Commentary on Ezra Nehemiah Ester Job and Psalms, Commentary 4 · Chapter 19

Commentary on Ezra Nehemiah Ester Job and Psalms · Commentary 4 · Chapter 19

p. 166CHAP. XIX. Verſe 1. Then Job anſwered and ſaid.]

HE replyed as followeth, to Bildads bitter, and tanting invective. His miſeries he here ſetteth forth graphically and tragically, grating to Bildad that he was dealt with no otherwiſe then if he were that wicked man deſcribed in the foregoing chapter: and yet denying himſelf to be any ſuch one, by his lively hope of a joyful Reſurrection, ſuch as would make a plentiful amends for all, ver. 26, 27, 28. For though Mercer make queſtion of it, yet I am out of doubt, ſaith Beza, that this is the true meaning of this place. And ſurely the whole Scripture doth not yeild us a more notable, or a more clear and manifeſt teſtimony, to confirm unto us the Reſurrection of our bodies, then this. This confeſſion of his faith, ſaith Lavater, is the chief thing in this Chapter, and therefore challengeth our beſt attention.

Verſe 2. How long will ye vex my ſoul?] viz. with your furious and reproachful charges & criminations? Have I not miſery enough already, but you muſt lay more load of ſcorn and contempt upon me; and ſo go on to trouble me, by adding to my ſaddeſt ſorrowes,Hoccine eſt moeſtum conſolari? ſuch as pierce to the very ſoul? Call you this comforting an afflicted friend?

How long will ye break me in pieces with words?] Words alſo have their weight, and if hard and harſh, Leniter volant, non leniter violant. Like maules they break the heart in pieces, like a rack they torment it, Pſal. 42.10. As with a Murdering weapon in my bones, mine enemies reproached me. You ſhall find ſome (ſaith Eraſmus) that of death be threatned can deſpiſe it; but to be belyed, reproached, ſlandered, they cannot brook, nor from revenge contain themſelves. Job was a ſtrong man both in faith and patience, yet put hard to it by the hard words given him by Bildad and the reſt, who did rather hurt his eare by the loudneſſe of their voices, then helped his heart, by the force of their reproofs. Gods ſervants muſt not ſtrive, but be gentle, 2 Tim. 2.23, 24. ſhewing all meekneſſe to all men, Tit. 3.2 Jam. 3.17. Gentle ſhowres comfort the earth, when daſhing ſtorms drown the ſeed. There is a two fold inconvenience followeth upon bitter and boiſterous proceedings with a ſuppoſed offendour. Firſt, the party looketh not ſo much to his own failing as to their paſſion, Secondly, As he is unconvinced, ſo they are not eſteemed: but though they have the right on their ſide, yet they loſe the due regard of their cauſe, and reverence of their perſons.

Verſe 3. Theſe ten times have ye reproached me] i.e. oftentimes. Herein Job endured a great fight of affliction, as the Apoſtle ſtileth it, Heb. 10.32, 33. a manifold fight, (as the word there ſignifieth.) Cate was two and thirty times accuſed publickly, and as oft cleared and abſolved. Baſil was counted and called an Heretick, even by thoſe who, as it appeared afterwards, were of the ſame judgement with him, and whom he honoured as brethren. Dogs in a chaſe bark ſometimes at their beſt friends, &c.

You are not aſhamed that you make your ſelves ſtrange to me.] Or, Are you not aſhamed that ye harden your ſelves againſt me? Or, That ye …ter and jeſt at my miſery? Significat etiam emere, vel componari.Or, That ye make Merchandiſe of me, and take your peny worths out of me? Beze(agreeable to our Tranſlation) paraphraſeth it thus, Ye take me up ſo ſhort, as if ye dealt with a ſtranger and forrainer, and not with a friend. And ſo the word is taken, Gen. 42.7.

Verſe. 4. And be it indeed that I have erred] Of humane frailty; for that there is any way of wickedneſſe in me (as you would have it) I ſhall never yeeld. But nimis anguſtares eſt, nuſpiam errare. Involuntary failings I am not free from: who knoweth the errors of his life? Pſal. 19.12. What man is he that liveth and ſinneth not? It is the ſad priviledge of mortality,Euphorm. ſaith one, Licere aliquando peccare, to have licenſe ſometimes to ſin.

Mine error remaineth with my ſelf.] q d. 'Tis little that you have done toward the convincing me of any error in all this time, and talk, which until ye have done, p. 167I muſt ſtil remain of the ſame mind. Or thus, You ſhall neither anſwer nor ſuffer for mine errour: what need then all this hear and harſhneſſe? Not that every man muſt be left to himſelf, and let alone to live as he lifteth. Admonition is a Chriſtian duty, and the word of exhortation, muſt be ſuffered, ſharp though it be, and to the fleſh irkſome: better it is that the Vine ſhould bleed then dye. Had Job been guilty, he would or ſhould have been as Veſpaſian is reported, Pati…utiſſimus veri, patient of a reproof. But his friends falſly accuſed him for an hypocrite, and fell foule upon another mans ſervant, whom they had nothing to do to condemn, Rom. 14. And hence this expreſſion of his diſcontent.

Verſe 5. If indeed yen wil wagnifie your ſelves againſt me] Or, will you indeed magnifie your ſelves againſt me? ſcil. becauſe of mine error, as verſ 4. which yet ye have not convinced me of? Will ye inſult over me therefore, and throw dirt upon me? Of Bonaſſus, a certain beaſt as big as an On, Ariſtotle reporteth,Hiſt. Animal. lib. 9 cap. 45. that having hornes bending inward and unfit for fight, after that he is wounded by the hunters, he flyeth for his life, and often letteth flye his dung for four yards or more, upon the dogs or men that purſue him, to their great annoyance. In like fort deal many diſputers of this world; when they cannot make good their matter by ſtrength of Argument, they caſt upon their adverſaries the dung of calumnies, ſo ſeeking to magnifie themſelves againſt him, and pleading againſt him his reproach.

And plead againſt me my reproach] Affliction expoſeth a man to reproach. Where the hedge is low, the beaſt will be breaking over. See Zeph. 3.12. with the Note there.

Verſe 6. Know, that God hath overthrown me.] Do not you therefore add affliction to the afflicted, which is ſo odious a thing to God, Pſal. 41.2.Diodaze. and 69.26. but regard the greatneſſe of mine evils, which draw theſe complaints from me that ſeem ſo immoderate to you. See Job 6.2.

And hath compaſſed me with his net.] Hath encompaſſed me round with affliction, that I can get out no way. An hunting term, Job 10.16. La… 1.23, Ezek. 12.13. Hoſ. 7.12. Bildad had made much mention of nets and grins,chap. 18.8, 9. where in God enſnareth and enſnarleth the wicked. Job granteth, that Gods not had encompaſſed him; but withal denyeth himſelf to be wicked, or that his friends ſhould therefore reproach him, but rather pity him.

Verſe 7. Behold I cry out of wrong, but I am not heard] Nothing is more natural and uſual then for men in miſery to cry out for help. Jobs great grief was, that neither God nor man would regard his moanes or deliver him out of the Net. God did not reſcue him, men did not right him or relieve him. His outcry ſeemeth to be the ſame in effect with that of Habakkuk the Prophet, chap. 1.2, 3. O Lord, how long ſhal I cry and then wilt not hear? even cry out unto thee of violence, and thou wilt not ſave? Why doſt thou ſhew not iniquity, and cauſe we to behold grievance? for ſpoiling and violence are before me, and there are that raiſe up ſtrife and contention. Wherefore lookeſt thou upon them that deal treacherouſly, &c. verſe 13. Thus Job, but with out an anſwer: as the Lion letteth his Whelps four themſelves hourſe for hunger, yea, till they are almoſt dead, ere he ſupplieth them. Sure it is, that God alwayes heareth his Jobs, though he doth not alwayes anſwer in our time, and in our way. Yea it is an hearing and an anſwer of prayer (ſaith one) that we can pray, though unheard and unanſwered.

I cry aloud] Heb. I ſet up my Note; cum gemitu & ululatu, with groaning and howling Men never pray ſo earneſtly, as in greateſt afflictions, Heb. 5.7. Hoſ. 12.4 then their prayers, like ſtrong ſtreams in narrow ſtreights, bear down all that ſtands before them.

Verſe 8. He hath fenced up my way, &c.] Here Job carried away, as it were, with a torrent of grief, amp…ſieth his miſeries by many other compariſons. And firſt of a Traveller, whom nothing ſo much troubleth in his journey as hedges and darkneſs. God, ſaith Job. hath every way hedged me out of content and comfort, ſo that though I ſeek it never ſo, I cannot find it. Gods people are oft brought into greateſt ſtraits, as David, Pſal. 31. and 142. Iſrael at the red ſea, Jehoſhaphat, 2 Chron. 20. that they may learne to depend upon the divine providence, &c.

And he hath ſet darkneſſe in my paths] I am benighted, and know nor wither p. 168to go, or how to get out. Darkneſſe is full of errour and terror. A child of light may walk in darkneſſe, Iſai. 50.10. Yea, in the valley of the ſhadow of death, Pſal. 23.4. yet is he never without ſome ſpark of faith, which guideth him in the deepeſt darkneſſe, until he behold the Sun of righteouſneſſe, Light is ſowne for the righteous, &c. heavineſſe may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning, Pſal. 30. ver. 6 And as before the day breaks, the darkneſſe is greateſt: ſo here.

Verſe 9.Gen. 37.23Gen 37:23 He hath ſtript me of my glory] This is the ſecond compariſon, ab externo corporis cultu & habitu, ſaith Merlin. From the outward habiliments and habits of the body. Our King Richard the 2^d, when he was to be depoſed, was brought forth gorgeouſly attired in his Robes royal, with a crown upon his head, a Scepter in his hand, &c but ſoon after deſpoiled of all, and unkinged, So it fared with poor Job, ſtripped and bereft of all that he formerly gloried in, and was reſpected for, as a man robbed hath all his cloathes taken off, and is leſt naked. In him it appeated that mortality was but the ſtage of mutability, as one ſaith of our H…y 6. who of a moſt potent Monarch,Daniels Hiſt. was, when depoſed, not the Maſter of a Molehil, nor owner of his own liberty.

And hath taken the Crown from off my head] Hence ſome infer, that Job was a King, the ſame with Jobab, King of Edom, mentioned Gen, 36.34. But this is uncertaine, ſith Crown is often in Scripture taken allegorically, for Riches, Authority, Dignity, and other Ornaments. Theſe were taken from Job, yea, from off his head, See Lam. 5.16. But he had a better Crown, quae nec eripi, nec ſurripi potuit, which could not be taken away; viz. that crown of twelve Stars, or celeſtial graces, Rev. 12.1. together with that Crown of glory (the fruit of the former) that is incorruptible and fadeth not away, 1 Pet, 1.4. Happy Job in ſuch a Crown; and that he was in the number of thoſe few heads deſtined to ſuch a Diadem. David had (whatever Job had) a Crown of pure gold ſet upon his head, Pſal. 21. this was a great mercy to ſo mean a man, ſith beyond a Crown the wiſhes of mortal men extend not. But David bleſſeth God for a better Crown, Pſal. 103.4. Who crowneth thee with loving kindneſſe and tender mercies. And how was this ſet on his head? Who for giveth all thy iniquities, &c. verſe 3. Neither can any take away this Crown, becauſe We are kept (Gr.foreign guarded or garriſon'd as in a Tower of braſſe, or Town of War, that is well fenced with walls and works and ſo its made impregnable) by the power of God through faith unto ſalvation, 1 Pet. 1.4.

Verſe 10 He hath deſtroyed me on every ſide] Heb. He hath demoliſhed, me, he hath pulled me down piece-meal, as an old houſe is taken down part by part. See Levit. 14.45. Judg. 8.17. God had made and faſhioned Jobs body together round about, chap. 10.8. and now he deſtroyeth it round about. The body of a man is a wonderful fabrick, wherein the bones are the timber-work, the head the upper-lodging, the eyes as windowes, the eye-lids as caſements, the browes as pent-houſes, the ears as watch-towers, the mouth as a door to take in that which ſhall uphold the building, and keep it in reparation; the ſtomack as a Kitchin to dreſſe that which is conveyed into it, the guts and baſer parts as ſinks belonging to the houſe, &c. All theſe were decaying apace in Job. to his thinking.

And I am gone] That is, I am as good as gone already; every day I yeild ſomewhat unto death, I am free among the dead, free of that Company.

And my hope hath he removed like a tree] He hath not left me ſo much as hope (which is the laſt comfort of the afflicted) of ever recovering here my health, wealth, and former enjoyments: but hath leſt me as a tree, that is plucked up by the roots, and ſo can never grow again, A Saint may be at that paſſe here in regard of his outward eſtate, that there may be to him neither hope of better, nor place of worſe, This was Cranmers Caſe.Melch. Adam.

Verſe 11. He hath alſo kindled his wrath againſt me.] Now if his wrath be kindled, yea but a little, woe be to all thoſe againſt whom it is bent. He will ſurely help miſchiefs upon them, he will ſpend his arrowes upon them, Deut. 32.22, 23. with Pſal. 2.12. Job felt them ſtriking in the ſides of his ſoul, even the invenomed arrowes of the Almighty; and yet this was only a Refiners fire, Mal. 3.2. or, if a conſuming fire, as Heb. 12.29. yet it was to waſte his corruptions only, to ſever the ſin which p. 169he hated from the Son whom he loved; to try and exerciſe his patience, &c. all which notwithſtanding, he complaineth heavily of theſe ſpunks and ſparks of divine diſpleaſure.

And counteth me unto him as one of his enemies.] Heb. As his enemies: not as a ſingle enemy, but a rabble of rebels, an Army of enemies, ſuch as ſhal one day meet at Armageddon, their Rendevouz. See chap. 13.24.

Verſe 12. His troops come together] i. e. Troops of tribulations and temptations, of Pirates and Robbers, (as the Seventy have it) ſickneſſe and other ſorrowes are Gods Souldiers, Matt. 8.8, 9. and they ſeldome come ſingle, James 1.2.foreign Sept. but trooping and treading on the heels of one another, Concatenat a piorum crux, a company comes.

And raiſe up their way againſt me.] As Souldiers beſieging a place caſt up their Trenches and Fortifications. Vatablus rendreth it, And have beaten their way upon me; that is, ſaith he, tribulations have ſo often paſſed over me, that they have made a path way upon me, more trauſenntium, as paſſengers uſe to do.

And encamp round about my tabernacle,] Afflictions hem me in on every ſide, the troops of troubles beſiege me ſo ſtraitly, that I can no way in all the world find relief or comfort; which now as by a ſtrong hand, yea, as by a ſtrong hoſte, are with-holen from my ſoul, and ſo are like to be for a long ſeaſon, as Sieges are many times. Heman was afflicted and ready to dye from their youth up, ſuffering thoſe terrors, Pſal. 88.15. Job was a man of ſorrowes.

Verſe 13. He hath put my brethren far from me] In their affections at leaſt: ſome ſtuck to him but for a miſchief, for they proved miſerable Comforters: as did likewiſe Peter to our Saviour, who fled not with the reſt of the Diſciples, but better he had, for any good he did him, A brother is born for adverſity, ſaith Solomon Proverb. 17.17 and although at other times there may be ſome unkindneſſe, fratum concordia rara eſt, yet in affliction and extremity good nature will work, and good blood will not belye it ſelf: But Jobs brethren proved unkind, and grew out of kind, they got fartheſt from him, when his enemies had beſieged him. And all this befel him, not without the Lord: He hath put my brethren far from us; this was no ſmall aggravation of the affliction, that God with-drew or with-held that aſſiſtance and influence that ſhould have inlarged and united the hearts of his brethren unto him. See Pſal. 105.25.

And mine acquaintance are verily eſtranged from me] Thoſe that formerly knew me throughly, and were as well knowne of me, mine intimate friends,Noti mei. Vulg. Neceſſarii met. Tigur. Quaſi eſſet ſcriptum aczaru. who knew all my heart, are now truly as ſtrange to me, as if there had never been any ſuch matter of Acquaintance. R. Solomon readeth it, They are cruel to me. All the brethren of the poor man hate him (ſaith Solomon, Prov. 19.7) how much mere do his friends go far from him? He purſueth them with words: yet they are wanting to him. This the Heathen, (as Ovid and others) heavily complain of. In the River Araris there is reported to be a fiſh called Scolopidus, which at the waxing of the Moon is as white as the driven ſnow, and at the wayning thereof, is as black as a burnt coal.foreign Thuc. Et cum fortuna ſtat que caditqus fides. Ovid. Tempora ſi fuerint nubula, ſolus cris. Ibid. A fit embleme of a falſe friend. Wealth maketh many friends, but the poor is ſepareted from his neighour, Prov. 19.4. who therefore turneth from him as a ſtranger, if not againſt him as an enemy.

Verſe 14 My kinsfolk have failed] ſcil. in courteſie, as Ruths Kinſman did, Job had many kinsfolk, but few friends, and this was a great grief to him, as it was afterwards alſo to David, Pſal. 31.11. and 38.11. and 69.8. to Heman, Pſal. 88.8. and to Paul. 2 Tim. 4.14.

And my familiar friends] They whom I favoured, ſaith Broughton, according to Pſal. 11.6.

Have forgotten me] Out of ſight, out of mind. A thing forgotten is as if it had never been. All Jobs courteſies were caſt away upon theſe Summon birds, who had well nigh forgotten that there was ever ſuch a man in the world as Job.

Ver. 15 They that dwel in mine houſe, and my maids, &c.] My Tenants, or my Gueſts, or my Sojourners, thoſe widowes and Orphans haply, whom he kept at his own charge chap. 31. More then this, my Maidens, theſe houſe keepere, entruſhed with the keyes of the family, and that are no drudges to waſh the feet of other ſervants, as p. 1701. Sam. 25.41. And for his ſervants of the other ſex, he was as courſely uſed by them too.

Verſe 16. I called my ſervant, and he gave me no anſwer.] Though I lay noder greateſt ſores and ſorrowes, and called them to help me, yet ſuch was their impudency and inhumanity, that they would not vouchſafe an anſwer, Conſidera hic quanta crux ſit, ſaith Brentius, à ſua propria familia a…ſpici & rideri; Conſider with me here, what an affliction it is, for a man to be deſpiſed and derided by his own family. A ſervants eye ſhould look to the hands of his Maſter, and the eye of a maiden to the hand of her Miſtreſs, to obſerve the motion thereof, and to pick out the meaning, Pſal. 12.2. Accounting their Governors worthy of all honour, 1 Tim. 6.1. as the Centurions obſequious ſervants did, Matth. 8.9. Sed ſic ferè ſunt ſerver rum ingenia, ſaith Merlin here: But ſuch is the condition of many ſervants now a dayes, that they will do no more then needs muſt, Jobs would neither ſay nor do.

I entreated him with any mouth.] As a ſuppliant to my ſervant, who lived upon me, but would do nothing for me, though I humbly beſought him. Here we may ſoe, ſaith Vatablus that when God is angry with a man, all goeth croſſe with him: It is good for us in this caſe, to reflect and ſee whether we have not ſerved God in this ſort. Alphonſus that renowned King, in a ſpeech to the Popes Ambaſſador, profeſſed that he did not ſo much wonder at his ſervants unthankfulneſs and undutifulneſs to him, as at his own to God.

Verſe 17. My breath is ſtrange to my wife] The corruption of his inwands (beſides the …fommeſſe of his out ward Ulcers) made his breath ſtrong and unwholſom. This his wife (as did that Roman Lady, who ſaid ſhe thought all mens breath as unſavoury as her husbands was) ſhould have born with in a time of ſickneſſe eſpecially; when ſhe ſhould have ſhew… her ſelf an help, and not an heart-break to her huſ…and Famous in our Chronicles is the Lady Eloner, wife to Prince Edward (afterwards Edward the Firſt) who extracted the poiſon out of her husbands wounds with her tongue,Cambd. in Middleſex, Speed 630. …cking daily (whilſt he ſlept) his ra…kling wounds, wheneby they perfectly cloſed. And no leſſe famous is the wife of Valdaumus, celebrated by Ludon. Vi…es Lib. 2 de Chriſtiana femina, p. 360. A young and beautiful Maid (ſaith he) was marched to a man ſtricken in yeers, whom after ſhe found to have a very fulſome breath, and a diſeaſed body, yet (out of conſcience, being by Gods providence become his wife) ſhe moſt worthily digeſted, with incredible patience and contentment, the languiſhing and loathſomneſſe of an husband, continually viſited with variety of moſt i…ſome and infectious diſeaſes: and though friends and Phyſicians adviſed her by no means to come near his, for fear of danger and infection, yet ſhe paſſing by with a loving diſdain and contempt theſe unkind diſſwaſions, plyed him night and day with extraordinary tenderneſſe and care, and ſervices of all ſorts above her ſtrength and ability: ſhe was to him friends, Phyſician, Wife, Nurſe; yea ſhe was Father, Mother, Brother, Siſter, Daughter, every thing, and thing, to do him good any manner of way, &c.

Though I entreated for the Childrens ſake, &c.] i.e. By the holy right of wedlock, and the fruit thereof, thoſe dear pledges of our matrimonial good affection: Children, as they are dear to their Parents,Jun. (Charos, Plautus ſomewhere calleth them) ſo they are an endearing to their parents, whoſe ſeed they are called, as if there were nothing left to the parents but the h…ks. This therefore was a melting argument, but it … not Job's wife. Men may ſpeak perſwaſively, but God onelyonly perſwadeth.

Verſe 18. Yea, young children deſpiſed me.] Fooles, ſaith the vulgar, who are never more pleaſant than when they play the Buffoons at my expence. Ʋngodly men ſome render it, … 16.11. Others, the baſer ſort of people. And ſurely none ſo baſe as they that deride vertue, eſpecially becauſe forſaken of fortune, as one phraſeth it. What a l…tter je…r was that of To bi… the ſervant, (or, ſtave) the Ammonite, Neh. 4.3? The baſeſt can mock, as the Abjects did David, Pſal. 45.15. and the Alestake… alſo, Pſal. 69.13. But it is an happi… to do well, and yet hear ill. All Gods people muſt …ready to paſs through good repo…, and evil report, 2 Cor. 6.2. And every Job muſt …ck…, that as the reproacher in …, not ſo much as a p. 171man (ſaith chryſoſtome;] So the reproached that bears it well, is Angelis par, equal to the Angels.

I aroſe, and they ſpake againſt me.] I aroſe, ſc. to rebuke them, or to pacifie them, or to paſs away from them, and my back is no Tooner turned, but they reviled me. Some render it, Sto coram illis, I ſtand before them; that is, they ſtay not till I am gone paſt, but reproached me to my face, ſuch is their boldneſs and baſeneſs: ſee Eſa. 3.5.

Verſe 19. All my in ward friends abhorred me.] Heb. All the Mortals of my Counſel. q.d. My moſt intimate acquaintance and aſſociates, my higheſt confidents to whom I was wont to open my boſome, and with whom I maintained cloſeſt correſpondency: Loe, theſe now abhorre me, and keep a loof off from me; yea, they appoſtatize from their profeſſed friendſhip; and renouncing the lawes of love, they deal deſpightfully with me, and are turned againſt me. Such an one was Abitophel to David, Pſal. 55.14, 15. Judas to Chriſt, Matth. 26, 23, and Bildad to Job (as ſome conceive that he conceited by the latter clauſe of this verſe) And they whom I loved &c.] Heb. and this man whom I loved, this bitter Bildad, that in his laſt ſpeech hath ſo greivouſly galled me, who have hitherto ſo highly prized him. What? thou my ſon Bildad? This went to the very heart of him,foreign as afterwards it did of David, when for his love they were his adverſaries, when they rewarded him evil for good, and hatred for his good will, Pſal. 109.4, 5. Precious therefore and worthy of all acceptation is that advice of the Prophet Micah, chap. 7.5.6, 7. Truſt not in a friend put not confidence in a guide keep the doors of thy mouth from her that lyeth in thy boſome. For the ſon diſhonoureth the father, — A mans enemies are the men of his own houſe. Look therefore unto the Lord,foreign &c. all that truſt in him, ſhal triumph: but for others, we may be compeld to complain with Q. Elizabeth, In Truſt, I have found Treaſon, &c.

Verſe 20. My bone cleaveth to my skin.] My skin is a bag of bones. I am become a meer Skeleton. and may well cry out, O my leanneſs, my leanneſs! Iſaiah 24.16Isa 24:16So bare I am grown, that little appeareth in me but skin and bones. My bones cleaveth to my skin at to my fleſh. (ſo it may be read) that is, as once it did in my fleſh,Oſſa ſub incurim apparent areda lumbis. when I was well lined within. Now, alas, I lie under a miſerable Maraſmus; and ſhould therefore be pitied, as being a juſt object of your commiſeration.

And I am eſcaped with the skin of my teeth.] Eſcaped I am, and come off (as out of an hot skirmiſh) with my life, and very little elſe. All I have leſt me whole is the skin of my teeth; that is, of my gums, into which my teeth are engraffed: the reſt of my body is all over of a ſcab. The vulgar rendreth it, My lips only about my teeth are leſt me untoucht. And Junius gives this gloſs, Job had nothing leſt him but the inſtrument of ſpeech. Theſe, ſay ſome, the Devil purpoſely meddled not with, as hoping that therewith he would curſe God. Cruſe him he might with his heart onelyonly; but this would have pleaſed the Devil nothing ſo well as to hear him do it with his tongue. this is the conceit of ſome of the Jew-Doctors.Hoc feciſſe Satanam volunt, ut voluntatem captret. Merc. But it is better to aſcribe this eſcape to the good providence of God, than to the mailce of the Devil.

Verſe 21. Have pity upon me, have pity upon me, &c.] To him that is afflicted pity ſhould he ſhewed from his friend: and to do otherwiſe, is to forſake the fear of the Almighty chap. 6.14. See the Note there. There was little, either fear of God, or mercy to men, in that barbarous Biſhop of Spire, who denied to Hen. 4. Emperour of Germany, (depoſed after ten years reign, and hardly beſtead) a poor Clerkſhip there in a Monaſtery of his own foundation; which cauſed the miſerable Emperour to break out into theſe words of Job, Have pity upon me, have pity upon me ô my friend: for the hand of God hath touched me. The Papiſts tell us, That the ſouls in Purgatory cry out to their friends on earth for help on this manner, and in theſe terms. But this is as very a Fiction, as purgatory it ſelf is the Popes invention: who muſt needs be extreme pitileſſe, to ſuffer ſo many ſouls to lye m ſo great torments, when as hee hath power to fetch them out at his pleaſure,

Verſe 23, Why do ye perſecute …e as God?] Is this that pitying of me, thus to preſſe me with reproaches, and therein to think you gratifie God, and do him good ſervice? Know ye not, that to perſecute him, whom he hath ſmitten, is greateſt cruelty? and to talk to the grief of thoſe whom he hath wounded, is to heap up p. 172guilt. and thereby wrath, Pſal, 69.26, 27. When a Dear is ſhot, the reſt of the Herd puſh him out of the company. When a tree falleth, every paſſenger is ready to be pulling at it. But Gods people ſhould love as Brethren, be pitiful be courteous, foreign1 Pet 3.8. and of ſome have compaſſion, making a difference, and others ſave with fear, pulling them out of the fire. Jude 22, 23. Thus it ſhould be: but as of old, in Egypt, one Hebrew ſmote another; blowes enough were not dea… by the common adverſary, but their own muſt adde to the violence: Still Satan is thus buſie, and Chriſtians are thus malicious; that, as if they wanted Perſecutours, they perſecute one another; and if (as here) they can but do as God, that is, for God, as they miſperſwade themſelves (to vindicate his Juſtice, and to promote his glory) then they rage and are confident. as theſe friends of Job; in whom nevertheleſſe it was rather error amoris, then amor erroris, an errour of love, then any love of error.

And art not ſatisfied with my fleſh] Which is pined a way with paine and grief: This contents you not,Eſt detractoris periphraſis. Mercer. Non minue enim calumniatores homines devorant quam Scytha. Brent. in loc. but you muſt break my bones alſo, and ſuck my blood by your contumelies and calumnies. Br…ntius and others apply this Tert to ſlanderers, and back-biters, whom they compare to Cannibals. It is reported of Wolves, that when they have once fed upon mans fleſh, they deſiſt not, but deſire mort of it. Job looketh upon his friends as ſuch man-eaters, wherein his ſorrow tranſported him too far; and whiles he was moving them to compaſſion, he ſhewes himſelfe over paſſionate.

Verſe 23. Oh that my words were now written] This reiterated wiſh Job ſetteth as a Preamble to that enſuing memorable teſtimony of the Reſurrection, as a matter moſt weighty and worthy the conſideration of all ages, which therefore he wiſheth recorded in ſome publick Inſtrument no alſeternity: And god ſaid, Amen, to it. For not only this precious paſſage, but the whole Book of Job. ſo full of divine inſtruction preparatory to the loſt day was committed to waiting (either by Meſes, or ſome other Prophets of that age, or elſe by Job himſelf after his reſtauration) and put among the Canonical Books of Scripture; concerning which David ſaith, For ever, O Lord; thy Word is ſetled in heavean, Pſal. 219, 89. And Chriſt, Heaven and earth ſhall paſſe away, but not one jot or tittle, &c. Matth. 5. Not one hair of that ſacred head can fall to the earth.Aug. Confeſſ. l. 5. c. 8. Thus God hath anſwered Job, ad cardin… deſiderii, as a Father ſpeaketh, leating it be to him, even as he would.

Oh that they were printed] Or drawn out, that is, written (ſaith One) in great and Capital Letters, that every man might read them, Hab. 22. for there was no Printing in thoſe dayes that we know of. The Chino…s indeed tell us, that they had the Art of Printing long before. But in Europe it was not heard of till the year, One thouſand four hundred and forty. It begun to be practiced at Harlem in the Low. Countries (by Lawrence Jans, ſay ſome, by John Gertude…erg ſay others) and was perfected at Meniz. where Tulliet Offices, the firſt Book that ever was printed, is ſtill kept for a Monument.

In a Book] that it might be preſerved and laid up for the uſe of poſterity, in ſome Kiriah-ſepher, or City of Books. Let them that are able, be apt and active in ſetting forth Books for the benefit of others,Horat. ſith. Paulum ſepultae diſt at inertiae Celata virtu. — He that buried his talent gave an heavy account to the Maſter, and was therefore called evil, becauſe idle ſervant. Matth. 25.

Verſe 24. That they were graven with an iron pen, &c.] That my words were not only Soriptaſed ſculota, written, but graven in a Rock as the Lawes of divers Nations were cut in Braſſe or Marble; and as Monuments and Epitaphs are graven on Tombs for remembrance of thoſe that are dead.

And Lead] Plumbo per ſulces infuſo, ſaith Junius, the curs of the Letters in Marble being filled with Lead, that they might be the more legible and durable.

In the Rock] In Marble cut out of the Rock. Golden words they are indeed that here follow,Clarks Lives. and well worthy to be written in Lotten of God. In the Life of Ziſcn (that Warlike Babe…ian,) it is recorded, that in the famous Monaſtery called, the Kings Court, a mile from Pragus, in the walls there of the whole Bible was moſt exquiſitely engraven in Lette…s of Gold.

For ever] To laſt longer then the would laſteth. Thoſe bloody Tyrants of the p. 173Primitive times made account they had made ſure work in rooting out true Religion, when they ſounded the triumph before hand, and engraved the victory upon Pillars of Marble in theſe bubbles of words; Nomine Chriſtianorum delo…o qui R…s. ov…rebant, &c But Chriſt ſhall reigne, and the Church ſhall ſtand upon his right hand as a Queen in gold of Ophir, Pſal. 45 9 When all earthly greatneſſe ſhall lye in the duſt, Thy throne O God, is for ever and ever. Pſal. 45.6. and there ſhall be a new ſucceſſion of Saints to all perpetuity, Pſal. 72, 17. His name ſhall endure for ever: His name ſhall be continued (Heb. childed) as long as the Son, as long as the world, as long as the Word of our, God, which according to Jobs wiſh here, ſhall ſtand for ever, Iſai, 40.8. But what meaneth the Vulgar tranſlation here by this inſignificant word Celte? And why ſhould Hugo feek to ſalve the matter,Celte vox eſt nihili. Merc. by reiling us, that Celtes is a Tool wherewith Letters or Pictures are cut in the flint Whereupon Vide quaeſo, mi Lector, ſaith Brentius, See, I pray thee, good Reader, how only they interpres Scripture that want Learning; for neither is Celte ſuch a Tool, nor can it be Celte for centa, ſith the Hebrew word L…guad doth not ſignifie Surely. but For ever.

Verſe 25. For I know that my Redeemer liveth.] Clariſſima fidei confeſſio, ſaith Brentius, A moſt famous Confeſſion of his faith. Breves & longe, …taque aurea, eſt hac Apologia, ſaith Another, This is Jobs ſhort and yet long Apology, bat golden all oven, and ſuch as hath fulneſs of matter in fewneſſe of words. Calvin and Mercar (viri alioqui judioioſiſſimi) are miſtaken here, when, following the Ra… hins, they interpret this text of a temporal reſtauration of Job to ſuch an eſtate of honour and riches, as he had enjoyed in the former part of his life: this they call Jobs Reſurrection and Redemption, &c. But his thoughes ſoared higher then ſo, I know, faith he; it is as if he ſhould ſay, you take your ſelves to he the only knowing men, and as for me, Bilded hath ſet me among ſuch as know not God, Chop. 18.21. But hereby I know that I know him, 1 John 2.3. Becauſe I know him whom he hath ſent Jeſus Chriſt, John 17.3. Net only as a Redeemer, but as my Rodeemer by a particular application of him to my ſelf, which is the very pith and form of faith. This great Myſtery of godlineſſe I know, what ever elſe I am ignorant of; and I know it ſavingly, becauſe I am ſecure of my intereſt in Chriſt, my Kinſman and Redeemer; and therefore I am no hypocrite or wicked man, as you would make me. Were it not for this word of poſſeſſion, (Mine) the worſt man alive …ay the divel, might ſay at Job here doth; yea, repeat al the Articles of the Creed, to as good purpoſe as he but that which tormenteth the divel is, he can ſay, My, to never a one of them, I know ſaith Job, when condemned for an hypocrite, that Chriſt is my Redeemes, and that this my Redeemer liveth for over, and is for ever mine. So Doctor Taylor Martyr, when condemned for an Heretick, ſubſribed his laſt Will and Teſtament,Acts & Mon. in theſe words, Row hand Taylor, departing hence in a ſare hope, without all … of a glorious Reſurrection, I thank God my heavenly Father, through Jeſus Chriſt my certains Saviour.

And that he ſhall ſtand] As keeping the field when all his foes ſhall be his footſtool, Pſal. 1 10.1. So he ſtandeth, Rev. 10.2. ſetting his right foot upon the ſea, and his left foot upon the earth, (maugre all Hereticks and Anti-chriſts that therehence ariſe) as Lord Paramount of both.

At the latter day] Or laſt of all. Theodeſius rendreth it, Noviſſimè, a general judgment of quick and dead at the laſt day; was in Jobs time, and after wards by Zoroaſter, and other Heathens (as Lucretius, Theopompus, Plato, Cicero, Ovid, &c) believed and foretold. But in proceſſe of time, this true and pure Doctrine was darkned amongſt them, and when once it was extinct; Superſtitions, and other vaine fopperies over grew the greateſt part of the world. The ancient tradition was, that the latter age of the world ſhould be ſo filthy all over, that as it could not bee waſhed with water, as once, ſo it ſhould he waſted with fire, 2 Pet. 3.10.

Ʋpon the earth] Or, Over the earth; to wit, in the aire. For there it is probable Chriſt will ſit in the clouds of the aire neer unto the earth, whether the Elect ſhal be caught up to meet the Lord, and ſo ſhal they ever be with the Lord, 1 The. 4.17. There the divels ſhall be ſubdued and ſentenced, where they have ruled and plaid Rex, p. 174Eph. 2.2, ſee Mat. 24.30. ſome read it, And this (pointing to his body) ſhall ſtand, up at the laſt day upon the earth.

Verſe 26. And thought after my skin, wormes deſtroy this body.] Here he pointeth again, as doth likewiſe David. when Pſal. 34.6. he ſaith, This poor man cryed, and the Lord heard him &c. So the ancient Believers, when they came to that Article in the Creed, I believe the Reſurrection of the fleſh, were wont to add, Etiam bujus carnis, even of this fleſh, pointing to ſome naked part of their body; or elſe alluding to that of the Apoſtle, This mortal muſt put on, &c.

Wormes deſtroy this body] Heb. They deſtroy this; he ſaith not this body, quod oh deformitatem ſummam, non licerit corpus dicere, faith Vatablus, So worn it was, and waſted with ſores and ſickneſſes, that it could ſcarce be called a body. And yet it was not at the worſt neither, for in the grave it ſhould be worm-eaten, and ſomething more.Serm. 48. ad frat. in erem. Mihi exper to credite, ſaith Auſtin, Believe me who have tryed it, open dead mens Sepulchers, and upon their heads ye ſhall find toads crawling, begotten of their brains, on their loynes ſerpents, begotten of their Rains, in their bellies wormes begotten of their bowels, &c.

Yet in my fleſh.] Hebr. Out of my fleſh, as out of a caſement.

I ſhall ſee God] I ſhall ſee Chriſt, Chriſtum in corpore, (Auſtins wiſh) the humane and glorified body of Chriſt, who is god bleſſed for ever, as alſo the myſtical body of his Church perfectly united unto him 1 John 3.2. To this ſenſe ſome render the Text thus, I ſhal ſee God in my fleſh, that is, I ſhall ſee Chriſt ſitting in glory, cloathed with fleſh, or in the likeneſſe of man. And here do but think with thy ſelf, (though it far paſſe the reach of any mortal thought, faith One) what an infinite inexplicable happineſſe it will be, to look for ever upon the glorious body of Jeſus Chriſt, ſhining with incomprehenſible beauty, and to conſider that even every vein of that bleſſed body bled to bring thee to heaven: And that it being with ſuch exceſſe of glory hypoſtatically united to the ſecond Perſon in Trinity, hath honoured and advanced thy Nature, in that reſpect far above the brighteſt Cherub. The whole verſe may be read thus, And after I ſhall awake, though this body ſhall be deſtroyed, yet out of my fleſh ſhall I ſee God. And being thus read, it is a plainer and fuller confeſſion of the Reſurrection, ſaith an Interpreter. It is common is Scripture to compare death to ſleep and Reſurrection to awaking, Dan. 12.2. Pſal. 17.15. The bodies of the Saints are laid in the grave, as in a bed of Roſes, to ripen and mellow againſt the Reſurrection, and they write upon their graves, as One did once, Reſurgam, I ſhall ſurely riſe again. Moſes his body hid in the valley of Moab, appeared afterwaths glorious in Mount Tabor. D. King.This is matter of joy and triumph, as it was here to Job and to thoſe good ſouls who were to loſe all, Dan, 12.2. and thoſe Heb. 11.35. conſidering that God by rotting would refine their bodies, and in due time raiſe them conformabley to Chriſts moſt glorious body, the ſtandard. The forethought of this cheared up Davids good heart, Pſalm 16 9. and thoſe in Iſaiah, chap. 26.19. and the good people in our Saviours time,Beauchama. John 11.24. I know (ſaith Martha, concerning her brother Lazarus) that be ſhall riſe again at the Reſurrection, at the Conſolation; ſaith the Syriack Interpreter. Reſurrection and Conſolation then were termes equivalent. Hence that great Apoſtle, 2 Cor. 4.17. For this cauſe we faint not, ſaith he; For what cauſe? Becauſe we believe, that be which raiſed up the Lord Jeſus, ſhall raiſe us up alſo by Jeſus, and ſhall preſent us with you. And the ſame Apoſtle maketh this Doctrine of the Reſurrection, the Canon of Conſolation, 1 Theſ. 4.13, 14. &c. to the end.

Verſe 27. Whom I ſhall ſee for my ſelf.] He ſpeaketh confidently, as one full aſſured of a Reſurrection; which if it ſhould not be, how ſhould there be a remuneration of the body? Say not, We cannot ſee how tis poſſible. See we not a yearly Reſurrection of graſſe, grain, herbs, flowers, fruits every Spring tide? Know we not that men can of aſhes make glaſſes? that a Chymiſt can of ſeveral metals mixt to get her,Lav…. in Job 14.12.Job 14:12 extract the one from the other, and reduce every metal to its own ſpecies or king? Etiam animalula quaedam typi Reſurrectiones ſunt, ſaith Lavater. Some little living creatures are Types of the Reſurrection. He inſtanceth in Dormiſe, which ſleep all wintes, and revive in the spring; in Silk wormes, which dying, leave nothing behind them but a certain excrement, which being born about in the boſomes of p. 175women, takes heat and reviveth. Wherefore if Nature do ſuch things, ſhall it be held havd for the God of Nature to raiſe the dead? The keeping green of Noah Olive tree in the time of the flood, the bloſſoming of Aarons dry Rod, the flesh and ſinewes coming to Ezekiels dry bones, what were theſe, but lively emblemes of the Reſurrection?

And mine eyes ſhall behold, and not anothers.] Here he maintaineth the identity of his fleſh and body in the Reſurrection; an identity, I ſay, not ſpecifical only, but numerical or individual. The ſelf ſa… particular body which fell, ſhall riſe.Tert de Reſurrect. lib. 2. This was denyed of old by the Marcioniſts, Baſilidians and Valentinians (thoſe Simi-Sadduces, as Tertullian termeth them;) and after them Entuchius Biſhop of Conſtantinople, who (as Gregory ſaith) taught, that men riſing again, ſhould have ayery bodies, and not fleſhly, yea more ſubtile then the Aire, abuſing that place of the Apoſtle, It is …wen a natural body, it is raiſed again a ſpiritual body, &c. but his book was burnt as Heretical. A ſpiritual body it is called, for its great ſtrength and activity wherewith it ſhalt be endowed, and where by it is enabled to bear a weight of glory; as alſo, for that it ſhall have no need of food, ſleep, or other natural helps, but we ſhall be as the Angels of God, Matth. 22 30. yet ſtill the ſame men that now we are. Let no man ſay with Nicodemus, How can this be? There is no difficulty to Omnipotency. Phil. 3. …. Beſides, there is a ſubſtance ſtill preſerved, even when the body is turned to duſt, and this ſhall be raiſed, … and reunited to the ſoul. He that made man at firſt of nothing, can eaſily remake him of ſomething. And what though his duſt be ſcattered hither and thither, and mixt with that of others? The skilful Gardener having ſundry ſorst of ſeeds mixt together▪ can ſoon ſever them: and ſhall not he who hath the whole earth in his fiſt diſcern the duſt of his Saints one from another? Little balls or pickles or Quick-ſilver being ſcattered on the ground mix not themſelves with any of another kind: But if any man gather them, they run together into one of their own accord; So it is here,greg. Nyſſen. ſaith a Father.

Though my raines be conſumed within me] Though from my skin outward to my raines inward, all be waſted, yet all ſhall be raiſed and reſtored. The Vulgar rendreth theſe words thus, This hope is laid up in my boſome; and is by Burgenſis expoundod thus, This is the only thing that I do moſt earneſtly wiſh and wait for, viz. to ſee Chriſt in the fleſh at the laſt day, the raynes are the ſent of ſtrong deſires.

Verſe 28. But ye ſhould ſay, Why perſecute we him?] This ye ſhall one day ſurely ſay, Then ſhall ye return and diſcern betwixt the righteous and the wicked, &c. Nam …lim diciti… cur cum perſequebam…r. Tigur.Mal. 3.18. Then ſhall it repent you (it ſhould do ſo now) that ye have rated and reviled me for an by poerite; viz. when God hath cleared mine integrity, (as he did chap. 42.) or at the laſt day howſoever, what time there ſhall be a Reſurtection of names as well as of bodies. Would ye but ſay ſo now, it would be ſome ſatisfaction. Que… panites precaſſe poene eſt inn…cons. You have heard by the confeſſion I have made, I am no miſcreant, no misbeliever; but that I do hold faſt the faithful Word.

The root of the mentor is in me.] Or, the root of the Word, the engrafied word of God that is able to ſave my ſoul, hath taken deep root in me, J…n. 1.21. I hold the myſtery of the faith in a pure conſcience, 1 Tim. 3.9. this, is the Cabinet, that, the Jewel hept therein. And with what face can ye cenſure ſuch an one for a caſtaway, who am ſorely afflicted indeed, ſo that my very raines are conſumed within me, my graces alſo haply are ſomewhat deflouriſhed, and it is little better with me then with a tree in winter; and as a Tyle tree, whoſe ſay is in the root, Iſai. 6.13. But ſo long as the root of the matter is in me, that radical grace of faith; and fith I do utter, as ye have heard, the words of truth and ſoberneſſe (as ſome fruits of a ſound faith) ſure you ſhould handle me with more tenderneſſe, as one that hath ſome ſap and ſubſtance in him.

Verſe 29 Be ye afraid of the ſword.] Heb. Be ye afraid for your ſelves, form the fact of the ſword; Gods ſore, and great, and ſtrong ſword, Iſai. 27.1. that hangeth over your heads as it were by a twined thred. O tremble at Gods judgements, whilſt they hang in the threat…ings. He that trembleth not in hearing, ſhall be cut to pieces in feeling, in that Mar…y… ſaid, Gods ſword … the re…, Ezek. 21.13. p. 176If Job be under his rod, they that perſecute him, under what pretence ſoever, ſhall feel the dint of his Sword, of his deep diſpleaſure. Now it is a fearful thing to fall into the puniſhing hands of the living God. And cruelty toward others, (toward his own eſpecially) he will be ſure to puniſh, for he is gracious, Exod. 22.27. Fugite ergo à facie gladii, flee therefore from the face of the ſword, (ſo the vulgar rendreth this text.) The ſword is an inſtrument of death; it hath its name in Hebrew from laying waſte; and the face or faces of the ſword ſhew that divine vengeance is near at hand.Aug in Pſ. 30.Ps 30 It is a mercy to men that God whets his Sword before he ſmites, and firſt takes hold on judgement, before his judgements take hold on us, Deut. 32. 41.

For wrath bringeth the puniſhment of the ſword.] It is from diſpleaſed love, that God chaſtizeth his children; but from fierce wrath, that he plagueth his enemies: Some of theſe God puniſheth here, leſt his providence, but not all leſt his patience and promiſe of judgement ſhould be called into queſtion.

That we may know that there is judgement.] Wherein they that raſhly judge others ſhall be judged by God, Math. 7.1. And this Jobs friends knew well enough, but well weighed not, to fright themſelves from raſh cenſurings. He minds them therefore of their, danger, and labours to prevent their ſorrow, who had ſo much cauſed his. See the like in Jeremy chap. 26.15. in our Saviour, in St. Stephen, &c. and learn to be like charitable; though your ſucceſs be no better than Jobs was, upon whom, in lieu of this love they fell more foul than before, as will appear by their following diſcurſes.