Paraphrase on the Book of Job, Chapter 1
CHAP. I.
1 THere was a man whose1. There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Iob, and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evill. Story the Lord would have recorded for example, and believed for a truth; and therefore for further confirmation, know, that for the Country where he lived, it was the land of Uz, lying upon the borders of the Caldeans, Sabeans and Cananites; and for his name, it was Job, who was of the Posterity of Abraham by Keturah. This man was faithfull, believing in the promised Messiah, and sincere in heart, devoting himselfe to serve & please the Lord alwaies, in all things, and hee walked accordingly in his life and conversation, for fearing to offend him, he was therefore diligent, with care and circumspection to avoid all sin, and the occasions thereof in the time & place when and where he lived.
2. Upon which holy Man, God bestowed2. And there was born unto him seven Sonnes and three Daughters. a liberall portion of temporall blessings; and the better to illustrate the exemplarinesse of his vertue and patience, (when by the hand of God hee was quite strip'd naked of them all) know more particularly what they were. And first, he was the father of many godly children, in number seven sonnes and three daughters.
3. Secondly, he abounded in wealth,3. His substance also was seven thousand Sheepe, and three thousand Camells, and five hundred yoke of Oxen, and five hundred she-Asses, and a very great houshold; so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the East. having no lesse than seven thousand Sheepe, three thousand Camells, five hundred yoke of Oxen, five hundred she-Asses, and answerably enriched with servants, and all other accommodations; So that indeed there was none in all those Easterne parts where hee lived that went beyond him, or that was equall to him in temporall felicity.
4. And further, to adde to his happinesse,4. And his Sons went and feasted in their houses, every one his day, and sent and called for their three sisters, to eat and to drink with them. and to sweeten these blessings to him the more, hee saw the happy fruit of his vertuous care in educating his children by their mutuall love, so unanimously expressed in their orderly intercourse of friendly feasting and welcomming each one all the rest of his brethren at his owne house, being also ever mindfull to invite their three sisters, that so their number and amity might be complete.
5. And though this thing pleased5. And it was so, when the daies of their feasting were gone about, that Iob sent and sanctified them, and rose up earely in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sonnes have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Iob continually. Job, yet such was his religious care, that when their turnes of feasting were expired, he summoned them all joyntly, and made them solemnely to examine and prepare themselves, and then rising up early in the morning, hee being Father, and chiefe of the family, offered for every one of his children a burnt offering for (fearing God, and knowing the corruption of nature, and the temptation of such occasions) hee thought with himselfe; It may be, that my children in these their feastings, have fallen into some sinnes incident to such actions, and through overmuch sensuall liberty, may, perhaps, have forgotten their duty, and overseene themselves towards God, not bearing him that awfulnesse, nor rendring him the thankfulnesse due unto him. And this was Jobs constant custome, which hee never failed to perform so oft as their course of feasting gave him occasion.
6. Now, to come to the Story it6. Now there was a day, when the sonnes of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them. selfe, I must lead you into it by a borrowed allusion from the Kings and Princes of this world, for the helpe of our humane understandings. There was a time when God summoned his ministring Spirits, the holy Angells to appeare before him, who with a filiall readinesse presenting themselves to give their account, and to receive his cōmands for the service of his Church, Satan by the will of God came also among them to render his account, and to receive his charge, as also of his own will to espie advantages.
7. And yet further, to speake after7. And the Lord said unto Satan: Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, from going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and downe in it. the manner of men, for the better instructing us according to our capacities; God seeing Satan there among them, enters into speech with him, thereby to administer an occasion to manifest Jobs uprightnes, and to bring to passe his purpose concerning him. And in the first place hee askes him whence hee came, and from what doing, to give us to understand the Divells solicitousnesse from his owne reply; who answered, I come from off the earth, from my continuall imploiment of soliciting my cause and kingdome up and down every where among men by watching and taking the fittest opportunities to tempt and intrap them.
8. Why then, saies God, sure thou8. And the Lord said unto Satan, hast thou considered my servant Iob, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evill? canst not choose but have taken speciall notice of Job the Uzzite, to be my servant in an extraordinary manner, so as there is not the like to him upon the whole earth for a faithfull and upright-hearted man, that truely reverenceth and feares mee, and is carefull to doe nothing that shall offend mee.
9. 'Tis true, saies Satan, I know him9. Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, Doth Iob feare God for nought? well, and that he makes a faire shew of honouring and serving thee, and no wonder, seeing he hath thriven so well by thee; but thou art mistaken in his uprightnesse: for it is not with a filiall but a mercenary feare that he regards thee, the better to compasse his owne ends.
10. For thou knowst, and so doth10. Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the worke of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. he too, full well, how thou hast hitherto incompassed him and all that is his, with thy protection, so that neither I, nor any could doe him any hurt whereby to try him, and thus thou continuest to doe still, neither is hee ignorant how it is thou that prosperest him, and makest him thrive in every thing he doth, and hast so wonderously enriched him above all that are neere him, and therefore no marvell if for such extraordinary favours hee (in this time of his prosperity and and plenty) seeme to doe thee extraordinary service, and to beare thee great good will.
11. But as hitherto thou hast imployed11. But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face. thy power to preserve him and to blesse him with such abundance, so now, doe but shew it in taking away that which thou hast given him, and then hee will quickly appeare another manner of man than thou takest him to be; for, in stead of honouring and reverencing thee in feare, thou shalt finde, that hee'll cast off all respect, and not sticke to blaspheme thee to thy face.
12 Well (saies God) that thou maist12. And the Lord said unto Satan, Behold, all that hee hath is in thy power, onelyonly upon himselfe put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the Lord. see that I am the searcher of hearts, and have said nothing of my servant Iob, but what I know to be true, take thy course, try him as thou hast desired, thou hast free leave to doe whatsoever thou wilt with all that is his, onelyonly I will restraine thee from harming his owne person. Whereupon Satan hasted to put in execution what God permitted him with the first opportunity.
13. And therefore watched his time13. And there was a day when his Sons and his Daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brothers house. when as Iobs children, according to their foresaid custome of love-feasts, were met together in their eldest brothers house, upon which opportunity he purposed to plant his maine battery for the gaining of his conquest, and therefore reserved it untill the last, making way thereto, by a methodicall discharge of lesser ordinance.
14. The first whereof is a messenger14. And there came a messenger unto Iob, and said, The Oxen were plowing, and the Asses feeding beside them. in all haste, bringing Job the sad newes of the losse of all his five hundred yoke of Oxen at once, with the hopes of all the next yeeres profits of their labours, and also of all his Asses.
15. By a violent surprisall of the15. And the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away, yea, they have slaine the servants with the edge of the sword, and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. Sabeans, who came and carried them quite away; and to make the matter worse to pitifull-hearted Job, he tells him they had also slaine all his servants that were at worke with them, save himselfe, and his escape was ordained, doubtlesse, only to the end he might bring him those heavie tidings of discomfort.
16. Secondly, to set home the sorrow16. While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God is falne from heaven, and hath burnd up the sheepe, and the servants, and consumed them, and I onelyonly am escaped alone to tell thee. of this message upon Iobs heart, so soone as ever hee had heard it, before he could bethinke himselfe, another in like hast bespeakes him with worse newes, and said, There fell fire from heaven, no doubt, by the immediate hand of God, and hath most strangely and suddenly burnd up and utterly consumed all thy seven thousand sheepe at once, and hath devoured also thy very servants that tended them: OnelyOnly I am escaped to the end, it seemes, that I should bring thee this evill newes.
17. Lest hee should have any thing17. While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said The Caldeans made out three bands, and fell upon the Camells, and have carried them away, yea and slaine the servants with the edge of the sword, and I onelyonly am escaped alone to tell thee. left to sustaine him in hope, and to ease his griefe; Satan dispatcheth a third messenger, contriving him to arive in the very nicke of opportunity for the enforcing of Iobs misery, and provoking him thereby to impatiency against God, by telling him all in haste; by that time hee had well heard out the other. How that the Caldeans came with no lesse than three bands of men, and fell furiously upon the Camells, and the men that kept them; so that they have driven away the Camells, and killed all the servants to boote, saving my selfe, who, it seemes, had my life given me by a speciall providence, to bring thee the newes.
18. And just as hee had finished his18. While he was yet speaking, there came also another and said, Thy sonnes and thy daughters were eating & drinking wine in their eldest brothers house. tale, comes there yet another messenger, by whom Satan was confident, (having thus contrived and managed his foregoing temptations) to worke his will upon Iob. And hee tells him, That his sonnes and his daughters fearing nothing, were feasting & making merry, in their eldest brothers house.
19. And unexpectedly, npon a sudden,19. And behold, there came a great wind from the wildernes, and smote the foure corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead, and I onelyonly am escaped alone to tell thee. there blew a mighty wind fromward the wildernesse, and in a moment overthrew all the house upon the yong men thy sons, and they are every one slain, only I have escaped, I know not how, but it seemes miraculously, to bring thee these wofull tydings.
20. Whereat Iob, who had abid and20. Then Iob arose and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, sate out all the rest, now arose, and in the griefe, but not impatiency of his heart, he rent his garment, and in token of sorrow, after the custome of those countries hee shaved his head, and after that he prostrated himselfe upon the ground in reverence to the Majesty of God, and in stead of repining, humbly worshipped the Lord,
21. Saying, I brought none of all21. And said, naked came I out of my mothers wombe, and naked shall I return thither; the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away, blessed be the name of the Lord. these I have lost, into the world with me, but came as naked into it, as other men, and so whensoever my time had come must have gone out of it: It is onelyonly the Lord, that of his free goodnesse and bounty, hath both given and hitherto sustained all these to me, and so it is the same Lord, that according to his good pleasure, hath taken them from mee, for they were his; so farre be it from me therfore to repine thereat as that I adore and magnifie his name therefore, acknowleding him to be both just and good in all his waies.
22. Now therefore, in all that passed22. In all this Iob sinned not, nor charged God foolishly. hitherto, in despite of Satan, Iob sinned not, nor for all these sufferings and temptations could Satan prevaile with him so farre to forget himselfe toward God, as to utter a misbelieving word against him.