Paraphrase on the Book of Job, Chapter 39
CHAP. XXXIX.
1. DOth thine eye of providence1. Knowest thou the time when the wilde Goats of the rocke bring forth? or canst thou mark when the Hindes doe calve? over-looke and take care for the maintenance of each creature in it's kinde and species, reacheth it even to wild Goats which are out of any mans dominion, dwelling in unaccessible rockes, so that is it thou that makest them conceive and bring forth in their season; or doe the Hindes either, doe the like by thine ordination and vigilancy?
2. Hast thou appointed them the2. Canst thou number the moneths that they fulfill? or knowest thou the time when they bring forth? time they shall goe with young before they bring them forth, and when the time is fulfilled, is it by, or of thee they doe it?
3. Is it thou that hast given them3. They bow themselves, they bring forth their young ones, they cast out their sorrowes. the instinct to know the instant of production, and as wilde as they are, consideratly to goe about it in such a manner as may be most easefull to themselves, and least hurtfull to their offspring, by bowing their bodies the better to straine themselves, and dilate the passage, so they doe, and thereby deliver themselves of their young by this their naturall midwifery, and cast out that in a moment which hath been so long time burthensome to them.
4. And when their young ones are4. Their young ones are in good liking, they grow up with corne: they goe forth and returne not unto them. brought forth, they appeare in good plight, by natures nourishing and caring for them in the mothers belly, and after that, they thrive and come on as well as if they were fed with corne: They leave their dams betime, and yet by natures instinct, shift well enough for themselves.
5. Who is it that hath ordained5. Who hath sent out the wilde asse free? or who hath loosed the bands of the wild Asse? creatures as well wilde as tame, who but I have naturally set the wilde Asse at liberty, and made him untameable to any mans yoake?
6. Appointing him the vast and desart6. Whose house I have made the wildernesse, and the barren land his dwellings. wildernesse to inhabit in, where he rangeth without subjection or controll of any, and by my constitution chooseth of his owne instinct to abide and feed most upon the very worst soile, whereas other creatures desire the best.
7. He knowes no obedience to any,7. Hee scorneth the multitude of the City, neither regardeth hee the crying of the driver. but setteth light by all men, scorning to be subjected by how many or whomsoever, neither will hee be ruled as other beasts, to goe and come at the command and voice of the driver.
8. He is not inclosed within hedges8. The range of the mountains is his pasture, and hee searcheth after every greene thing. and pales like other cattell, but rangeth at large upon the high and great mountaines, where he feeds, and takes his liberty without restraint, to eate what ever likes him.
9. Canst thou get the Unicornes9. Will the Unicorne be willing to serve thee? or abide by thy crib? good will to come under thy yoake, and doe thy worke? or canst thou tame him like an Oxe, to be a domesticke beast, and at thy finding?
10. Canst thou tether or geere him10. Canst thou bind the Unicorne with his band in the furrow? or will hee harrow the valleyes after thee? like a horse, or will hee be brought to drive or lead at Plough or Harrow?
11. Because hee hath strength enough11. Wilt thou trust him because his strength is great, or wilt thou leave thy labour to him? to doe thee service (yea, more than those which doe) wilt thou therefore conclude he must and shall?
12. Wilt thou trust to his gentlenes12. Wilt thou beleeve him that he will bring home thy seed? and gather it into thy barne? to bring home thy corne, and to in thy harvest in stead of thy Oxe and Horse? if thou dost, thou wilt be deceived?
13. Gavest thou the Peacock that13. Gavest thou the goodly wings unto the Peacocks? or wings and feathers unto the Ostrich? glorious shew which hee makes when his taile is spread abroad like the wings of a bird in the aire, or didst thou bestow those beautifull feathers upon the Ostrich?
14. Which differs from all other14. Which leaveth her egges in the earth, and warmeth them in the dust. birds, for when shee layes, shee unnaturally abandoneth her egges and exposeth them above ground, onelyonly covering them with a little sand or dust to cause them keepe their naturall heate, in stead of hatching and hurkling them, and so leaves them to receive production from the Sunne.
15. Not heeding what may come15. And forgetteth that the foot may crush them, or that the wild beast may break them. of them, by exposing them in that manner to the casuall mishap either of man, or beast.
16. And when they are brought16 Shee is hardned against her young ones, as though they were not hers: her labour is in vaine without feare. forth shee is unnaturally strange to them, as though they belonged not to her to provide for: and so through her own carelesnes runnes hazard (but for mee) to lose all the labour which by natures providence shee had taken in ingendring, and laying them.
17. And why doth shee thus more17. Because God hath deprived her of wisdom, neither hath he imparted to her understanding. then others? but because God who hath given instinct of love and providence to other creatures hath denyed, and not imparted it to her, as to them?
18. When shee stretcheth up her18 What time shee lifteth up her selfe on high, shee scorneth the Horse, and his rider. selfe, and betakes her to her wings and feete (for she flies running, or runnes flying, not being able through bulke of body to sore aloft) shee cares not for her pursuer, scorning the swiftest horse-man should overtake her.
19. Hast thou put strength into the19. Hast thou given he Horse strength? hast thou clothed his neck with thunder? horse, hast thou armed him with force and power to beare downe all before him, and encounter his enemy with such a shock as if thunder had struck him?
20. Canst thou make him flinch20. Canst thou make him afraid as a Grashopper? the glory of his nostrils is terrible. thee as a Grashopper? noe, hee is anothergates creature. The disdainfull snortings which hee sends out of his nostrils in his pride, and courage are terrifying.
21. He paweth up the earth in the21. He paweth in the valley, and rejoyceth in his strength: he goeth on to meete the armed men. place of battell through the impatiency of his spirit, and glorieth in his strength as unconquerable, fearelesly marching upon the dreadfull enemy.
22. Hee scornes to feare, nothing22. He mocketh at feare, and is not affrighted; neither turneth he back from the sword. can daunt him, the daring sword cannot make him turne taile.
23. The ratling of the Arrows, the23. The quiver ratleth against him, the glittering Speare, and the Shield. bright steel-headed Speare, or shining Shield appale not his spirit a whit.
24. In the imagination of his fancy24. He swalloweth the ground with fiercenesse and rage, neither beleeveth he that it is the sound of the Trumpet. he overturnes all before him, yea the very ground, he stands on, through his fierce desire, to be fighting he teareth it with his teeth, or gallops it amaine to bee at the enemy. Neither doth hee respect or conceive any terrour at the sound of their trumpet, which threatens the deadly onset, but in the height of his courage counts it as a whistle.
25. Deafing their noise, and proudly25. He saith among the Trumpets, Ha, ha; and he smelleth the battell a farre of, the thunder of the captaines, and the shouting? answering them in way of scorne and chalenge with his loud and daring neighings, his courage makes him quick sented, so that hee smells the battell, and snorts with a hasty desire to be at it, before it be, being provoked by the braving flourishes and tumultuous noise of the approaching Army, which he impatiently sees and heares.
26 Hast thou by thy wisedom taught26. Doth the Hawk flie by thy wisedome, and stretch her wings toward the South? the Hawke her dexterity in flight, and learned her by instinct to choose the warme Southern parts of the World to take to for the place of her prey, when cold weather comes.
27. Is it by thy or my power and ordinance,27. Doth the Eagle mount up at thy command, and make her nest on high? that the Eagle is so strong as to mount plum up (which no bird else can doe) to an infinit height, and that shee build her nest on high in unaccessible places.
28. She lives & breeds upon the rock,28. Shee dwelleth and abideth on the Rock, upon the crag of the Rock, and the strong place. upon the Crag of the Rock, which is so steepe and dangerous that noe man nor beast dare climbe it, and so strong that the Sea though with all its force it beate against it, cannot move it.
29. From whence shee goes farre29. From thence she seeketh the pray, and her eyes behold afarre off. to fetch her prey, and though her sharpe sightednesse can see it thence at a mighty distance.
30. Shee traines up her young ones30. Her young ones also suck up blood; and where the slaine are, there is she. to her owne trade feeding them with flesh, and acquainting them with the sweet of blood, and where the greatest slaughter is made, and most blood shed, there is the place of her delight, thither by a strange sagacity of nature shee resorteth, and carrieth her young ones with her.