Commentary on Ezra Nehemiah Ester Job and Psalms, Commentary 4 · Chapter 27
CHAP. XXVII. Verſe 1. Moreover Job continued his Parable, and ſaid]
IT was Zophars turn, and Job waited a while, as it was fit to ſee whether he, or any other of them would take up the bucklers again againſt him; which when they did not, (as hearing his high expreſſions concerning Gods Power and Providence, and haply having now a better opinion of him then before) he aſſwageth his grief by defending his innocency, and maintaining his opinion, in the five following Chapters. Here be is ſaid, after ſome r…ſpit, to e…aſſume his Parable; which hath its name in Hebrew from L…rding it, foreign Sermo figuratus princ…patum tenet, ac v…lut dominatur.and bearing ſway, becauſe allegories and figurative ſpeeches bear away the bell, as they ſay, from plainer Diſcourſes; are more gladly heard, or read, ſooner underſtood, and better remembred. The word rendred continued. is in the Original, added … lift up; importing either, that he ſpake now with a courage, as we ſay, and with a greater Emphaſis, as having ſilenced his adverſaries; or that he uttered himſelf in an higher ſtile, and his matter were Maſter-ſentences, Maxims Axio…, Speeches of ſpecial precellency and predominancy; ſuch as might well challenge a throne in the minds of all men.
Verſe 2. As God Liveth, who hath taken away my iudgement] Job well knew the Nature and end of an Oath, which is to put an end to all ſtrife and controverſie among …, Hab. 6.16. For more Authority ſake therefore to his enſuing Diſcourſe, as taking God to witneſſe in a matter of ſo great moment and that his friends might the better believe him, he doubteth not to begin his ſpeech with a private oath, (for a publick is that which is taken before a Magiſtrate, who upon juſt cauſe may exact it) which, ſo it be ſparingly and warily uſed, is not unlawful as appeareth by the example of Jacob and Laban, Boaz and Ruth, Jonathan and David, ſcil to help the truuth, in p…eſſi…y, and when the other party will not otherwiſe be ſatisfied. But what … to ſay, that the God, whom he ſo ſolemnly taketh to witneſſe, had taken … his judgment? Can the righteous Judge do otherwiſe then right? Or doth not the … know that he i… puniſhed leſſe then his iniquities deſerved, … A Job was at preſent under a ſo…e temptation, and being preſſed out of meaſure above ſtrength, he ſpake unadviſedly with his lips, and is afterwards barely told of it by Elihu, chap. 34.5 The beſt faith, if long tryed, may flag and hang the wing. Moſes at Meribah. David at Gath, Elias under the Juniper, ſufficiently ſhew, that every new man is two men: that the fleſh eftſoones luſteth againſt the ſpirit, and that the beſt may have their outburſts, yet ſo, as that the ſeed of grace ſtill abideth in them, and ſome way ſhewes it ſelf; Job here for inſtance. He complaineth of Gods ſeverity, but ſtormeth not againſt him. He bluſtreth, but he blaſphemeth not. He holdeth himſelf hardly dealt with by God; and yet whilſt he ſo ſolemnly ſweareth by him, he thereby acknowledgeth him a witneſſe of his conſcience, a Patron of Truth, a Lover of Right, an Avenger of Perjury, and laſtly, the Authour and Arbiter of his life, which he reſolveth rather to let go then his Innocency: He can do nothing againſt the truth, but for the truth, 2 Cor 13.8.
And the Almighty, who hath vexed my ſoul] Heb. Hath imbittered. Job ſhould have remembred, that bitter potions bring ſweet health, and that foreign, the bitterneſſe would ſoon be paſt: but he remembred only (at preſent) the affliction and the miſery, the wormwood and the gall, Lam. 3.19. Now no affliction (but eſpecially ſoul-affliction) for the preſent ſeemeth joyous, but grievous: nevertheleſs afterward it yeeldeth the peaceable fruit of righteouſneſſe unto them which are exerciſed thereby, Heb. 12.11. But patient Job wanted patience to wait for that Adeo nihil eſt in nobis magni, quod non queat minui; ſuch failings are found in the very beſt.
Verſe 3 All the while my breath is in me] Periphraſis vitae, —Dum ſpiritus hos regat a…tus; Whiles I have an hour to breath, I will hold to this Oath of mine: neither may you ever hope to diſpute me out of mine integrity. Life is deſcribed by breath, which when it faileth, the man dyeth, 1 Kings 17.17. Pſal. 146.4. Iſai. 2.22. Ceaſe ye from man whoſe breath is in his noſtrils, every moment ready to puff out. What is man (ſaith Naz…anzen) but ſoul and ſoil,Eutrop. Oreſ. breath and body, a puff of wind the one, a pile of duſt the other, no ſolidity in either? Jovinian the Emperour, was choaked with the ſmoak of charcoal. Pope Adrian with a flye, getting into his throat as he gaped. The Cardinal of Lorrain was lighted to his Lodging, and to his long home both at once by a poiſoned Torch. Defer not (ſaith One) ſith at the next puffe of breath thou moiſt blow away thy life.
And the ſpirit of God is in my noſtrils] He ſeems to allude to Gen. 2.7. or ſome tradition of the Fathers to like purpoſe. Acts 17.25. God giveth to all life and breath, and all things. And again, verſe 28. In him we live, and move and have our being, Wherefore let every thing that hath breath praiſe the Lord, Pſal. 150. ult. Yea, let every breath (as ſome read it) praiſe the Lord. Let it be as the ſmoak of the Tabernacle, as Pillars of Incenſe aſcending up to heaven.Chryſoſt. Tam Dei meminiſſe opus eſt, quam reſpirare.
Verſe 4 My lips ſhall not ſpeak wickedneſs] Which I ſhould do, ſhould I, contrary to that which the Spirit of God witneſſeth to my conſcience, through a fained humility confeſſe, that I have been wicked. Let Gods dejected ſervant take heed, left by the temptation of Satan, and the miſgivings of their own evil hearts of unbelief, they be drawn to bely the work of Gods ſpirit in them, and to hold themſelves utterly void of grace, becauſe not indued with ſuch and ſuch meaſures of grace. Learn to diſtinguiſh between imbecility and nullity: ſhew your ſelves faithful in weakneſſe, though but weak in faith. There is an allowance to gold, with which it may paſſe: neither is it to be caſt aſide, becauſe it wanteth ſome graines, and hath a crack. Nec vinum rejicimus e…ſi facem habeat, ſaith Spin…us. Spin. de inſtit: Chriſt.God ſeeth nothing amiſſe in that man whoſe heart is upright. 2 Chron. 15.17. He layes the finger of mercy on the ſears of his peoples ſins, as that Limner in the Story. He will not cruſh, but cheriſh that worm Jacob.
Nor my tongue utter deceit] No, for that were to ſpeak wickedneſſe, yea; to ſpeak your ſelf wicked. For the remnant of Iſratl, ſhall not (by betraying the truth) do iniquity, nor ſpeak lies: neither ſhall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth; Zeph. 3.13. For he ſaid, Surely they are my people, children that will not lye ſo he was their Saviour, Iſai. 63.8.
Verſe 5 God forbid, that I ſhould juſtifie you,] ſcil. By ſaying as you ſay; viz. that I am an hypocrite, and ſecretly guilty of ſome ſoule practiſes, for which I that grievouſly ſuffer. I know nothing of this Nature by my ſelf. God forbid, Abſit, res profana ſit mihi. The Hebrew word ſignifies, a profanation, or profane thing. It was the ſame they uſed, when they rent their cloathes at blaſphemy.
Till I die, I wil not remove my integrity] My perfection ſome render it, and ſo God accounteth it, when the bent, frame and tendencies of the heart are for him; though the mans wants be many and great. This Job knew, and would hold to. Let not the Divel baffle us out of our integrity.
Verſe 6.Mordicùs ten…b… My righteouſneſſe I hold faſt] As with tooth and nail, yea, though it be to the loſſe of my teeth, as it befel that valiant Sir Thou as Challoner, who ſerved,Cambd. Eliz. 66 when he was young, under Charles 5, in the Expedition of Algier, where being ſhipwrack't, after he had ſwum till his ſtrength and his armes failed him at the length catching hold of a Cable with his teeth, he eſcaped, not without the loſs of ſome of his teeth.
And will not let it go] ſcil. Upon your perſwaſions or ſuſpitions, ſo long as the bird in my boſom continueth ſinging.
My heart ſhall not reproach me ſo long as I live] His heart muſt needs reproach him who habitually doth evil, what good ſhew ſoever he doth make before men; and though he hide his wickedneſſe with no leſſe ſubtle ſleights, then once Rachel did the Idols, Rahab the Spies. Conſcience is Gods Spye, and mans Overſeer. It is In…, Judex, Vindex: neither is a body ſo torn with ſtripes, as a mind with remembrance of evil actions. This Job knew, and would therefore keep his conſcience cleare. This was alſo Saint Pauls greateſt, both care, Acts 24.16. and comfort, 2 Cor. 1.12.
Verſe 7 Let mine enemy be as the wicked] q d. I need wiſh my greateſt enemy no greater hurt, then to be as the wicked, for then he is ſure to be wretched. So far am I from ſaying, that God favoureth the wicked, or that he alwayes ſuffereth them to eſcape unpuniſhed.
And he that riſeth up againſt me, as the unrighteous] Or, froward and perverſe. This is the ſame again in other words: and it is well noted to be a popular manner of ſpeaking, wherein when men expreſſe an abomination of a thing, they wiſh it so their enemies; taking it for granted, that the power of malice is ſo great, that no man can expreſſe it in the wiſh of any particular evil. See the like phraſe, 2 Sam. 8 32 1 Sam 25.26. Dan. 4.29.
Verſe 8. For what is the hope of the hypocrite, &c.] Here Job proveth himſelf to be no hypocrite, by his and their different character and carriage, eſpecially under affliction. Though God kill Job, yet he will truſt in him; but what is the hope of the hypocrite, &c? He that maketh a bridge of his own ſhadow, muſt needs fall into the brook. The common hope thinks it takes hold of God; but it is but as a child that catcheth at the ſhadow on the wall, which he thinks he holdeth faſt in his hand; but ſoon finds it otherwiſe: ſo ſhall the hypocrite at death, his hope ſhall be then as the giving up of the Chriſt, and that is but cold comfort. Whiles he was in health, and had all well about him, he nouriſhed ſtrong hopes of Gods favour, and the rather becauſe he gained and gathered wealth apace. So bladder like is the ſoul that is filled with earthly vanities, though but wind, it growes great, and ſwells in high conceitedneſſe: but if pickt with the leaſt pin of piercing grief (how much more when ſtruck with deaths dart) it ſhriveleth to nothing, and is ready to ſay as one rich w…ch did on this death-bed, Spes & fortuna valeta; Life and hope adien to you both at once.
Though he hath gained] Or, When he hath been covetous; raking together …, …em, qu…cunque modo rem; See this notably exemplified in that rich fool, Luke 12. whoſe life and hopes ended together.
When God taketh away his ſoul] Extrabet, Shall pull it out by violence, as a ſword out of its …eath, when God ſhall make a breach upon their Cittadel: come upon them by forcible entry, turn them out of their cottages of day by …, cut them in twain, as he did that evil ſervant, Matth 4. tear their bodies and ſouls aſunder, as a man teareth the bark from the tree, or the ſhell from the f…ſh, leaving it naked. Where then ſhall be the high hopes of the Hypocrite? And O what a dreadful skreek giveth his guilty ſoul then, to ſee it ſelfe lanching into an infinite Ocean of ſcalding lead, and to conſider that it muſt ſwim naked in it for ever?
Verſe 9. Will God hear his cry] Here's another diſtinctive Note between a hypocrite and an honeſt man. As many are ſaid in Daniel to cleave to the better ſide by flattery, ſo many falſe ſignes will come in, and flatter a man (when he is in health and proſperity) and give their teſtimony, ſpeak the ſame thing that true evidences do; but this will not alwayes hold.
When trouble cometh upon him?] Then the hypocrite will cry, and make pitiful moans; as a priſoner at the Bar begs for his life. Then Joab and Adoniah will run to the hornes of the Altar, who till then little cared to come there. But with as ill ſucceſſe they cry to God as Saul did, 1 Sam. 28.15. and as other of Davids enemies did, Pſal. 18.41. For either God anſwereth them not at all, Ezek. 21.2, 3. Or elſe he anſwereth them according to the Idols of their hearts, Ezek. 14. gives them bitter anſwers, as Judge 10.13, 14. Or if better, it is for the good of others, and for a further miſchief to themſelves, that he may ſnatch away his owne and he gone, H…l. 2.9. and that he may conſume them after he hath done them good, Joſh. 24.20 their preſervation proveth but a reſervation.
Verſe 10. Will he delight himſelf in the Almighty?] viz. When trouble cometh upon him, as in the former verſe. No, this is Chriſtianorum propria virtus, a practiſe that none can skill of but Gods people, ſaith Hier…me, to rejoyce in tribulation, and then to continue inſtant in prayer (Rom. 12.12.) for deliverance, with ſome confidence grounded upon former experience. Cr… cui… is inuncta eſt, ſaith Bernard. Together with the Croſſe, they have an unction from the Father: annointed they are with that Oyle of gladneſſe,1 Pet. 2.14. the Spirit of glory and of God, which reſteth upon …he…; and refreſheth them amidſt all their ſorrowes and ſufferings: and hence their delight in the Almighty, yea though he frown and lay upon them, as he did upon J…, with his own bare hand. Not ſo the hypocrite; for why? he hateth God an his heart, as doth every evil-doer,Bernard John 3.20. Eſt … talium p…na Deus, utpot… … eſt: …t quid talibus am inviſu…? God is light, and therefore hated as a puniſhment to ſuch inanſpicate night-birds. He is holineſſe, but the hypocrite filthineſſe, as his name alſo importeth: How th…n can be delight himſelf in the Almighty? What complacency can there be, where is ſuch an …tter contrariety? They that love the Lord, ha…e evil, Pſal 81.2… … ſo doth not any hypocrite: leave it he may, but not loath it: Pa…t with it he may (as Jacob did with Benjamin. leſt otherwiſe he ſhould ſtarve; or as … with Michael, leſt he ſhould loſe his head) but his heart is glued to it ſtill, he hath a months mind to be doing if he durſt. Finally, He is without faith, and therefore without joy and peace of conſcience. And as for his Spider-web of hope, a little wind bloweth it down. The world hath his heart, and ſo the love of the Father cannot be in him, 1 John 2.15. He leaneth upon the Lord, and ſaith, Is not the Lord amongſt us, Mic. 3.11? yet is he rootedin the delights of life: Like as the Apricock tree leaneth againſt the wall, but is faſt rooted in the earth.
Will he alwayes …all upon God?] Heb. I… every time? No, nor ſcarce at any time. Indeed as begg…rs have learned to …, ſo have ſome hypocrites to pray. Iſai. 26.16. They have powred forth charm, when thy chaſtening was upon them. When he ſlew them, then they ſought him, and they returned and enquired after God, Pſal. 78.34. But this was only a prayer of the fleſh for …aſe, and not of the Spirit for grace. They ſpoke God fair (as the Divel did Chriſt) only to be rid of him. Thus … when on the rack, ro…ed out a conſeſſion, and called for a Prayer. Joa… in danger of death hangs on the hornes of the Altar. The Captivated Jews faſted and prayed for ſeventy years, to get off their thaines, rather then their, ſins, Zech. 7.5. which Daniel therefore reckoned loſt labour, chap … 13. But many wi…d men, though in proſperity they have ſome ſhort-wiſhes (ſuch as was that of …la…s, Numb 23.10. wherewith compare that of David, Pſal, 26.9. and ſee a difference) or perhaps are able by ſtrength of wit and one money to pray handſomely: yet in adverſity they ſet their mouthes againſt heaven, … Wolves, and howle upward, they curſe their King and their God, and look upward, ſaith Iſaiah, chap. 8.21. they murmure and mutiny, as the Iſraelites in the wilderneſs, they banne and blaſpheme, as did that Iſraelitiſh womans ſon, Lev. 14.11. and Micahs mother, Judg. 17.2. A Parrot may be taught to talk like a man (Hiſtories tell us of one at Rome that could repeat the whole Creed) but let him be but beaten, and he returnes to his own natural harſh voice. So an hypocrite, while all goes well with him, may ſeem very devout at his Oriſons, but lay thy hand upon him (ſaith Satan to God concerning Job, preſuming thereby to prove him an hypocrite) and he will curſe thee to thy face, chap. 2.5. But ſay he be ſomewhat better conditioned (as they call it) and for a while pray to God for eaſe and help; yet he will not pray alwayes, he will not perſevere in prayer, follow on to pray, wait upon God for an anſwer, and be content to want it, if God ſee good to deny it. He cannot draw nigh to God with a true heart (ſuch a heart as is well ſatisfied, if God may be glorified, though himſelf be not gratified) in full aſſurance of faith, Heb. 10.22. Which is, ſaith Brentius, Orationis medulla, the marrow of prayer. Hence Saint James calleth it, the prayer of faith, chap. 5.15. Afflictions cauſe a Saint to ſeek out Gods Promiſe, the Promiſe to ſeek Faith, Faith to ſeek Prayer, and prayer to find God; to find him at length; For he is a God that hideth himſelf, Isai. 45.15 But what ſaith faith? I will wait upon the Lord that hideth his face from the houſe of Jacob, and I will look for him, Iſai. 8.17. See this exemplified in the woman of Canaan, who fetcht Chriſt out of his retiring room by the force of her faith, Mark 7.24. and prayed on, though denied. She would not be ſaid nay, or ſet down either with ſilence or ſad anſwers, but ſhewed her ſelf a woman of a well knit reſolution, ſuch as could credere inviſibilia, ſperare dilaia, & amare Deum ſe oſtendentem contrarium, as Luther ſpeaketh: Believe things inviſible, hope for things deferred, and love God when he ſhewes himſelf moſt angry and oppoſite. Now this the hypocrite (who is an Infidel) cannot skil of. He is ſhort ſpirited and cannot hold out in prayer, cannot (as our Saviour taught by that Parable, Luke 18.1.) alwayes pray, and not faint, foreign ſhrink back, as ſluggards do in work, or Cowards in War. Oratio eſt res ardua, & magni laboris, ſaith Luther. Prayer is a hard work, and a man muſt tug at it and ſtick to it, as Jacob did, who wreſtled and raiſed duſt as the Hebrew word ſignifieth: he held faſt, and hung on, yea he held with his hands when his thigh was lamed. Let me go (ſaith God beſpeaking his own liberty) No, thou ſhalt not, ſaith Jacob, until thou bleſſe me. Lo, ſuch is the generation of them that ſeek God in ſincerity, of them that ſeek thy face; this is Jacob, Pſal. 24.6. One thing have … deſired of the Lord, and that I will ſe…k after, ſaith David, Pſal. 27.4. If his ſuit had not been honeſt, he would never have begun it: But being ſo, he will never give it over till he hath prevailed: he will pray till he faint, and then to it again, Pſal. 119.81, 82. Rejoycing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing inſtant in prayer, Rom. 12.12. So doth not the hypocrite, for want of an inward principle. If God come not at a call, he is out patience, and ready to ſay with that profane Prince, 2 Kings 6.33. Behold this evil is of the Lord, and what ſhould I wait for the Lord any longer? Away to the Witch of End…r, to the god of E…ron. Flecter… ſi neque… ſaperos, Acheronta moveh…. This Job would not do, and therefore no hypocrite.
Verſe 11. I will teach you by the hand of God] That is, by the help of God, foreign, or concerning the hand of God, what is in the hand of the Lord (ſo the Septuagint) what things he is wont to do by his power,Deo juvante & ſubminiſtrante facultates. Vat. and what are his uſual proceedings, his actual and efficacious providence, Act. 4.28.
That which is with the Almighty I will not conceal.] Neque cela…o, ut res divina comparatae ſint, ſo the Tigurines tranſlate. Envious Maſters uſe to hide from their Scholers the beſt and chiefeſt part of their skil. It is reported of that ſpotted beaſt the Eyux, that knowing that his urine will congeal into a procious Stone, and ſo ſtand man in ſtead, of pure envy, when he piſſeth, he maketh a hole in the ground to cover it. Cardan ſpeaking of one that had a Receipt that would ſuddenly and certainly diſſolve a ſtone in the bladder, and dyed, not imparting his Skill to any one, I doubt not, ſaith he, but that man went to hel, quòd m…riens, artem ſ…am mortalibus i…viſerit, becauſe he envied his skil to thoſe that ſurvived him. Job was none ſuch: but what he knew of Gods mind and manner of dealing (which bath no certain Law, nor invariable rule, but dependeth upon his …er pleaſure) he was ready to impart to his friends, who meaſured Gods actions by a wrong rule.
Verſe 12. Behold, all y… your ſelves have ſeen it] And can ſay as ſay as much to it, as I can in theſe, ſc. that God afflicteth good men as well as bad, &c, Ecce … ves …nes ſp…culationib… (theologi…is) …, quare tam vanas opiniones habetis? So the Tigurine tranſlation hath it: that is, But behold, whereas all ye have ſpent your time in (theological) ſpeculations, how is it that ye have taken up ſuch vain opinions? The Hebrew runs thus, Behold, you all have ſeen, … are ſeers, (and he that is now called a Prophet, was before-time called a Seer, 1 Sam, 9.9) ye are knowing men, and of great experience, why then do ye go againſt your own knowledge, by ſpeaking vainly and vilely notwithſtanding?
Why then are ye thus altogether vain? Heb. And why is this, that ye are vain in vanity? ſc. Whileſt ye aſſ…rt that Gods love may be known by proſperity, and his hatred by adverſity; and whileſt ye conclude me an hypocrite becauſe afflicted? for ſo they had all done with one conſent. Bildad, chap. 8.13. Eliphaz, chap. 15.34. and Zophar, chap. 20.5. When as yet, Job had given ſufficient proof to the contrary: The matter was clear enough; but they did dat… oper…, for the …once, obſcure it this was a vanity of vanities; and Job tells them as much.
Verſe 13. This is the portion of a wicked man with God] q.d. So ye ſay, and ſo I ſay too: for herein I will not deny to comply, and to chime in with you. Z…phar had ſaid the ſame in effect, and uſed the ſelf ſame expreſſions that Job here doth, chap. 20.29. See the Notes there. But muſt Job therefore be an hypocrite, though he continue to hope, and pray, and delight in God amidſt all his miſeries, verſ. 8, 9, 10? Neg…tur. He had ſpoken much before of the wicked mans proſperity: now to …event miſtakes, he diſcourſeth largely of his puniſhment, and how ill he beareth it.
And the heritage of oppreſſours. &c.] Of feirce and formidable tyrants, that are a terrour to others. Theſe are the rewards they ſhall receive from the God of Recompences, the Almighty, who can well enough deal with them, and delights to get him a name in their juſt deſtruction.
Verſe 14 If his children … he multiplyed it is for the ſword] As were Ahabs ſeventy ſons for inſtance, 2 King 10.1. whom he had begotten after that God had threatned to root out his poſterity. He therefore as it were to croſs the Almighty, gives himſelf ſo much the more … to the work of Generation: but this was (Ephraim like) to bring fouth … Hoſ 9.13. See the like of A…atia… and his forty brethren, ſlain at the ſhearing houſe in the ſame Chapter.
And his off…ſpring] Heb. His iſſ…s, or egreſſions, his ſ…ts or branches, his pledges, ſo Merc… …death it.
Shall not be ſatisfied with bread] i e. Shall be pined and a fa…iſhed, which their wicked Parents, by heaping and hearding, ſought to prevent, but it could not be, And this ſhall be a more cruel kinde of death than the former,Tacit. Lam. 4.9. Druſus the ſon of Tibe…us N…r… was put to this death: ſo was our Richard the ſecond at Pomfret Caſtle, Sanders that Traytour in Ireland … and many others.
Verſe 15. Theſe that … of him, ſall …e … death] That is Shall be preſently and privately … (as … it,) whitout any …. Or they ſhall be ſo hated, that he man ſhall ſpeak well of … when they are dead; but their came ſhall be …, and ſhall not with them, ſo others underſtand it. Or they ſhall be buried alive … in a fit of an Apoplexy. Sepeli…ur adhuc vivi moribundi. Vatab.And when as he recovered of th… …it in his …, and … for help, his wife, Ariadue was ſo kind as to deny it …. They like is recorded of Scotus the great, Schoolman Di… date ſaith, that … that the wicked dying are plunged into everlaſting death, which only it the true death. foreign. Sept.Agreeable whereunto is that phraſe, Rev. 2.23. I will kill her children with …. It is are thing to die, … anoter thing to … with death, this laſt is when death … Hell, when it … Hell … of it. This is a woful, death indeed.
And his Wid…s … One … are one of the … (their … ſo they die unlamented by their own widows (for in thoſe dayes men took many wives, as now the Turks do ſo many as they are able to maintain, and very courſely they uſe them) who are glad that they are thus rid of them; who were wont to lay upon them with their unmanly fiſts, or otherwiſe to abuſe them. Of King Edwin it is ſaid, that he lived wickedly, died wiſhedly. And of Henry the ſecond, that hearing that his ſon and ſucceſſor John had conſpired againſt him, he fell into a grievous Paſſion, both curſing his ſons, and the day wherein himſelf was born, and in that diſtemperature departed the world which ſo often himſelf had diſtempered, and had now every mans good word to be gone hence. See Jer. 22.18.
Cum mors crudelem repuiſſet ſaevn Nero…m,
Credibile eſt multos Roman agit aſſe jocos.
Verſe 16. Though he heap up ſilver as the duſt] Silver and Gold, what are they elſe but white and red Earth, the guts and garbage of the Earth, as one ſaith? Yet how greedy of them and gripple after them are many much-worms, heaping apriches, and not knowing who ſhall gather them, Pſal 39.6? laying up, as if their lives were riveted upon eternity: or were ſure to leave it to their Children, who yet ſhall never enjoy it. This is a great vanity, ſaith Solomon; and yet ſuch duſt-heapes as theſe, are to be found in every corner.
And prepare raiment as the clay] Tantum veſtium quantum eſt luti, ſaith Va…ablus, that he have as great ſtore of ſuits in his wardrobe, as he hath dirt in his ditches.
Verſe 17. He may prepare it, but the juſt ſhall put it on] Well may he prepare it, ſo Broughton. Let the wicked men toyle and take pains for it; God hath prepared for him an executour never mentioned in his Will. God gave the Egyptians and Canaanites Goods to Iſrael; Nabals to David; Human… to Mordecai, See Prop. 28.8. Eccleſ, 2.26. This plague among the reſt God threatneth the diſobedient with; Deut. 28.30 Sed haec non ſemper, ſaith Mercer, although we ſee not this alwayes ſo to fall out, but the contrary; yet it is eaſie to obſerve that many ſpend their ſtrength, and waſte their wits in congerendo & conver…end…, in getting and gathering theſe outward things: and then, when to poſſeſs them might leem a happineſs, thev die and leave them to uncertain heirs, as did Abſolom and Alexander the Great, who left his Ring to Perdicc…, Plut.but his Dominions foreign to him that ſhould beſt deſerve them.
And the innocent ſhall divide the ſilver] Shall ſhare it among them as their Childs-Portions. Solet enim Deus dividere aliis dona, aliis … & lucium, ſaith Brentius here. God gives gifts unto men, even to the reb…ll…, but the uſe and enjoyment of thoſe gifts he beſtoweth upon the righteous. The former have … ſure and trouble therewith, Juvenal.Prov. ….16 Miſer…eſt … The later have, howſoever, contented godlineſs: and though they gather leſs of this Manna here below, yet they have no wa….
Verſe 18. He buildeth his houſe as a moth] Which lodgeth it ſelf in ſome ſtately garment, and thinks there to …, which he hath feathered (as the ſilkworm endeth his life in his long wrought clew) but is fool … or … ſo ſhall the oppreſſor be caſt out of his … buildings which he hath with much coſt and care erected, rather for … It is … …ful to build houſes: only men muſt not build …, with … and hurt to others, … (ſo this word it … long cuſtome received) never build any thing ſumptuouſly for their own private … but con… … with … Turk hiſt. f. 342or Vineyard, who ſetteth him up a Booth, Cabin, or Cottage, to defend him from the parching heat of the Sun; which laſteth only for one ſummer at utmoſt: ſo here, The experience whereof we have had abundantly in theſe late deſolation wars: for how many gallant houſes have been utterly ruined.
Ʋt praeter nomen ſolum, nihil amplius extet?
Verſe 19. The rich man ſhall lye down] That is, the wicked rich man, as Jam. 5.1. Magna cognatio ut rei ſic nominis, divitiis, & vitiis. He ſhall lye down, viz. in the ſtreets, as being left houſe-leſs.
But he ſhall not be gathered] i. e. Taken into houſe or harbour by any man; but abhorred by all for his former cruelty.
He openeth his eyes, and he is not] He looketh about him on every ſide, but findeth no ſuccour. There are that underſtand it of death; The rich man ſhall lye down, Tigur.ſc in the duſt of death; but ſhall not be gathered, that is, nec honorifice funerabitur; he ſhall not have the honour of a comely burial. Beſides, he openeth his eyes, and he is not; upon his death-bed he looks about for comfort (the Mole, they ſay, never openeth her eyes till the pangs of death are upon her:) but in ſtead thereof ſhall ſee that three-fold terrible ſpectacle, Death, Judgement, Hell, and all to be paſſed through by his poor Soul: Hence (and no wonder)
Verſe 20. Terrours take hold on him as waters] Abundantly, ſuddenly, irreſiſtibly; he is even ſwallowed up by them and over-whelmed: as he that is plunged into a deep pit full of water, or that hath the proud ſurges going over his ſoul, Pſal. 124. The miſery of it is, That theſe waters are fiery, and Hell is a lake, but a burning lake, and ſuch alſo as hath eternity to the bottom.
A tempeſt ſtealeth him away in the night] i. e. Furtim, & repontè & horribiliter; Night is it ſelf full of terrour: but much more when a tempeſt is up, and theeves are abroad, &c. Oh! it muſt needs be a terrible time indeed, when death ſhall come with a Writ of Habeas Corpus, and the Devil with another of Habeas animam upon a man at once. Petrus Sutorius ſpeaketh of one that preaching a funeral Sermon on a certain Canon at Paris, and giving him large commendations,Pet Sutor, de vit. Carth. heard at the ſame time a voice in the Church, Mortuus ſum judicatus ſum, damnatus ſum; I am dead, judged, and damned. Oh! let us but think with our ſelves, though it paſs all thought, what a ſcreech the poor foul giveth when hurled into Hell; there to ſuffer ſuch tortures and torments as it ſhall never be able to avoid or abide!
Verſe 21. The Eaſt-wind carrieth him away] Deus ſubito & ſevero ſuo judicio. God, by his ſudden and ſevere Judgement,Lava…. hurrieth him hence to the place of torment, without the leaſt hope of ever either mending, or ending.
And he departeth] But with as ill a will as ever did Lot out of Sodom; Adam out of Paradiſe; the Jebuſites out of Jeruſalem; the unjuſt Steward out of his Office, the Devil out of the Demoniack.
And as a ſtorm hurleth him] Turbinat eum; Toſſeth him as a Ball into a far Countrey, as if he were wherried away by a fierce whirlewind, or ſerved as paſtime for tempeſts.
Verſe 22. For God ſhall caſt upon him, and not ſpare] But ſet himſelf to inflict upon this curſed caytiff all the plagues written (and unwritten) in his book, full vials of vengeance; an evil, an only evil, even puniſhment without pity, miſery without mercy, ſorrow without ſuccour, crying without comfort, miſchief without meaſure, torments without end, and paſt imagination.
He would fain flee out of his hand] But that will not be; like a wretched caytiff he runs without reſting: but Gods hand purſueth him till he periſheth. He may ſhuffle from ſide to ſide as Balaams Aſs did, he may skip up and down as the wounded Deer: Sed haeret lateri lethalis arundo; the deadly Dart ſticks in his ſide, &c.
Verſe 23. Men ſhall clap their hand at him, &c.] Heb. He ſhall clap, &c. Every He ſhall, or God ſhall, as ſome read it. God ſhall kick him off this Stage of the world, and then men ſhall clap, and hiſs at him in ſigne of deteſtation; as they did once at S…ianus, Phocas, Rich. 3 whoſe miſeries were a part of other mens happineſs, who looked upon them as Wolves and publick Peſts.