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
infus'd As by their Clients they are kindly as'd But when God speaks a suddain fear shall fall Upon those Preachers and confound them all For when he speaks he 'l tell you in your face You have provock'd him and abus'd his Grace He gave you Parts 't is true and Eloquence But never mean't that you in his defence Should use those Gifts or offer to debate For him unless you were commissionat By special warrant from himself for those Who in Enthusiastick fits suppose Men of all stations and degrees may preach And silly women if they please may teach Those who like you all others do despise And thinks there 's no man holy in their eyes But such as are of their opinion say They 're only perfect walk in Gods own way Sure these men grossly err for God doth own No such presumption and it is well known God in all ages doth such men select As he thinks fit should by commission speak For him to th' people and will sure destroy Those preaching fools whom he doth not employ Then you my friends must know that having spoke For him without commission you have broke His divine Statutes and in Heavens Court Incurr'd a premunire to be short For this your great presumption your name Shall be extinguish'd and your race for shame Shall shun mens converse this at length shall be The profit of such actings this the fee Of those officiously who undertake Without commission for their God to speak Then pray now from your foolish arguing cease And while I speak be pleas'd to hold your peace Forbear your talk for some time and be still For I intend to speak come out what will Come out what will I 'l speak I 'l boldly speak And to my Maker my discourse direct I 'l say Lord why am I thus punished Thus cudgell'd stead of being comforted Thus sharply tax'd by three comforting men As if without a cause I did complain Good Lord that I should be reprov'd by those Who if they felt the tenth part of my woes Would instantlie cry out and make a noise Using such faint expressions as Boys When whipp'd at Schools such as if they did feel What I endure would stagger foam and reel Like mad men such as if they knew the careâ— And grief I know would instantlie despair Yet such forsooth must censure me good Lord That those my friends who comfort should afford To me in this condition when they see What are my plagues and what my torments be By signs so manifest so plain and clear As when for pain my very flesh I tear When all o'r grown with Ulcers all o'r run With putria sores contemptible undone I here on Danghill sit and fain would crie To thee my God if I had libertie And were not interrupted by those men Who by me sit thou know'st O Lord how fain In private I 'd pour out my very Soul If those men who 've come hither to condole My sad condition as they do pretend Did not obstruct me how I fain would spend The small remainder of my troubled days In pious sighs and setting out thy praise By what I have observ'd and heard by fame From others since first to this world I came How fain I 'd pray how fain my sins bemoan If those tormenters would let me alone It seems indeed Lord thou design'st to make My case extreamlie sad for this I take As not the least part of my punishment That thou to me such comforters hath sent Yet Lord I 'l still apply to thee I know There is no other comfort here below Compassion pitie mercie there is none But what proceeds from thee good God alone I 'l therefore trust in thee in thee good Lord I 'l onlie trust I 'l hope and in a word Do with me what thou wilt let even thy wrath Be satisfi'd with no less than my death Yes kill me Lord cut me to pieces do As thou thinks't fit yet here I firmlie vow This heart this poor oppressed heart shall never Deviat from it's love to thee what ever Come of my person nay even when I die In my last gasping breath I 'l formallie Express my love to thee in thee I 'l trust My gracious Maker for as thou art just So thou art merciful besides good Lord I know thou only comfort can'st afford To men afflicted let me then be freed Of my officious friends who boldlie plead Against me ' stead of comforting for I Esteem my greatest woe their company I do indeed for I had rather choose Be plagu'd by thee then comforted by those Now Lord to them though I will not confess My sinful errors yet my wickedness Before thee I acknowledge as the cause Of all my woes Lord I have broke thy Laws And merit no less censure in thy sight Than instantly to be destroy'd down-right But after all I know O Lord that thou Wilt use me better than these talkers do Thou 'lt be more kind and whilst I am in pain For some small time allow me to complain And then restore me to my strength again For after all this trial thou shalt clear My innocence and make at length appear That I in sin have taken no delite And show these men I am no hypocrite Now then my friends observe be pleas'd to hear What I discourse For seriouslie I fear In all your talk of late you have abus'd Your selves more than the man you have accus'd For you have said because of my offence That I 'm by God rejected and from thence You did affirm I might expect no more To see his face as I had done before Ay me a sentence cruel and severe A doom in which great malice doth appear Now pray my friends by what authoritie Act you these things who gave you libertie To give out Judgment thus for to this hour I never heard that any of you had power From our Great God to excommunicat The poorest Wretch on Earth I therefore hope I quicklie shall be able To make appear how most unwarrantable Your sentence is for this I surelie know As God excels in acts of justice so In acts of mercy he doth so abound As no man needs despair he 's always found Of such as seek him and I know he 'l be As merciful as formerlie to me But were it so my friends as you have said That I 'm of God rejected then indeed Indeed in that case I should soon despair And be o' th' same opinion as you are Nor should you from my mouth hereafter hear Words of assurance words of confidence By which I do alleviat my sense Of present sufferings for I firmly know I know my God hath not determin'd so As you alledge I know he is more just Than to reject a man that puts his trust In him alone a man who never yet In all his sad and suffering estate From his first Principles has deviat For I do still believe that God
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
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
in a word Upon my knees with hands uplifted cry Lord I have sin'd Lord I have wilfully Incurr'd thy anger at this sad occasion And so deserve to bear thy indignation For trust me such as freelie do confess Their sins and with an open heart address Themselves to God are always better heard Then those whose cautious Mouths as if affear'd T' accuse their Hearts do mincingly declare What hardly they desire that God should hear And here my friends I must again protest I don't remember ever in my breast Such sinful thoughts did entertainment find As those to which too many are inclin'd For trust me now though I in Wealth and Power Did live for many years yet to that hour That God was pleas'd to visit me I never Would use that Power on what account soever To th' prejudice of any man although Had I inclin'd t' have us'd my Neighbours so As others did I might have done with ease What ever might a rich mans humour please For I to others could ha' given Law And made all in my District stand in aw Yet I 'de not injure the most despicable Nor do offence to th' meanest of the Rabble But what needs more O now that God would hear What I have spoke O that he would declare From what I have express'd in my defence His just opinion of my Innocence O that my God would hear me O that he Who knows Hearts-secrets would declare me free From those Aspersions Lies and Calumnies Thund'red against me by my Enemies For O should he a hearing once allow I 'de laugh at these and all their Libels too Nay let them write a Volumn if they will Yes let them rail and article their fill Let them paint out my actings as they please And break my reputation by degrees Let them me Rogue let them me Villain call Let God but hear me I 'de contemn them all For all what these invidious men could say Against me in their wrath should in the day That God should hear me prove for my defence And stead of sullying clear my Innocence For then their malice should it self declare And in its own true Colours should appear But to my Judge I freely could confess My hidden sins and for the sins which these Lay to my charge I 'de give such evidence Before him of my injur'd Innocence As I should by him be acquit from thence O let him hear me then let God but hear My Case himself and then I do not fear What all the World can say for I do still Assert my Innocence take it as you will And now my friends that I may put an end To my Discourse because I apprehend You 'r weary now of hearing as indeed I am of speaking I shall therefore plead No more upon the case but once for all My great Creator I to witness call That what I have profess'd dear friends to you Is not at all devis'd but simply true For all my life I safely may assert Before that God who fully knows my heart That to my knowledge truly I did never In what state or capacity soever Do any unjust thing for to this day What e're men speak I can with freedome say If any man who serv'd me can complain That ever I his Wages did retain If of my ground the increase I have eat Without first paying for the toil and sweat Of those who labour'd it or in the least Muzzled the mouths of either man or beast Who did tread out my corns or did refuse At any time the labourers honest dues If ever I did strive to multiply My Revenues by fraud and usury Then let those grounds which I do yet expect I may possess be cursed for my sake Let Cockle stead of Barley stead of Wheat Let Thistles all my grounds emacerate Now I have done my friends shall add no more But once again as I have done before I do conjure you by the love you owe To your own souls my dearest friends although You have no love for me that you 'll declare Hereafter to the world what now you hear This favour I expect you 'll not deny T' allow for all that 's past to th'memory Of one shriev'd by your selves but boldly show Th' abused world more then as yet they know And tell that Job whom ev'n good men envy'd Wicked men hated and all now deride Of avarice hypocrisie and pride Did clear himself and as he liv'd he dy'd PART IV. Cap. XXXII AND now the long debate is at an end For th' other three perceiving how their friend Still unconvinc'd himself did justify And would not pass from his integrity But that to every proof and evidence Which they adduc'd to rouz his Conscience He still oppon'd his unstain'd innocence All over wearied and perceiving now 'T was but in vain t' have any more to do With one who was beyond their reasoning Hence now all silent As in some pleadings you have after all Have spoke observ'd th'Actorney-General Resume the series of the whole debate And in good order recapitulate Both Parties Arguments and then declare Wherein in his opinion both do err And where agree with Law so after these And Job at large had argued the case One who had sit by all the while and heard All that had past but had not yet appear'd In the debate one Elihu by name A pious young man of the house of Ram Descended as is thought of Nahors race Residing not far distant from the place Where Job did live come hither to condole As well it seems as th' others this mans Soul Enrag'd at what he heard both Parties speak Resolves at length to tell his mind and check Both of 'em for their errors and first here Begins with Job because he did appear To justifie himself and usually Would in his passion ask a reason why He was afflicted thus as if that he Had known no sin had been from errour free And God whom he with fervency and zeal Had alwayes serv'd now had not us'd him well But laid him low and so by consequence He was unjust in whipping innocence Next at his three friends he was angry too 'Cause they had all this while kept such adoe With long discourses edg'd with eloquence And argu'd with great heat and violence Against a man whom God had visited With sorrows as if he had merited Those evils by his sins yet after all They could not prove that he was Criminal Of what they did accuse him but indeed Did rather for him then against him plead Because with all their painted Allegories Their pitiful and oft repeated Stories Of great mens down-falls and the Tragical Exits of those whom th' world doth happy call They were so far from proving what they aim'd As he admir'd such men were not asham'd To so small purpose to have argued When he observ'd to all that he had said Th' afflicted man had with such gravity Such