The Christian Exercise of Fasting, Chapter 1 · Verse 18-19
Verſ. 18.19.
And while he was yet ſpeaking,The 4. meſſage of Iobs calamitie and 4. racke which Sathan prepared for him. came another and ſayd, thy ſonnes and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldeſt brothers houſe, And behold there came a great winde, from beyond the wildernes, and ſmote the foure corners of the houſe, which fell vponupon the children, and they are dead, and J onelyonly am eſcaped alone to tell thee.
THe 18. verſe, as before verſ. 13. They banketted eueryevery one his day, verſ. 4. Now the day came by courſe to be the eldeſt ſonnes day, which peraduenture had more ſubſtance and wealth, and therefore better prouided for ſuch a feaſt then all the reſt could be.Synecdoche.
Drinking wine. That is, banketting together, a part of their banket for the whole. Wine was not then their ordinary drinke, no more then with vsus: but in feaſting, and meeting of friends, they drink wine for their comfort, &c.
There came a great wind. The diuel ſtirred vp a ſtrange tempeſt of winde againſt Iob. Wicked ſpirits are marueilous cunning to winde themſelues into all natural cauſes,The wicked ſpirits are very artificiall in all regions and partes of the aire, to ſtir vp meteors, and ſuch like imperfect bodies and to effect many things by them, as the Lord ſhal command or permit them. They work in the fierie region, and can ſtirre vp Comets and blaſing ſtarres there: they work in the watrie region, and can ſtirre vp lightnings & thunder there: and in the loweſt region, and can gather together the moyſt vapors and hot exhalations, and ſo temper them, that they may cauſe great windes and tempeſts, as the Lord ſhall permit them. Senec. natur. 7. lib. 5. cap. 1. Ventus eſſe fluens aer in vnam partem, &c. Like as the ſea flowes by ſome ſecret inſtinct of nature, ſo the ayre is purged by windes breeding of hot exhalations and colde vapours in ſome one parte, whence they are driuen alſo into that parte of the ayre which is emptieſt of all ſuch matter.
From beyond the wilderneſſe. That is, this winde had a fit place whence it might ruſh violently vponupon Iobs houſe, as in a champion and open countrie.
And ſmote the foure corners of the houſe. This is a ſtrange winde that can ſtrike foure corners of a houſe: for no ordinary windes can hurt,It is a ſtrange wynde that can ſtrike 4. corners of a houſe at one time. but that ſide of the houſe which hath an aſpect vntounto thoſe poynts and parts of the world where the winde is bred, and whence it bloweth. If from the South, the South part of the houſe is moſt battered: if from the North, the North part of the houſe is moſt indangered, &c. But this was ſuch a tempeſt as ouerturned the whole frame of the houſe in one inſtant.
Which fell vponupon the children. That is, all thy ſonnes and daughters banketting in the ſame houſe are dead, with the fall of that houſe vponupon them.
This plague came more neere Iobs heart, and was more grieuous then all the reſt.What circumſtances ſhew the greatnes of Iobs laſt calamitie. Sathan meanes now to diſpatch him, and vtterly to confound him. Circumſtances which ſhew the grieuouſnes and greatnes of this calamitie are theſe. Firſt the good father here hath no loſſe, as before of beaſts and mercenaries onelyonly, but now all his moſt deere and ſweete children are ſwept away from him, as it were, with one beeſome of deſtruction in one moment of time. Could Dauid ſo weepe for a curſed Abſalom,2. Sam. 18.53. how much more Iob for his religious and godly children? Could Iacob ſo heauily mourne for one good Ioſeph, and ſhall not Iob hauehave farre greater cauſe of lamentation for ten and for all? 2. This miſchiefe was ſudden and was ſtrange, and they were in their mirth, and thought little of ſorrow, much leſſe of any death at that time. This no doubt greatly grieued his heart that they were ſo ſtraungely in their mirth time deſtroyed: for this made the wicked ſpeake freely againſt him and his children. 3. This euent could no way be ſeene to fall out for any defect, want, or weakenes in the houſe, Iob was well aſſured, and therefore hee ſeeth herein a ſpeciall hande of GOD ſet againſt him. 4. Laſtly, the number muſt grieue him, all his children, all his good and faithfull ſeruants, foure only excepted.
Here may ſome queſtions be demanded.
1. Q. It may bee here demaunded firſt,1. Queſt. whether Sathan did not proceed beyond his commiſsion before mentioned, in murdering ſo many men, and ſo many children?
A. Children and ſeruants are a part of the father and maſters poſſeſsion and ſubſtance, and ſo hauehave been both by Gods law and mans law for many ages, Exod. 21.7. The Iewes might ſell their children, but not to bee perpetuall ſlaues or bondmen, as the Pagans: ſee Lèuit. 25.39.40. Deut. 15.12.
2. Q. This may alſo ſeeme hard and ſtraunge,2. Queſt. that the Lord to try one man, would ſo permit Sathan to trample vnderunder feete, and to deſtroy as brute beaſts the liues of ſo many men?
A. 1. Wee may neuer preſcribe vntounto the Lord, or circumſcribe him. 2. God is not moued hereunto, but of his owne free-will, and free motion,vox dei, ſit pro ratione voluntas. and his will is the rule of all iuſtice, other whiles ſecret, euer good and iuſt. 3. Of his owne free-will he doth the greater: Ergo, 1. Pet. 3.17. Pſal. 44. ver. vlt.much more the leſſe: of election and reprobation, the only will of God is the chiefe cauſe. And here the Apoſtle ſtops all mouthes of men with this ſentence:Rom. 9.15.20. O man who art thou that pleadeſt againſt God? ſhall the thing formed ſay to him that formed it, why haſt thou made me thus?3. Queſ.
3. Q. It may alſo bee here demaunded, whether theſe men thus deſtroyed by Sathan, were ſaued yea or no?
A. The rule of charitie muſt cauſe vsus to bee well perſwaded of this point, becauſe of their education vnderunder the gouernment of ſo religious and ſo faithfull a ſeruaunt vntounto God. And in the great deluge not eueryevery one drowned in the waters muſt be thought then to bee damned. And the like iudgement is there of millions of Gods faithfull people which periſh in warres, famine, and peſtilence. The world is readie to iudge moſt hardly of them vponupon whom ſome ſtrange iudgements fall, euen when themſelues bee greater ſinners, and without repentance like to fare worſe then they whome they iudge to bee in hell, Luk. 13.2. 3.4.5.
*In what maner Sathan proceeds by witches to deceiue vnbeleeuers. Mark here wiſely how the Lord doth open and diſcouer vntounto vsus that horrible myſtery of iniquitie which is in witchcraft.2. We learne here againe what power the wicked ſpirits hauehave, being let looſe againſt vsus, to ſtirre vp dangerous windes and tempeſtes. They are marueilous artificial and ſtrong to worke in the elements, and to breed meteors of all ſortes, and in all partes of the ayre. The common people ſay, being taught of witches (for Gods truth they know not) in great windes and tempeſtes, The deuils bee coniured, ſome wicked ſpirits are abroad. They ſpeake the truth but not truely, but wickedly and ſuperſtitiouſly, for then they vnderſtand all ſuch things fall out by meanes of witches and by vertue of their artes: whereas here you ſee the contrary, the Lord decrees and ſendes Sathan to worke all theſe things. So Sathan being ſent of *Tempeſts do much good in clenſing the aire, & much hurt by ſea and by land, for the Lord ſends Sathan in thē to chaſten his people and to plague his enemies.God (as here wee manifeſtly doe behold) perſwades firſt his witches, that he can ſtirre vp tempeſtes by ſea and by land of his owne abſolute power. And the witches they beleeue his lies and ſerue him in all his ceremonies. Secondly, the witches being firſt moſt be witched themſelues, they then perſwade vnbeleeuers alſo that theſe wicked ſpirites flie abroade by vertue of their inchauntments, coniurations, characters, &c. So the common people being beſotted and bewitched doe hunt after wizards, and ſome adore Sathan himſelfe as Saul hath done.
3. Now I truſt we be here ſufficiently inſtructed of the Lord how many ſeruants, how many organes and inſtruments, how many engines Sathan could ſtirre vp againſt vsus, and how manie waies deſtroy vsus,Mille artes, mille nocendi modos. if God gaue vsus ouer into his hands. All wicked ſinners vponupon earth, the Lordes greateſt enemies are greatly indebted and bound vntounto God for their preſeruation,What power Sathan hath to bring all men to death, & the wicked to hell in a moment, if God did permit him. for in one moment of time would Sathan bring them to hell, if the Lord did not reſtraine and cut ſhort the rage of wicked ſpirits: how much more the ſaints and faithfull people are bound to be thankfull, for againſt them all wicked ſpirits hauehave conſpired and vowed as it were their deſtruction. If the Sabees the firſt robbers had continued in all this worke, and in the laſt place had murdered all his children, the calamitie would not ſo neerely hauehave touched or amazed Iobs heart. But now when he ſeeth beſides theeues and robbers, a ſtrange fire and a fearefull tempeſt to ruſh altogether vponupon him, as from heauen, he muſt here thinke God hath decreed,Iob ſeeth as it were heauen & earth againſt him. men and Angels hauehave conſpired his deſtruction, and ſo no doubt be neere hand plunged in deſpaire.
1. Let vsus make good vſe of all Iobs temptations: for firſt God no doubt here meanes to ſeale and to confirme vntounto vsus all the promiſes of his prouidence and protection to all the faithfull,Make vſe of all Iobs temptations. giuing vsus the ſight and experience of them in one man, that we ſhould not doubt, but that he will bee as good as his worde vntounto all that doe beleeue in him.
Ob. But I am a fraile man, and can expect no ſuch things as Iob, &c. A. 1. All the holy ones had their infirmities and ſinnes in like manner, Abraham, Iſaac, Iacob, Dauid, and Iob himſelfe.
2. When God ſayd to Abraham, I wil be thy God, and the God of thy ſeede, &c. I will bee thy rocke, were theſe promiſes made vntounto 2. or 3. or vntounto the faithfull throughout all generations? No doubt to all, wherefore let vsus ſtriue by a liuely faith to apprehend them, and by continuall ſupplication vntounto the Father of lightes, (with whome there is no ſhadowe of chaunge) let vsus laboure to renue ſtrength againſt all newe and ſtrange temptations which ſhall come vponupon vsus in this life.Iam. 1.17.18.
*Whatſoeuer euils fall vponupon thee, whatſoeuer inſtrumēts riſe vp againſt thee, firſt looke vponupon Gods decree & prouidence, next fall downe and worſhippe. 2. Cor. 12.7. Pro. 24.10.Remember here how many waies Gods child may be beaten and buffeted of Sathan in this world, and that by a ſpeciall commiſſion from God, and yet bee as highly in Gods fauour as before. The Apoſtle Paul was no leſſe beloued of God when the meſſenger of Sathan was ſent to buffet him then before, nay he ſayth God ſent him for his good, &c.
3. Where Sathan is let looſe againſt thee to rob thee of Gods bleſſings, let it not amaze thee or confound thee, or cauſe thee to flie vntounto vnlawfull meanes diſtruſting the protection of the alwightie, but crie mightily vntounto God, vt ſupra.