Commentary on Ezra Nehemiah Ester Job and Psalms, Commentary 4 · Chapter 1

Commentary on Ezra Nehemiah Ester Job and Psalms · Commentary 4 · Chapter 1

p. 1CHAP. 1. Verſe 1. There was a Man]

A Notable man, a man by ad excellency, and with an accent (as it were;) A man of high degree, as the word Iſh ſignifieth Pſal. 49.2. & 62.9. (where it is oppoſed to Adam, utpote quem ex meliore luto finxit Titan) a Manly man, Animo virili praeditus.every way excellent and eximious: Magnus & admirabilis vir &c. A great and marvellous man, if it be fit to call him by the name of a man, as Chryſostome ſpeaketh of Babylas the Martyr.Orat. cont. Gentiles. Baſil in his Sermon of the forty Martyrs, calleth them the Stars of the World, and the flowers of the Churches. Chryſostome ſpeaking of thoſe that were praying for Peter, Act. 12. ſaith that Puriores caelo afflictione facti ſunt, foreign. Hom. 55. in Mat. Dam…hum beminis & miraculum natura, ut de Scaliger… non nemo dixit.by their afflictions they were become clearer then the azured sky: and elſewhere falling into ſpeech of ſome religious men of his time, he doubteth not, for their holy and heavenly converſation, to ſtile them foreign Angels. That Job deſerved this high title, as well as the beſt of them, we have here, and otherwhere, Gods own teſtimony of him, and this whole book, whereof he is the principal object, doth abundantly prove him an Heroe.

In the Land of Ʋz.] Which, what it was, and where ſituate, though our Maps ſhew us not: yet, by the conſent of all, it was a country bordering upon Idumea in part, and part upon Arubia, ſee Lam. 4.21. Jer. 25.20.foreign. Hom. Odyſ. Chryſoſtome teſtifieth that Jobs ſepulcher hath been ſhewed in Arabia; which might well have been called Happy, if but for having ſuch an inhabitant, Ptolemy placeth the Huſſites in Arabia.

Whoſe name was Job.] It is then a true and real hiſtory, that we here have of him, and not a fiction or a moral parable, as ſome have believed, ſee a double teſtimony for this, the one Prophetical, Ezek, 14.14. the other Apoſtolical, Jam. 5.11. and ſuch a well-twined cord is not eaſily broken. What if poſeph…s make …mention in his Hiſtory of ſuch a man? it was beſide his purpoſe to write any thing, but what concerned the Jewes. Ariſteus in his Hiſtory of the Jewes maketh Joh… be deſcended of Eſan, and to dwel in Idumea. The Jew-doctors and ſome of the Fathers of p. 2the Church make him to be that Jobab mentioned Gen. 36.33. True it is, that the words differ much in the Hebrew writing; but for that, whiles he proſpered, he might be called Jo…b when in diſtreſſe (which … twelve months, ſay the Hebrews ſeven yeares ſaith Suides) contracted into Job. See the like, Rath. 1.20. Cox. 17.5. Some make him to be much more ancient, viz. the ſame with that Jobab who was the Son of Jockran, the nephew of Eber, 1 Chron. 1.23. and that himſelf was pen-man of this book. He doth … wiſh that his words … book; and haply he and his … in Hexameters for moſt part, as Hierome thinketh. But that it was by inſpiration of God, is teſtified not only by the divine Grandeur and Majeſty of the ſtile, together with the intrinſecal excellency and efficacy of the matter; but alſo by the concurrent teſtimony of not a few other Scriptures; ſufficiently aſſerting the authentity and authority of this Book. The common opinion is, that is was written by Moſes, while he abode as a ſtranger among the Midianites, for the comfort of his poor Country men, groaning under the Egyptian ſervitude: or elſe, that this Hiſtory written at firſt by Job and his friends in proſe, was afterwards by Moſes put into verſe, and imbeliſhed,Preface to his Paraphraſe. with the moſt rich ornaments, and the moſt glittering figures of Poetry. Sure it is (ſaith Sena…lt) that there is no book in the world, where the manner of ſpeaking is more noble, the conceits mere generous, the deſcriptions more rich, and the compariſons more natural. Sometimes the Author reaſoneth like an excellent Philoſopher, oftentimes like a profound Divine: but alwa…es like an Orator, and his Eloquence never leaveth him.

And that man was pe…ect] that is, upright (a… …t followe… next) and ſincere, without guile or gall, a pattern of patience, a ſtanding rule to all ages; and therefore (in Gods acceptation and account) perfect and entire, wanting nothing, Jam. 1.4. becauſe in him patience had her perfect work, Tamim de victimis perfectis & immaculatis dicitur.as much as mortality would afford. It was but an unſavory ſpeech of him, who when he was perſwaded to be patient as Job was, replied, what tell you me of Job? Job never had any ſuites in Chancery; no; but he had far ſharper trials; and if he had been judge in that Court (as he was in his own Country, Chap. 29.12, 17) he would have made as good diſpatch there, as ever Sir Th…ma… M…r did, who calling once for the next cauſe, was anſwered, That there was none.

And upright,] more reſembling Jacob that plain-hearted man, then … his great Grand father. Of the word here uſed (Jeſher) Iſrael was called Jeſh… …. 22.15. and 33.5, 26. Iſai. 44.1. becauſe God requireth uprightneſſe, (which he calleth perfection Deut. Buxtorf.18.13. and there is a great Tau in the world Tan… to ſhew that an upright man keepeth the whole law from the firſt to the laſt len… thereof) and where he findeth it, …eckoneth J…her an Iſhmaelite, 1 Chron. 7.17. is he a very good Iſraelite, 2 Sam. 17.25, and Job the Idumea…, a very good Chriſtian, ſuch an one as Apelles was, Rom. 16, approved in Chriſt.

And one that feared God] with an amicable, not ſervile feare, ſuch as was that of thoſe mongrels who ſeat'd him for his Lyons, and are therefore ſaid not to have feared him,Sic vive cum beminibum, tanquam Deus videat, S… …iquere cum Dec &c. Sam …emp. 2^o. foreign 2 King. 17.32, 33, 34. Job ſo lived with men, as if God ſaw him, and ſo ſpake with God, as if men over-heard him. Thence it was, that ſeldome or never did any man ſee him doing, or hear him ſpeaking, but what was good and godly, as Xenophon ſaith of Socrates: Thence it was, that he never did well, that he might appear to do ſo, ſed quia aliter facer… … (as Valleius ſaith of Cato) but becauſe acting by this principle of Gods …; he could not do otherwiſe: for the fear of the Lord is pure, Pſal. 19.9. and men do perfect holineſſe in the fear of God. 2 Cor. 7.1.

And eſchewed evil.] He muſt needs do ſo that feareth God, the greateſt Good; ſith ſin is the greateſt evil, and ſtands in full oppoſition to him. Job therefore ſtands in aw, and ſinnes not, he ſtudiouſly declines evil, as he would do a ſerpent in his way, or poiſon in his meates. And this he did, not in a land of uprightneſſe, where the fear of God was in … profane Eſanites, in the midſt of a crocked and corrupt po…ration; as Noah is the old world, Lot in Sodom, Joſeph in Egypt, Eliah … Orient Star ſhining with fulneſſe of heavenly light, and fixed in the region of happineſſe, though ſeen ſometimes in a Well, in a puddle, in a ſtinking ditch.

… him ſe… Sons.] This was a main part of his proſperity, p. 3to have ſuch a numerous iſſue, to build up his houſe, and to …eir his eſtate, though it proved to be luct…oſa foecunditas; as Hierome ſaid Laeta's was, who lived to ſee her children buried before her. Jobs children are ſpoken of before his wealth, becauſe better valued: and yet after this, fearing God and eſchewing evil, to ſhew (ſaith Ferus) that he was not like the men of theſe times, who, if they have many children, will take any evil courſe to get ſomething for them, and think it a ſufficient plea againſt works of piety or charity, that they have many children to provide for. But ſuch ſhould know, that not getting, but giving, is the way to thrive: neither can men better lay up for their children, then by laying it out upon the backs and bellies of Gods poor, to whom, he that giveth ſhall not lack, Prov. 28.27. that's a bargain of Gods own making; this the righteous knowing, is merciful, and lendeth, and his ſeed is bleſſed, Pſal. 37.26. when the wicked wretches riches periſh by evil travel, and he bagetteth a ſon, and there is nothing in his hand, Eccleſ. 5.14. I read of a graceleſs ſon, who after his fathers death, finding his hoard of mony and evil-gotten wealth, cried out, O faithful drudge! and he ſoon made a hand of it.

And three daughters.] hopeful and towardly; not like thoſe of Augustus Caeſar, whom, for the evil courſes they took, he was wont to term them three mattery impoſtumes, and ulcerous ſores, wiſhing, that either he had lived a batchelour,Tres vomicas tria carcinomata. Sueton. Val. Max. Chri. pag. 308. or died childleſſe: But rather like thoſe of Charles the great, who ſo pleaſed him, that he could not at any time be well without their company, nor find in his heart to part with them, though it were to be well married.

Verſe 3. His ſubſtance alſo] Heb. his Poſſeſſion or Acquiſition, Poſſeſſio maximè pecuaria. Nomen dictum eſt ab acquirendo. Merc.that ſtock and ſtore which he had gotten, and was rightly poſſeſſed of, conſiſting very much in cattel, great and ſmall, for mony was not then in ſo great requeſt as now, when it is become the Monarch, and bears the Maſtery, Regi… pecu…i…, as he ſaith; In precio precium nunc eſt, ſaith another. We read not of Jobs gold, ſilver, tapeſtry, rich furniture (ſaith Origen) and other accouſtrements, now much uſed and valued, but not ſo of old. Heretofore in this Iſland of our… (ſaith Hollingſhead) in a good Farmers houſe, 'twas rare to find four pieces of pewter: and it was accounted a great matter, that a Farmer could ſhew five ſhillings or a Noble together in ſilver: and if the good man of the houſe had a mattreſs or flock bed, and a ſack of chaſſe to reſt his head on, he thought himſelf as well lodged as the Lord of the town &c. Hollingſhead further ſaith, that ſome old men he knew who told of ſuch times in England, no longer ago!

Was ſeven thouſand ſheep] He had moſt of that moſt profitable creature, good both ad eſum, and ad uſum; therefore alſo in ſacrifices was no creature ſo frequently offered.

And three thouſand Camels, and five hundred ſhe aſſe…,] ſ… to carry his ſervants, and his baggage, to export and import commodities: for Net verò terra ferra omnes omnia poſſunt.

And five hundred yoake of oxen] To plow his ground with, for great men were an…iently much addicted to husbandry (as Ʋzziah, 2 Chron. 26.10.) which Socrates called Amaltheae corn…, the horn of plenty … and the Romans reckoned, that corn was with them never ſo cheap, as when men were fetched from the plough taile,Plin. to govern the Common-wealth, quaſi gaud…t terra … vomere, & aratro triumphali. But now the caſe is otherwiſe, as Beza upon this text complaineth; that husbandry and …, are left for the ba…eſt and ſimpleſt men, and for ſuch as all others might prey upon. And this b…ingeth into my mind, ſaith he, that which once I ſaw painted in a table, where the Noble-man had this poſie, By my ſword I … you all: the Clergyman, By my prayers I preſer… you all▪ the Country-man, I … you all. Laſtly, the Lawyer, I … you all. P…llican noteth here, that Job had no … lived lovingly with his neighbours, not warring upon any: the horſe is a warlike …, prepared for the day of battle. But Beza noteth, that in that … they … of … to beare burdens, and Aſſes ….

And … ] Great ſtore of ſervants he had about him, and himſelf … according to that of the Greek Po…t, (wherewith Luther was ſo taken, that be tranſlated it in certain rithmes.)

foreign.

p. 4Some render it, He had very much husbandry; others, he had great doings in the world; the more was his trouble, (it is not the great cage that maketh the bird ſing, and abroad, the ſingeth not on the ground, but when got in the aire, or on the top of trees. So is it with the Saints) and the greater was his praiſe, that he could handle his thornes, and not prick his fingers: have ſo much to do with the world, and yet not grow worldly minded.

— Difficile eſt opibus non…tradere mores.

Et vom tot Cr…ſos viceris, eſſe Numam.

So that this man was the greateſt &c. A King; ſome ſay, the firſt King of Edom, but that's uncertain; he might be a private man, and yet a very rich man: ſuch as was Pythias, who was once able to entertain Xerxes and his two millions of men for three dayes, and yet died a beggar, and was famiſhed. He was impoveriſhed by his own folly and prodigality, but Job, by the immediate hand, and good pleaſure of God, for his trial, and for exerciſe of his patience. This commendeth unto us Jobs conſtancy and magnanimity, which is ſo much the mo…e wonderful, by how much this change was not only not ſelf-acquired, but altogether unexpected; his ſun went down ſuddenly, at high-noon; and when he doubted leaſt, he was made a mirrour of miſ-fortune; as if God and men, heaven and earth were ſet againſt him. In him it appeared, that mor…ality was but the ſtage of m…ability, and that,

Omnia ſunt homi… … filo;

Et ſubito caſu, quae …l…ere, r…unt.

Verſe 4. And his ſons went, and feaſted in their houſes.] They were of ripe years: and although unmarried, yet had they their ſeveral houſes to dwell in. This declareth not onelyonly the wealthineſs of the Family, but alſo the good Order and Government thereof, as … obſerveth. Their orderly intercourſe of friendly feaſting one another, ſhews their mutuall love, to … and agreement, by this means teſtified and …. For wine hath (as …) (foreign, an attractive power … it to …) and …eep friendſhip, and from the drinking of …,foreign the word … uſed for: a … hath …. We may not think that they did thus every day▪ a… that …; their … they had been better bred, and they obſerved this order with great modeſty and diſcretion. They went and feaſted▪ that is, they did it readily and cheerfully, that brotherly love might continue; for — Fratrum quoque gratia raraeſt. The Divel doth what he can to caſt a bone betwixt brethren, to make thoſe that ſhould love moſt dearly, to hate one another moſt deadly. See this …plified in C…i… and Abel, Eſau and Jacob, Joſeph and his Brethren, Joram and his, Romulus and Remus, Caracalla and Geta, Robert and … the two ſons of William the Conquerour, Polynices and Eteecles &c. And when ſuch are once … (ſaith Solomon) is harder to be wo… then a ſtrong City▪ and their contentions are like the barres of a Caſtle, which being ſtrong, will … Prov. 18.19. All good means therefore muſt be uſed to prevent them, and to preſerve that unity and unity which the Pſalmiſt doth ſo … concludeth that there God commandeth the bleſſing and …; that is, conſtant happineſſe … in and by a bleſſ…d Poſterity. The number of two hath been accounted …, becauſe it was the firſt that departed from Unity.

And ſent and … ] That their number and amity might be complete. This was no … joy to …, that his children were ſo kind one to another: It is …, that which was denyed to Abraham and Iſaac (though fathers onelyonly of two children) to Jacob alſo and Samuel and David, Conſtantine the great, … many others▪ whoſe children, through ambition, pride, … may at deadly ſend among … that the Siſters kept not with their … which was both more ſeemly and more ſafe, as alſo more agreeing with maidenly …. Neither is it ſaid, that … not ever …oldly to the … honeſt diſpoſition.

Verſe 5. And … of their feaſting were gone about,] Such p. 5was his holy care of them, and jealouſie over them, that he would deferre the work no longer: as knowing that ſin will ran…e in the conſcience, and harden the heart: like poyſon in the body, it muſt be quickly caſt up, ere it get to the vitals.

That Job ſent and … them, Though they were grown up, yet he kept them in awe, as appears by his command to ſanctifie themſelves againſt the ſacrifice.Ʋt ſe parent & purgent. So did not Eli, but honoured his untoward ſons above God, even then when thoſe lewd loſels kick'd at his ſacrifice, and at his offering which he had commanded in his habitation. 1 Sam. 2.29. Job knew that he was bound as well to the preſervation, as to the obſervation of Gods commandments, to ſee that others (thoſe eſpecially of his familiarity and family) keep them, as well as himſelf. When therefore the circle of dayes and feaſting was finiſhed, he waited not till the eighth day came, but at the end of the ſeventh he ſummoneth all his children to come before the Lord in holy duties with the beſt preparations they could make: to waſh their hands in innocencie before they compaſſed Gods Altar; to repent of their immoderations in mirth,Pſal. 26.6Ps 26:6 or whatſoever other guilt they had any way contracted; leſt he caſt back their ſervices as dirt upon their faces. The Heathens, by the light of nature, ſaw that God was not to be ſerved ſlightly and ſlubberingly, The Pythagoreans would not have men worſhip by the by, but make it their buſineſſe, and prepare for it afore-hand.foreign And Numa Pompilius, ſecond King of Rome, commanded that men ſhould not worſhip God for faſhion, careleſly, and as doing ſomewhat elſe: but freed from all other cares and cumbers. The Jews had their Preparation and their fore-preparation to the Paſſover: and as any man meaſureth to God in preparation, God will meaſure to him again in bleſſing.

And roſe up early in the morning] Sanctificat, ſenat, ditat quoque ſurgere manè. The morning is the beſt time for holy duties; God ſhould have the firſt of every thing: then alſo men are … and freeſt from worldly buſineſſes. The Phil…ſtins … to do ſacrifice to their Dagon, or Triton, as other Heathens called him. They generally took the top of the morning (utpote quod foreign) to offer to, … dung-hill-deities, as holding … in their Temples, and took notice of morning-ſal…tations. … in the morning: So do the Roman Hiſtorians their P…titii and …, offering to Hercules upon their greateſt Altar of all. Argona… do the like in Apollonius; and the Perſian M…gi were wont to worſhip the riſing Sun with their early Hymns.

And offered burnt offerings] Whole … offerings, not ſacrifice onelyonly (as the Greek interpreter hath it) nor peace offerings, whereof himſelf might have had part; but burnt offerings, that were offered … unto God, and that according to the number of his ſons; not one general family ſacrifice only; but for every one, one. It appeareth then that Job was no penny father, no …iggard in Gods ſervice, but laviſh… … out of the bag, and thought all too little that was laid out that way. So did Solomon in that greateſt ſacrifice that ever we read of 1 King. 8.63. and his father David, when, out of his poverty, as he calleth it, he had prepared for the houſe of the Lord an hundred thouſand talents of gol…,Hiſt. of the world. part. 2. cap. 17. ſect. 9. and a thouſand thouſand talents of ſilver &c. which Sir Walter Raleigh caſteth up to be more then any King in the world it worth: this is …: to … and baſeneſſe.

F…r Job ſaid] viz. in his heart, for God underſtandeth the language of the heart alſo, Pſal. 130.1 ….

… …inned] Or, leſt haply: He well knew the Corruption of …, wherein there is a foreign, a … of all ſin…. He knew alſo how eaſily we over-ſhoot ourſelves at … meetings, and give too much liberty to our … and appen… to r…n …. He therefore ſeeks pardon for his childrens ſuſpacted ſames; he know, beſides … and involuntary infirmities … by a juſt and jealous … 1 Cor. 5.2. or not rebuked, at leaſt by their countenance, as God … was a man of a …, and therefore propounds to himſelf the worſt▪ neither was it againſt in him to ſuſpect …, whileſt he intended their good, and turned his …. That his children were godly, is put …, whether they had ſinned. But how then doth it follow?

p. 6And curſed God in their hearts] And not bleſſed God, ſo Calvin rendreth it, not done him right,So Sanctim. and therefore wrong; they have not high and honourable conceptions of him, anſwerable to his excellent greatneſſe; but, by baſe and bald thoughts caſt him, as it were, into a diſhonourable mould, and not given him the glory due to his Name, that holy and reverend Name, Pſal. 111.9. Great and dreadful among the Heathen, Mal. 1.14. In the Hebrew, it is, And bleſſed God, for curſed, by an Euphemiſmus or Antiphraſis; as when an harlot is called Kedeſha, a holy woman, by contraries. So auriſacra (i. e. execranda) fames. The Hebrews ſo abhorred blaſphemy againſt God, as they would not have the ſound of it to be joyned to the Name of God, whom they commonly call Baruc-hu, the bleſſed One. So they would not take the name of Leven (that prohibited ware) into their mouths all the time of the feaſt of the Paſſeover.Elias Thiſ…. So in their common talk they call a Sow dabhar achar, an other thing, becauſe they were forbidden to eat ſwines fleſh.

Thus did Job continually.] Heb. all the dayes; that is, in the renewed ſeaſons: he was not weary of well-doing, but ſtedfaſt and unmoveable, alwaies abounding in the work of the Lord, alwaies renewing his repentance, and faith in Chriſt, figured by thoſe ſacrifices; for the Ceremonial Law was their Goſpel.

Verſe 6. Now there was a day] Haply that day wherein Jobs children were feaſting their laſt. The Rabbines ſay, the firſt day of the year, and ſome ſay, the ſabbath day; But who told them ſo? this is to intrude into things which they have not ſeen. Col. 2.18. and where of there is neither proof nor profit. Certain it is, that as God hath before all beginnings decreed all things, ſo he hath ſet and aſſigned the times or ſeaſons which he hath put in his own power, Act. 1.7. when every thing ſhall come to paſſe as himſelf hath appointed. Now then, ſaith Beza, the time being come which he prefixed for the actual accompliſhing of that he had decreed concerning Job, he revealed the ſame to Satan (being before altogether ignorant thereof) as whom he had appointed to be the chief inſtrument in executing this his will and purpoſe.

The children of God] i.e. the Elect Angels, called Sons of God, here and elſewhere: not becauſe they are ſo by eternal generation, as Chriſt alone; nor by adoption and regeneration, as the Saints, John 1.12. but by Creation (as Adam is called the Son of God, Luke 3. ult.) and Reſemblance; for they are made in Gods image, and are like him as his children, both in their ſubſtance which is incorporeal, and in their excellent properties, which are Life and Immortality, Bleſſedneſſe and Glory; wherein we ſhall one day be their comperes, Luke 20.36.

Came to preſent themſelves] This is ſpoken in a low language, for our better apprehenſion, by alluſion to the cuſtome of earthly Princes and their attendants and officers, coming to give an account, or receive directions. The Angels are never abſent from God. Luke 1.19, but yet employed by him in governing the world, Ezek 1. and guarding the Saints, Heb. 1.14. This the heathens hammered at, for both Plutarch and Proculus the Platoniſt ſay, that the Angels doe foreign travel betwixt heaven and earth, carrying the commands of God to men, and the deſires of men to God.Juſſa divina ferentes ad homines, & hominem vo… ad deos.

And Satan came alſo among them] That old man-ſlayer, (envying Jobs holineſſe and happineſſe, as much as the good Angels rejoyced in it, and promoted it, for he was ſeen of Angels of both ſorts) would needs make one among thoſe Sons of God, not without Gods over ruling power; although he regarded not ſo much Gods authority, as wanted an opportunity and licenſe to do miſchief. In reference to this hiſtory George Marſh Martyr, in a certain letter of his writeth thus to his friend: the ſervants of God cannot at any time come and ſtand before God, that is, lead a godly life, and walk innocently▪ but Satan comes alſo among them: that is the daily accuſeth findeth fault, … perſecuteth and troubleth the godly &c. Yet unleſſe God do permit him, he can do nothing at all, not ſo much as enter into a filthy hog. But we are more of price then many hogs before God.Acts and Mon. fol. 14 23.

Before the Lord] Or By or Near the Lord. But can Satan come into the preſence of God▪ Mr. Caryl.Surely no otherwiſe ſaith a grave Divine then a blind man can come into the Sun: he cometh into the Sun, and the Sun ſhineth upon him, but he ſees not the Sun. Satan comes ſo into the preſence of God, that … of God: he is never ſo in the preſence of God, as to ſee God.

p. 7Verſe 7. And the Lord ſaid unto Satan] either by forming and creating a voice in the air, as Matth. 3.17. Job 12.28. or by an inward word, after an unſpeakable manner, manifeſting his wil, as he willed, to Satan. The School men have great diſputes about the ſpeech of ſpirits: but this they agree in, that the intention of one ſpirit is as plain an expreſſion of his mind by another ſpirit (when he hath a will that the other ſhould underſtand it) as the voice of one man is to another.

Whence comeſt thou?] This the Lord asketh not as if he were ignorant; for he knows all things, and that from eternity, neither is there any creature that is not manifeſt in his ſight, but all things are naked and open before his eyes, Heb. 4.13. yea, in him all things ſubſiſt, Col…. 1.17. So that there can be no motion of the creature without his privity: God therefore thus interrogateth Satan, that he might ſhew himſelf to be his Judg, and that he might exact a confeſſion out of his own mouth.

Then Satan anſwered the Lord] the word ſignifieth, to speak in witneſſe-bearing, Exod. 20, 16

From going to and fro in the earth] He ſaith not, from inſtigating men to all manner of wickedneſſe, from ranging up and down as a roaring Lion, to devour ſoules, from ſinning that ſin againſt the Holy Ghoſt every moment &c. All this he cunningly diſſembleth, and ſaith in effect, as once Gehezi did, Thy ſervant was no where, or for no hurt to any, when as he is never but doing miſchief; as Pliny ſaith of the Scorpion, that there is not one minute wherein it doth not put forth the ſting. Is not the hand of Joab in this buſineſſe? So, is not Satan in all the ſins of the wicked, and in moſt of the troubles of the godly? He… quàm furit Satan, & impellis ſecures homines ad horrenda flagitia &c. ſaith Luther! O how doth Satan range and rage, that he may glut himſelf with the blood of ſoules? In proſperity be makes men lay their hearts too near it, in adverſity to lay it too neer their hearts. Upon Job he tried both theſe ſtratagems.

And from walking up and down in it.] A great Peripatetike he is, and he walks the rounds; for he is yet a priſoner at large, only he hath his fetters upon his heeles, Jude 6, and in them he fri…keth up and down, and fetcheth a circuit to ſpy faults, and to take advantages. Mr. Broughto… read…th it, from ſearching to and fro in the earth &c. Non dormit a… ſemper-vigil ille ſynag…g… ſun Epiſc…pus, ſaith one,Amama. he is vigilant and diligent, reſtleſſs and unquiet … (whom one calleth the divels Patriarch) could ſettle no where, but ran up and down as a fugitive and a vagabond, Gen. 4. It is ſaid Matth. 12.45. that this unclean ſpirit walketh in dry places ſeeking reſt and finding none. Not but that dry and wet are all one with him, but it importeth his reſtleſsneſſe. See the like Jer. 17.5. to run to and fro, is the condition and curſe of thoſe that are once departed from God. Take heed br…thre… (ſaith the Apoſtle) leſt there be in any of … evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God, and wandring after worldly vanities. Take heed of giving way to wilful diſtractions in holy duties. Mens hearts are oft ſo divided and diſſipated,Heb. 3.12.Heb 3:12 that if after any duty they ſhould put this queſtion that God doth here to Satan, Whence comeſt that … From compaſſing the earth. &c.

Verſe 8. Haſt then conſidered my ſervant Job?] Job then was in Gods account a conſiderable perſon and … one as whoſe praiſe was not of men, but of God. Such … all godly people, but eſpecially thoſe that are eminent, tall Chriſtians; full of …, filled with all knowledge, as thoſe Romans chap. 15.14. men of choice ſpirits as …, that walk up and down the world as ſo many conquerors 1 John 5.4. then are clothed with the Sun, and tread upon the Moon, Rev. 12.1. Theſe are men of mark foreign looking after. A man would have gone us farre to have ſoon Luther, as he in the ſtory, did to ſee Livy; or as the Queene of Sheba did to ſee Sol…mon. A man would fetch ſuch golden ſentences as thoſe he uttered … knees from R…me or Jeruſalem, ſaith a Reverend man that writeth his life. The tong…ue of the juſt is at choice ſilve…, but the heart of the wicked is little worth, Mr. Sam. Cla…Prov. 10.20. Hence Antiochus is called a vile perſon, De…. 11.21. though a great Potentate. And the Prophet tells Jor…m that wicked King of Iſrael, that but for Jehoſhaphats ſake (a better man) he would not have looked toward him, nor have ſeen him, 2 King. 3.14. Job was a man of weight, and great worth, as were thoſe precious ſons of Zion, Lam. 4.2. Didſt thou not therefore make a ſtand at his door, ſaith God? Seeſt thou not how he ſtands as a ſtandard-bearer? ſhines as a p. 8great light? ſhewes forth in his whole practiſe ſuch a power of godlineſſe, as is ſufficient either to draw hearts, or to daunt them? haſt thou met with ſuch a man in all thy circuit, that can quit himſelf ſo well and wiſely in all eſtates, like as gold is purged in the fire, ſhineth in the water? ſeeſt thou not how all his principles, practiſes, and aims, are ſupernal and ſupernatural?

That there is none like him in the earth] This was an high praiſe indeed; and yet no hyperbole: he was a Giant to other good people, who were but dwarfes and Zanies to him, for growth of grace, and heighth of holineſſe. He was the paragon of his time; and of impatallel piety. As Ahab was a very Non-ſuch for wickedneſſe, 1 King 21.25. ſo was Job for goodneſſe. As Hezekiah out-ſtripped all the Kings of Judah for his truſting in the Lord 2 King. 18.5 and Joſiah for his integrity, 2 King. 23.25.foreign and the Centurion for his heroick faith Matth. 8. and Paul for his plu… ultra, Philip. 3. and Ambroſe, that in Theodoſius his account, he was the only Biſhop: So it was here, Job was above others, as Saul was above the people by the head and ſhoulders. As he was the greateſt, ſo the beſt man of all the children of the Eaſt, not a man came neer him, and yet they might be dear to God nevertheleſſe. But it is with good people, as with Jonathans ſignal arrowes: two fell ſhort, and but one beyond the mark &c. God hath his ſervants of all ſorts and ſizes: and eſt aliquid prodire tenus &c.

A perfect and an upright man &c.] A tough piece thou findeſt him, I ſuppoſe, and not eaſily malleable. Thou haſt been doing at him, I doubt not, but canſt do no good on't. Thou haſt ſet thine heart upon him, and tried thine utmoſt skill to overturn him, but haſt met with thy match, and been ſent away without thine errand: thou haſt but beat upon cold Iron: thou haſt ſtruck fire, but without tinder; thou haſt knock'd at the doore, but there was none within to open to thee. Thus God ſpeaketh, to ſting Satan; and (as it were) …riump…ing over his and Jobs adverſary.

Verſe 9. Then Satan anſwered and ſaid] Satan and his imps will …ver have ſomewhat to ſay againſt the cleer truth, their wits will better ſerve them to elude or withſtand it, then their pride and malice will ſuffer them … to yeild and acknowledge it. But what ſaid Austin of the hereticks of his time, Ga…riant illi, nos creda…: Let them talk their fill, and think it a great matter to have the laſt word, let us hold to our principles, and count it enough, that with …, we have good report of all men (or if not ſo, yet) of the truth it ſelf, 3 John 12.

Doth Job fear God for nought?] q.d. No ſuch matter. Is there not a cauſe, as they ſaid once? hath he not wages of the beſt? and are not thy retributions more then bountiful? he may ſerve thee well enough for each price and pay as he daily receiveth: He may ſwim well enough, when ſo held up by the chin. But the truth is, Job is a meer mercenary, and ſerveth God for line; he ſerveth not God, but himſelf upon God: in a word, he is an arrant hypocrite, and a ſelf ſeeker, ſuch an one as doth in par…bola ovis capras ſua… quarere, pretend piety to his own worldly reſpects, and ſerves God meerely out of intereſt. An … indeed doth ſo; being therein like the Eagle which ſoreth aloft, not for any love of heaven; her eye is all the while upon the prey, which by this means ſhee ſpieth ſooner, and ſeizeth upon better. But how will Satan prove that Job is an hypocrite, ſith he cannot poſſibly know his heart? and did not the ſearcher of hearts acquit Job of this ſoule ſin in Satans hearing, when he pronounced him perfect and upright &c. How impudent then is this accuſer of the brethren? The beſt is, that we have an … with the Father, who puts by, and non-ſuites all Satans accuſations in the Count of heaven, 1 John 3.2. Yea, though Satan ſome…imes ſtand at the right hand of … Zech. 3.1. and may ſeem to have the better of him: yet here's the comfort, Jeſus Chriſt our Advocate is alſo a propitiatum for our ſ…ns, as it is in the ſame text. Who then ſhall ſay any thing to the charge of Gods children? Or if any do, what need we care, when it is God that juſtifieth, and the Saints as vanquiſhers ſhal come off as Job did, with great glory to themſelves, and ſhame to the aſſailer.

Verſe 10. Haſt not thou made an bedge about him?] or, haſt thou not trenched him in, and ſecured him with thine own bare hand, as in a town of war, or tower of braſſe? thou thy ſelf either art the …dge, or makeſt it; and that not only about his perſon, but about his people, children, ſervants &c. yea, about his whole eſtate, p. 9ſo that there is no coming at him: and this Satan ſeemes to ſpeak very angrily. See the note on Zech. 2.5.

On every ſide] per circuitum, circumcirca. The divel could find never a gap, make never a breach. Oh the ſafety of a Saint, that goes alwaies under a double guard, the power of God without him, and the peace of God within him! The Lord himſelf is his keeper, the Lord his defence upon his right hand, Pſal. 121.5. See Pſal 91. How miraculouſly hath Geneva been upheld, a ſmall City environed with enemies, and barred out from help of other Churches! How well may we ſit and ſing, If the Lord had not been on our ſide, now may England ſay, if the Lord had not been on our ſide, when men (or rather divels in the ſhape of men) roſe up againſt us, then had they ſwallowed us up quick, when their wrath was kindled againſt us. Pſal. 124.1, …Ps 124:1They were not our wooden walls that ſaved us &c. but thy right hand, and thine arme, and the light of thy countenance, becauſe thou hadſt a favour unto us, Pſalm 44.3. This was a better wall then that about China or Babylon, or that which David ſo ſoon leaped over by the help of his God, Pſal. 18. who is ſic omnibus attent us ut non detentus à ſingulis, ſo helpful to the whole community of his people, as that he neglecteth not any one that pertaineth unto him.

Thou haſt bleſſed the work of his hands] ſo that he hath good ſucceſſe in all his buſineſſes, all things thrive well under his hand; this the divel ſtomacked; and, becauſe he could not come at Jobs heart, fed upon his own. Malice drinketh up the moſt part of its own venome. It pleaſeth the Lord well, that his people proſper, In Pſal 139.Ps 139but the divel cannot endure it. Well might Auſtin ſay, Invidia eſt vitium diabolicum, envy is a divelliſh ſin, for it transformeth men into ſo many breathing divels.

And his ſubſtance is increaſed in the land.] Heb. is broken forth; ſo that his houſe is too little to hold the precious and pleaſant riches that are therein; his grounds cannot contain the increaſe of his cattle: ruperunt horrea meſſes. In fine, there is no end of his wealth.

Verſe 11. But put forth thy hand] Make Job feele the weight of it, as good people uſually do more then others; yet not ad exitium, but ad exercitium, their croſſes are not penal, but probational and medicinal. The ſame holy hand of God that was put forth to protect and bleſſe Job, ſhall bee put forth to afflict him. It muſt needs be therefore done in meaſure, and in mercy. If he ſmite Job, it ſhall be in the branches only, and not at the root, Iſa. 27.8. for there is a bleſſing in it; his hand ſhall not be further put forth to ſmite, then to ſave, Iſai. 59.1. Acts 4.31. Pſalm 144.7. If Satan or his inſtruments over-do, and offer to exceed their commiſſion, he will never endure it, Zech. 1.15. This Satan knew very well, and therefore motioneth that God would put forth his hand and touch him; or, Put forth thy hand. I pray thee; or, Put forth thy hand a little (ſo ſome render it) and touch him; that is, lightly afflict him. Confer Geneſ. 26.11, 19. and Pſalm 105.15.

And touch all that he hath] or touch any thing that he hath; ſo the word Col is uſed, Job 8.12. Prov. 1.17. And it is, as if he ſhould ſay, Lay but ſome light loſſe upon him, and he will ſhew his unſoundneſſe; as if but light weights be hanged on rotten boughs, they will ſoon break, and as if wooden or earthen veſſels be ſet empty to the fire, they will quickly crack.

And he will curſe thee to thy face] Heb. If he do not curſe thee q. d. then I ſhall much marvel, or then ſay, I have no skill in him, if he will not thereupon bluſter and blaſpheme thee, and that openly, impudently, boldly, to thy very face, avowedly, as …aligula did, when he dared his Jove to a Duell, with that Hemiſtick in Homer foreign: as Mahomet the Grand Seigniour greatly grieved with the diſhonour and loſſe he had at Scodra, moſt horribly brake out into blaſphemous words not fit to be related; as that black mouthed Pope with his al deſpito di Dio. Turk. hiſt. fol. 423. Acts & …on. 14.17.They ſet their mouthes againſt heaven, ſaith the Pſalmiſt, and let fly at God himſelf; they howle upwards with the wolf when hunger-bit; they utter their owne harſh voice, as the Parrot when beaten; and like birds of prey that have been long kept in the dark, are out of meaſure fierce and furious when once they come abroad, ſo are ignorant and graceleſſe perſons; But Job was none ſuch, what ever the divel deemed and averred of him. Pompey when he had loſt the field, might, for want of grace, ſay that there was a miſt overth…ye of providence. Brutus, when overcome p. 10by his enemy Antony, may ſay in his rage, that all things are carried by blind fortune,Dio. by hap-hazard. Atque deos, atque astra vocat crudelia. — Thoſe miſcreants in Malachi may ſay, 'tis but loſt labour to ſerve the Lord, chap. 3.14. But Satan ſuggeſting that Job would do any ſuch thing if croſſed, did (as one ſpeaketh) either lie knowingly, or at leaſt gueſſe ignorantly.

Verſe 12. And the Lord ſaid unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power.] Here God in appearance condeſcendeth to the divels deſires. But we muſt know, that Gods end in this large grant, was not to gratifie the divel, but to glorifie himſelf, by making Satan an inſtrument of his own ſhame and infamie, when by all that he could do, Job would not be drawn to think or ſpeak amiſſe of God; though Satan left him his wife (who was within his commiſſion) to tempt him to it: and afterwards left him his tongue untouched (when all his body beſides was ſmitten with fore boiles) as hoping haply, he would have curſed God therewith.

Only upon himſelf put not forth thy hand] Meddle not with his outward or inward man. He would fain have been doing with both, and had done it now, but for this mercifull reſtriction; which to the divel was (no doubt) a very great vexation. But how could he help it, otherwiſe then as horſes digeſt their choler, by biting on the bridle? The will of the Lord muſt ſtand: and Job, though he ſhall have his backburden of croſſes of all kinds, yet they ſhall not be laid upon him all at once, but piece-meal,Acts and Mon. fol. 1579. and at ſeveral times. Fidelis eſt Deus, ſaith the Apoſtle (and Father Latimer died in the flames with thoſe ſweet words in his mouth) God is faithfull, who will not ſuffer us to be tempted above that we are able &c. but will ſurely proportion the burden to the back, and the ſtroke to the ſtrength of them that ſhall beare it. See his gracious dealings with the Apoſtles, at their firſt ſetting forth into the world: and how by degrees he inured them to bear the Croſſe of Chriſt, Acts 2. & 4. & 5. & 12.

So Satan went forth from the preſence of the Lord] As thinking every houre two, till he had ſped his commiſſion: the divel deſcended like lightning upon the earth, to ſearch occaſions to ruine Job, and to triumph over his patience, to touch all that he had, and to touch him to the very quick. This diligence of the divel in evil-doing, how happy were it, ſaith Mr. Beza, if we could imitate in doing well? But behold, whileſt Chriſts enemies watch, and in the night ſet themſelves in readineſſe to take him, his chief diſciples do not only ſnort and ſleep, but cannot ſo much as be awaked in the garden.

Verſe 13. And there was a day] A diſmal day it proved to Job, a day of trouble and diſtreſſe, a day of waſtneſſe and deſolation, a day of darkneſſe and gloomineſſe, a day of clouds and thick darkneſſe, as Zeph. 1.15. That ſubtle ſerpent ſet upon miſchief, purpoſely picketh out ſuch a time to do it, as wherein ſuch a ſad and ſudden change was leaſt of all looked for; and then laies on amaine (as if he were wood) with the hail-ſhot, hell-ſhot of ſharpeſt afflictions. He knowes well, that as mercies and deliverances, the more unexpected they are, the more welcome, (as Abrahams receiving his ſon Iſaac after a ſort from the dead: Iſraels eduction out of Egypt, when they were forſaken of their hopes: Jonah his being drawn out of the belly of hell (as he phraſeth it, chap. 2.2.) ſo croſſes, the more ſuddenly they befall men, the more they amate them; and finding weak minds ſecure, they make them miſerable, leave them deſperate.

When his ſons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine] Wherewith, if their hearts were overcharged (and what more eaſie? the divel foiled our firſt parents by inordnate appetite, and finding it then ſo ſucceſsfull a weapon, he maketh uſe of it ſtill) that day might come upon them unawares, Luke 21.34. That was Satans drift ſurely, however it fell out: and ſo, to deſtroy body and ſoul together. But it is to be hoped, that he was diſappointed of his aime; and that death was ſent in haſt to Jobs children, as an invitant to a better feaſt: and that they might do as our Saviour did, who being at a feaſt at Bethany, fell into a meditation and diſcourſe of his death and b…al, John 12.7, 8. Sure it is, that although the wicked may die firming, and ſhall die in their ſins, John 5.21 and ſo be killed with death, as Jezebels children were, Rev. 2.23. Yet Gods children ſhall not dye before their time, Eccleſ. 7.17. or till the beſt time, till their work is done, Revel. 11.7. No malice of man or divel can antedate my end a minute (ſaith one), whileſt my p. 11maſter both work for me to do. It is the happineſſe of a Saint, that he is ſure not to die till that time, when, if he were but rightly informed, he would even deſire to die. Happy is he, that after due preparation is paſſed through the gates of death, ere he be aware, as Jobs children were.

Verſe 14. And there came a meſſenger] A ſad relater, not a divel in the ſhape of a man, as the Rabbines would have it (let that paſſe for a Jewiſh fable) but one of Jobs own ſervants, or ſome other eye-witneſſe, to make Job believe, belike, that as an evill man, he only ſought rebellion, ſith ſuch cruel meſſengers were ſent againſt him, Prov. 17.11.

The oxen were plowing, and the aſſes feeding &c.] i.e. We were none of us either idle, or ill-occupied: but taking pains, and tending our cattle, when this diſaſter befell us. Fools, becauſe of their tranſgreſſion, and becauſe of their iniquities, are afflicted, Pſalm 107.17. they create themſelves croſſes, ſuch as muſt therefore needs come with a ſting in them. See Gen. 42.21. But Jobs ſervants were honeſtly employed when plundered and aſſaſſined; which ſheweth, that his loſſes were not penall, but probationall.

And the aſſes feeding beſide them] Peter Martyr upon the firſt of Samuel, Com. in 1 Sam. 12.1 Sam 12wittily applyeth this text to prelates and non-reſidents; who, when put in mind of their duty would uſually anſwer, that they had ſubſtitutes and curates to do their buſineſſe for them; It… labor aliorum eſt, & proventus ipſorum; So that others took the paines, and they the profit (ſaith he) and as it is in the book of Job, The axen plow, and the aſſes feed beſide them.

Verſe 15. And the Sabeans fell upon them] i.e.Sabai apud poetas molles vocantur: but Satan ſet them a work. B…eerw. Enquir 135. The Arabians a theeviſh people that lived by rapine and robbery. They are at this day called Saracens of Sarac to rob; for they keep up their old trade, and are not all out ſo good as thoſe Circaſſians, a …ind of mongrell-Chriſtians, who are ſaid to divide their life betwixt ſinne and devotion; dedicating their youth to rapine, and their old age to repentance.

Yea, they have ſlain the ſervants] Heb. The young men; for foreign &c. …. It was happy howſoever, that they were taken away, when in their lawful …alling, and about their honeſt employments: Eliah choſe to be taken in ſuch a poſture: for he knew the very time: and yet when the charriots of heaven came to fetch him up, he was going and talking to his Scholar Eliſha. The buſie attendance on our holy vocation, is no leſſe pleaſing to God, or ſafe for us to die upon, then an immediate devotion. Happy is that ſervant, whom the Maſter when he cometh, ſhall find ſo doing.

And I only am eſcaped alone to tell thee] For no other cauſe eſcaped this one, this ſingle one, but to adde to Jobs affliction. There was no mercy in ſuch a ſparing: It was, that Job might have the ill newes brought him ſuddenly and certainly. That old man ſlayer had ſo contrived it for the greater miſchief.

Verſe 16. Whiles he was yes ſpeaking] See here we may, that miſeries many times ſtay not for a mannerly ſucceſſion to each other;Aliud ex alio malum. Terent. foreign Aciſtoph. but in a rude importunity throng in at once: Fluctus fluctum tr…, one deep calleth to another; and as one ſhower is unburthened, another is brewed, Eccleſ. 12.2. It muſt not ſeeme ſtrange, but be joyous to Saints when they fall (or be precipitated, plunged) into divers …emptations, Jam. 1.2. For croſſes ſeldome come ſingle.

There came alſo another, and ſaid] Before Job could recollect and recover himſelf, or take breath: this was a ſore trial: It is a mercy that, we have ſome lucida intervalla, that the rod of the wicked doth not alwaies reſt on the lot of the righteous; that there are any interſpiri…, and Halcyons, ſith here they muſt have it, or no where, Rev. 21.4.

The fire of God] This was more terrible then the former; becauſe God ſeemed to ſight againſt Job with his own bare hand, by fire from heaven; as once he did againſt Sod…, Be not … unto we, O Lord, ſaith Jeremy, chap. 17.17. And then I care nor though all the world ſet againſt me. If Marriners, in a tempeſt have ſea room enough, their is no fear ſo if men in afflictions can ſee and ſay, …; and on the contrary,Heb. 10.Heb 10 it is fearfull to fall into the hands of the living God.

And hath … up … ] wherewith Job was wont to offer ſacrifice. It was p. 12great joy to thoſe in Joel, that God after a ſore and long famine, would yet leave a bleſſing behind him; even a meat-offering and a drink offering &c. Joel 2.14.

And thy ſervants.] Thoſe ſouls of men, as they are called, Rev. 18.13. This was a worſe loſſe then that of his ſheep.

And I only, &c.] See the Note on Verſe 15.

Verſe 17. While he was yet ſpeaking] See on Verſe 16.

The Chald…ans] A baſe and obſcure people from the beginning, ſubject to the Aſſyrians, but yet more potent then the Sabaans, as appeareth by the three bands they made out. The Sabaea…s are noted by Strabo to be an idle and effeminate people. The Chaldeans are ſet forth in the Scripture to be a bitter and haſty Nation, terrible and dreadfull, fiercer then the evening wolves, &c. Hab. 1.6, 7, 8. Satan proceeds by degrees to afflict Job, that he may at length over-turn him: but beyond expectation, he held out all aſſaults: Inſtar rupis qua in mari vadoſo horridi Jovu, & irati, ut it a dicam, Neptuni fervidis aſſultibus undique verberata non cedit aut minuitur, ſed obtendit aſſuetum luctibus latus, & firmâ duritie tumentis unde impetum ſuſti… ac frangit.J…an. Wower Polymath.

Made out three bands] Which were marſhalled and ſet in array by the Divel, who was their Commander in chief Sic ſape lo…catus incedit Satan, & cataphractus, as Luther ſpeaketh: he hath his Legions among men alſo, who (like thoſe vulturine Eagles Job 39.30.) do glut-glut blood, as the Hebrew word there ſoundeth and ſignifieth.

And fell upon the Camels] Heb. Spread themſelves over them, ruſhed and ran violently making an impreſſion upon the Camels.

And have carryed th…m away: Heb. Have taken them to themſelves, though Job had never dealt diſcourteouſly with theſe Chaldeans, nor had his Camels treſpaſſed them, but were carefully kept by the ſervants. Innocency is no target againſt injury; neither doth Victory alwayes argue a juſt Cauſe.

Yea, and ſlain the ſervants, &c.] See the Note on Ver. 15.

Verſe 18. While he was yet ſpeaking. See Verſ 16.

Thy ſons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine] This was the laſt, but not the leaſt of Satans aſſaults, reſerved purpoſely to the laſt, to cruſh him quite, when he was now ſpent and ſpiritleſſe, as he hoped. Let us look for like dealing, for a tough bout, at death howſoever: and be alwayes ready prepared for another and a worſe encounter.Seneca. It is ſaid of Caeſar, that he ſometimes put up, but ſeldom or never put off his Sword. It is ſaid of Qui Elizabeth, that in the greateſt calm ſhe provided for a ſtorm. It is ſaid or the b…rd Onocrotalus, that ſhe if ſo well practiſed to expect the Hawk to grapple with her, that even when ſhe ſhutteth her eyes, ſhe ſleepeth with her beak exalted, as if ſhe would contend with her adverſary. Should not we ſtand conſtantly upon our Guard, who have ſo reſtleſſe and pitileſſe an enemy?

Thy ſons and thy daughters &c.] Men may die then with the meat in their mouthes, and in the midſt of their mirth and jollity; as did Amnon, Elah, Balſhazzar. W…ether therefore we eat or drink &c. do all to the glory of God. 1 Cor. 10.31. Let there be holineſſe to the Lord written upon our pots, Zech 14.21. Let us eat, and drink, and ſleep eternal life. as a reverend Scotch Divine was ſaid to do. Jobs good heart aked and quaked (likely) at the hearing of this ſad newes, of ſo ſudden a death of his children, amidſt their merriments: for he uſed to ſay, when there was no ſuch danger. It may be, my ſons have ſinned, and curſed God in their hearts. Me thinks, I hear him ſaying, or rather ſighing out thoſe ſorrowfull words of Cratiſic… in Pl… tarch, Plut. in vit. Cleomenis.when ſhe ſaw her dear children ſlain afore her, Quò, pueri, eſt … profecti? Poor ſouls, what's become of you? See more on Verſe 13.

Verſe 19. And behold, there c…me a great wind] The Divel (doubtleſſe) was in this wind (as he is by divine permiſſion, the Prince of the power of the air, Eph. 2.2. and can thereby do much miſchief) what wonder then though it were a great wind, ſith ſpirited by him, and … came on amaine, and with a …, as being driven on by the Divel It was a wonderfull wind (belike a whirlwind) and hath therefore a Behold ſet upon it; ſuch a wind as the Relator had never known before: The Rabbins ſay, that he was ſo affrighted with it, that no ſooner had he made an end of his report of it to …. Sure it is, that he relateth the matter … and graphically, with …, and p. 13without that moderation and making the beſt of things at firſt, as in ſuch caſes is uſuall, when parents are firſt made acquainted with the ſudden death of their children; or other ſad accidents that have befallen the…. This meſſenger cl…ttereth out all at once, being thereunto ſet on, and ſuborned by Satan (as Lava…er thinketh) to ſtirre up Jobs ſtomack, and to make him break off that ſo well-twiſted thred of his patience.

From the wilderneſſe] of Idumea, or Arabia, called deſerta. The divel, who haunteth dry and deſert places, was the Aeolus that ſent it. Let us bleſſe that God (the maker and maſter of theſe Meteors, and of all things elſe) who bindeth up ſuch an enemy and boundeth ſuch a power.

And ſmote the four corners of the houſe. This was extraordinary, and therefore the more dreadfull: God ſeeming to fulfil upon Job and his children, what he threatneth in the Law, Deut. 28.59. I will make their plagues wonderful. But what ſaith Solomon, and that after long debate with himſelf about occurrents of this nature? For all this I conſidered in mins heart, even to declare all this, that the righteous, and the wiſe, and their works, are in the hand of God: no man knoweth, either love or hatred, by all that is before them, Eccleſ. 9.1, 2 by externals we cannot judge aright of eternals. Let it be our care to lay hold on eternal li…e; and then ſudden death can do us no hurt; no gueſt cometh unawares to him who keeps a conſtants table.

And it fell upon the young men, and they are dead] No doubt but they were miſerably mawled and diſ-membred by the fall, ſo that they were pulled forth piecemeale, and it could hardly be known which was which as we ſay. The like death befell Scopa… (a rich and noble man of Th…ſſaly) together with his gueſts, all oppreſſed and ſlain together by the ruin of that room where, they were feaſting, and fearing no ſuch danger, as Tully telleth us; Simonides was at that feaſt, but was at that inſtant happily called out by two young men that came to ſpeak with him,Cic. lib. 2. de Orat…r. Acts & Mon. fol. 78…. Stones Chron. cont. by Hom▪ page 130. Luther had the like deliverance by a ſpecial providence, as Mr. Fox relateth. But ſo had not thoſe Londoners in the Reign of King Willi… the ſecond, who periſhed by a terrible tempeſt, which blew down ſuddenly ſix hundred and ſix houſes in that chief City. No more had thoſe that died by the fall of part of an houſe in Black-Friers, where and whiles Dru… a Popiſh Prieſt was preaching, who (together with an hundred more Papiſts his hearers) had there their paſport; this fell out in the year 1623. And the like we had lately at W…tney in Oxford-ſhire, where a ſcurrilous blaſphemous Comedy was by the fall of the room wherein in was acted, Feb. 3. 1652 turned into a Tragedy, as ending with the deaths of ſix, and hurts of about threeſcore, who were bruiſed and maimed, and ſome (as it were) half dead, carried away by their friends. The narrative whereof, together with what was preached there in three Sermons on that occaſion from Rom 1.18, is ſet forth by Mr. John Rowe (Lecturer in that town) in his book called Tragicomedia.

Verſe 20. Then Job aroſe and rent his mani…e] He ſtirred not at the three firſt dolefull tidings, but this fourth ſtartleth him; for he was neither a Stoick, nor a ſtock. His ſtrength was not the …ir ugth of ſtones, nor his …l…ſh of braſſe, chap 6.12. That he ſhould bear blowes, and never feel paine, or make moan; that he ſhould be ſilent in darkneſſe, 1 Sam. 2.9. and not cry when God bound him, Job 36.11. This Stoical apathy or indolency (condemning all affections in that their wiſe man, who, as Cicero very well ſaith, as yet was never found) Jeremiah juſtly complaineth of, Jer. 5.3. and the Peripatetickes utterly diſliked; teaching, that wiſedome doth not remove affections, but only reduce them to a mediocrity. Job kept the mean between deſpiſing the chaſtening of the Lord, and fainting when rebuked by him, Heb. 12.5When Germani… died, divers forraign Princes ſhaved their beards, to ſhew their grief. Su…ton, Legatur Hadr. Jun. com. de com…, cap. 2. & 4. Plut. is Al… See my Livertokens, pag. 37.38. &c.

And ſhaved his head] In token of his very great ſorrow, ſee Jer. 7.29. Micah 1.16. Make thee bald, and poll thee for thy delicate children, enlarge thy baldneſſe as the Eagle. See the note there. Plutarch telleth us, that Alexander the great, at the Funeral of Epheſti…n his favourite, not only ſhaved himſelf, but clipped his horſes and mu…es haire; yea, he plucked down alſo the battlements of the walls of the City, that they might ſeem to mourn too: but this ſavour'd of too much …u…enneſſe. How much better his Macedonians, who being once ſenſible of his diſpleaſure, laid by their armes, put on their mourning attire, came …oping to his tent, p. 14where for almoſt three dayes they remained with loud cries, and abundance of tears, teſtifying their remorſe for offending him, beſeeching his pardon, which at laſt they gained. God calleth to baldneſſe for ſin, Iſa. 22.12. which in other caſes was forbidden, Lev. 19.27. and 21.5. Deut. 14.1. This Job performed here: for he knew that although God afflicteth ſometimes for his own glory, John 9.3. ſometimes for triall or exerciſe of his peoples graces; yet ſin is ever at the bottome as the meritorious cauſe of what they ſuffer; and if he did not duely conſider it before, Zophar gave him to underſtand that God exacted of him leſſe then his iniquity had deſerved, chap. 11.6.

And fell down upon the ground] This ſhewes that Job aroſe not before to this end, that with a ſtout and ſtubborn geſture of the body, he might withſtand God: but rather, that he might with greater lowlineſſe and humility ſubmit to his juſtice, and implore his mercy: He fell down upon the ground and worſhipped, ſaith the Text; that is, he fell upon the ground to worſhip. He fell not all along on the earth, as Saul did, out of deſpondency and deſpaire, after that he had heard the divell preaching his funerall, he lay like an oxe on the earth, in the fulneſſe of his ſtature, as the Original hath it, 1 Sam. 28.20. but, as humbling himſelf under the mighty hand of God, who would raiſe him up in due ſeaſon, 1 Pet. 5.6. and as reverently and religiouſly ſubmitting to his will.Mr. Caryl. ex Bolduc in loc. And it is probably obſerved (ſaith a late Expoſitor out of another) that the ancient Prophets and holy men were called Nephalim procidentes, or Proſtrantes, that is pr…ſtrates or Fallers downe, becauſe in their worſhip they uſually fell down upon the earth, to humble themſelves before the Lord.

Verſe 21. And ſaid] He lay not on the ground dumb as a ſtone, as it is ſaid of Nabal, 1 Sam. 25.37 Herod Hom.1 Sam 25:37and fained of Niobe. He rageth not as Xerxes did, when he beat the Sea by way of revenge: neither vexeth himſelf without meaſure, as Achilles at the death of his friend Patroclus. He curſeth not God to his face (as Satan that old liar ſaid he would do) nor ſo much as the Sabees and Chaldees, or the divel the chief Enginere of his preſent ſufferings: but rejoycing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing inſtant in prayer he ſaid in the words of truth and ſoberneſſe.Rom. 12.12.Rom 12:12

Naked came I out of my mothers womb.] Hence the Proverb, Nudus tanquam ex …atre, not having a ragge to my back, but ſtark naked, as ever I was born. Hither I came a pitiful poor deſtitute, ſhiftleſſe and forlorn creature, not having a croſſe to bleſſe my ſelf with, as they ſay: much leſſe, ſheep and oxen, children and ſervants &c.Pſal. 22.9, 10Ps 22:9Ps 22:10 howbeit God provided for me then; and as he took me out of the womb, ſo he made me to hope when I was upon my mothers breaſts. I was caſt upon him from the womb &c. And ſhall I now caſt away my confidence which hath ſo great recompenſe of reward? No, though he hath ſtripped me ſtark-naked, and left me with as little as he firſt found me, yet I will truſt in him. It is he that maketh poore, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up againe, 1 Sam. 2.7. The will of the Lord be done. Here I am, let the Lord do with me, that which is right in his own eyes, 2 Sam. 15.26. He is Lord Paramount, the true proprietary and Owner of all: I have been only his ſteward, his tenant at will.

Jamque meos dedo Domino tibijure pena…es:

Tu mihi jus dederas, poſſe vocare Meos.

And naked ſhall I return thither again] ſc. to the womb of my Magna Paren…, the earth,Magna paren… terra eſt. Ovid. fitly called a Mother, becauſe as thence we came in Adam, ſo there-hence ſhall we be born again (as it were) at the reſurrection; called therefore the Regeneration, Matth 19.28. for ſo ſome read the words there; Ye which have followed me, ſhall in the Regeneration (when the Son of man ſhall ſit in his glory) ſit upon twelve thrones &c. See Pſal. 2.7. with Acts 13.33. This Plato hammered at in his foreign or great Revolution. To the grave therefore, that womb of the earth, that Congregation houſe of all living, as Job elſwehere calleth it, chap. 30.23. ſhall I return, ſaith he; implying that our life is nothing but a coming and a returning. Repatriâſſe erit hoc, ſaith Bernard concerning death. It is but a coming and a going (ſaith a Divine) it is but a flood and an ebb, and then we are carried into the Ocean of Eternity. I read of one, who being asked what life was? made an anſwer anſwerleſſe; for he preſently turned his back, and went his way. The truth is, wee fetch here but a turn, and God ſaith, Return againe, Pſal. 90.3. To live, is but to p. 15lye a dying: the earth receiveth us like a kind mother into her entrailes; when we have a while troden her underfoot, we haſte to our long home, Eccleſ. 12.5. Heb. to our old home; ſc. to the duſt, from whence at firſt we were taken. Tremellius rendreth it in domum ſaeculi, to the houſe of our generation, where we and all our Contemporaries ſhall meet. Cajetan, in domum mundi, the houſe which the world provideth for us; and to this houſe (much in Jobs mind, and therefore he here ſaith Thither) this houſe of the grave (as the Chald…e paraphraſeth) men muſt return naked. As he came forth of his mothers womb, naked ſhall he return to go as he came (ſaith Solomon) and ſhall take nothing of his labour which he may carry away in his hand, Eccleſ. 5.15. Death as a porter, ſtands at the gate, and ſtrips men of all their worldly wealth, leaving them ne obolum quidem unde naulum ſolvant.

Haud ullas portabis opes Acherontis ad undas.

Nudus ab inferna ſtulte vehêre rate.Propert.

Some have had great ſtore of gold and ſilver buried with them, but to ſmall purpoſe, more then to proclaim their own folly. Some wiſer then ſome: if I muſt leave all the reſt, yet this Ile take with me, ſaid a ſilly fellow, when giving up the Ghoſt, he clapt a twenty ſhillings piece of gold into his mouth. Athenaeus telleth of one,Rog. of Lou. that at the hour of his death, devoured many pieces of gold, and ſewed the reſt in his coat, commanding that they ſhould be all buried with him. Hermocrates being loth that any man ſhould enjoy his goods after him, made himſelf by will, heir of his own goods. Theſe muck-worms, like thoſe ten men Jer. 41.8. having treaſures in the field, of wheat, barley, oyle &c. are full loth to part with them: and having much cattle, as thoſe Reubenites and Gadites, Numb. 32.5. they would faine live ſtill on this ſide Jordan: having made their gold their God, they cannot think of parting with it: they would if poſſible, carry the world with them out of the world. But what ſaith the Apoſtle? We brought nothing with us into this world, and it is certain (ſee how he aſſevereth and aſſureth it, as if ſome rich wretches made queſtion of it) we can carry nothing out, nothing but a winding-ſheet;1 Tim. 6, 7.1 Tim 6:7 as Sultan Saladines ſhirt, which he commanded to be hung up at his buriall; a bare Prieſt going before the bier and proclaiming, Saladine the mighty Monarch of the Eaſt is gone, and taketh no more with him then what you here ſee. And to the ſame ſenſe the Poet ſpeaking of Annibal, ſaith,

— modò quam fortuna ſovendo

Congeſtis opibus doniſque refer ſit opimis,

Nudum tartareâ portârit navita cymbâ.Sil. Ital.

The Lord gave] It is his bleſſing upon the diligent hand, that maketh rich, Pro. 10.22. as without that, all pains and policies are but arena ſine calce, ſand without lime, they will not hold together. Not only every perfect, (that is, ſpiritual bleſſings in heavenly things) but every good gift, that is, temporal bleſſings in creature-comforts, come from above, from the Father of lights, Jam. 1.17. as pledges of his love to thoſe that are his, and as an earneſt of better things hereafter, Pſal. 23.67. Gen. 27.28. God give thee the dew of heaven, ſaith Iſa…k to Jacob. Eſau likewiſe hath the like, but not with a God give thee; he profanely ſacrificed to his owne net, not having God in all his thoughts. He ſaid with that Aſſyrian, Iſai. 10.13. By the ſtrength of my hand have I done this: my power and the might of my hand hath gotten me all this wealth &c. Is not this great Babel that I have built &c? Job. Deut. 8.10, 11.Deut 8:10Deut 8:11uttereth no ſuch bubbles of words; he arrogateth nothing to himſelfe, but aſcribeth all to God, whom the heathens alſo acknowledge — foreign,Hom. The giver of all Good.

And the Lord hath taken away] As well he might; for though I had the poſſeſſion, yet he hath the property; neither can he poſſibly do me wrong, ſith he is Lord of all, and may diſpoſe of me and mine as he pleaſeth. Hierome teacheth his friend Julian to ſay, Tuliſti liberos qu…s ipſe dedoras: non centriſtor quod recepiſti, ago gratias quòd dediſti: Thou haſt taken away the children which thou hadſt given me: I grieve not that thou haſt taken them, but give thee thanks for giving them.Vitam repoſcenti natura tanquam debitor bona fidei reddituras exult…. Ammi…n. l. 25. Julian that vile Apoſtate, ſaid at his death, I gladly render up my life to Nature requiring it; as a thankfull and faithfull debt…r. This was ſure, but a copy of his countenance, and meerly for a name. And what ſhall we think of Quin…us Fabius p. 16Maximus? who when he heard that his mother and wife whom he loved dearly, were ſlain by the fall of an houſe, and that his younger ſon, a brave hopefull young man, died the ſame time in Ʋmbria, he never changed his countenance (though his friends lamented the loſſe with many tears) but went on with the buſineſſes of the Common-wealth, as if no ſuch calamity had befallen him; was this patience or ſtupidity, whether? Patience is a fruit of the Spirit, Gal. 5.22. ſo that Aquinas needed not to have queſtioned,Aquin. 2, 2. q. 136. whether a man can have patience ſine auxilio gratiae, without the help of Gods grace. A natural man may, for ſiniſter ends, bite in his paine, as Marius did, when his leg was cut off by the Chirurgion; he may conceale his grief, as Mithridates did for a time; but all the while, he was in a kind of fever (Epialis the Phyſicians call it) wherein men be cold without, but hot as fire within. And the like we may judg of Philip the ſecond King of Spaine, who is ſaid to have born the loſſe of his invincible Armado that had been three years a rigging, with much patience, giving, and commanding to be given all over Spain, thanks to God and the Saints, that it was no more grievous. This was but a fained and a forced patience:Camd. Eliſ. 371. it was rather pertinacy then patience, it was an obſtinate ſtiffeneſſe of mind &c. Ye have heard of the patience of Job; and what was the ground of it? he beheld God in all, the Lord hath taken away; ſaith he: not a word of the Caldean and Sabean plunderers, not a tittle againſt the divel who had employed them: and why? Job eaſily diſcerned Gods arrowes in Satans hand, and Gods hand on the arms of thoſe that had robbed him, and wronged him: hence Taceo, Fero, Spero, was his motto. It is the Lord, ſaid Eli, when threatned with the loſſe of all. I was dumb (ſaith David) becauſe it was thy doing. So was Jacob for the ſame reaſon,1 Sam. 3.18. Pſal. 39. Gen. 34.5.1 Sam 3:18Ps 39Gen 34:5 in the rape of Dinah his only daughter, afterwards married to Job, ſay the Jew-Doctors. So was Aaron in the untimely end of his untowardly children, Lev. 10.3. So was Mauricius the good Emperour, when he ſaw his wife and children ſlain before his eyes by the traitor Phocas. And ſo was laſtly, that noble Lord of Pleſſis, who when he had loſt his only ſon (a Gentleman of marvellous great hope) in the Low-Countries, and ſhortly after, his Lady died of that griefe, hee took up thoſe words of David; See his life.I was ſilent, and ſaid no word, becauſe thou Lord hadſt done it.

Bleſſed be the Name of the Lord] As well for taking away, as for giving: This was a rare bird, that would thus ſing in winter. It is eaſie to ſwim in a warm bath, and every bird can ſing in a warm ſun-ſhine: but to bleſſe God heartily, when afflicted moſt heavily; this, this is the breathing of an excellent ſpirit: In every thing to give thanks, ô quam hoc non eſt omnìum! In this theme of bleſſing God for afflictions, alſo Baſil ſpendeth all his Sermon which he entitleth, Giving of thanks in all things; Chriſtianorum propria virtus eſt, ſaith Hierome, it is a vertue proper to true Chriſtians,Hicr. in Eph. 5.Eph 5 heartily, and not hollowly to give God thanks for croſſes, for it proceeds from the joy of faith, and ſome taſte of Gods fatherly care of us in our corrections. If good things befall thee, bleſſe God, and they ſhall be increaſed; if evill things, bleſſe God, and they ſhall be removed, ſaith Austin; of whom alſo it is reported, that he had alwaies in his mouth Deo gratias, Thanks be to God for whatſoever befalleth us.Si bona ded…rit D…us, grattas agi…, & augebuntur &c. The Prophet, Pſalm 89.38. to 52. lamentably complaineth of the Churches miſeries, and yet concludeth, Bleſſed be the Lord for evermore: and this he doth, not formally and ſightly, but earneſtly, and with much affection. Lo, this is the guiſe of thoſe that be gracious. But how blank (think we) was the Divel, when hoping to heare Job blaſpheme God, he heareth him bleſſing Gods Name in this ſort, The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away:foreign Sept. bleſſed be the Name of the Lord? The Greek and Latine tranſlations inſert here another ſentence that is not found in the Hebrew verity; viz. even as it pleaſeth the Lord, ſo come things to paſſe. Our late Common-prayer-book alſo hath the ſame words in the form for Burial of the dead.

Verſe 22. In all this Job ſinned not] The Greek and Latine verſions adde here, with his lips: but I could rather be of Mercers judgement, who referreth the former part of this verſe to the mind, and the later to the mouth: ſhewing that Job neither thought in his heart, nor uttered with his mouth any thing unmeet and unworthy of God; inſomuch, that both within and without, he carried away the victory and conqueſt over Satan,B…z…. and ſo better deſerved to be Sainted then our Henry the ſixth, of whom the Chronicler writeth thus. This King in both eſtates p. 17ſo demeaned himſelfe, that he modeſtly carried the one, and moderately under-went the other: yea, ſuch was his deportment, that the inconſtancy of his ſtate could not alter the conſtancy of his minde; inſomuch, that one of his ſucceſſours,Dan. hiſt. contin. by Truſſel. King Henry the ſeventh, laboured for that onelyonly vertue, to have him canonized for a Saint; and had obtained to have done it, had not the charges thereof ſo farre exceeded mediocrity, as to cauſe him to leave it undone. God himſelf hath here canonized, crowned and chronicled holy Job, for his many good properties before, and here for his humility and patience: The triall of his faith being much more precious then that of gold that periſheth, though it be tried with fire, is found to praiſe and honour and glory, 1 Pet. 1.7. It was a ſaying of Philoſtratus, that one Jupiter ſet out by Homer the Poet, was worth ten ſet out by Phydias the carver; becauſe the former flew abroad through all the world; whereas the other never ſtirred from his pediſtal at Athens: ſo one Job thus renowned by Gods owne pen, is farre beyond all that have been memorized in humane hiſtories for their aequanimity and conſtancy. In all this that Job ſuffered, acted, and uttered, he ſinned not, ſcil. ſinningly: he was not transformed into ſins image; he ſinned not by curſing God, as Satan hoped, and would have had it: or charged God fooliſhly, or with folly; with any thing inſolent, inſulſe, unſavory; he charged him not in the leaſt, to have dealt unwiſely or unworthily with him; and this is here mentioned, as Grace,Jam. 1.4.Jas 1:4 almoſt to a miracle, as Patience having her perfect work, and proving Job to be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.