Paraphrase on the Book of Job, Title page – To the reader
THE WHOLE BOOKE OF IOB PARAPHRASED, OR, Made easie for any to understand.
By GEORGE ABBOTT.
JAMES 5. 11.
You have heard of the patience of Job, and have seene the end of the Lord, that the Lord is very pitifull, and of tender mercy.
LONDON, Printed by Edward Griffin for Henry Overton, and are to be sold at his shop at the entrance into Popes-head-Alley, out of Lumbard-street, 1640.
TO HIS MVCH HONOVRED Father in Law, William Purefey of Calldecoate in Warwkickshire, ESQUIRE.
SIR,
THat I am yours, both you deserve it, and I publish it, and therefore for what is mine, whilest I have you for my Father, my thoughts shall not rove to seeke any other Patron, next under God, who, if hee have made mee an Instrument of any good upon so good a subject, I wish he may have the glory, and I the prayers of all that taste it.
Sir, I have heard you with serious desires, sometimes wish, that some would undertake the rendring of the Bible throughout, in an easie Paraphrase, after this manner. And might your wishes have effect, doubtlesse, it would prove a usefull worke, and serviceable to God, and to his Church; yea, (if my judgement faile me not) in the next place to the translation of the Scripture into our mother tongue; whereunto the Lord stirre up the hearts of those whom hee hath designed for so happy an imployment as is the holding forth of so great light, and facilitating of Scripture studies, to the filling of theHab. 2. 14. earth with knowledge, as waters cover the Sea.
Your ever obliged Sonne in Law, GEORGE ABBOTT.
TO THE READER.
THis Booke of Job in respect of the dialect of those times, being of quaint expressions, must needs be explained by other and more familiar language: and being also difficult in the coherence (which is very materiall) many texts or verses besides their proper senses must therefore in their explications carrie their dependant, and coherent meanings in them, else they cannot bee fully rendred, nor the discourse by its right joints and ligaments continued, and knit together; but must needs be imperfect, blind, and lame, which I have laboured the cure of, by perspicuity of phrase and dependance.
A Paraphrase (and not a commentarie) is the thing that I endeavour, which is a bare rendering of the sense plaine and easy, the better to enable the Reader to be a commentator to himselfe. And if any place seeme to beare another meaning then I have given it, know, that there goes more to the true stating of a text then an overly view or a present consideration of the sense it seemes to hold forth in the letter of it: some places require much peasing, and many candles to bee lighted at once in the minde of the expositour to give their true intended meaning, else hee may erre in benè divisis ad malè conjuncta, and cause a falling out of the text either with its coherence and scope, or else of one text with another.
The story is well known to be as principall a pillar to support a Christian in strong trials, by paterne and precept of faith and patience, as any the whole Bible affoords, and so I trust it may prove being well understood and applied to all such as read it with an heart to use it. Besides which there is excellent matter for other graces to worke upon, God being upon the occasion of their dispute admirably set forth with powerfull and spirituall elegancy, and man abased in like manner, which to a considerate humble-hearted Reader will administer sweet occasions of reducing his graces sutable to such subjects, by the assistance of the spirit, into fresh acts and lively motions; the way to evidence his truth, and to further their growth.
And, which I also desire the Reader to take prime notice of, he shal further see for his learning the strong consolation and undaunted courage that singlenesse and sincerity of heart (which in a word is, The animating and giving life to our dead works by doing them in conscience to God through faith and love) brings with it, even to the facing of God in an holy boldnesse (though through temptation Iob exceeded) by the faith of his Gospel, when he pleads against us his greatest severity, & highest Majesty, and to the outfacing of all besides God, men or devils.
Other flowers there are which a spirituall quick sensed Reader, will not lose the savour of, as he spends his time in this garden of God, whereto his spirit will guide him better then I can point him, and to which end I shall pray with theCant. 3. 16. spouse for the spouse. Awake ô Northwind, and come thou South, blow upon my Garden, that the spices thereof may flow forth.
Thine to his Talent in the service of Christ, GEORGE ABBOTT.