Or gain the name of learn'd with great expence Of painted Language as too many now Of my Profession are in use to do No no my friends I hate such practices And only shall in a few passages Without all Art a short Relation make Of what my God has ord'red me to speak To come to th' point then as I 've formerly Show'n how th' Almighty by his Ministry By Dreams Diseases Visions and such means Is in his Mercy pleas'd to take much pains To show the sons of Men what he intends Before upon them he Afflictions sends That by the prospect of their Punishment He may perswade them timely to repent Especially when thus before their eyes He lays the scene of their Calamities By which you see he deals not by surprize With any man from whence I do maintain That he who of his Judgments doth complain As if such Woes without prediction were Pour'd out upon him doth extreamly err So in the next place I intend to show That when our God is pleas'd to inflict a blow On anie man I think in conscience Th' afflicted man should with great patience Endure it as a thing which suddainlie Has
many moe then thou Or any man can fancy I can do I can with ease oblige the whole Creation T' obey my Orders as I find occasion I can make th' Universe at my command Return to its first Chaos Sea and Land I can confound and mix them so together As th' wit of man cannot distinguish either I can do more then all you can conceive I can do what you but with pain believe Nay so much too thou know'st for frequently I 've heard thee in thy sharpest agony Express thy self with zeal and admiration Upon the copious Theme of the Creation I 've heard thee too with no small Eloquence Discourse upon my works of Providence I ask thee then who made thee understand Who made thee know that by my mighty hand All things in Heaven and Earth were fashioned And to this hour are dayly ordered Who taught thee these things who instructed thee Hadst thou this Wit from any else but me Did not I lend thee Parts and made thee know How from my Power all things created flow How all your Wisdom of which you do boast Is not your acquisition but at most A simple loan of my benevolence Which I to this or that man do dispense As I think good By rules then of your own Philosophy If from me Wisdom flows then certainly I who bestow it must be wiser far Then the accutest of you Mortals are Who all your Knowledge do derive from me Since that for which a thing is such must be More such it self I do demand thee then Thou most pretending to it of all men Is 't fit that any Mortal should be proud Of what in Loan I only have allow'd To him upon design that he should know What he 's himself and then what he doth owe To me who made him such but not to state Himself my Party or like thee debate On my Proceedings but that he should be Content to know that he knows all from me For what is all your Wit what all your Parts What all the subtile Sciences and Arts Which you do study and profess to know Nay what is all that Wisdom here below On which you men value your selves so much What is it how d' ye rate it is it such As by it you can even but calculate The number of the Clouds or estimate The value of those Magazines of Rain What quantity of Vapours they contain Under what Lock and Key they 're all secur'd How guarded by what Policy ensur'd At all Adventures from the craft and force Of th' other fiery rambling meteors Can all your wit at any time restrain The falling of the smallest drop of rain Out of those heavenly bottles which you see That both are fill'd and emptied by me For when by drouth the Earth to flying dust Appears converted then I let out just As I think fit such quantities of rain As may reduce it to soft clay again Thus much for Heavens now let 's to Earth repair And see what absolute power I have there For thou wilt say the Meteors o'th'Air Are far above thee and it is no wonder Though rain and snow hail lightning frost and thunder Be things unknown to thee I 'll lead thee then To objects that more obvious to men In the same Earth with you converse which though Thou see and hear them daily yet I 'll show For all thy wit and art thou dost not know The nature of them I will show thee then That there are many things unknown to men Even in this Earth Do then but cast thy eyes Upon my Parks my Ponds and Volaries Thou 'lt quickly see that I have creatures there Which thou know'st hardly either what they are Or how they live First then you have the Lyon such a creature As best of you do hardly know his nature A creature full of fury full of wrath That to all other creatures threatens death If once withstood but when to him they yeeld There 's no more generous beast in all the field For his opposers he in pieces tears But such as do submit to him he spares Observe this Lyon then he must be fed As well as thou he must be nourished Who therefore taught him pray' to find his prey And how to feed his young ones every day Knows then what shifts he uses for his food And makes provision for his tender brood In the wild Forrest where there is no trade Where for a price no meat is to be had Dost know how in their Dens they couchant ly To catch th'unthinking beasts that passing by Do not their cunning ambuscade espy Next there 's the Raven such a creature too As lives by prey as well as Lyons do Who doth provide its food who entertains This idle creature who is at the pains To feed its young ones when the naughty dame Unkindly in the Nest abandons them When the raw-chicks do squeek and crock aloud Half-starv'd for want of meat who gives them food Who doth with Worms those shiftless creatures feed Which 'bout the nest in Ravens dung do breed Dost understand who is it that supplyes Those small forsaken things with Dew and Flyes Or when as yet pin-feather'd they are thrust By th' cruel Dame out of the Nest and must Make shifts although not able yet to fly For their subsistence in the world or dy Who hears them pray when they for hunger cry And doth them with an Aliment supply So that for all these hardships they do grow To a great age and ramble to and fro Catching their preys and live as well as these Who from their birth enjoy'd both food and ease Cap. XXXIX NExt I demand thee know'st thou who it is That doth preserve the several species Of all those Creatures by what hidden means Are they assisted when they take their pains Dost know what art those artless Brutes do use At such occasions how they do produce Their young ones who 's their Mid-wife who takes care Of them in that estate who doth prepare All that is suitable who makes provision Of necessars for them in that condition Who layes them up who cures them of their sores Who is 't that them to perfect health restores As first for instance the wild Goat who rambles Amongst the Rocks and on sharp Briars and Brambles Doth often thrust her Belly and her Brood Whilst in the Cliffs she searches for her food So that a man would think this same unwary And climbing Creature surely would miscarry Who doth take care of her when doth she bring Her young ones forth dost know her reckoning Or know'st thou when the Hinds do calve what pain These Creatures in their labour do sustain Canst tell how long those Beasts do pregnant go Or dost the time of their delivery know The time of their delivery indeed Of all the Creatures that on earth do feed Both rational and brutal there is none Endures such torment as these Hinds
The killing wrath of this familiar Beast Yet though by day he on the Hills doth feed When night approaches he doth make his bed In warmer places and delights to ly Under the sweet and spacious Canopy Of some small branching Oak where this tall Beast As in a Pallace doth securely rest Or under covert of Bull-rushes Reeds Low-spreading Willows or thick bushy Weeds That flourish about Fenns and Marishes And there he lays him down and sleeps with ease Under the shadow of the Trees he lyes Couching upon his Belly with his Thighs And Legs laid under him and doth not lean Upon the Trunk o' th' Tree as some do faign 'Cause wanting Joynts he could not rise again Should he ly down no but as other Beasts For all his bulk he feeds he moves he rests When to the River he for drink draws nigh Like other Beasts he drinks not hastily As if the Huntsman with his Hounds were by Nor stands he on the Bank but boldly wades Into the Channel and securely treads The ouzy Bottom whilst his bulk doth seem To stop the very current of the stream For ere he drink he plunges for some time And with his feet doth raise and mix the slime O' th bottome with the current till it be So thick and muddy as he cannot see His feet below him for he doth not care To drink the water when 't is pure and clear As other beasts are us'd to do but when He has thus troubled all about him then He drinks securely at his ease and leasure Void of all fear with great delight and pleasure Yes Tuns of Water to appease his drouth He by his Trunk doth pump into his mouth Nay should he chance by Jordans streams to graze He 'd drain that River in not many days For in his thirst he greedily doth seem As at one draught hee 'd swallow up the stream And then he drinks too with such eagerness As though both Reeds and Bushes he doth press For water and what else doth him oppose He bores it through with his prodigious nose Now this same creature though he doth excell In strength both thee and all on earth that dwell Yet owes he all this strength to me alone Who gave it to him and will stoop to none But me for while he has my liberty He lives when I recall it instantly For all his strength he must ly down and dy Cap. XLI THus having shown thee how I do command All things that have their beeing on the land Now I 'le inform thee of my pow'r at Sea And show thee what vast Creatures too there be Within that District which though they appear To thee and others to be Soveraign there And by their bulks to those who Plow the Seas Would something like unlimit power express Yet they are but my Vassals and are even Subject to th' Admirality of Heaven As well as all the smallest Fishes are That swiming in the Ocean appear To give you then for all one notable And famous instance as most suitable To my intent I 'd have thee seriously Observe but with a meditating eye The Princely Leviathan such a creature As shall hereafter furnish no small matter Of dispute in your solemn Homilies What this same Leviathan signifies But whatsoe're it be it is a thing Of such a force beyond all reasoning As all the force of man cannot subdue And where it swimes is yet but known to few Canst draw this Leviathan then with ease By simple hook or line out of the Seas Like other Fishes hale him on the Land By force of rops and kill him on the sand Canst thou with angle catch this Fish canst thou When catch'd as men with lesser Fishes do String him upon a hook a thorn or cleck And bear him lightly home upon thy back Dost think if thou should catch him that he 'll cry To thee for quarter and degeneratly Offer to be thy slave as th' Elephant And all the other beasts will covenant To save their lives or will he offer thee As others do a ransom to be free Dost think he 'll supplicat and speak thee fair That thou forsooth in pity shouldst him spare And not with Hatchet cut him down to pieces And of his bulk make havock as thou pleases Canst tame him so by art as thou canst make Thy boys in playing with him pleasure take As they with other beasts are used to do And birds of several species canst thou As with a pretty linnet with him dandle And make him gentle for thy girles to handle Upon him shalt thou and thy partners feast And of his fat and oily bulk make waste Gobbets of him to friends as tokens send And to each merchant give his dividend Dar'st thou with barbed Irons boldly fall Upon this Fish as men do on a Whale And when his body is stuck full of these Let him at ropes-end tumble in the Seas Till overcome with pain he forcibly Doth rush his belly on the shore and dy Do lay thy hands upon him then thou 'lt see By sad experience he is not to be So tamely catch'd thou'lt see what he can do What cunning art he will practise and how To save his life he 'll all his force assemble And make the very stoutest of you tremble Then as thou wouldst desire to live forbear T' assault this war-like thing with hook or spear That man who thinks to catch him is not wise For he can kill one with his very eyes Since then there 's none of you who dares attacque This mortal creature which my hands did make Since no man dares contend with him who 's he That lives on Earth and dares contend with me Who 's he amongst you all that dares contend With me who 's he of you that dares pretend By any merit t' have oblig'd me so That I should to him any kindness show Fools that you are doth even the best of you By all your tears good works and fastings too Or any thing that man on Earth can doe Suppose you can of Heaven a purchase make Or of your God in gratitude expect Not as a favour but as a reward What I have from Eternity prepar'd For such of you as I intend to blesse After this life with so much happinesse A happinesse to which no man can claim And those are fools that confidently dream They by their art of living can attain What all without my aid attempt in vain Nor am I oblig'd in this Earth to show Kindnesse to any of you or bestow A foot of ground upon the best of you For any good you by your selves can do No all you do possesse all you design Your property on Earth is simply mine And what you think your own inheritance Is only yours by my pure tollerance I do to this man a large portion give To th' other hardly whereupon to live I do allow from this man
for I will lye before your face 29. Return I pray you let there be no iniquity return I say and you shall yet see my righteousness in that behalf is there iniquity in my tongue doth not my mouth feel sorrows 1. Is there not an appointed time for man upon earth and are not his days as the days of an hireling 2. As a servant longeth for the shadow and as a hireling looketh for the end of his work 3. So have I had as an inheritance the moneths of vanity and painful nights have been appointed to me 4. If I laid me down I said when shall I arise and measuring the evening I am even full with tossing too and fro unto the dawning of the day 5. My flesh is cloathed with worms and filthiness of the dust my skin is rent and become horrible 6 My days are swifter then a weavers shuttle and they are spent without hope 7. Remember that my life is but a wind and that mine eye shall not return to see pleasure 8 The eye that hath seen me shall see me no more thine eyes are upon me and I shall be no longer 9. As the cloud vanisheth and goeth away so he that goeth down to the grave shall come up no more 10. He shall return no more to his house neither shall his place know him any more 11 Therefore will I not spare my mouth but I will speak in the trouble of my spirit and muse in the bitterness of my mind 1â— Am I a sea or â—whale-fish that thou keep'st me in ward 12. When I say my couch shall relieve me and my bed shall give me comfort in my meditation 14. Then fearest thou me with dreams and astonishest me with visions 15. Therefore my soul chuseth rather to be strangled and to dyâ— then to be in my bones 16. I abhore it I shall not live always spare methen for my days are but vanity 17. What is man that thou shouldest magnify him or that thou â—ettest thy heart on him 18. And dost visit him every moment and tryest him every morning 19. How long will it be ere â—â—ou depart from thou wilt not let me alone whilst I may swallow down mâ—spittle 20. I have sinned what shall I do unto thee O thou preserver of men why hast thou set me as a mark against thee so that I am a burden to my self 21. And why dost thou not pardon my trespass and take away mine iniquity for now shall I sleep in the dust and if thou seekest me in the morning I shall not be found 1. Then answered Bildad the Shuhite and said 2. How long wilt thou talk of these things and how long shall the words of thy mouth be as a mighty wind 3. Doth God pervert judgement or doth the Almighty subvert justice 4. If thy sons have sinned against him and he hath sent them to the place of their iniquity 5. Yet if thou wilt early seek unto God and pray to the Almighty 6. If thou be pure and upright then surely he will awake up unto thee and he will make the habitation of thy righteousnesse prosperous 7. And though thy beginning be small yet thy latter end shall greatly encrease 8. Enquire therefore I pray thee of the former age and prepare thy self to search of thy fathers 9. For we are but of yesterday and know nothing and our days upon earth are but as a shadow 10. Shall not they teach thee and tell thee and utter the words of their heart 11. Can a rush grow without mire or can grass grow without water 12. Whilst it is yet in its greenness and not cut down it withereth before any other herb 13. â—o are the paths of all that forget God and the hypocrites hopes shall perish 14. His confidence also shall be cut off and his trust shall be as the house of a spider 15. He shall â—ean upon his house but it shall not stand he shall hold him fast by it yet it shall not endure 16 But the tree is green before the sun and the branches spread over the garden thereof 17. The roots thereof are wrapped about the fountain and are folden about the house of stones 18. If any pluck it from his place and it deny saying I have not seen the. 19. Behold it will rejoyce by this means that it may grow in another mould 20. Behold God will not cast away an upright man neither will he take the wicked by the hand 21. Till he have filled thy mouth with laughter and thy lips with joy 22. They that hate thee shall be cloathed with shame and the dwelling of the wicked shall not remain 1. Then Iob answered and said 21 I know that it is so for how should man compared unto God be justified 3. If he would dispute with him he could not answer him one thing of a thousand 4. He is wise in heart and mighty in strength who hath been fierce against him and hath prospered 5. He removeth the mountains and they feel not when he overthroweth them in his wrath 6. He removeth the earth out of her place that the pillars thereof do shake 7. He commandeth the sun and it riseth not he closeth up the stars as under a signet 8. He himself alone spreadeth out the heavens and walketh upon the hieght of the sea 9. He maketh the stars Arcturus Orion Pleiades and the climats of the south 10. He doth great things and unsearchable yea marvellous things without number 11. Lo when he goeth by me I see him not and when he passeth by I perceive him not 12. Behold when he taketh a prey who can make him to restore it who shall say unto him what doest thou 13. God will not withdraw his anger and the most mighty helps do stoop under him 14. How much less shall I answer him or how shall I find out my words with him 15. For though I were juli yet I could not answer but I would make supplication to my judge 16. If I cry and he answer me yet would I not believe that he heard my voice 17. For he destroys me with a tempest and woundeth me without a cause 18 He will not suffer me to take my breath but filleth me with bitterness 19. If we speak of strength behold he is strong if we speak of judgement who shall bring me into plead 20. If I would justify my self mine own mouth willcondemn me if I would be perfect he shall judge me wicked 21. Though I were perfect yet I know not my soul therefore I abhor my life 22. This is one point therefore I said he destroyeth the perfect and the wicked 23. If the scourge should suddainly slay should God laugh at the punishment 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 is he or who is he 25. My days have been more swift than a post they have fled and have seen no good
in his prosperity the destroyer shall come upon him 22. He believeth not to return out of darkness for he seeth the sword before him 23. He wandreth to and fro for bread where he may he knoweth that the day of darkness is prepared at hand 24. Affliction and anguish shall make him afraid they shall prevail against him as a king ready to the battel 25. For he hath stretched out his hand against God and made himself strong against the Almighty 26. Therefore God shall run upon him even upon his neck against the most thick part of his shield 27. Because he hath covered his face with his fatness and has collops in his flank 28. Though he dwell in desolate cities and in houses which no man inhabite but are become heaps 29. He shall not be rich neither shall his substance continue neither shall he prolong the perfection thereof in the earth 30. He shall never depart out of darkness the flames shall dry up his branches and he shall go away with the breath of his mouth 31. He believeth not that he erreth in vanity therefore vanity shall be his change 32 His branch shall not be green but shall be cut off before his day 33 God shall destroy him as the vine her sauce-grape and shall cast him off as the olive doth her flower 34 For the congregation of the hypocrite shall be desolate and fire shall devour the houses of bribes 35 For they conceive mischief and bring forth vanity and their belly hath prepared deceit 1. And Iob answered and said 2. I have oft times heard such things miserable comforters are you all 3. Shall there be no end of words of wind or what maketh thee bold so to answer 4. I could also speak as you do but would God your soul were in my souls stead I could keep you company in speaking and could shake my head at you 5. But I would strengthen you with my mouth and the comfort of my lips should asswage your sorrow 6 But though I speak my sorrow cannot be asswaged though I cease what release have I 7. For now he maketh me weary O God thou hast made all my congregation desolate 6. And hast made me full of wrinkles which is a witnesse theirof and my leanness riseth up in me testifying the same in my face 7. His wrath hath torn me he hateth me and gnasheth upon me with his teeth mine enemy hath sharpned his eyes against me 10. They have gaped upon me with their mouth they have smirten me upon the cheek reproachfully they have gathered themselves together against me 11. God hath delivered me to the ungodly and turned me over into the hands of the wicked 12. I was at ease but he hath broken me asunder he hath also taken me by my neck and shaken me to pieces set me up for his mark 13. His archers compass me round about he cleaveth my reir asunder doth no spare he poureth my gall upon the ground 14. He hath broken me with one breaking upon another and runneth upon me like a giant 15. I have sowed a sackeloath upon my skin have abased my horn to the dust 16. My face is withered with weeping and the shadow of death is upon my eyes 17. Though there be no wickedness in my hands and my prayer be pure 18. O earth cover not thou my blood and let my crying find no place 19. For lo now my witness is in heaven and my record is on high 20. My friends speak eloquently against me but mine eye poureth out tears to God 21. O that a man might plead with God as he doth with his neighbour 2a For the years accounted come I shall go the way whence I shall not return 1. My breath is corrupt my days are cut off the grave is ready for me 2. There are none but mockers with me and mine eyes continueth in their bitterness 3. Lay down now and put in surety for thee who is he that will touch my hand 4. For thou hast hid their heart from understanding therefore shalt thou not set them up on high 5. For the eyes of his children shal fail that speaketh flattery to his neighbour 6. He hath also made me a by-word of the people and I am a tabret before them 7. Mine eye therefore is dim with grief and all my strength is like a shadow 8. The righteous shall be astonished at this and the innocent shall be moved against the hypocrite 9. But the righteous will hold his way he whose hands are pure shall encrease his strength 10. All you therefore turn you and come noâ— and I shall not fiâ—â— one â—ise man among you 11. My days are past mine interprises are broken and the thoughts of my heart 12. They have changed the night for the day and the light that approacheth for the darkness 13. Though I hope yet the grave shall be my house and I shall make my bed in the darkness 14. I shall say to corruption thou art my father and to the worms you are my mother my sisters 15. Where is now then my hope or who shall consider the thing I hoped for 16. They that go down into the bottom of the pit surely they shall ly together in the dust 1. Then answered Bildad the Shuhite and said 2. When will you make an end of your words cause us understand and then we will speak 3. Why are we counted as beasts are vile in your sight 4. Thou art as one that teareth his soul in his anger shall the earth be forsaken for thy sake or the rock removed out of its place 5. Yea the light of of the wicked shall be quenched and the spark of his fire shall not shine 6. The light shall be dark in his dweling and his candle shall be put out with him 7. The steps of his strength shall be restâ—â—â—â—d and his own council shall cast him down 8. For he is taken-in the net by his feet and he walketh upon the snares 9. The grin shall taâ—â— him by the heel and the thief shall coâ—â— upon him 10. A snare is laid for him in the ground and a trap for him in the way 11. Fearfulnesse shall make him afraid on every side and shall drive him to his feet 12. His strength shall be famine and destruction shall be ready at his side 13. It shall devour the inner parts of his skin and the first born of death shall devour his strength 14. His hope shall be rooted out of his dwelling shall cause him to go to the king of fear 15. Fear shall dwell in his house because it is not his and brimstone shall be scattered upon his habitation 16. His roots shal beâ—lvyed up beneath and above his branches shall be cut down 17. His remembrance shall perish from the earth and he shall have no name in the street 18. They shall drive him out of the light into darkness and chase him out of
the world 19. He shall neither have son nor nephew among his people nor any posterity in his dwellings 20. Posterity shall be astonished at his day and fear shall come upon the ancient 21. Surely such are the inhabitations of the wicked and this is the place of him that honoureth not God 1. But Iob answered and said 2. How long will you vex my soul and torment me with words 3. You have now ten times reproached me and are not ashamed you are impudent toward me 4. And though I had indeed erred mine error remaineth with me 5. If indeed you will magnify your selves against me plead against my reproach 6. Know now that God has over thrown me and has compassed me with his net 7. Behold I cry out of wrong but I am not heard cry aloud but there is no judgement 8. He hath fenced up my way that I cannot pass and he hath set darkness in my paths 9. He hath stript me of my glory and the crown is taken from my head 10. He hath destroyed me on every side and I am gone and mine hope he hath removed like a tree 11. He hath also kindled his wrath against me and he counteth me as one of his enemies 12. His troops come together and raise their way against me and encamp round about my tabernacle 13. He hath put my brethren far from me and mine acquaintance are verily estranged from me 14. My kinsfolk have failed and my familiar friends have forgotten me 15. They that dwel in my house and my maids count me for a stranger I am an alien in their sight 16. I called my servant and he gave me no answer I intreated him with my mouth 17. My breath is strange to my wife though I intreated her for the childrens sake of my own body 18 Yea young children despised me I arose and they spake against me 19 All my inward friends abhorred me and they whom I loved are turned against me 20 My bones cleaveth to my skin and to my flesh and I am escaped with the skin off my teeth 21. Have pity upon me have pity upon me O ye my friends for the hand of God hath touch'd me 22. Why do you persecure me as God and are not satisfied with my flesh 23. O that my words were now written O that they were printed in a book 24. That they were graven with an iron pen in the lead and in the rock for ever 25. For I know that my redeemer liveth and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth 29. And though after my skin worms destroy this body yet in my flesh shall I see God 27. Whom I shall see for my self and mine eyes shall behold and not another though my reins be consumed within me 28. But you should say why persecute we him seing the root of the matter is found in me 29 Be ye afraid of the â—â—â—rd for wrath bringeth the punishments of the sword 1. Then answered Zophar the Naamathite and said 2. Therefore do my thoughts cause me to answer and for this I makchaste 3. I have heard the check of my reproach and the spirit of my understanding causeth me to answer 4. Knowest thou not this of old since man was placed upon earth 5. That the triumph of the wicked is short and the joy of the hypocrite is but for a moment 6. Though his excellency mount up to the heavens and his head reacheth unto the clouds 7. Yet he shall perish for ever like his own dung they who have seen him shall say where is he 8. He shall fly away as a dream and shall not be found yea he shall be chased away as a vision of the night 9. They also who saw him shall see him no more neither shall his place any more hehold him 10. His children shall seek to â—lease the poor and his hands shall restore their goods 11. His bones are full of the sins of his youth which shall ly down with him in the dust 12. Though wickedness be sweet in his mouth though he hid it under his tongue 13. Though he spare it and forsake it not but keep it still within his mouth 14. Yet his meat in his bowels is turned and it is the gall of asps within him 15. He hath swallowed down riches and he shall vomit them up again God shall cast them out of his belly 16. He shall suck the poison of asps the vipers tongue shall sâ—ay him 17. He shall not see the rivers the floods the brooks of honey and butter 18. That which he laboured for he shall restore and shall not swallow it down according to his substance shall the restitution be and he shall not rejoice therein 19. Because he hath oppressed and hath forsaken the poor because he hath violently taken away an house which he builded not 20. Surely he shall not feel quietness in his belly he shall not save of that which he desired 21. There shall none of his meat be left therefore shall no man look for his goods 22. In the fulness of his sufficiency he shall be in straits every hand of the wicked shall come upon him 23. When he is about to fill his belly God shall cast the â—ury of his wrath upon him while he is eating 24. He shall fly from the iron weapon and the bow of steel shall strick him through 25. It is drawn cometh out of the body yea the glistering sword cometh out of his gall terrors are upon him 26. All darknesse shall be hid in his secret places a fire not blown shall consume it shall go ill with him that is left in his tabernacle 27. The heaven shaâ—l reveal his iniâ—uiâ—â— and the earth â—â—all the up against him 28. The encrease of his house shall depart and his goods shall flow away in the day of his wrath 29. This is the portion of a wicked man and the heritage appointed to him by God 1. Put Iob answered and said 2. Heat diligently my speech and let this be your consolation 3. suffer me that I may speak and after that I have spoken mock on 4. As for me is my complaint to man if it were so why should not my spirit be troubled 5. Mark me and be astonished and lay your hands upon your mouth 6. Even when I remember I am afraid and trembling taketh hold on my flesh 7. Wherefore do the wicked live and become old yea are mighty in power 8. Their seed is established in their sight and their off-spring before their eyes 9. Their houses are safe from fear neither is the rod of God upon them 10. Their bull gendreth and faileth not their cow calveth and casteth not her calf 11. They send forth their little ones like a flock and their children dance 12. They take the timbrel and harp rejoice at the sound of the organ 13. They spend their days in wealth and in a moment go down to the grave 14. Therefore they say
thing 11. He bindeth the floods from overflowing and the thing that is hid he bringeth forth to light 12. But where shall wisdom be found where is the place of understanding 13. Man knoweth not the price thereof neither is it found in the land of the living 14. The depth says it is not in me and the Sea says it is not with me 15. It cannot be gotten for gold neither shall silver be weighed for the price thereof 16. It cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir with the precious Onyx or the Sapphire 17. The Gold and the Chrystal cannot equal it and the exchange of it shal not be for Jewels of fine Gold 18. No mention shall be made of Coral or Pearls for the price of wisdom is above Rubies 19. The Topaz of Ethiopia shall not equal it neither shall it be valued with pure Gold 20. Whence then cometh wisdome where is the place of understanding 21. Seing it is hid from the eyes of all living and kept closs from the fowls of the air 22. Destruction death say we have heard the same thereof with our ears 23. God understandeth the way thereof and he understandeth the place thereof 24. For he looketh to the ends of the earth seeth under the whole Heaven 25. To make the weight for the winds and he weigheth the water by measure 26. When he made a decree for the rain away for the lightning of the thunder 27. Then did he see it and declare it he prepared it yea he searched it out 28. And unto man he said behold the fear of the Lord that is wisdom 1. Moreover Iob continued his parable and said 2. O that I were as in months past as in the days when God preserved me 3. When his candle shined upon my head and when by his light I walked through darkness 4. As I was in the days of my youth when the secret of God was on my tabernacle 5. When the Almighty was yet with me when my children were about me 6. When I washed my steps with butter and the rock poured me out rivers of oyl 7. When I went out to the gate through the city when I prepared my â—eat in the strcet 8. The young men saw me hid themselves and the aged arose and stood up 9. The princes refrained talking and laid their hands on their mouths 10. The nobles held their peace and their tongues cleaved to the roof of their mouths 11. When the ear heard me then it blessed me when the eye saw me it gave witness to me 12. Because I delivered the poor that cryed and the fathersess and him that hath none to help him 13. The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me and I caused the widows heart to sing for joy 14. I put on righteousness and it cloathed me my judgement was as a robe and a diadem 15. I was eyes to the blind and feet to the lame 16. I was a father to the poor and the cause which I knew not I searched out 17. And I broke the power of the wicked and plucked the spoil out of his teeth 18. Then I said I shall dy in my nest and I shall multiply my days as the sand 19. My root was spread out by the waters and the dew lay all night upon my branches 20. My glory was fresh in me and aâ—y bow was renewed in my hand 21. Vnto me men gave ear and waited and keeped silence at my counsel 22. After my words they spoke not again and my speach dropped upon them 23. And they waited for me as for the rain and they opened their mouths wide as for the latter rain 24. If I laughed on them they believed it not and the light of my countenance they cast not down 25. I chose out their way and sat chief dwelt as a king in the army as one that comforteth the mourners 1. But now those that are younger than I have me in derision whose fathers I would have disdained to have set with the dogs of myflocks 2. Yea whereto might the strength of their hands profit me in whom old age was perished 3. For want and famine they were solitary flying into the wilderness formerly desolate and waste 4. Who cut up mallows by the bushes and juniper-roots for their meat 5. They were driven forth from among men they cryed after them as after a thief 6. They dwelt in the cliffs of the valleys in caves of the earth and in the rocks 7. Amongst the bushes they brayed under the nettles they were gathered together 8. They were children of fools yea children of base men they were viler then the earth 9. Yet now am I their song yea I am their by-word 10. They all abhor me they fly far from me and spare not to spit in my face 11. Because he hath loosed my cord and anâ—â—câ—â—â— mâ— they have also lâ—â— loose the bridle before me 12 Upon my right hand â—ife the youth they push away my feet and they raise up against me the ways of their destruction 13 They mark my paths they set forward my calamity they have no helper 14 They came upon me as a wide breaking in of waters in the desolation they rolled themselves upon me 15. Terrours are turned upon me they pursue my soul as the wind and my welfare passeth away as a cloud 16. And now my soul is poured out upon me the dayes of affliction have taken hold on me 17. My bones are pierced in me in the night season and my sinews take no rest 18. By the great force of my disease my garment is changed it bindeth me about as the collar of my coat 19. He hath cast me into the mire I am become like dust and ashes 20. I cry unto thee and thou dost not hear me I stand up and thou regardest me not 21. Thou art become cruel to me with thy strong hand thou opposest thy self against me 22. Thou liftest me up to the wind thou causest me to ride upon it and dissolvest my substance 23. For I know that thou wilt being me to death and to the house appointed for all living 24. Howbeit he will not stretch out his hand to the grave though they cry in his destruction 25. Did not I weep for him that was in trouble was not my soul grieved for the poor 26. When I looked for good then evil came unto me and when I waited for light there came darkness 27. My bowels boiled and rested not the days of affliction prevented me 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 owls 30. My skin is black upon me and my bones are burned with heat 31. My harp also is turned to mourning and my organ to the voice of them that weep 1. I made a covenant with my eyes why then should I think upon a maid 2. For what
I will answer thee that God is greater then man 13. Why dost thou strive against him for he giveth not account of any of his matters 14. For God speaketh once yea twice yet man perceiveth it not 15. In a dream in a vision of the night when deep sleep falleth upon men in â—lumbrings on the bed 16. Then he openeth the ears of men and sealeth their Instruction 17 That he may withdraw man from his purpose and hide pride from man 18 He keepeth back his soul from the pit and his life from perishing by the sword 19 He is chastned also with pain upon his bed and the multitude of his bones with strong pains 20 So that his life abhorreth bread and his soul dainty meat 21 His flesh is consumed away that it cannot be seen and his bones that were were not seen stick out 22 His soul draweth nigh to the grave and his life to the destroyers 23 If there be a messenger with him an interpreter one amongst a thousand to shew man his uprightness 24 Then he is gracious to him saith deliver him from going down to the pit I have found a ransome 25. His flesh shall be fresher then a childs he shall return to the days of his youth 16. He shall pray unto God and he will be favourable unto him and he shall see his face with joy for he will render unto man his righteousness 27. He looketh upon men and if any say I have sinned and perverted that which was right and it profited me not 28. He will deliver his soul from going into the pit and his life shall see the light 29. Lo all these things worketh God oftentimes with man 30. To bring back his soul from the pit to be enlightned with the light of the living 31. Mark well O Iob hearken unto me hold thy peace and I will speak 32. If thou hast any thing to say speak for I desire to justifie thee 33. If not hearken unto me hold thy peace and I shall teach thee wisdom 1. Furthermore Elihu answered and said 2. Hear my words O ye wise men and give ear unto me ye that have knowledge 3. For the ear trveth words as the mouth tasteth meat 4. Let us choose to us judgment let us know among our selves what is good 5. For Iob hath said I am righteous and God hath taken away my judgment 6. Should I lie against my rigâ—t my wound is incurable without transgression 7. What man is like Iob who drinketh up scorning like water 8 Who goeth in company with the workers of iniquity and walketh with wicked men 9. For he hath said it profiteth a man nothing that he should delight himself with God 10. Therefore hearken unto me ye men of understanding far be it from God that he should do wickedness and from the Almighty that he should commit iniquity 11. For the work of a man shall he render unto him and cause every man to find according to his ways 12. Yea surely God will not do wickedly neither will the Almighty pervert judgement 13. Who hath given him a charge over the earth or who has disposed the whole world 14 If he set his heart upon man if he gather unto him his spirits and his breath 15 All flesh shall perish together and man shall turn again unto dust 16 If thou hast understanding hear this hearken to the voice of my words 17 Shall even he who hateth righ govern and wilt thou condemn him who is most just 18 Is it fit to say to a king thou art wicked and to princes ye are ungodly 19. How much less to him that accepteth not the person of Princes or regardeth the rich more then the poor for they are all the work of his hands 20. In a moment shall they dâ— and the people shall be troubled at midnight paâ—s away and the mighty shall be taken away without hand 21 For his eyes are upon the ways of man and he seeth all his goings 22 There is no darkness nor shadow of death where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves 23 For he will not lay upon man more then right that he should enter into judgement with God 24 He shall break in pieces mighty men without number and set others in their stead â—5 Therefore he knoweth their works and he overturneth them in the nighe so that they are destroyed 26 He striketh them as wicked men in the open â—ight of others 27 Because they turned back from him and would not consider any of his ways 28 So that they cause the cry of the poor to come unto him and he heareth the cry of the â—â—â—â—â—ted 29 When he giveth quietness who then can make trouble and when he hideth his face who then can behold him whether it be done against a nation or against a man only 30 That the hypocrite reign nor lest the people be ensnared 31. Surely it is meet to be said to God I have born chastisement I will not offend any more 32. That which I see not teach thou me if I have done iniquity I will do no more 33. Should it be according to thy mind he will recompence it whether thou refuse or whether thou chuse and â—ot I therefore speak what thou knowest 34. Let men of understanding tell me and let a wise man hearken unto me 35. Iob hath spoken without knowledge and his words were without wisdom 36. My desire is that Iob may be tryed to the end because of his answers for wicked men 37. For he addeth rebellion to his sin he clapâ—eth his hands amongst us and mâ—ltiâ—lieth his words against God 1. Elihu spake moreover and said 2. Thinkest thou this to be right that thou saidst mâ— righteousness is more then Gods 3. For thou saidst what advantage will it be to thee and what profit shall I have if I be cleansed from my sin 4. I will answer thee and thy companions with thee 5. Look unto the heavens and see and behold the clouds which are higher then thou 6. If thou sinnest what dost thou against him or if thy transgressions be multiplied what dost thou unto him 7. If thou be righteous what givest thou him what receiveth he of thine hand 8. Thy wickedness may hurt a man as thou art and thy righteousness may profit the son of man 9. By reason of the multitude of oppressions they make the oppressed to cry they cry out by reason of the arm of the mighty 10. But none saith Where is God my maker who giveth songs in the night 11. Who teacheth 〈◊〉 more then the beaâ—â— of the earth and maketh us wiser then the fowls of heaven 12. There they cry but none giveth answer because of the pride of evil men 13. Surely God will not hear vanity nor will the Almighty regard it 14. Although thou sayst thou shalt not see him yet judgement is before him therefore trust thou in him 15 But now because iâ— is not 〈◊〉 he hath