Garments are so stiff with bile and gore That though as formerly I now could say I might change my Apparrel every day Yet would I by that shifting find no ease Nor would the torrent of my Ulcers cease But in their course run most impetuously Upon my Cloaths and never let them dry But make them so fast to my Body stick Th' express on makes me both asham'd and sick And now like Sow in puddle I appear Wallowing in my own sores and mired here As one in marish stranded all o're run With loathsome Ulcers totally undone With putrid scabs which from my Skin do fall When dry and make me look as I were all A heap of Dust and Ashes Boils and Sores With all that 's ugly Nay I am now so low so mean and base No language my condition can expresse But O what 's worst of all and doth exceed All torments I as yet have suffered My great Creator to whom I do pray And cry aloud a hundred times a day Seems unconcern'd no notice of me takes But 'fore my eyes his flaming Sword he shakes In token of his Wrath and now appears To second all my jealousies and fears By this bâ—d usage Lord how frequently As a poor Beggar at thy gates do I Implore for thy own sake some Charity How oft have I good Lord to thee complain'd But have as yet no grace from thee obtain'd Wilt thou not help me Lord wilt thou not hear Me when I pray ah wilt thou not give ear To my sad crys good Lord what shall I say Shall I at all times to no purpose pray Wilt not concern thy self O mighty Lord With my afflictions wilt thou not afford One gracious answer wilt thou still stand by A meer spectator of my misery And make no help to me but in this case Suffer me to expire in great disgrace Alace good Lord I find thy wrath so hot That I had rather die upon the spot Then live in thy displeasure for I now Perceive there 's nothing I can ever doe Can purchase so much as a short Cessation From Persecution for thy indignation Against me doth with cruelty increase And there 's no means left to procure my peace For in Afflictions Ocean I 'me so toss't 'Twixt Wind and Wave beyond all sight of Coast Beyond all hopes of Calm now rais'd aloft Each Minut by the Surge and then as oft Amongst the gaping Waves precipitate As I 'me no better then ingurgitate In this Abyss of Troubles Now all this Tempest by thy mighty hand Is rais'd against me Lord at thy command All thâ—se Infernal Woes assembled are By which I see O Lord thou dost appear My open Enemy and in thy wrath Resolv'st even to pursue me to the death I know thou dost nay I am very sure My Wounds are mortal past all hopes of cure And I must quickly die good Lord I know There is no remedy but I must go To th' House appointed for all here below To the cold Grave where huddled up do ly The mouldy Records of Mortality Where all the pride of Earth its pomp and glory Are to be found in a large Repertory Of Dust and Ashes thither Lord I know Thither annon O thither I must go Where enter'd in Deaths Book my life I fear Shall a more famous Precedent appear Of Humane Frailty and the vanity Of this poor World then a whole Century Before my time can show whilst all in me May a most evident example see Both of thy Goodness and thy sad displeasure Dispens'd in an extr'ordinary measure Yet here 's my comfort that when I descend To Earth my Troubles shall be at an end The War of my Afflictions shall cease And in the Grave at least I shall have peace For sure my God will not pursue me there Or make me in worse state then others are Who in that melancholly Cloyster dwell But will permit me there to rest as well As all my Predecessors in that place And when I come that length give o're the chase For whilst I live I never do expect T' have any rest what ere I may suspect Shall be my state of life when life is gone For on the matress of the Grave alone I may have ease but here I shall have none Strange that with grief I should be thus oppress 't Why had I ever lodg'd within my breast A heart of Flint that never could comply With others woes by rules of Sympathy Or had I been so cruelly severe As in my life I never would give ear To th' crys of those who did sad troubles feel And 'mongst the billows of Afflictions reel But unconcern'd at all their misery Had suffered them unpityed to die Then had I merit all those griefs and woes I now endure but on the contrare those Who were in trouble I did pity so As oftentimes tears from my eyes would flow When any I beheld in sad estate Though far from being tortur'd at this rate As I am yet my kind and tender soul Would these mens troubles heartily condole Nay when I 'de hear th' afflicted wretches groan I 'de look on their condition as my own Yet ah when I expected better things For this complyance with sad Sufferings I only meet all the reward alace Of all my sighs and pious tenderness Is nothing but the utmost of distress Barbarous usage Cruelty Oppression Blows Unkind dealings Pains beyond expression Ingratitude Horrour and Poverty Are all the product of my Charity For even now whilst I speak I find such pain As I 'me not able longer to sustain The weight of my Afflictions Oh I faint I faint indeed now all my strength is spent Nay in my bowels only I do find Such pain as would distract a constant mind For this cause I go mourning all the day And in dark Holes and Corners take my way To Caverns where the Sun beams are unknown And find some comfort to be there alone Where I my woes with freedom may bemoan For when at any time I do appear In publick O how I 'me asham'd to hear My own sad exclamations alace Now every day I see my own disgrace And O my friends d' ye think but such as I Who but of late liv'd in Authority Amongst those people do now think it sad To be thus gaz'd on as if I were mad To be thus gaz'd on thus constrain'd by pain To cry aloud before these very men Who but of late did see me in this place In great respect but now in sad disgrace They see me here for this cause do I fly To Woods and Desarts where no Humane eye May in the least perceive me there I howl And screigh like Dragon there the dismal Owl I in my nightly crying imitate And these and I are now associat For we are all wild sad and desolate These are my brethren these and I are now Well known t' each other for with
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
has sent Upon me now this heavy punishment Only to try my faith that men might know Whether I be a hypocrite or no For were I such in this my horrid case I 'd be so far from trusting in his Grace As I 'd abjure him to his very face But O I know I know my God will never Exclude me from his mercies act however He 's pleas'd to vex me now I know indeed He will not to an outlawry proceed Against a man who 's willing to appear And answer all no no I do not fear I fear not that he has rejected me As you pretend for by what I can see Should I just now before my God be try'd I doubt not but I would be justify'd Then who 's the man pray that with me will plead And prove that for my sins I 'm punished Pray' let me know the man that so I may Debate the case a little with him pray Let him appear this favour friends allow That I may know with whom I have to do Pray let me know and I will instantly Argue my case with all sobriety For if I once should hold my peace I dye Will no man plead will no man undertake The argument then my address I 'le make To God alone two things I will implore Of his large bounty and demand no more Two things preliminary Lord I must Request of thee which as thou' rt good and just I know thou wilt allow that so I may With freedom speak all that I have to say In my defence First then some small time Lord forbear thy wrath That I may have some leasure but to breath That I may have but a few hours soulage And not be quite consumed in thy rage Next O my gracious God let not thy hot And wasting anger fright my soul let not Thy lifted hand so terrible appear Nor damp my Spirit with a killing fear Then what thou pleasest of me to demand I 'l answer so far as I understand Or if thou think it fit that I should speak I shall Lord and in favour I 'l expect Thou 'lt answer me For if I be allow'd this liberty With boldness then good Lord I will reply To all the questions thou to me shalt state And with my God take pleasure to debate If I must speak then I demand good Lord How many are my sins pray in a word How many are they tell me am I able To calculat them are they numberable What are my sins Lord of what quality How black how uglie of how deep a dye Why Lord it seems that since the world began Of all the sins practis'd by mortal man Sure mine must be the foulest mine must be Most venomous sins of the first degree For Whilst others sins with modesty have call'd For Judgements it appears that mine have baul'd And with great clamour furious zeal and heat Have ask'd as due rather than supplicat For Divine vengeance and with open voice At Heavens Gates made a tumultuous noise As idle Beggars for their Alms do crie And so by clamorous importunitie Extorted from a mild and gentle God Th' unwilling usage of an angry Rod. My sins have in a Cluster cri'd aloud For punishment no mercie has withstood The rude attaques of their impetuous sute But suffered them to gain without dispute Th' Almighties Ear who has accordinglie Sent Judgements out in such varietie And has me so severelie punished As all my Neighbours never suffered So many ills at once as I do now Besides what I may lay account for too Ere all be done for I perceive the wrath Of God encreases everie hour Whilst death Keeps at a distance and appears to smile Unkindly at my torments all this while Nay which is worst of all men on pretence Of comforting me with great violence Oppress my little spirits that remain And with their bitter words augment my pain What are my sins then Lord ah let me know What have I done Lord to be punish'd so What have I done what sins have I practis'd What horrid Treason have I e're devis'd Against Heavens King what are my faults good Lord Again I beg thee tell me in a word That so I may perceive the reason why I 'm punish'd with so much severity Now pardon Lord my great presumption In those demands let my condition Plead some excuse let me some pity find Some pity Lord to ease my troubled mind Have pity then have pity on my case And for thy Names sake do not hide thy face Because in that I all my comfort place Why then good Lord do'st thou to me deny Thy countenance I am no enemy To thee my God but one I dare avow As far as humane frailty will allow Loves thee with all his Soul and still shall do Why then am I thus punish'd why oppress 't With grief Why doth my Soul enjoy no rest Why is a Creature a poor dying Creature Debarr'd from dying by the course of Nature Why to suck in again a parting Breath Is it compell'd only t' endure thy Wrath To break a Leaf that 's driven to and fro I humbly think it is a thing below The Majesty of God! why such am I Or like the Stuble withered and dry When lightly it before the Wind doth fly Then why in such sad torment Why so vex't In Soul and Body Why so sore perplex't In Spirit Why so bitter Judgements sent Each moment to recruit my punishment Such Judgements make me now Lord call to mind Those sins which wasting time had cast behind Its Shoulder sins which I thought thou had'st not Recorded sins which I had quite forgot But now the Errors of my wanton years Appear afresh hence all these sighs and tears Hence these sad words which issue from my mouth Since for the sins of my disorderd youth I 'm punished thus why Lord I must confess Those whiffling errors do deserve no less Than I now suffer yet I still must cry For mercy from my God or clse I dye For mercy Lord I must thee still implore I 'l call to Heavens for I can do no more For mercy still this liberty at least I hope thou 'lt not deny this small request To a poor dying man allow me pray Allow me Lord that what I have to say In a few dying words I may expresse And then do what thy Majesty shall please With me thy prisoner thy wretched slave One save to be the stopple of a Grave That serves for nothing do then what thou wilt Dispatch me Lord or if my horrid guilt Require that I should live some longer time Why let it be so let my horrid Crime If possible it e're can be content Be glutted with my horrid punishment For I am thy close prisoner good Lord No power on Earth can me relief afford Escape I cannot no my feet are bound My hands ty'd up all naked on the ground More than half-dead o'r grown with sores I
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
survive his Loss But sudden Dissolution did desire Hoping he might in some kind sigh expire Speechless he sate and seem'd not to complain But having paus'd a while at length with pain He rose and to his grief was forc'd t' allow The same Compliance other Mortals do For though he knew his miseries alone Did come from God yet being more than Stone Hearing these sad News he could not forbear At least upon the last to drop a Tear And write in mournful ink from grief swoln Eyes Upon his Face his Childrens Elegies The unexpected loss of his Estate He doth not value though indeed 't was great But O his loving Issue O the loss Of his dear Children doth him sadly cross This in some passion makes him tear his hair Unrip his breast and to the open air In some disorder lay his bosome bare At length o're come with this sad Exigent He formally all his apparrel Rent With careless Razor shav'd his Head around Fell down and groveling prostrate on the ground Lord says he naked from the Womb I came And to Earths Womb I must return the same What I acquir'd was but thy pure Donation And all the Right that I had was Possession Then why should I Complaint of Losses make Since God who freely gives may freely take This Morning I was rich in Wealth and Fame Now in the Evening I a Beggar am Plundred of all Estate and issue too Why sure I shall be no more envy'd now Now I 'm undone now absolutely poor As those who beg their Bread from Door to Door Then what do Wealth and Honours signify When as it were by turning of a dye All I possest is now entirely lost Then what is he who doth of Riches boast Riches the very Dregs of the Creation A naughty thing that never came in fashion Until true Virtue become Poor and Old What She before did give was basely sold As yet it is for Money Riches O The Bane of Mankind from whose Spring do flow Torrents of Falshoods Jealousies and Feares Riches a lean dry Nurse of Anxious Cares A Food on which we feed with great delyte Yet ne'r allays our ravenous appetite Mans Life-race running in a crooked Line A dash which spoil'd the' original design Of his Integrity a thing which all Who hugg it here themselves do even call Th' abstract of Madness when Eternity Appears at hand and they begin to dye For O what help can Riches then afford To their deluded Owners in a word No Man of Judgment should of Riches boast For when as mine they are entirely lost Then they appear to have been very Dreams Which none but he who softly sleeps esteems And then there 's Honour too that taudry thing Of which poor Mortals make such reckoning Why I had that as much as I desir'd And to no higher Honours I aspir'd But now all 's lost Riches and Honours too Have all abandon'd their old Master now Then what is this same Idol of which most Of its proud Owners insolently boast What is it pray a meer Device of Men T' abuse the World and shiftingly maintain The Reputation of a Bankrupt Race Which long ago was forfeit in the Case Of the first cadet when Fraternal Tyes Could not obstruct Friends being Enemies For a small triffle though the World was then But Tripartite and those unhappy Men Had Elbow-room enough yet was it State First troubled under that Triumvirate And then our Native Honour Truth and Faith Expired with the first expiring Breath Since then true Honours lost why should we cheat Our Reason with its silly counterfeit And fancy Titles Names and Dignities Can make the fallen Race of Mankind rise In Virtues Orb Why should we proudly boast We have a thing our Predecessours lost For to this day let us say what we can There 's neither Honour Faith nor Truth in Man Why since the substance then is gone alace Why should vain man its empty shadow chace It s empty shadow yes its meer reflex Which only when it shines a figure makes Though as an Evening shadow to the Eye Extends it self beyond the Symmetry Of what it follows so this flattering thing By poor deluded Mortals Reckoning Appears t' exceed the true Original Whilest really it is nothing at all And disappears with that same swiftness too As when the Sun sets all your shadows do Or if it something be at best I take it To be but what each Fools conceit doth make it For as we see how Hobby-horses please Some Children rattles others even so these Who court this honour are some pleas'd with that Which only is acquir'd by toile and sweat And venture boldly without fear or shame Only t' attain a military fame On Fire and Sword others themselves do please With what they can attain to with more ease And less expence so cunningly practise Mean snaking shifts and horrid villanies By which at length they climb to Dignities But as we see how those same very Boyes When come to years call those things childish toyes Which then they hugg'd so when a man attains To Grace and Knowledge Lord how he disdains Those painted Baubles which he formerly Esteem'd and thinks them now all vanity And yet both Riches and great Honours too To some as blessings God doth still allow When seasoned with Grace But nor my Honours nor my Riches pleas'd My mind so much nor was I so much eas'd In any thing as that my Family Seem'd to perpetuat my poor Memory And that I lost i' th twinkling of an Eye Lord what a folly then it is for men To Trust in things so perishing and vain As Children are a peice of Sophistry By which we 'd fain out-wit Mortality But to no purpose for do what we will Death is before hand with our projects still Things which to wish we pronely are inclin'd Though in them we but seldom comfort find Nay but that God after the first Creation Enjoyn'd the useful toile of Generation No wise man would such methods prosecute To bring himself in trouble and dispute With those of his own Loines and be in fears Of his own Children as they come to years Issue an Art by which we would create Our selves anew and so perpetuat Our Names on Earth nay at a huge expence We purchase too this inconvenience Whilst truth our Names and Memories are known Better by Characters in Brass or Stone When both our Race and our Estates are gone Riches and Honours then I did possess As Blessings and enjoyed domestick peace But above all my God was pleas'd t' allow Something of true Grace to my Spirit too That I might use them right so that of late In Birth in Parts in Honour and Estate If breathing man can have Felicity On this side Time why such a man was I. But now that thou art pleas'd Lord to divest Me of what but this morning I possest Assist me now now let that Grace appear Which thou allow'd'st me
to your half-dead Friend you threaten Death Your unkind words like Grins and Snares you lay By which your Friend you shrewdly may betray Now therefore pray at length impartially Look on me and consider whether I Have reason thus t' expresse my grief or no When I endure what none of you can know Assure your selves then I take no delight Thus to complain I am no Hypocrite As you pretend my sorrows are no less Then I esteem them nay could I expresse My inward griefs they 'r more in number sure Then mortal man did ever yet endure Forbear then pray at my desire forbear From such Discourse so rigid so severe As wound my Heart more than my Sorrows do With all my Plagues and Torments pray allow My grief some vent or as my present case is Should I be silent I should burst to pieces Have patience but a while and you shall see There 's no so great iniquity in me As you alleage when my survey is made And with my woes my words in Scales are laid Cap. VII THen what am I a man and what is he A breathing Bauble now pray let us see What is this man of what should he be proud What more than t' other Creatures is allow'd To this same taudry piece of Flesh and Bone This painted Glow-worm this Cameleon That casts it self in every Form and Shape And fain would something of its Maker Ape Is there not to this glorious Creature set A certain time his days are limitate As are those of a Hireling his abode Upon this Earth has its own period Beyond which no man of the greatest strength Can pass vain man must dye vain man at length Must drop into his Grave and there become The very Dross the Caput mortâ—um Of Lifes projection fitted for no use Yet is this all his labour doth produce Although he fancies to himself he may Exceed the reputation of Clay In high conceits and even seems to hold Within his Clutch whole Magazines of Gold Like one who in a Dream great Booties takes But finds himself deceiv'd when he awakes On what alace then should this silly Tool Value it self this Hypocondriackfooll For what should he himself so much esteem When all his Life is but a very Dream Have you not seen a Labourer all the day Long for the happy night wherein he may Refresh his wearied Bones and think the Sun Spite of him with too slow a pace doth run And with impatience doth his Task attend Longing to have his Labours at an end This is my very case for so have I Toil'd all the day long of my vanity And long'd extreemly for th'approach of night In which I pleas'd my self to think I might Enjoy some Rest but here the difference lay 'Twixt the Labourer and me the night and day To me were both alike no rest I found In either at no rate I could compound With sleep for one hour of its company But on my Bed I 'd sick and tossing lye With Eyes unclos'd and Spirit much perplex't Fainting with grief in Mind and Body vex't So runs my Time so do my Years advance I'have indeed had for Inheritance Long dayes of pain and months of vanity Which makes my Life a Scene of misery So soon as I my self compose to Rest Thinking to cach some slender Nap at least Before I shut up my o'rewearied Eyes Now I lye down but when shall I arise I say how shall I pass the tedious night When shall I see again the morning light The night I do by Moments Calculate And with impatience for the Morning wait With tossing too and fro upon my Bed My Body is sore pain'd and wearied My Body tortur'd with a strange Disease Wâ—ose fury no soft Ointments can appease What art to such as I am can bring ease My Flesh with Vermine is all overspread See how with Dust and Mud I 'm covered My Skin to pieces is all rent and torn Was ever man to such sad Judgements born My Pains and Torments are all visible With Ulcers I am become horrible My days do pass with more celerity Than Weavers Shuttle through the Web doth fly Amidst a thousand Sorrows Cares and Fears I spend some inconsiderable Years They flye they flye nothing in Earth or Air In swiftness can with humane years compare Out all sight they flye they flye amaine Never intending to return again Time turns its Hour-glass and ore'turns us all No Mortal Creature can its Time recal Consider then good Lord what thing I am And how I must return from whence I came In a few days my Life is but a blast And like a puff of Wind is quicklie past Then shall my Eyes with darkness black as night Be sealed up and to my earthly sight Nothing that 's pleasant shall again appear For what to me most precious was and dear I have alreadie lost and now remains What to preserve is hardlie worth my pains For why alace should such a one as I Desire to live in pain and misery Of which I cann't be free unless I dye In a short time for which I do implore Th' Eye that hath seen me shall see me no more Thy Eyes O Lord are on me and annon Shal't strike me dead and so I shall be gone I shall no longer in this state remain For Death shall put an end to all my pain As Clouds do quickly vanish into Air And in full Bodies do no more appear So he that once goes down to silent Grave To Life again shall no more access have Shall not return unto his dwelling place For even his Servants who ador'd his Face To whom on Life his presence was most dear If after Death to them he shall appear His gastlie looks will make them quicklie run Nor can these very underlings be won With their old Friend and Master to converse By all the Rhetorick of the Universe Though all such apparitions as these Are but meer phantasms and delude our Eyes With empty Shadows of composed Air But the True Body never doth appear That rests in Grave and shall not rise before The Fabrick of this Earth shall be no more Then since no other lenitive can be found T' allay my grief ere I go under ground But only words by which I may express Those inward ills that do my Soul oppress I will not spare my mouth but openly Unto my ever-living God I 'le cry I 'le speak as one in Spirit sore perplex't As one with Plagues and Torments shrewdly vex't I 'le speake I 'le speak I will not hold my Tongue But roar out my oppressions all day long Lord I 'le say what am I an Ocean A Whale or any thing that 's more than man That to destroy me thou shouldst take such pains Whilst to undo all that of me remains Were but a small Task for a Gnat a Flee A Wasp a Hornet or a humble Bee
Why shouldst then be at so much pains good Lord To kill a thing which of its own accord Will quickly dye a thing that by thy Wrath As yet deny'd the liberty of Death Doth only some small sparks of Life retain And like a Dying Creature breaths with pain One entire Ulcer a meer lump of Boyls A heap of Sores one loaden with the Spoiles Of all Diseases one so fully spent In Body and in Mind so discontent No pleasure which the World affords can hire My Soul to Live pray let me now expire Or else I fear that through impatience Of my afflictions I may give offence For when I say my Couch shall me relieve And in my Bed I shall some comfort have When I imagine I may find some ease In-sleep to cull the edge of my Disease When I suppose I may find Consolation I' th' pleasure of a few hours Meditation And whilst on Pillow I my Head do lay To sleep away the sorrows of the day Then dost thou put my Soul all in a fright With fearful Dreams and Visions of the night In a cold sweat I lye my Flesh and Bones My Joints and Sinews tremble all at once Strugling with pain upon my Bed I rowl Whilst horrid Objects do night-mare my Soul And to my troubled fancie represent What neither Tongue can speak or hard can paint Hells Terrors plainlie are to me reveal'd Whilst with amusing sleep my Eyes are sealâ—d On which reflecting when I do awake Fear damps my Soul and makes my Body shake Hence Drowning Smothering Strangling of the Breath Or any of the numerous kinds of Death My Soul to Life prefers my generous Soul Abhorrs to live in such a lurking hole As is this body such a vile Hog-sty A Brutish Soul would even disdain to ly Within its Walls a Cottage so unclean So Cob web-furnish'd so obscure and mean As none but one of Life that 's wearyed In such a villanous Cave would lay his bed What Soul so poor and mean exceeding but The small Dimensions of a Hazel nut Would stoop so low as condescend to dwell In such an ugly smelling nasty Cell As is this body which I do call mine So thin the Sun doth clearly through it shine Is this a Lodging for a Thing Divine A tottering Fabrick which the rotten Bones Not able to support down all at once Will quickly fall is this a dwelling place For any thing come of a Heavenly Race No no fly hence my Soul fly hence make haste Why dost not fly for such a Noble Guest There 's here no room no fit Accomodation This body can afford no Habitation For such as thee Dear Soul O let me dy then let me dy good Lord O let me dy Death surely will afford Such comfort as I here expect in vain Why should I live then in such grievous pain And as a mark to all sad torments stand When pitying Death doth offer help at hand In this condition I do do life abhorr I baâ—e it and shall never love it more What should I for a few hours breathing give For 't is impossible I can longer live O spare me then for some small time at least That these o re wearyed bones may have some rest And in this life I may find ease before I take my Journey hence and be no more E're I be wrapp'd up in Eternity For all my days are but meer vanity Then what is Man that thou shouldst look upon him This wretched thing that thou shouldst so much own him Thou dost thy heart too much upon him set Which makes the silly Toad it self forget Valuing it self so much on thy esteem As it hath purchas'd to its self a name Beyond the other Creatures of thy hand Whereas if it it self did understand 'T is but as dust that 'fore the Wind doth fly A passing thought th' abstract of vanity Since thou canst then Lord by one word destroy This Creature why shouldst so much time employ In Torturing of it thus once and again And not by one blow put me out of pain One blow of favour Lord I do implore Kill me and then I shall complain no more But still I cannot fancy why shouldst thou Before whom all in Heavens and Earth do bow Have this same Creature Man in such esteem This flying Shade this passage of a Dream A thing so mean not worth thy Observation Why should'st allow it so much Reputation That thou the great Creator every day Shouldst of this pismire make so strict survey How long Lord shall I in these Torments lye â— Ah is there no end of my Misery Some respite Lord I beg I do request Some breathing time even so long time at least Free from these pains as I may swallow down My Spittle Oh good God let me alone But for a Moment that I may but try Thy goodness once again before I Dye Lord I have sinn'd 't is true I do confess My Error and my black unrighteousness What shall I do how shall I answer find To thee the great preserver of Mankind As worst of sinners Lord thou dost me treat For as my Sins so are my Judgements great Th' hast set me gainst thee as a Mark or Butt At which thy pointed Arrows thou dost shoot With Torments hast me so o'reloadened That long ago of Life I 'm wearied Why should thy wrath continually burn 'Gainst a poor sinner O let Grace return Pardon my sins wash from iniquity The Soul thou gavst me Lord before I dye Let me of Mercy hear the joyful sound For in an instant I shall not be found I dye I dye my Passing Bell doth Toul Have Mercy Lord have Mercy on my Soul Cap. VIII THus have we seen how Job with grief opprest By night and day has in his Mind no rest In this sad case with great impatience Appears to quarrel even Providence For those his Friends of whom he did expect Some Comfort rather sharplie did him check For th' Errors of his Life and openly Reprov'd him for his gross Hypocrisie We 've seen with how much Art and Eloquence One of his friends has given evidence Against him now another undertakes Th' argument and thus he answer makes How long sayes he friend wilt thou thus exclaim Against that justice which the Heavens did frame To what do all thy imprecations tend What means this clamour shall there be no end Of this thy idle talking shall we be Oblig'd to hear what none but such as thee Would stammer out what one in sober case Would be asham'd to speak such words as these Which thou in foolish passion hast us'd Against our God would hardly be excus'd Out of a mad-mans mouth but when they flow From such as thee friend whom we all do know To be of more than ordinary Sense We must condemn thy gross impatience Dost ' think that God whose great and mighty Name All things Created dayly do
forbear Thus to torment me lest in plaguing me These men conclude that all who honour thee Will be thus us'd O do not gratify Those bold professours of impiety In my so sad and grievous punishment But please good Lord to let thy wrath relent And from those cruel torments set me free That such as do contemn thy Laws may see How merciful a God thou art how just How kind to such as in thee place their trust But why should I presume thus to express What thou well know st and I at best but guess Thou who didst all things frame dost all things know Those hateful sinners will blaspheme thee so If thou continue thus to torture me Thus I suspect but thou dost plainly see Thy eyes O Lord are not of humane fashion Obnoxious in the least to fascination No no my God I know thy piercing eye Doth at one glance the whole Creation spy Its Horizon being sole ubiquity Nor are thy days O Lord like those of man So that we might thy time by numbers scane No Lord thy days surpass our admiration And scorn th' endeavours of our Computation For who will undertake to calculat That time which by no time is limitat That immense time whose vast extent doth lye Twixt the two Tropicks of Eternity Whose hours and minutes are innumerable As is its durance unimaginable I know good Lord no time can comprehend What no Beginning had and had no End Now since 't is so then let me understand What is the reason if I dare demand Why thou a God so high and excellent Dost take such pleasure in my punishment Why thou shouldst give such out let to thy wrath As to pursue thy servant to the death Why thou shouldst make such formal inquisition After my sins and call for exhibition Of all my hidden thoughts as if thou meant By such harsh dealing to make evident Thy hatred to thy Creature and proclaim To all the World what I conceal for shame Thy torturing me thus doth plainly speak The language of a hot inveterat picque From thee such usage is not ordinar For thou' rt not subject as we poor Mortals are To passion and revenge then let me know what have I done that thou shouldst bait me so What have I to thy anger contribute That with such hatred thou shouldst prosecute The reliques of a man the vanity Of Life the ruins of Mortalitie Ah Lord however I have sinn'd before Yet now thou seest I can do so no more For thou dost keep me in an Iron Cage In which I wast the gleanings of my age In sad reflections on my by past times Calling to mind a thousand horrid Crimes I have committed for which constantly I beg for mercy from thy Majesty But now although I would I cann't do ill My Soul thou so with bitterness dost fill No power of sinning doth with me remain Unless thou judge it sinful to complain And if complaints be sinful then alace No humane language can my sins expresse I am indeed most guilty of that sin For in this moment I do but begin My sore complaint Nay though I cry in vain And though I to no purpose do complain Yet can I not forbear to give some vent To that huge grief which doth my Soul torment Ah Lord didst thou not frame me didst not thou To me at Birth a humane shape allow Didst thou not mould and fashion me around Of many simples didst not me compound And wilt thou now this goodly frame destroy In whose Composing thou didst Art employ Wilt thou this thing by second operation Reduce to th' state of primitive Creation And end thy Labours in annihilation Remember Lord how thou of clay didst frame This Figure to which thou didst give the Name Of Body breath'd upon 't and made it live Then to 't a certain lease of Life didst give Thou taught it how to think to speak and act And entered with this Creature in Contract By which thou didst engage it to maintain And wilt thou now unravel all again Didst thou not pour me out like Milk and lay My first foundation in a drop of Whay Which in warm Vessels kindly entertain'd For some small time a liquid thing remain'd Then from the serous matter separate In a most ball it did coagulate of such a form as on the Cruds would squeeze Into the globous figure of a Cheese Then didst thou by an Art inimitable Translate me from a simple vegetable Into a well compacted sensitive And from that hour appointedst me to live With Bones and Sinews then thou didst me knit And wrapp'd me in a Damask Coverlet Of Nerves and Muscles and though yet a Brute Thou cloathedst me in a most goodly Sute Of Ivory Skin a Suite accommodate For every Season every Rank and State When thou had thus apparell'd me and I Now entered junior of Mortality Then I begun to rouze and stir apace And with my Sense my Hunger did increase I call'd for Food which thou didst soon prepare And furnish'd me though a close prisoner In the dark Womb yet didst thou every day By secret Canals to my mouth convey Fresh Victâ—als in good case then after all Was 't please t'infuse the spirits animal And I became a creature rational Thus having past my course of Generation Each hour I waited for a fair occasion To launch out in the Worlds great Ocean And enter my Apprentisage to Man After nine Months imprisonment at length Having obtain'd some tolerable strength At a Spring-tide of humours I set out Of th' Harbour of the Womb with such a shout With such a dreadful Peal of Groans with such Hard tugging sweating wrestling and so much Sad labour toile and crying out for all Who see me launching still more hands did call As I begun of passage to despair And hadst not thou my God of me tane care For all my strength I ne're had pass'd the Bar. But after all this labour toile and sweat By which I was almost exanimate After with main force I had wrestled out And now amaz'd begun to stare about And view this New found-world which to that hour I ne're had heard of nor e're seen before Then thou by instinct mad'st me weep amain 'Cause all I view'd was transient and vain And wish that I were in the Womb again Yet since thou hadst ordain'd that I should live Thou in thy wisdom didst think fit to give Reason and Knowledge to me whereby I Might learn to live by learning first to dye Thou didst preserve me by thy Providence Thy Grace was to my Soul a strong defence 'Gainst all temptations thy Paternal care Did for my Body daily Food prepare To thee alone Lord th' hast oblig'd me so My Birth my Being all that 's good I owe But what needs further Lord I do confess I owe more to thee then I can express For reckoning all my Life-time o're and o're I find I 'm in
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
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
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
not befallen him and not foolishlie Cry out as Job has done O Lord thou seest I 'me righteous pure and just and yet opprest By sad afflictions I am innocent My uprightneâ—s is clear and evident My life has still been spotless and unblam'd Yet without hearing I am now condemn'd O sayes he why should I my my self belie Why should I pass from my integritie For what has yet befall'n me no indeed Though I 'me condemn'd though I am punished Yet will I not for all that guilty plead Here lyes the matter then my friends see here See here how much the best of men may err Under sad Tryals how much those may fail Over whose patience Sorrows do prevail For pray now let me hear from such as you Who this wise man in dayes of plentie knew Who were intirelie with him then acquaint Before th' arrival of his punishment Tell me my friends did ever you expect So like a fool to hear this wise man speak Did ever man talk so ridiculouslie As he doth now of his integritie Did ever man of Knowledge Wit and Sense Insist so much upon his Innocence His Dove-like Innocence his Uprightness His pious Candour and his Righteousness When God in Justice has thought fit to send Afflictions on him as if he 'd defend Himself by such weak Arguments as these Against the righteous God of Righteousness And flatly say that such a man as he An upright man a man from errors free A man in all his Life and Conversation So blameless as he ne'r would give Occasion By any crime to so much Provocation Of Divine Wrath that such a man as he Should feel the Wrath of God to that degree As if he were the most flagitious Most openly profane and vitious Of all the race of Sinners and repute Of all that live on Earth most dissolute That such as he should thus be punished Is a most strange Procedure and indeed In his opinion doth import no less Then if our God did favour Wickedness And most unjustly punish'd Righteousness Yes thus or to this purpose he has spoke Oftner then once as if he seem'd to mock Th' Almighty in his works of Providence And by his Logick would infer from thence That he who lives by rules of Piety Observes Gods Laws and studies zealously T' obtain his favour and the sinful Wretch Who vainly thinks himself without his reach And therefore scorns to call upon his Name But takes his pleasure without fear or shame Are all one on the matter and as well The one as th' other may his anger feel And suffer what he pleases to dispense This for his sin that for his innocence By an unguarded cast of Providence Yes to my knowledge thus I heard him speak Most frequently although I would not check His leud Discourse 'cause you had undertane By solid Reason to convince the man Of his Impiety but when I see You on the matter err'd as well as he Then would I fain ha' spoke but still did shun To tell my thoughts on 't until you had done But how can I from speaking now forbear When I do such unruly Language hear When I do hear a man so sinfully Assert forsooth his own Integrity By blaming of his Maker as if he To whom both this injurious man and we And all the mortal Stock of Mankind owe Our Life and Beeing did not fully know Each individual of his own Creation And did observe the Life and Conversation Of every man alive and so from thence Could freely judge with great convenience Both of mens Guilt and of their Innocence Could be unjust What man is he who this great God doth fear That can without some indignation hear Such scandalous Expressions at this rate Th' unwary man seems to homologate The Principles of the most leud profane Sensual livers and the worst of men For when he talk'd so oft how God did bless Those who contemn'd his Laws and did oppress His faithful Servants and did so complain Of his own sad Estate once and again And how that notwithstanding of his zeal And fear of God he was not used well Who would ha' thought but that he mean't from thence That seeing Piety could be no defence Against Gods Wrath it was not worth th' expence Of so much time and labour as some men Bestow upon it but was all in vain Strange language truly I beseech you then Who hear me now as wise and prudent men Did y'ever hear a godly man expresse His mind in such unlawful words as these Did y'ever hear a man for wit repute Above his neighbours so with God dispute O how I pity and would fain reclaim This good man from his errors though I blame Him not as you have done for horrid crimes Committed by him in his prosperous times For truth I think the man was always such As he doth now assert but that so much He now insists on his integrity As if that God had done him injury In thus afflicting of him is indeed Such an offence as cann't be suffered For God forbid that any of us here Or through the world who our great God do fear Should even but by a random supposition Imagine him to be in that condition As that he 's of injustice capable At any rate no this were palpable And down-right blasphemy pray God forbid That any man then should be so misled But even to rally in such words as these Were 't but to show his wit for I confesse Though I relate them on this sad occasion Meerly upon design of refutation Of his grosse errors yet when I do speak In such prohibit words my bones do shake For God's so far from doing injury To any man that he will gratefully Reward each mortal for his piety In his own time for when the day shall come In which all sinners shall receive their Doom Then will his kindnesse unto those appear Who live by rules of piety though here Such is their weakness and impatience Consulting only with despâ—nding sense They see not the design of Providence Nay I do lay this for a principle And firmly hold that 't is not possible For the great God of justice him from whom Both in times past and in all times to come All justice flowes let 's fancy what we can To be injust i' th' least to any man Besides how can we think that he whose power Did all things frame and governs to this hour All he has made so uncontrolably By rules of justice and pure equity Can be unjust then who is he so sick In his own judgement as dares contradict What he who is accountable to none In his eternal purpose will have done For mark me now if he who breath did give To any man by which he made him live Be pleas'd to reassume that breath again Which is his own why should a man complain Why should a man complain a living man Who
aspects of the Pleiades Who when the Sun in Taurus doth appear Calmly and gently usher in the year Or when the sullen barbarous Orion Attended by an host of storms leads on The dreadful Winter which o're runs you all And makes you with ingeminat groans recall Your ever kind but then far distant Sun To your assistance else you 're all undone With killing cold When this same Orion doth then appear In wasting terrour to shut up the year And bury all in Snow can'st thou restrain His violence and force him back again Can'st thou repell the fury of his Winds His Rains his Hail and Tempests of all kinds And make that ne're yet conquered Constellation Draw off his Troops with fear and consternation Can'st in his season bring out Mazzaroth That torrid Constellation of the South And make him in his Summer garb appear To celebrate the Solstice of the year Say canst thou make this Constellation shine This Canis major which beyond the Line Lyes quartered and from its pleasant seat Draws out but as a Sammer guard to wait Upon the motion of the glorious Sun What time he his three greatest heats doth run Can'st thou by Art a certain survey make Of all the Chambers in the Zodiack That spacious Colledge that magnificent And stately Inns of Court that eminent And princely Fabrick of great excellence Where the Twelve Signs do keep their residence And though they hold their chief Demeurage there Yet in their several Circuits appear The twelve conspicuous Judges of the Year Each Month by turns attended by no less Then the bright Sun himself with all his rays Who for the time keeps House with each of them Then what can'st say to this would thou reclaim Against this order or in spite decry This method can'st thou by authority Inhibite their procedure and allow No such Appartments but to one or two Of all the twelve Or can'st thou make the Sun per saltum pass Into the Rams head from the Ballances And baulking the five Melancholly Signs In which he rather looks a squint then shines Make him continue his warm influence In every corner of the Earth and thence By that new heretofore unknowen device Evite the trouble of the Winters Ice Canst make the Northern Stars live orderly And rule Arcturus with his Family Who in the Harvest season doth appear Attended with his great and little Bear And th' other Troops of the Septentrions Drawen out of all his Northern Garisons T' invest as 't were the year whilst Orion With the main body follows quickly on Canst make celestial bodies influence Bodies sublunary dost ' know from whence That rich but hidden Virtue doth proceed Which 'mongst you mortals strange effects doth breed Whilst some Diseases others Health afford Some fair and some foul weather in a word Each constellation in its aspect bears A consequence of either hopes or feares But not a cause for that to me alone Belongs which I communicate to none Whom I 've created for in sober sense These Stars have in themselves no influence On any thing but as determined By second Causes which are furnished By my appointment and the Subject Matter With which they meet Yet I know some of you sad Creatures too Pretend by study to demonstrare how All things are ordered in my Cabinet Ere they be brought to action and relate By knowledge of these Stars strange passages Of my designs long e're they came to pass Fools whence have you so good intelligence Of my intents and purposes from whence Have you this knowledge is it from the Stars D' ye think such mean things are my Counsellers That such as these forsooth should be acquaint With the deep Intrigues of my Government Presumptuous Mortals that you thus should dare To think you know what my intentions are When you own Reason fully may convince You of your folly for if even a Prince Of my creation that on Earth doth dwell And must make use of Council can so well Conceal his Secrets as what he intends Is neither knowen to Enemies nor Friends How think you then That I who use no Council in the least But that which doth reside within my breast Should of my Secrets take so little care As any thing in Heavens Earth Sea or Air Nay even my Angels who my Court attend Should e're discover what I do intend But from my Mouth yet from a silly Star With which you correspond of Peace and War Intended Famine Fire or Pestilence You Mortals have all your intelligence Would not you of that States-man make a sport Who from the Lacqueys of a Princes Court Pretended he did draw intelligence Of all his Cabin-councils and from thence Would take his measures pray what else are those With whom you correspond do you suppose That I make any other use of these But as of Grooms to carry Messages Nor is it lawful for you to erect Your Figures on Nativities and make From thence Conclusions or by Art to frame From the conjunctions of the Stars a Scheme O' th' life and death of any private man That lives on Earth a thing no mortal can With safety undertake or if he do Know all of you that I do not allow Such Practices for hidden things are knowen To me who am your Soveraign alone But things reveal'd to you are only showen The Knowledge then in which I do permit The wisest of you all to try your Wit Is to distinguish as these Stars appear The several times and seasons of the Year To know them all both fix'd and wanderers And gaze upon them as Astronomers To know besides their influences so As when 't is time to plant and when to sow When to set sail when to return again When to endure when to cast off your pain How in the darkest night your course to steer At Sea or Land when to hope when to fear When to rejoyce when sadly to Lament Especially when flaming Stars are sent As Heralds of my Wrath when to repent All this I do allow and you may pore Upon this Knowledge so far but no more For none of all these Stars can in the least Have influence on either man or beast As Causes but they only do appear As signs to show my actions every where Can'st thou by keeping coyl and noise below Perswade the Clouds to let their Vapours go And water all thy Sun-burn'd Grounds with Rain When they at any time of Drought complain Can'st thou by single lifting of thy hand Make all the Troops of Lightning understand Thy pleasure and appear at thy command All ready arm'd in order instantly And hotly forward in thy service cry Lord we are here let 's have thy orders now Pray what wouldst have thy Souldiers to do Give us the Word and Sign let 's understand Upon what Service thou would'st us command For here we 're ready as one man to act Whatever thou would'st have us undertake But all these things and
Cap. XLII THus the Almighty having openedâ— His Cabinet of Nature and display'd His glory by the works of his Creation And of them all made wholesome application To th' present state of this afflicted man Then Job with great submission began To answer and thus openly confesse Gods wisdom and his own great foolishnesse Now says he Lord I fully do believe Now as the light I clearly do perceive That thou thou art that God Omnipotent Who has his Throne above the Firmament Now I 'm convinc'd that never hithertoo I fully understood as I do now How great thou art although I fancyed I knew thee so well that I did not need Further instruction but now thou hast shown That I before this time have nothing known Of what I ought most to have studied And now my God I do confesse indeed That in my great impatience all this time I 've fouly err'd I do confess my crime Lord I knew nothing but I now do know That thou art he to whom all things below Do owe their Being that thy eye doth see Better then we our selves what ever we Do act or speak that every secret thought Lodg'd in our breasts before thy Bar is brought There try'd convict condemned or acquit As thou our Soveraign Judge think'st just and fit I know that all things are to thee reveal'd And nothing from thy eye can be conceal'd And where 's the man now where is that so wise And knowing thing that in his own vain eyes Appear'd in much esteem and thought he knew His Maker fully ah where is he now I am the man Lord I am he alace That did my thoughts in passion express Of thee below thy worth I am the man That of all mortals since the world began At thy just hands doth most deserve indeed For his miscarriage to be punished Nor can I from my passion draw excuse For my great errors for that were to use One crime to palliat another no I can make no excuse because I know To be in passion was it self a crime And so I have supported all this time One error with an other I am he Then that hath doubly sinn'd Lord do by me As thou thinks just I no more deprecate Thy wrath but in my present sad estate Am still content to live and patiently Endure it to the last extremity Without repining since thou hast decreed And by thy Providence so ordered That I should be afflicted for my sins I shall imagine that my woe begins Even from this instant and without all passion From this hour forward bear thy indignation Only I do demand the liberty To ask some questions of thy Majesty Not to debate for now I plainly see What 't is for frail man to contend with thee I ask then since I am convinced now Of my late errors Lord what shall I do To make attonement for my great offence What course of living shall I take from hence That into so great inconvenience I may not be by passion led again But may some favour at thy hands obtain Before this I have only heard by fame Of thy great actings and thy mighty name But now Lord with my eyes I thee behold These eyes have seen thee now I may be bold Since I have heard thee speak upon my case To say that I have seen thee face to face My self I therefore utterly abhore And on my Parts I will presume no more I 'll think I have known nothing all this while And at my own unknowing-knowledge smile I 'll think I now know more then e're I did Since thou in kindness hast discovered How little I in former times have known Of what I should have studied alone I thought indeed my knowledge had been such And by experience I had learn'd so much As I in excess not defect might err But now alace it fully doth appear That I knew nothing in regard of what From thy own mouth I 've been inform'd of late Now I 'm convinc'd that I have sinn'd from hence I 'le no more vainly plead my innocence But for my failings piously lament And of my errours from my heart repent Job thus accus'd convict and censured For his impatience God doth next proceed To show his three Friends wherein they had err'd Whilst they had stifly all along averr'd That Job was sinful because punished And so augmented not diminished The good mans sorrow which they should ha' done Had they been his true friends but they alone Appear to have accus'd him and in stead Of comforting him to have truly plead He was a man of so much wickedness As for his sins he had deserv'd no less Than what he suffer'd and with so much heat Upon that subject did with him debate As if they meant to make him desperate Now after all the Supream Judge thinks fit To show them likewise how upon their wit Indeed themselves they valued too much And out of humour more to be thought such Then for his glory they had argued Against their friend on that mistaken head Thus then to th'wise and learned Eliphaz Th' Almighty sharply did himself address I do perceive sayes he thou' rt one of those That do mistake my actings and suppose That my proceedings must be regulate By Humane Reason and accommodate To your capacity for you have said That in affliction one may plainly read His sin and my displeasure and that none But sinful and flagitious men alone Do in affliction tumble and from thence As you thought wisely with much eloquence Inferr'd that Job whom I long time have known To be upright and still for such do own Because afflicted of necessity Must be a man of great impiety Who taught you thus to speak who taught you so To argue as if you did fully know The method of my Government and were Of Council with me who taught you t'inferr Such positive conclusions as these From any unaffording premisses Of my proceedings who gave you commission To speak thus to a man in Jobs condition As if a man whom I had visit you Would in afflicting language visit too Know then I 'm angry with thee and thy friends Because you have so rashly spoke your minds Of my proceedings in the present case Of my good Servant Job For you have not talk'd of my Providence With that entire respect and deference As did become you nor have you at best In any of your reasonings express't Your selves like men of zeal and piety As Job has done but rather foolishly Maintain'd your own opinions right or wrong Against the suffering person all along Nay you pretended too you plead for me Whilst neither to the other two nor thee I ever gave commission so to do And therefore you have all three err'd but now That I intend to set my Servant free From his afflictions and let all men see That what this man has suffered was meant For tryal only not for punishment And make of him a