conclusion must Auow thee blamelesse and thy God vniust Thy lawlesse words implying that it can Aduantage none to liue an vpright man My tongue shall schoole thee and thy friends that would Perchance refell'd thy reasons if they could Behold thy glorious Makers greatnesse see The power of his hand say then Can He Be damag'd by thy sinne or can He raise Aduantage by th'vprightnesse of thy wayes True th' afflicted languish oft in griefe And roare to Heauen vnanswer'd for reliefe Yet is not Heauen vniust for their fond cry Their sinne bewailes not but their misery Cease then to make him guilty of thy crimes And waite his pleasure that 's not bound to times Nor heares vaine words The sorrowes thou art in Are slight or nothing ballanc'd with thy sin Thy lips accuse thee and thy foolish tongue To right thy selfe hath done th' Almighty wrong Hold back thine answere Let my flowing streame Find passage to surround my fruitfull Theame I 'le raise my thoughts to plead my Makers case And speake as shall befit so high a place Behold th' Almighty's Meeke as well as Strong Destroyes the Wicked rights the Iust mans wrong Mounts him to honour If by chance he stray Instructs and showes him where he lost his way If he returne his blessings shall encrease Crowning his ioyes with plenty and sweet peace If not th'intailed sword shall ne'r depart His stained house but pierce his hardned heart Ah sinfull Iob these plagues had neuer bin Had'st thou been guiltlesse as thou boasts from sin But thy proud lips against their Maker plead And draw downe heapes of vengeance on thy head Looke to thy selfe seeke not to vnderstand The secret causes of th' Eternals hand Let wisedome make the best of misery Know who inflicts it aske no reason why His will 's beyond thy reach and his Diuine And sacred knowledge farre surpasseth thine Ah! rather praise him in his workes that lye Wide open to the world before thine eye His meaner Acts our highest thought o'retops He pricks the Clouds stils downe the raine by drops Who comprehends the Lightning or the Thunder Who sees who heares them vnamaz'd with wonder My troubled heart chils in my quiuering brest To rellish these things and is dispossest Of all her powers Who euer heard the voyce Of th' angry heauens vnfrighted at the noyse The beast by nature daz'd with sudden dread Seekes out for couert to secure his head If God command the dusky clouds march forth Into a Tempest From the freezing North He beckens Frost and Snow and from the South He bloweth Whirlewinds with his angry Mouth Presumptuous Iob if thou canst not aspire So high to comprehend these things admire Know'st thou the progresse of the rambling Clouds From mortall eyes when gloomy darknesse shrouds The Lamps of heauen know'st thou the reason why Can'st thou vnriddle heauens Philosophy Know'st thou th'vnconstant nature of the Wether Or whence so many Winds proceed and whither Wer 't thou made priuie or a stander-by When God stretch't forth his spangled Canopy Submit thy selfe and let these secrets teach How farre his Myst'ries doe surmount thy reach For Hee 's Almighty and his sacred will Is iust nor renders an vnearned ill His workes are obiects for no soaring eyes But wheresoe're he looks he findes none wise Meditatio septimadecima THe World 's an Index to Eternity And giues a glance of what our cleerer Eye In time shall see at large nothing's so slight Which in its nature sends not forth some light Or Memorandum of his Makers Glory No Dust so vile but pens an ample story Of the Almighties power nor is there that Which giues not man iust cause to wonder at Cast downe thine eyes behold the pregnant Earth Her selfe but one produceth at one birth A world of diuers natures From a seed Entirely one things hot and cold proceed She suckles with one milke things moyst and dry Yet in her wombe is no repugnancy Or shall thy Reason ramble vp so high To view the Court of wilde Astronomie Behold the Planets round about thine eares Whirling like fire-balles in their restlesse Spheares At one selfe-instant moouing seuerall wayes Still measuring out our short and shorter dayes Behold the parts whereon the World consists Are limited in their appoynted lists Without rebellion vnapt to varie Though being many diuers and contrary Looke where we lift aboue beneath or vnder Our eyes shall see to learne and learne to wonder Their depth shall drowne our iudgements and their height Besides his wits shall driue the prime conceit Shall then our daring mindes presume t' aspire To heauens hid Myst'ries shall our thoughts inquire Into the depth of secrets vnconfounded When in the showre of Nature they are drowned Fond man be wise striue not aboue thy strength Tempt not thy Barke beyond her Cables length And like Prometheus filch no sacred fire Lest Eagles gripe thee Let thy proud desire Suite with thy fortunes Curious minds that shall Mount vp with Phaeton shall haue Phaetons fall Vnbend thy bow betimes lest thou repent Too late for it will breake or else stand bent I 'le worke at home ne'r crosse the scorching Line In vnknowne lands to seeke a hidden Mine Plaine Bullion pleaseth me I not desire Deare Ingots from th' Elixars piercing fire I 'le spend my paines where best I may be bold To know my selfe wherein I shall behold The world abridg'd and in that world my Maker Beyond which taske I wish no Vndertaker Great God by whom it is what-e're is mine Make me thy Viceroy in this World of thine So cleare mine eyes that I may comprehend My slight Beginning and my sudden End THE ARGVMENT Godquestions Iob and prooues that man Cannot attaine to things so high As diuine secrets since he can Not reach to Natures Iobs reply Sect. 18. FOrth from the bosome of a murm'ring Cloud Heauens great Iehouah did at length vnshrowd His Earths-amazing language Made terrible with Feare and Maiesty equally Challeng'd the Düell he did vndertake His grumbling seruant and him thus bespake Who who art thou that thus dost pry in vaine Into my secrets hoping to attaine With murmuring to things conceal'd from man Say blear-ey'd mortall who art thou that can Thus cleare thy crimes and dar'st with vain applause Make me defendant in thy sinfull cause Loe here I am Engrosse into thy hands The soundest weapons Answere my demands Say Where wer 't thou whē these my hands did lay The Worlds foundation canst thou tell me Say Was Earth not measur'd by this Arme of mine Whose hand did ayde me Was I help't by thine Where wert thou when the Planets first did blaze And in their Spheares sang forth their Makers praise Who is 't that tames the raging of the Seas And swathes them vp in mists when-e're he please Did'st thou diuide the Darknesse from the Light Or know'st thou whence Aurora takes her flight Did'st ere enquire into the Seas Abysse Or
for sleepe are fill'd with griefe I looke in vaine for the next dayes reliefe With Dust and Wormes my flesh is hid my sorrow 's Haue plough'd my skin and filth lyes in her furrowes My dayes of ioy are in a moment gone And hopelesse of returning spent and done Remember Lord my life is but a puffe I but a man that 's Misery enough And when pale Death hath once seald vp my sight I ne're shall see the pleasures of the light The eye of man shall not discouer me No nor thine Lord for I shall cease to be When mortals dye they passe like clouds before The Sunne and back returne they neuer more T' his earthly house he ne're shall come agin And then shall be as if he ne're had bin Therfore my tongue shall speak while it hath breath Prompted with griefe and with the pangs of death Am I not weake and saint What need'st thou stretch Thy direfull hand vpon so poore a Wretch When as I thinke that night shall stop the streames Of my distresse thou fright'st me then with dreames So that my soule doth rather chuse to dye Then be inuolued in such miserie My life 's a burthen and will end O grieue No longer him that would no longer liue Ah! what is Man that thou should'st raise him so High at first then sinke him downe so low What 's Mā Thy glory 's great enough without him Why dost thou thus disturbe thy mind about him Lord I haue sin'd Great Helper of mankind I am but Dust and Ashes I haue sin'd Against thee as a marke why hast thou fixt me How haue I trespas't that thou thus afflict'st me Why rather didst thou not remoue my sin And salue the sorrowes that I raued in For thou hast heapt such vengeance on my head That when thou seek'st me thou wilt find me dead Meditatio octaua TH' Egyptians amidst their solemne Feasts Vsed to welcome and present their Ghests With the sad sight of Mans Anatomie Seru'd in with this loud Motto All must dye Fooles often goe about when as they may Take better vantage of a neerer way Looke well into your bosomes doe not slatter Your knowne infirmities Behold what matter Your flesh was made of Man cast back thine eye Vpon the weaknesse of thine Infancie See how thy lips hang on thy mothers Brest Bawling for helpe more helplesse then a Beast Liu'st thou to Childhood Then behold what toyes Doe mocke the sense how shallow are thy ioyes Com'st thou to Downy yeeres see how deceits Gull thee with golden fruit and with false baits Slily beguile the prime of thine affection Art thou attaind at length to full perfection Of ripened yeeres Ambition now hath sent Thee on her frothy errand Discontent Payes thee thy Wages Doe thy grizly haires Begin to cast account of many cares Vpon thy head The sacred lust of gold Now fires thy spirit for fleshly lust too cold Makes thee a slaue to thine owne base desire Which melts and hardens at the selfe same Fire Art thou Decrepit Then thy very breath Is grieuous to thee and each griefe 's a Death Looke where thou list thy life is but a span Thou art but Dust and to conclude A Man Thy life 's a Warfare Thou a Souldier art Satan's thy Foe-man and a faithfull Heart Thy two edg'd Weapon Patience thy Shield Heauen is thy Chiefetaine and the world thy Field To be afraid to dye or wish for death Are words and passions of despairing breath Who doth the first the Day doth faintly yeeld And who the second basely flies the Field Man 's not a lawfull Steares-man of his dayes His bootlesse wish nor hastens nor delayes We are Gods hired Workmen He discharges Some late at Night and when he list inlarges Others at Noone and in the Morning some None may relieue himselfe till He bid Come If we receiue for one halfe day as much As they that toyle till Euening shall we grutch Our life 's a Road in death our Iourney ends We goe on Gods Embassage some he sends Call'd with the trotting of hard Misery And others pacing on Prosperity Some lagge whilest others gallop on before All goe an end some faster and some slower Lead me that pace great God that thou think'st best And I will follow with a dauntlesse brest VVhich ne'rthelesse if I refuse to doe I shall be wicked and yet follow too Assist me in my Combate with the flesh Relieue my fainting powers and refresh My feeble spirit I will not wish to be Cast from the world Lord cast the world from me THE ARGVMENT Bildad man 's either state expresses Gods Mercy ' and Iustice Iob confesses He pleads his cause and begs reliefe Foyl'd with the burthen of his griefe Sect. 9. SO Bildads silence great with tongue did breake And like a heartlesse Comforter did speake How long wilt thou persist to breath thy mind In words that vanish as a storme of wind Will God forsake the Innocent or will His Iustice smite thee vndeseruing ill Though righteous death thy sinfull sons hath rent From thy sad bosome yet if thou repent And wash thy waies with vndissembled teares Tuning thy Troubles to th' Almighties eares The mercy of his eyes shall shine vpon thee And showre the sweetnesse of his Blessings on thee And though a while thou plunge in misery At length hee 'l crowne thee with prosperity Run back and learne of sage Antiquity What our late births to present times deny See how and what in the worlds downy age Befell our fathers in their Pilgrimage If Rushes haue no myre and Grasse no raine They cease to flourish droope their heads wayne So fades the man whose heart is not vpright So perisheth the double Hypocrite His hopes are like the Spiders web to day That 's flourishing to morrow swept away But he that 's iust is like a flowring tree Rooted by Christall springs that cannot be Scorcht by the noone of day nor stir'd from thence Where firmely fixt it hath a residence Heauen neuer failes the soule that is vpright Nor offers arme to the base Hypocrite The one he blesses with eternall ioyes The other his auenging hand destroyes I yeeld it for a truth sad Iob reply'd Compar'd with God can man be iustifi'd If man should giue account what he hath done Not of a thousand could he answere one His hand 's all-Power and his heart all pure Against this God what flesh can stand secure He shakes the Mountaines and the Sun he barres From circling his due course shuts vp the Starres He spreads the Heauens and rideth on the Flood His Workes may be admir'd not vnderstood No eye can see no heart can apprehend him Lists he to spoyle What 's he can reprehend him His Will 's his Law The smoothest pleader hath No power in his lips to slake his Wrath Much lesse can I pleade faire Immunitie Which could my guiltlesse Tongue attaine yet I Would kisse the Footstep of
I know as much as you But you auerre If I should pleade with God That he would double his seuerer Rod. Your tongue belyes his Iustice you applie Amisse your Med'cine to my Maladie In silence you would seeme more Wise lesse weake You hauing spoke now lend me leaue to speake Will you doe wrong to doe Gods Iustice right Are you his Counsell Need you helpe to fight His Quarrels Or expect you his applause Thus brib'd with selfe-conceit to pleade his Cause Iudgement 's your Fee when as you take in hand Heauens cause to pleade it and not Heauen command If that the foulenesse of your Censures could Not fright you yet me thinkes his Greatnes should Whose Iustice you make Patron of your lyes Your slender Maxims and false Forgeryes Are substanc't like the dust that flies besides me Peace then and I will speake what ere betides me My soule is on the Rack my teares haue drown'd me Yet will I trust my God though God confound me He He 's my Towre of strength No hypocrite Stands vnconfounded in his glorious sight Ballance my words I know my case would quit Me from your censures should I argue it Who takes the Plaintiffes pleading Come for I Must pleade my Right or else perforce must dye With thee Great Lord of Heauen I dare dispute If thou wilt grant me this my double Sute First that thou slake these sorrowes that surround me Then that thy burning Face doe not confound me Which granted then take thou thy choyse let me Propound the Question or else answere Thee Why dost thou thus pursue me like thy Foe For what great Sinne do'st thou afflict me so Break'st thou a withred Leafe Thy Iustice doth Summe vp the Reck'nings of my sinfull Youth Thou keep'st me Pris'ner bound in fetters fast And like a thread-bare Garment doe I wast Man borne of Woman hath but a short while To liue his Dayes are fleete and full of toyle He 's like a Flower shooting forth and dying His Life is as a Shaddow swiftly flying Ah! being so poore a thing what need'st thou mind him The nūber of his daies thou hast confin'd him Then adde not plagues vnto his Griefe O giue Him peace that hath so small a time to liue Trees that are fell'd may sprout againe Man neuer His dayes are numbred and he dyes for euer Hee 's like a Mist exhaled by the Sunne His dayes once done they are for euer done O that thy Hand would hide me close and couer Me in the Graue till all thy Wrath were ouer My desperate sorrowes hope for no Reliefe Yet will I waite my Change My day of griefe Will be exchang'd for an eternall Day Of Ioy But now thou dost not spare to lay Full heapes of Vengeance on my broken soule And writest my sinnes vpon an ample scrowle As Mountaines being shaken fall and Rocks Though firme are worne rent with many knocks So strongest men are batter'd with thy Strength Loose ground returning to the Ground at length So Mortals dye and being dead ne'r mind The fairest Fortunes that they leaue behind While man is man vntill that death bereaue him Of his last breath his Griefes shall neuer leaue him Meditatio decima DOth Hist'ry then and sage Chronologie The Index pointing to Antiquitie So firmely grounded on deepe Iudgement guarded And kept by so much Miracle rewarded With so great Glorie serue but as slight Fables To edge the dulnesse of mens wanton Tables And claw their itching eares Or doe they rather Like a concise Abridgement serue to gather Mans high Aduentures and his transitorie Atchiuements to expresse his Makers glorie Acts that haue blowne the lowdest Trumpe of Fame Are all but Honours purchac't in His name Is he that yesterday went forth to bring His Fathers Asses home to day crown'd King Did he that now on his braue Palace stood Boasting his Babels beautie chew the cud An hower after Haue not Babes been crown'd And mightie Monarchs beaten to the ground Man vndertakes Heauen breathes successe vpon it What Good what Euill is done but Heauen hath done it The Man to whom the World was not asham'd To yeeld her Colours he that was proclam'd A God in humane shape whose dreadfull Voyce Did strike men dead like Thunder at the noyse Was rent away from his Imperiall Throne Before his flowre of Youth was fully blowne His Race was rooted out his Issue slaine And left his Empire to another Straine Who that did e're behold the ancient Rome Would rashly giuen her Glorie such a doome Or thought her subiect to such Alterations That was the Mistresse and the Queene of Nations Egypt that in her walls had once engrost More Wisdome then the World besides hath lost Her Senses now Her wisest men of State Are turn'd like Puppets to be pointed at If Romes great power and Egypts wisdome can Not aide themselues how poore a thing is Man God Playes with Kingdomes as with Tennis-balls Fells some that rise and rayses some that falls Nor Policie can preuent nor secret Fate VVhere Heauen hath pleas'd to blow vpon a State If States be not secure nor Kingdomes than How helpelesse Ah! how poore a thing is Man Man 's like a Flower the while he hath to last Hee 's nipt with frost and shooke with euery blast Hee 's borne in sorrow and brought vp in teares He liues a while in sinne and dyes in feares Lord I 'le not boast what ere thou giue vnto me Lest e're my brag be done thou take it from me No man may boast but of his owne I can Then boast of nothing for I am a Man THE ARGVMENT Rash Eliphaz doth aggrauate The sinnes of Iob malign's his state VVhom Iob reprouing iustifies Himselfe bewailes his miseries Sect. 11. DOth vaine repining Eliphaz replies Or words like wind beseeme the man that 's wise Ah sure thy faithlesse heart reiects the feare Of heauen dost not acquaint thy lips with prayre Thy words accuse thy heart of Impudence Thy tongue not I brings in the Euidence Art thou the first of men Doe Mysteries Vnfold to thee Art thou the onely wise Wherein hath Wisdome been more good to you Then vs What know you that we neuer knew Reuerence not Censure fits a young mans eyes We are your Ancients and should be as wise Is 't not enough your Arrogance derides Our counsels but must scorne thy God besides Angels if God inquier strictly must Not plead Perfection then can man be iust It is a truth receiu'd these aged eyes Haue seen 't and is confirmed by the wise That still the wicked man is voyd of rest Is alwayes fearfull falles when he feares least In troubles he despaires and is deiected He begs his bread his death comes vnexpected In his aduersity his griefes shall gaule him And like a raging Tyrant shall inthrall him He shall aduance against his God in vaine For Heauen shall crush and beate him downe againe What if his Garners
thriue and goods encrease They shall not prosper nor he liue in peace Eternall horrour shall begirt him round And vengeance shall both him and his confound Amidst his ioyes despaire shall stop his breath His sons shall perish with vntimely death The double soule shall dye and in the hollow Of all false harts false harts themselues shall swallow Then answered Iob All this before I knew They want no griefe that find such friends as you Ah cease your words the fruits of ill-spent houres If heauen should please to make my fortunes yours I would not scoffe you nor with taunts torment ye My lips should comfort and these eyes lament ye What shall I doe Speake not my griefes oppresse My soule or speake alas they 'r ne'r the lesse Lord I am wasted and my pangs haue spent me My skin is wrinkled for thy Hand hath rent me Mine enemies haue smit me in disdaine Laught at my torments iested at my paine I swel'd in wealth but now alas am poore And feld with woe lye grou'ling on the floore In dust and sackcloth I lament my sorrowes Thy Hand hath trencht my cheekes with water-furrowes Nor can I comprehend the cause that this My smart should be so grieuous as it is Oh Earth If then an Hypocrite I be Couer my cryes as I doe couer thee And witnesse Heauen that these my Vowes be true Ah friends I spend my teares to Heau'n not you My time 's but short alas would then that I Might try my cause with God before I dye Since then I languish and not farre from dead Let me a while with my Accusers plead Before the Iudge of heauen and earth my right Haue they not wrong'd and vext me day and night Who first layes downe his Gage to meet me Say I doubt not Heauen being Iudge to win the day You 'l say perchance Wee 'l recompell our word E're simple Truth should vnawares afford Your discontent No no forbeare for I Hate lesse your Censures then your Flattery I am become a By-word and a Taber To set the tongues and eares of men in labour Mine eyes are dimme my body 's but a shade Good men that see my case will be afraid But not confounded They will hold their way And in a bad they 'l hope a better day Recant your errours for I cannot see One man that 's truly wise among you Three My dayes are gone my thoughts are mis-possest The silent night that heauen ordain'd for rest My day of trauell is but I shall haue Er'e long long peace within my welcome graue My neerest kindred are the wormes the earth My mother for she gaue me first my birth Where are my hopes then where that future ioy Which you false-prophecy'd I should enioy Both hopes and I alike shall trauell thither Where clos'd in dust we shall remaine together Meditatio vndecima THe Morall Poets nor vnaptly faine That by lame Vulcans help the pregnant braine Of soueraign Ioue brought forth at that birth Was borne Minerua Lady of the earth O strange Diuinity but sung by rote Sweet is the tune but in a wilder note The Morall sayes All Wisedome that is giuen To hood-wink't mortals first proceeds from heauen Truth 's errour Wisedom's but wise insolence And light 's but darknesse not deriu'd from thence Wisdom's a straine transcends Morality No Vertu 's absent Wisedome being by Vertue by constant practice is acquir'd This this by sweat vnpurchas't is inspir'd The master-piece of knowledge is to know But what is Good from what is good in show And there it rests Wisdome proceeds and chuses The seeming Euill th' apparant Good refuses Knowledge deseru's alone Wisedome applyes That makes some fooles this maketh none but wise The curious hand of knowledge doth but pick Bare simples Wisedome pounds them for the sicke In my affliction knowledge apprehends Who is the Authour what the Cause and Ends It findes that Patience is my sad reliefe And that the Hand that caus'd can cure my griefe To rest contented here is but to bring Clouds without raine and heat without a Spring What hope arises hence The Diuels doe The very same They know and tremble too But sacred Wisedome doth apply that Good Which simple Knowledge barely vnderstood Wisedome concludes and in conclusion proues That wheresoeuer God corrects he loues Wisedome digests what knowledge did but tast That deales in futures this in things are past Wisedom's the Card of Knowledge which without That Guide at random's wreckt on euery doubt Knowledge when Wisedome is too weak to guide her Is like a head-strong Horse that throwes the Rider VVhich made that great Philosopher auow He knew so much that he did nothing know Lord giue me VVisdome to direct my wayes I beg nor riches nor yet length of dayes O grant thy seruant VVisedome and with it I shall receiue such knowledge as will fit To serue my turne I wish not Phoebus waine Without his skill to driue it lest I gaine Too deare an Honour Lord I will not stay To pick more Manna then will serue to day THE ARGVMENT Bildad the whil'st he makes a show To strike the wicked giues the blow To Iob Iobs Misery and Faith Zophar makes good what Bildad saith Sect. 12. SAid Bildad then When will ye bring to end The speeches whereabout ye so contend Waigh eithers words lest ignorant confusion Debarre them of their purposed conclusion We came to comfort fits it then that we Be thought as beasts or fooles accounted be But thou Iob like a mad man would'st thou force God to desist his order and set course Of Iustice Shall the wicked for thy sake That would'st not taste of Euill in Good partake No no his Lampe shall blaze and dye his strength Shall faile or shall confound it selfe at length He shall be hampred with close hidden snares And dog'd where e're he starts with troups of feares Hunger shall bite destruction shall attend him His skin shall rot the worst of deaths shall end him His feare shall be a thousand link't together His branch aboue his root beneath shall wither His Name shall sleepe in dust with dust decay Odious to all by all men chas't away No Son shall keepe aliue his House his Name And none shall thriue that can alliance clame The after-age shall stand amaz'd to heare His Fall and they that see 't shall shake for feare Thus stands the state of him that doth amisse And Iob what other is thy case then this But Iob reply'd How long as with sharpe swords Will ye torment me with your poynted words How often haue your biting tongues defam'd My simple Innocence and yet vnsham'd Had I deseru'd these plagues yet let my griefe Expresse it selfe though it find no reliefe But if you needs must weare your tongues vpon me Know 'T is the hand of God hath ouerthrowne me I roare vnheard His Hand will not release me The more I grieue
fill'd with Peace They passe vnplagu'd their fruitfull Flockes encrease Their Children thriue in ioyfull Melodie Prosperous they liue and peacefully they dye Renounce vs God say they if God there be What need we knowledge of thy VVord or Thee VVhat is th' Almighty that we should adore him VVhat bootes our prayer or vs to fall before him 'T is not by chance their vaine Prosperitie Crownes thē with store or Heauē not knowing why But you affirme That in conclusion they Shall fall But not so sudden as you say But can ye limit forth the space confine How long or when their Lampes shall cease to shine Will any of you vndertake to teach Your Maker things so farre aboue your reach The Bad man liues in plentie dyes in peace The Good as doe his howres his griefes encrease Yet both the Good and Bad alike shall haue Though Liues much differing yet one cōmon graue I know your mining thoughts You will demand VVhere is the wickeds Power And where stand Their loftie Buildings are they to be seene Enquire of wandring Pilgrims that haue beene Experienc'd in the Roade and they 'l relate The Princely greatnesse of their Tow'rs and State Liue any more secure then they Or who Dare once reprooue them for the Deeds they doe He liues in Power and in Peace he dies Attended in his pompeous Obsequies How vaine are then the comforts of your breath That censure goodnesse or by Life or Death Said Eliphaz What then remaines Thy tongue Hath quit thy selfe accus'd thy God of Wrong Gaines he by mans vprightnesse Can man ad To his Perfection what He neuer had Feares He the strength of mā Doth He torment him Lest that his vntam'd power should preuent Him What need I waste this breath Recall thy senses And take the Inuentorie of thy Offences Thou tookst the poore mans Pawne nor hast thou fed Thy needy Brother with thy prosp'rous Bread Thy hands peruerted Iustice and haue spoyl'd The hopelesse Widdow with her helpelesse Child Hence spring thy sorrowes Iob 'T is Iustice then Thou should'st be plagu'd that thus plagu'd other mē Is Heauen Iust Can Heauens Iust Creator Let passe vnpunisht Sinnes of so high nature Hath not Experience taught that for a while The Wicked may exalt their Crests and smile Blowne vp with Insolence but in conclusion They fall and good men laugh at their confusion Iob adde not sinne to sinne cease to beguile Thy selfe thinking to quench thy fire with Oyle Returne thee to thy God confesse thy crimes Returne and he will crowne thy after-times With former Blessings and thy Riches shall Be as the Sand for God is all in all His face shall welcome thee and smile vpon thee And cease that mischief his iust Hand hath done thee He shall be pleased with thy holy Fiers And grant the issue of thy best Desires Iob answer'd then Although my soule be faint And Griefes weigh down the Scale of my complant Yet would I pleade my Cause which you defam'd Before my Maker and would pleade vnsham'd Could I but find him I would take vpon me To quit the Censures you haue passed on me His Iustice hath no limits is extended Beyond conceit by man vnapprehended Let Heauen be Vmpire and make Arbitration Betwixt my guiltlesse heart and your taxation My Embrion thoughts and words are all inroll'd Pure will he find them as refined Gold His steps I followed and vprightly stood His Lawes haue been my Guide his Words my food Hath he but once decreed alas there 's none Can barre for what he wills must needs be done His Will 's a Law If he hath doom'd that I Shall still be plagu'd 't is bootelesse to replie Hence comes it that my sore afflicted spright Trembles and stands confounded at his sight His hand hath struck my spirits in amaze For I can neither end my Griefes nor Dayes Why should not Times in all things be forbid When to the Iust their time of sorrow 's hid Some mooue their Land-markes rob their neighbour Others in gage receiue the Widowes Oxe Some grinde the Poore while others seeke the Prey flocks They reape their Haruest beare their Graine away Men presse their Oyle and they distraine their Store And rend the Gleanings from the hungry poore The Citie roares the Blood which they haue spent Cryes vnreueng'd for equall punishment Early they murther and rob late at night They trade in Darkenesse for they hate the Light The sinne vnpunisht thriuing vncontroll'd And what by Force they got by Force they hold O Friends Repeale your words your speeches bring No lawfull Yssue prooue not any thing Your deeper Wisdomes argue in effect That God doth or not know or else neglect Conclude with me or proue my words vntrue I must be found a Lyer or else you Meditatio tertiadecima THe VVisest men that Nature e're could boast For secret knowledge of her power were lost Confounded and in deepe amazement stood In the discouery of the Chiefest Good Keenely they hunted beat in euery Bracke Forwards they went on either hand and backe Return'd they Counter but their deepe-mouth'd Art Though often challeng'd Sent yet ne'r could start In all th' Enclosures of Philosophy That Game from squat they terme Felicity They iangle and their Maxims dis-agree As many men so many minds there be One digs to Pluto's Throane thinkes there to find Her Grace rak't vp in Gold Anothers mind Mounts to the Courts of Kings with Plumes of Honour And feather'd Hopes hopes there to seize vpon her A third vnlockes the painted Gates of Pleasure And ransacks there to find this peerelesse Treasure A fourth more sage more wisely melancholy Perswades himselfe her Deity 's too holy For common hands to touch he rather chuses To make a long dayes iourney to the Muses To Athens gown'd he goes and from that Schoole Returnes vnsped a more instructed foole Where lies she then Or lies she any where Honours are bought and sold she rests not there Much lesse in Pleasures hath she her abiding For they are shar'd to Beasts and euer sliding Nor yet in Vertue Vertu 's often poore And crush't with Fortune begs from dore to dore Nor is she sainted in the Shrine of wealth That makes men slaues is vnsecur'd from stealth Conclude we then Felicity consists Not in exterior Fortunes but her lists Are boundlesse and her large extension Out-runnes the pace of humane apprehension Fortunes are seldome measur'd by desert The fairer face hath oft the fouler heart Sacred felicity doth ne're extend Beyond it selfe In it all wishes end The swelling of an outward Fortune can Create a prosperous not a happy man A peacefull Conscience is the true Content And wealth is but her golden Ornament I care not so my Kernell rellish well How slender be the substance of my shell My heart being vertuous let my face be wan I am to God I onely seeme to man THE ARGVMENT Bildad showes mans impurity Iob setteth forth
THE ARGVMENT Iob wisheth his past happinesse Shewes his state present Doth confesse That God's the Authour of his griefe Relates the purenesse of his life Sect. 15. OH that I were as happy as I was When heauens bright fauours shone vpon my face And prospred my affaires inrich't my ioyes When all my sonnes could answere to my voyce Then did my store and thriuing flockes encrease Offended Iustice sought my hands for peace Old men did honour and the young did feare me Princes kept silence when I spake to heare me I heard the poore relieu'd the widdowes cry Orphans I succour'd was the blind mans eye The Cripples foot my helplesse brothers drudge The poore mans Father and th'oppressours Iudge I then supposed that my dayes long Lease Would passe in Plenty and expire in Peace My Roots were fixed and my Branches sprung My Glory blaz'd my Pow'r grew daily strong I speaking men stood mute my speeches moou'd All hearts to Ioy by all men were approou'd My kindly words were welcome as a latter Rayne and were Oracles in a doubtfull matter O sudden change I 'm turn'd a laughing-stock To boyes those that su'd to tend my Flock And such whose hungry wants haue taught their hands To scrape the earth and dig the barren lands For hidden roots wherewith they might appease Their Tyran'-stomakes these euen very these Flout at my sorrowes and disdaining me Poynt with their fingers and cry This is He My honour 's foyld my troubled spirit lyes Wide open to the worst of iniuries Where-e're I turne my sorrow new appeares I 'm vex't abroad with slouts at home with feares My soule is faint and nights that should giue ease To tyred spirits make my griefes encrease I loathe my Carkas for my rip'ned sores Haue chang'd my garments colour with their cores But what is worst of worsts Lord often I Haue cry'd to Thee a stranger to my cry Though perfect Clemency thy nature be Though kind to all thou art vnkind to me I ne'r waxt pale to see another thriue Nor e're did let my ' afflicted brother striue With teares alone but I poore I tormented Expect for succour and am vnlamented I mourne in silence languish all alone As in a Desart am relieu'd by none My sores haue dyed my skin with filth still turning My Ioyes to Griefe and all my Mirth to Mourning My Heart hath past Indentures with mine Eye Not to behold a Maide for what should I Expect from Heauen but a deseru'd reward Earnd by so foule a sinne for death 's prepar'd And flames of wrath are blowne for such Doth He Not know my Actions that so well knowes me If I haue lent my hand to slie deceit Or if my steps haue not been purely strait What I haue sowne then let a Stranger eate And roote my Plants vntimely from their seate If I with Lust haue e're distain'd my life Or been defiled with anothers Wife In equall Iustice let my Wife be knowne Of all and let me reape as I haue sowne For Lust that burneth in a sinfull brest Till it hath burnt him too shall neuer rest If e're my haste did treate my Seruant ill Without desert making my Pow'r my Will Then how should I before Gods Iudgement stand Since we were both created by one Hand If e're my power wrong'd the Poore mans Cause Or to the Widdow length'ned out the Lawes If e're alone my lips did taste my bread Or shut my churlish doores the poore vnfed Or bent my hand to doe the Orphane wrong Or saw him naked vnapparell'd long In heapes of Gold if e're I tooke delight Or gaue Heauens worship to the heauenly Light Or e're was flattred by my secret Will Or ioyed in my Aduersaries Ill Let God accurse me from his glorious Seate And make my Plagues if possible more great Oh! That some equall hearer now were by To iudge my righteous Cause Full sure am I I shall be quitted by th' Almighties hand What therefore if censorious tongues withstand The Iudgement of my sober Conscience Compose they Ballads on me yet from thence My simple Innocence shall gaine renowne And on my head I 'le weare them as my Crowne To the Almighties Eare will I reueale My secret Wayes to Him alone appeale If to conclude the Earth could find a tongue T' impeach my guiltlesse hands of doing wrong If hidden Wages earn'd with sweat doe lye Rak't in her furrowes let her Wombe denie To blesse my Haruest let her better Seeds Be turn'd to Thistles and the rest to Weedes Meditatio quintadecima THe man whose soule is vndistain'd with Ill Pure from the check of a distemp'red Will Stands onely free from the distracts of Care And flies a pitch aboue the reach of Feare His bosome dares the threatning Bow-mans arme His Wisdome sees his Courage feares no harme His brest lyes open to the reeking Sword The Darts of swarthy Maurus can afford Lesse dread then danger to his well prepar'd And settled mind which standing on her Guard Bids Mischiefe doe the worst she can or will For he that doth no Ill deserues no Ill. Would any striue with Samson for renowne Whose brawny Arme can strike most pillers downe Or try a fall with Angels and preuaile Or with a Hymne vnhinge the strongest Iayle Would any from a Pris'ner prooue a Prince Or with slow speech best Orators conuince Preserue he then vnstained in his brest A milke-white Conscience let his soule be blest With simple Innocence This seuenfold shield No dart shall pierce no sword shall make it yeeld The sinowy Bow and deadly-headed Launce Shall breake in shiuers and the splinters glaunce Aside returning backe from whence they came And wound their hearts with an eternall shame The Iust and Constant mind that perseueres Vnblemisht with false pleasures neuer feares The bended threatnings of a Tyrants brow Death neither can disturbe nor change his Vow VVell guarded with Himselfe he walkes along VVhen most alone his stand's a thousand strong Liues he in VVeale and full Prosperitie His wisdome tells him that he liues to die Is he afflicted Sharpe Afflictions giue Him hopes of Change and that that he dyes to liue Is he reuil'd and scorn'd He sits and smiles Knowing him Happie whom the World reuiles If Rich he giues the poore and if he liue In poore estate he finds rich friends to giue He liues an Angell in a mortall forme And hauing past the brunt of many a Storme At last arriueth at the Hauen of Rest Where that Iust Iudge that rambles in his brest Ioyning with Angels with an Angels voyce Chaunts forth sweet Requiems of Eternall Ioyes THE ARGVMENT Elihu Iob reprooues reprooues His Friends alike he pleades the case With Iob in Gods behalfe and mooues Him to recant and call for Grace Sect. 16. THus Iob his ill-defended Cause adiournes And silence lends free libertie of turnes To his vniust Accusers whose bad cause
mark'd the Earth of what a bulke she is Know'st thou the place whence Light or Darknesse springs Can thy deepe age vnfold these secret things Know'st thou the cause of Snow or Haile which are My fierce Artill'ry in my time of warre Who is 't that rends the gloomy Clouds in sunder Whose sudden rapture strikes forth Fire Thunder Or who bedewes the Earth with gentle showres Filling her pregnant soyle with fruits and flowres What Father got the Raine from what chill wombe Did Frosts and hard-congealed Waters come Canst thou restraine faire Maia's course or stint her Or sad Orion vshering in the Winter Will scorching Cancer at thy summons come Or Sun-burnt Autumne with her fruitfull wombe Knowst thou Heauens course aboue or dost thou know Those gentle Influences here below Who was 't inspir'd thy Soule with Vnderstanding And gaue thy Spirit the spirit of Apprehending Dost thou command the Cesternes of the Skie To quench the thirsty soyle or is it I Nay let thy practice to the Earth descend Proue there how farre thy power doth extend From thy full hand will hungry Lions eate Feed'st thou the empty Rauens that cry for meate Sett'st thou the Season when the fearefull Hind Brings forth her painefull birth Hast thou assign'd The Mountaine Goate her Time Or is it I Canst thou subiect vnto thy soueraigntie The vntam'd Vnicorne Can thy hard hand Force him to labour on thy fruitfull land Did'st thou inrich the Peacock with his Plume Or did that Steele-digesting Bird assume His downie flags from thee Didst thou endow The noble Stallion with his Strength Canst thou Quaile his proud courage See his angry breath Puffes nothing forth but feares summ'd vp in death Marke with what pride his horny hoofes doe tabor The hard resounding Earth with how great labor How little ground he spends But at the noyse And fierce Alar'm of the hoarse Trumpets voyce He breakes the rankes amidst a thousand Speares Pointed with death vndaunted at the feares Of doubtfull warre he rushes like a Ranger Through euery Troope scornes so braue a danger Doe loftie Haggards cleaue the flitting Ayre With Plumes of thy deuising Then how dare Thy rauenous lips thus thus at randome runne And counter-maund what I the Lord haue done Think'st thou to learne fond Mortall thus by diuing Into my secrets or to gaine by striuing Pleade then No doubt but thine will be the Day Speake peeuish Plaintiffe if th' ast ought to say Iob then reply'd Great God I am but Dust My heart is sinfull and thy hands are Iust I am a Sinner Lord my words are wind My thoughts are vaine Ah Father I haue sinn'd Shall Dust replie I spake too much before I 'le close these lips and neuer answere more Meditatio octauadecima O Glorious Light A light vnapprehended By mortall Eyes O Glorie neuer ended Nor e're created whence all Glorie springs In heauenly bodies and in earthly things O power Immense deriued from a Will Most Iust and able to doe all but ill O Essence pure and full of Maiestie Greatnesse it selfe and yet no Quantitie Goodnesse and without Qualitie producing All things from out of Nothing and reducing All things to nothing past all comprehending Both First and Last and yet without an Ending Or yet beginning filling euery Creature And not it selfe included aboue Nature Yet not excluded of it Selfe subsisting And with it Selfe all other things assisting Diuided yet without diuision A perfect Three yet Three entirely One Both One in Three and Three in One together Begetting and begotten and yet neither The Fountaine of all Arts Confounding Art Both All in All and All in euery part Still seeking Glorie and still wanting none Though Iust yet reaping where Thou ne'r hast sowne Great Maiestie since Thou art euery where O Why should I misdoubt thy Presence here I long haue sought Thee but my ranging heart Ne'r quests and cannot see thee where thou art There 's no Defect in thee thy light hath shin'd Nor can be hid Great God but I am blind O cleare mine eyes and with thy holy Fire Inflame my brest and edge my dull desire Wash me with Hysope clense my stained thoughts Renew my spirit blurre forth my secret faults Thou tak'st no pleasure in a Sinners death For thou art Life thy Mercy 's not beneath Thy sacred Iustice Giue thy seruant power To seek aright and hauing sought discouer Thy glorious Presence Let my blemisht Eye See my saluation yet before I dye O then my Dust that 's bowell'd in the ground Shall rise with Triumph at the welcome sound Of my Redeemers earth-awaking Trumpe Vnfrighted at the noyse no sullen Dumpe Of selfe-confounding Conscience shall affright me For Hee 's my Iudge whose dying Blood shall quite me THE ARGVMENT God speakes to Iob the second time Iob yeelds his sinne repents his crime God checks his Friends restores his health Giues him new issue double wealth Sect. 19. ONcemore the Mouth of heauē rapt forth a voice The troubled Firmament was fill'd with noise The Rafters of the darkned Skie did shake For the Eternall thundred thus and spake Collect thy scattred senses and aduise Rouze vp fond man and answere my replies Wilt thou make Comments on my Text and must I be vnrighteous to conclude thee Iust Shall my Decrees be licenced by thee What canst thou thunder with a Voyce like Me Put on thy Robes of Maiestie Be clad With as bright glorie Iob as can be had Make fierce thy frownes and with an angry face Confound the Proud and his high thoughts abase Pound him to Dust Doe this and I will yeeld Thou art a God and need'st no other shield Behold the Castle-bearing Elephant That wants no bulke nor doth his greatnesse want An equall strength Behold his massie bones Like barres of Yron like congealed stones His knottie sinewes are Him haue I made And giuen him naturall weapons for his aide High Mountaines beare his food the shady boughes His Couerts are Great Riuers are his Troughs Whose deepe Carouses would to standers-by Seeme at a watring to draw Iordan drie What skilfull huntsman can with strength out-dare him Or with what Engins can a man ensnare him Hast thou beheld the huge Leuiathan That swarthy Tyrant of the Ocean Can Thy bearded hooke impierce his Gils or make him Thy landed Pris'ner Can thy Angles take him Will he make suite for fauour from thy hands Or be enthralled to thy fierce Commands Will he be handled as a Bird Or may Thy fingers bind him for thy childrens play Let men be wise for in his lookes he hath Displayed Banners of vntimely death If Creatures be so dreadfull how is he More bold then wise that dares encounter Me What hand of man can hinder my designe Are not the Heauens and all beneath them mine Dissect the Greatnesse of so vast a Creature By view of seuerall parts Summe vp his feature Like Shields his Scales are plac't which neither Art Knowes