for an Hypocrite and a Belialist Some render it O that thou wouldest slay them in as much as they hate mee for my zeal and forwardness to turn the wheel of Justice over them and to give them their due and condign punishment for for mine own part I cannot abide them but bid them Avaunt with Depart from mee yee bloody men Yee that dare to destroy so goodly a peece of Gods handy work as man is above described to bee See Gen. 9.6 Or yee that seek to double undo mee first by detraction and then by deadly practice See Ezek. 22.9 In thee are men that carry tales to shed blood Vers 20 For they speak against thee wickedly Inasmuch as they speak against mee Tua causa erit mea caâ—sa said Charles the fifth Emperour to Jutius Pflugiâ—â— who complained hee had been wronged by the Duke of Saxoâ—y so saith God to every David This Luther knew and therefore wrot thus to Melancthon Causa ut sit magna magnus est actor auctor ejus neque enim nostra est The cause is Christs and hee will see to it and us Moses told the people that their murmurings were not against him but against the Lord Exod. 16.8 As unskilfull hunters shooting at wild beasts kill a man sometimes so whilst men shoot at Christians they hit Christ And thine enemies take thy name in vain Whilst they would despoil thee oâ— thine omnipresence omnipotence c. casting thee into a dishonourable mould as it were and having base and bald conceits and speeches of thee and thine Kimchi interpreteth it of Hereticks those false friends but true enemies to God of whom they make great boasts as did the Gnosticks Manichees Novatians and alate the Swenkfeldians who stiled themselves the Confessours of the Glory of Christ and many of our modern Sectaries Vers 21 Do not I hate them O Lord And therefore hate them because they hate thee This the Hebrews understand of Hereticks and Apostates See a like zeal in that Angel of Ephesus Rev. 2.2 And am not I grieved Or irked made ready to vomit at as at some loathsome spectacle fretted vext Vers 22 I hate them with a perfect batred That is unfeignedly and with a round heart saith one for this only cause that they are workers of iniquity It was said of Antony hee hated a Tyrant not Tyranny and of Craessus hee hated a covetous man not covetousness It may as truly bee said of an Hypocrite Hee hates sinners not sins these hee nourisheth those hee censureth David was none such and yet as something mistrusting his own heart hee thinks good to adde Vers 23 Search mee O God and know my heart Look into every corner and cranny and see whether it bee not so as I say viz. that I hate wicked men meerly for their wickedness and for no self-respect have I thus cast down the gauntlet of defiance unto them and bidden them battel Wee should not rest saith a Reverend man in our hearts voice nor accept its deceitfull applause But as once Joshuah seeing the Angel examined him Art thou 〈◊〉 out side or on the adversaries so should wee deal in this case yea beg of God to do it for us and do it thoroughly as here this is a sure sign of 〈◊〉 void of all 〈◊〉 Vers 24 And see if there bee any wicked way in mee Heb. Any way of pain 〈◊〉 of grief or of 〈◊〉 any course of sin that is grievous to God or man Quae spirâ—â—â—â— tuum veâ—â—t â—â— Psal 7â— Aboâ—â— Ezra A Saint alloweth not of any wickedness walloweth not in it maketh it not histrade is not transformed into sins image his 〈…〉 but as in right â—ine or Honie it is continually cast out The good heart admitteth not the 〈…〉 any sin Sin may cleave to it as dross to silver but it entreth not into the frame and constitution it is not weaved into the texture of a good mans heart there is no such way of wickedness to bee found in him no such evill heart of unbelief as to depart away from the living God Heb. 3.12 There is no time wherein hee cannot say as 〈◊〉 1â— â—â— Pray for us for wee trust wee have a good conscience in all things willing to please God And lead mee in the way everlasting Heb. In the way of eternity or of antiquity that good old way Jer. 6.16 traced by Adam Abraham Moses c. and that leadeth to Heaven Rid my heart of those remnants of Hypocrisie and help mee to perfect 〈◊〉 in the fear of God â— Cor. 7.1 PSAL. CXL VErs 1 Deliver mee O Lord from the evill man Made of malice in which is steeped the venom of all vices Preserve mee from the violent man Man of violences who vulture-like Levit. 11.10 liveth by rapine Such were Saul and his Sycophants Vers 2 Which imagine mischiefs in their heart Where the Devil worketh night and day as a mintman as a Smith in his forge or an Artificer in his shop A godly man is said to have right thoughts Prov. 12.5 and that his desires are only good chap. 11.23 An evill man is called a man of wicked devices Prov. 12.2 14 17. being ingeniose nequam wittily wicked as it was once said of C. Curio the Roman Lawyer They are gathered together for war Heb. They gather wars as Serpents gather poison to vomit out at others Coaceruant praelia q. d. sunt tanquam tube belli Vers 3 They have sharpened their tongues like a Serpent Which by reason of his sharp tongue striketh more deeply Adders poison Venenum Payados R. Solomon readeth Spiders poison others Aspes Vipers Malice turneth men into Serpents saith Chrysostom Vers 4 Keep mee Who am thus sought and set for but thou canst rescue mee To over-throw my goings Pracipitare to hurl mee down head-long Vers 5 The proud have hid a snare c. They are restless to ruine mee adding all kind of craft to their cruelty Vers 6 I said unto the Lord Danger drove David home to God as bug bears do little Children to their Parents Vers 7 In the day of battel Heb. Of armour for battel David never had any with Saul but declined it Vers 8 Grant not O Lord c. For if they should bee 〈◊〉 competes Masters of their desires they would bee intolerably insolent so as to say Our high hand and not the Lord hath done all this Deut. 32.27 Vers 9 As for the head The chieftain the ring-leader Dâ—â—g or Saul himself Or thus Let mischief cover the heads of my besiegerâ— Let it fall upon their pates as Psal 7. Similitude est a sacreficiis 〈…〉 execrabantur Vers 10. Let burning coals fall upon them Conflagrant 〈…〉 Haec 〈◊〉 vâ—ta quam vaticinia Vers 11 Let not an evil-speaker Heb. A man of tongue whereof Peraldus reckoneth up four and twenty severall 〈◊〉 A world of wickedness St. James calleth it chap. 3. Evil shall 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 man The Angel of death
with crest and breast whatsoever stands in the way of their sinful lusts What a shame is it then for Saints not to be zealous of good works valiant for the truth and violent for the Kingdom And the decree was given in Shushan the Palace Pependit saith the Vulgar it hung up upon the posts to be read of all the King not shaming to have his privities seen as the phrase is Ezra 4.14 to traduce himself as it were in a publike theatre for a foolish and oppressive Princeâ— neither caring what might be the evil consequents thereof so that he may satisfie his own lust and gratifie his minion And the King and Haman sate down to drink So to drown the noise of conscience if not altogether dead and dedolent and so to nourish their hearts as in a day of slaughter Thus Josephs brethren when they had cast him into the pit sate down to eat bread Gen. 37.25 when it had been fitter for them to have wept for their wickednesse So did the Israelites when they had made them a golden calfe Exod. 32.6 Mat. 14. Herod feasteth when he had cast the Baptist into prison The Antichristian rout revel and riot when they had slain the two witnesses Rev. 11. The Pope proclaimed a Jubilee upon the Parisian Massacre The King of France swore that he never smelled any thing more sweet then the Admirals carcasse when it stank with long lying As for his head Epit. Hist Gallic speed he sent it for a present to the Queen-mother And she balming it sent it to her holy Father the Pope for an assurance of the death of his most capital enemy Thuaâ—us writeth that the Pope caused that Massacre to be painted in his Palace Had the Powder-plot succeeded it should have been pourtrayed surely in his Chappel or Oratory Faux was to get into the fields to see the sport for they made no other reckoning but that all was their own No more did the King and Haman here and hence their jollity but it proved somewhat otherwise God oft suffereth his enemies to have the ball on the foot till they come to the very goale and yet then to make them to misse the game He loveth to make fooles of them to let them go to the utmost of their tedder and then to pull them back with shame to their task But the City Shushan was perplexed That is the Jewes that dwelt there together with the rest that loved them and wished well to them These wept saith the Vulgar Latine were in heavinesse say others they were intricated insnarled at their wits end so that they knew not what to do as the word here gâ—iâ—â—eth only their eyes were toward the hills from whence should come their help Their comfort was to consider that melior est tristitia iniqua patiemis quà m laetitia iniqua faelentes August Better is the perplexity of him that suffereth evil then the jollity of him that doth evil Deliverance would come they believed chap. 4.14 but whence they knew not Hard things may be mollified crooked things streightened Non omnium dierum sol occidit Whiles there is a Sun to set I will not despaire of a good issue as Queen Elizabeth said when she was most perplexed as being to be sent Prisoner to the Tower Engl. Elizâ— then the which never went any thing nearer to her heart CHAP. IV. Verse 1. When Mordecai perceived all that was done 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saith Josephus when he had learned or fully informed himself Jadang so that he knew it to be so as the Hebrew text hath it Sollicitous he was of the Churches welfare and sat listening as Eli did once what would become of the Ark. 1 Sam. 3.13 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Now therefore as ill newes is swift of foot saith Sophocles and comes like ill weather before it be sent for Mordecai taketh knowledge of that bloody decree though Esther and those about her had not heard of it ver 4 5. Neither sitteth he still at home as desponding and despairing or seeketh by sinister practices to help himself and his people but applieth himself First to God by hearty humiliation and prayer And then to the King by the intercession of Esther A carnal heart would have taken other shifting courses like as a dog that hath lost his Master will follow after any other for relief Mordecai rent his clothes To shew that his very heart was rent with sorrow for Sion This custome of renting their clothes in time and in token of greatest grief was in use not among the Jews only but Persians also and other Nations Herod l. 3. 9. Curt. l. 3 4. 11. as is noted by Herodotus and Curtius And put on sackcloth The courseft clothing he could get as holding any clothes too good for so vile a caitiâ—â— and shewing that but for shame he would have worn none So the Ninivites sat in sackcloth and ashes for more humiliation See Exod. 33.4 c. And 〈◊〉 He put on ashes or dust that is a dusty garment sprinkled with ashes saith 〈…〉 his mouth in the dust as Lâ—â— 3.20 acknowledging himself to be of the earth earthy and fit fuel for hell fire Nonè 〈…〉 è terra desumptum pulrerem notar Merlin And went out into the midst of the City That he might be a pattern to others Si vis me flere c. And cried with a loud and bitter cry More â—arâ—arico after the manner of that countrey but there was more in it then so It was not his own danger that so much affected him how gladly could he have wished with Ambrose that God would please to turn all the adversaries from the Church upon himselfe and let them satisfie their thirst with his blood as that so many innocent people should perish This made him lift up his voice unto God on High On 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Joseph Verse 2. And 〈◊〉 even before the Kings gate Which should have been alwayes open to poor Petitioners as the gate of the Romane Aedilis was but was now shut against such Mourners as Mordecai A night-cap was an ill sight at Court Jolly spirits cannot endure sadnesse so great enemies they are to it that they banish all seriousnesse like as the Nicopolites so hated the braying of an Asse that for that cause they would not abide to heare the sound of a trumpet For none might enter into the Kings gate clothed with sackcloth Behold they that weare softs are in Kings houses Mat. 11.8 and those that are altogether set upon the merry pin Jannes and Jambres those Juglers are gracious with Pharaoh when Moses and Aaron are frown'd upon Baals Prophets are fed at Jezabels Table when Elias is almost pined in the desert 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mat. 14.6 The dancing Damosel trippeth on the toe and triumpheth in Herods Hall when the rough-coated Baptist lieth in cold irons and Christs company there is neither
besides was smitten with fore boiles as hoping haply he would have cursed God therewith Only upon himself put not forth thy hand Meddle not with his outward or inward man He would fain have been doing with both and had done it now but for this mercifull restriction which to the divel was no doubt a very great vexation But how could he help it otherwise then as horses digest their choler by biting on the bridle The will of the Lord must stand and Job though he shall have his back-burden of crosses of all kinds yet they shall not be laid upon him all at once but piece-meal Acts and Mon. fol. 1579. and at several times Fidelis est Deus saith the Apostle and Father Latimer died in the flames with those sweet words in his mouth God is faithfull who will not suffer us to be tempted above that we are able c. but will surely proportion the burden to the back and the stroke to the strength of them that shall beare it See his gracious dealings with the Apostles at their first setting forth into the world and how by degrees he inured them to bear the Crosse of Christ Acts 2. 4. 5. 12. So Satan went forth from the presence of the Lord As thinking every houre two till he had sped his commission the divel descended like lightning upon the earth to search occasions to ruine Job and to triumph over his patience to touch all that he had and to touch him to the very quick This diligence of the divel in evil-doing how happy were it saith Mr. Beza if we could imitate in doing well But behold whilest Christs enemies watch and in the night set themselves in readinesse to take him his chief disciples do not only snort and sleep but cannot so much as be awaked in the garden Verse 13. And there was a day A dismal day it proved to Job a day of trouble and distresse a day of wastnesse and desolation a day of darknesse and gloominesse a day of clouds and thick darknesse as Zeph. 1.15 That subtle serpent set upon mischief purposely picketh out such a time to do it as wherein such a sad and sudden change was least of all looked for and then laies on amaine as if he were wood with the hail-shot hell-shot of sharpest afflictions He knowes well that as mercies and deliverances the more unexpected they are the more welcome as Abrahams receiving his son Isaac after a sort from the dead Israels eduction out of Egypt when they were forsaken of their hopes Jonah his being drawn out of the belly of hell as he phraseth it chap. 2.2 so crosses the more suddenly they befall men the more they amate them and finding weak minds secure they make them miserable leave them desperate When his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine Wherewith if their hearts were overcharged and what more easie the divel foiled our first parents by inordnate appetite and finding it then so successfull a weapon he maketh use of it still that day might come upon them unawares Luke 21.34 That was Satans drift surely however it fell out and so to destroy body and soul together But it is to be hoped that he was disappointed of his aime and that death was sent in hast to Jobs children as an invitant to a better feast and that they might do as our Saviour did who being at a feast at Bethany fell into a meditation and discourse of his death and bâ—â—â—al John 12.7 8. Sure it is that although the wicked may die firming and shall die in their sins John 5.21 and so be killed with death as Jezebels children were Rev. 2.23 Yet Gods children shall not dye before their time Eccles 7.17 or till the best time till their work is done Revel 11.7 No malice of man or divel can antedate my end a minute saith one whilest my master both work for me to do It is the happinesse of a Saint that he is sure not to die till that time when if he were but rightly informed he would even desire to die Happy is he that after due preparation is passed through the gates of death ere he be aware as Jobs children were Verse 14. And there came a messenger A sad relater not a divel in the shape of a man as the Rabbines would have it let that passe for a Jewish fable but one of Jobs own servants or some other eye-witnesse to make Job believe belike that as an evill man he only sought rebellion sith such cruel messengers were sent against him Prov. 17.11 The oxen were plowing and the asses feeding c. i.e. We were none of us either idle or ill-occupied but taking pains and tending our cattle when this disaster befell us Fools because of their transgression and because of their iniquities are afflicted Psalm 107.17 they create themselves crosses such as must therefore needs come with a sting in them See Gen. 42.21 But Jobs servants were honestly employed when plundered and assassined which sheweth that his losses were not penall but probationall And the asses feeding beside them Peter Martyr upon the first of Samuel Com. in 1 Sam. 12. wittily applyeth this text to prelates and non-residents who when put in mind of their duty would usually answer that they had substitutes and curates to do their businesse for them Itâ— labor aliorum est proventus ipsorum So that others took the paines and they the profit saith he and as it is in the book of Job The axen plow and the asses feed beside them Verse 15. And the Sabeans fell upon them i.e. Sabai apud poetas molles vocantur but Satan set them a work Bâ—eerw Enquir 135. The Arabians a theevish people that lived by rapine and robbery They are at this day called Saracens of Sarac to rob for they keep up their old trade and are not all out so good as those Circassians a â—ind of mongrell-Christians who are said to divide their life betwixt sinne and devotion dedicating their youth to rapine and their old age to repentance Yea they have slain the servants Heb. The young men for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. 〈…〉 It was happy howsoever that they were taken away when in their lawful â—alling and about their honest employments Eliah chose to be taken in such a posture for he knew the very time and yet when the charriots of heaven came to fetch him up he was going and talking to his Scholar Elisha The busie attendance on our holy vocation is no lesse pleasing to God or safe for us to die upon then an immediate devotion Happy is that servant whom the Master when he cometh shall find so doing And I only am escaped alone to tell thee For no other cause escaped this one this single one but to adde to Jobs affliction There was no mercy in such a sparing It was that Job might have the ill newes brought him suddenly and certainly That old