Commentary on Ezra Nehemiah Ester Job and Psalms, Commentary 4 · Chapter 29
CHAP. XXIX. Verſe 1. Moreover Job continued his Parable.]
OR, his ſentence, as Tremellius rendreth it, his ſententious and elegant oration, his aur…um flumen orationis, Tota oratio graviſſimis ſententiis, & verborum luminibus illuſtris eſt. Merlin.golden flood of grave diſcourſe, as we may better call it, then Tully did Ariſtotles …l…cks. Here Job deſcribeth graphically his former felicity as in the next Chapter his preſent miſery. The promiſe of Proſperity to Gods people is to be underſtood with exception of the croſs, wherewith, if need be, (1 Pet. 1.6.) they are ſure to be exerciſed (and they ſhall take it for a favour too, Heb. 12.6.) by the armour of righteouſneſs on the right hand, and on the left; By honour and diſhonour, by evil report and good report, &c. 2 Cor. 6.7, 8. they muſt learn to be abaſed, and to abound, Ʋlpian.to be full and to be hungry, &c. Phil. 4.12. though this be an hard leſſon, Perquam durum eſt? ſed it a lex ſcri…ta eſt, ſaith the Civilian: Hard or not hard,Ex praeteritavum voluptatum recòrdatione. Cicer. de finib. l. 2. Sen. de benef l. 4 c. 22. — Olim hac meminiſſe juvahit. Virg. Miſerum eſt ſuiſſe faelicem. Sen. we muſt frame to it, and hope for better. The Epicures held, that a man might be cheerful amidſt the moſt exquiſite torments: 1. In conſideration of his honeſty and integrity: this indeed was Job great comfort, as we ſee chap. 31. And, 2. In conſideration of thoſe pleaſures and delights that formerly he had enjoyed, and now cheared up himſelf with the remembrance of. But how ſlight and ſlender a comfort this was, Job ſetteth forth in this Chapter. And who knoweth not that as it is a ſweet thing in proſperity to relate what hazards and hardſhip we have paſſed through: ſo in adverſity it is grievous to call to minde what better dayes we have had? And yet it is but reaſon, that we ſhould eate the cruſt and crum together; receive, I mean, evil at the hand of God as well as good, Job 2.10. See the Note on chap. 27.1.
Verſe 2.Secundum menſes antiquitati… vel antiaetatis. Oh that I were as in months puſt] O mihi praeteritos, &c. Though Job deſireth not ſo much to be young again, (which to be, Chiron and Cato are ſaid ſeriouſly to have refuſed) as to proſper again; for this is that we all covet: but we ſhrink in the ſhoulder, when called to carry the croſs. To ſhew his earneſt deſire, he redoubleth his wiſh, as in the dayes, &c. and God anſwered him to the full, by redoubling upon him his former proſperity; not for dayes and months, but for divers years together: and by giving him again all things richly to enjoy: So liberal is the Lord to his, that he many times giveth them more then heart can wiſh.
When God preſerved me] That he acknowledged God to be the author of his earthly felicity, was well done: but not ſo well to think that God preſerved him not, becauſe he proſpered him not: ſee the like verſe 5. God oft wraps himſelf up in a cloud, and will not be ſeen till afterwards; but his hand is ever upon all them for good, that ſeek him, Ezek. 8.22. he knoweth their ſouls in adverſity, Pſal 31.7.
Verſe 3. When his candle ſhined upon my head] When I was apparently bleſſed by him, and all went haile well with me. The Sun ſmot me not by day, nor the Moon by night, Pſal. 121.6. but both ſeemed to be made, and to make for me. Nay, more; the ſweet ſunſhine of Gods loving countenance was diſplayed upon me, which is not like the winter-ſun, that caſts a goodly countenance when it ſhines, but gives little comfort and heat. Job had both counſel and comfort from God; and that when other men were to ſeek of both: for,
By his light I walked through darkneſs] Without the leaſt fear of thoſe evils and miſeries, that put others into very great diſtemper. So Noah was—Mediis tranquillus in undis. Abraham ſtands upon the Hill, and ſeeth the Cities of the Plain burning. David can walk (not ſtep,) through (not croſs,) the valley (not a dark entry.) of the ſhadow of death (the darkeſt ſide of death,) and not fear (though he ſhould go back again the ſame way.) And why? for thou art with me, ſaith he, thy rod and thy ſtaffe they comfort me, Pſal. 23.4.
Verſe. 4. As I was in the dayes of my youth] Hybernorum meorum, ſo Junius; As I was in the dayes of my winter-quarters, when I lay and did little more then gather up mine aſſignations. Others render it, As I was in the dayes of mine Autumue: that is, when, being a great man, I refreſhed the poor, as Autumne doth the paſſenger and others with its fruits. But they do beſt that render it dayes of my youth, which hath the ſame name in Hebrew with winter, foreignand with reproach; becauſe (ſay ſome) young people are prone to reproachful practiſes, and that age is commonly frozen in vice, no vertue then ſpringing or ſhewing it ſelf. So Eccleſ. 11.10. the word uſed to ſignifie youth, ſignifieth darkneſs or blackneſs: to note that youth is the dark age, many times ſooted with ſin: and therefore young men ſhould cleanſe their wayes by cleaving to the word, Pſal. 119.9.
When the ſecret of God was upon my tabernacle] i.e. Annotat. DiodWhen God did ſo friendly and familiarly intermedle with mine affairs: making them to proſper. When his moſt wiſe conduct did govern my houſe, and did provide for it; ſtopping thoſe ſecret leaks, and that hole in the bottom of the Bag, by which other mens Eſtates do uſually run out: and ſupplying me and mine, tanquam virgulâ divinâ, with all things neceſſary for life and godlineſs. The Greek hath it, when God gave my houſe a viſit. And ſome taking the ſecret of God here, for his law and covenant, ſay, that Job was good betime: and when but a young houſe-keeper, had a Church in his houſe, and much reſort thither of godly people.
Verſe 5. When the Almighty was yet with me] To proſper me, and give me all that heart could wiſh, or need require. But if that be not done,Exod. 17.7. Gods people are apt to think him abſent. Is the Lord amongſt us? ſay they in the wilderneſs: as if that could not be, and they athirſt. So Gideon in the invaſion of the Midianites; The Lord. ſaith the Angel, is with thee, thou valiant man. But Gideon ſaid unto him, Oh my Lord, if the Lord be with us, why then is all this befaln us? If it be ſo,Judg. 6.12, 13. Aug. why am I thus? as ſhe ſaid, Gen. 25.22. Si amatur, quomodo infirmatur? If Lazarus be Chriſts friend. why is he ſick? But theſe two may very well ſtand together: and God is never nearer to his Children then when they for crying cannot ſee him. Moſes ſpeaks of the goodwil of him that dwelt in the buſh, the burning buſh, Deut. 33. but not conſumed. God is with his in the fiery tryal, Iſa. 43.2. as he was with the three Children, and with the Martyrs.
When my children were about me] Round about my table, Pſalm 128.3. Morigerous and obſequious unto me: When my children and ſervants (for the word ſignifieth both) were about me; as Circles about a Point or Center, all looking at, and obſerving me, to do as I directed them.
Verſe 6 When I waſhed my ſteps with butter] When I had of every thing Gods plenty, as they can it. Butter enough to have waſhed my feet in, had I been ſo proud and profuſe. And Oyle great ſtore, inſomuch as that Rivers thereof ſeemed to flow for me from thoſe Rocks and craggy Mountaines in Arabia Petraea, where ſome ſay Job dwelt. Lavater upon the Text, tells us of Rocks that yeeld Oyle, and of Petrolium or Petrelaeum, a Soveraign Oyntment (very good againſt diverſe Diſeaſes) that iſſueth out of Rocks, whence alſo it hath its name (not unlike that berry which the French call, Ʋva de Spine, the Grape of a thorn:) But this whole verſe ſeemeth to be an Hyperbole, (not unlike that of Zophar, chap. 20.17. and that of Moſes, Deut. 32.13. Confer Gen. 49.11. and Pſal. 80.16.) importing the very great abundance of all outward comforts and contentments, that Job once enjoyed. He had the reward of humility, and the fear of the Lord, even Riches, and Honour, and Life, Prov. 22.4.Dec. D. l. 5. c. 25 Riches he had quantas optare nullus auderet, (as Auſtin ſaith of Conſtantine the Great) more then heart could wiſh. What Honour he had with his Wealth, (and that is to be choſen before Riches, Proverbs 22.1.) he ſetteth forth at large in the following verſes. And what long life he promiſed himſelfe, not without the continuance of both the former, ſee verſe 18, 19, 20, with chap. 42.12, 16, 17.
Verſe 7 When I went out to the gate] i.e. To the place of Judicature, called by Solomon, the holy place, Eccleſ. 8.11. Becauſe God ſitteth in the midſt of thoſs Gods, Pſal. 82.1. The Ethiopian Judges were wont to keep the chief Seat empty for him. It appeareth by this Text,Iſai. 5.7 Vid. Piſc in loc. Iſai. 3.7 Hinc foreign ab foreign, Medela. foreign Dio. that Job was a Judge or chief Magiſtrate, not like thoſe whom Eſay calleth Scabs or Wounds; but thoſe whom the ſame Prophet calleth Healers, or Binders up of Wounds; and Hoſea, Shields, as Junius tranſlateth, Hoſ. 4.8. and another Prophet, Heires or Poſſeſſours of reſtraint, Judg. 18.7. It appeareth alſo that he did Juſtice in his own perſon: ſo did David, Solomon, Jehoſaphat Auguſtus, Caeſar, more vigorouſly then any young man, and more prudent then any old man, as the Hiſtorian ſaith of him: Which whileſt Aurelian the Emperor neglected to do, he was even bought and ſold by his Deputies.
When I prepared my Seat in the ſtreet] i.e. My Judgement-ſeat, where he ſate Sub dio, non attollens inane ſupercilium, ſed exhibens utile miniſterium: Not priding himſelf, but profiting others, whilſt Juſtice, Juſtice, as Moſes ſpeaketh, that is pure Juſtice, Deut. 10 20.was duly adminiſtred. Over this Tribunal might well have beene ſet that Diſtich at Zant.
Hic locus odit, amat, punit, conſervat, honorat,
Nequitiam, pacem, crimina, jura, bonos.
Verſe 8. The young men ſaw me, and hid themſelves] As awed with my preſence, and fearing the cenſure of my gravity.Lib 5. cap. 2 Valer. Maximus reporteth the like of Marcus Cato among the Romans; as being Vr irigidae innocentiae, ſaith Livy; Et virtuti quam ſimilimus, as Velleius hath it; that is, a moſt ſtrict and very vertuous Magiſtrate. Hence at their Floratia, thoſe wanton ſports, the youth could not play their pranks till he departed; they all crying unto him, Aut vulium deponas, aut diſcedas, either lay down your grave looks, or leave the place.
And the aged aroſe and ſtood up] Performing that reſpect to me which was due to them, Lev. 19.32, and ſaluting me as the Athenians did their Phocion, by the Title of Bonus; foreign Dio.Or as the Romans did their Trajan, by the ſtile of Optimus, the beſt Ruler that ever they had: and all both young and old crying out, as once they did at Rome to Severus the Emperour, All men do the better in all reſpects for thy good Government. Theſe Acclamations and publick honours, though Job ſought not, yet it could not but be a comfort to him, as it was to David, that whatſoever he did pleaſed the people.
Verſe 9 The Princes refrained talking] Not only as acknowledging his Authority, but as admiring his great Eloquence, and hanging upon his lips, as the babe doth upon the breſt, the Bee upon the flower, or the little bird upon her Dams bill.
And laid their hand on their mouth] Kiſſing their hands and adoring me (adorare eſt applicare manuns ad os) Or rather, as ſtopping their mouths, being aſhamed to ſpeak in his preſence, whom they knew to be far beyond them in wiſdome and elocution. Now of this honour done Job by all sorts of people, Brentius hath this Note, Parùm eſt ingentes camelos poſſidere, &c. It is a ſmall matter, that Job had many Camels and Flocks of ſheep: this was a greater bleſſing of God upon him, that he was honoured and obſerved by all ſorts. This followeth vertue (as the ſhadow doth the body) at the heeles. To do worthily in Ephrata, is the way to be famous in Bethlehem, Ruth 4.11.
Verſe 10. The Nobles held their peace] The Hebrew word for Nobles, ſignifieth ſuch as ſtand in the preſence of great Princes; or, ſuch as the people eyeth and referreth all things to them. Theſe (after the example of thoſe forementioned Princes, verſe 9) Held their peace] Heb. Hid their voice, Conticuêre omnes, intentique ora tenchant. Virg. Dr. Hall.as aſhamed to hear themſelves ſpeak before ſuch a Maſter of ſpeech, as Job was; of whom it might well be ſaid, as once of Dr. Whitaker, That never any man ſaw him without reverence, nor heard him without wonder.
And their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth] Ex metu loquendi, as being afraid before me, though themſelves were Anteceſſores vocis (as ſome render the former words) eloquent men and able Speakers. Demoſthenes that great Oratour, being to ſpeak before King Philip, three ſeveral times ſtood ſpeechleſſe,foreign Chiliad. 7 and thirty ſeveral times forgat what he had prepared to ſpeak unto him. An awful reſpect to Jobs dignity and worth, cauſed this extreme ſilence in theſe Grandees. And beſides, it may be they were of Plinyes mind, who ſaid, Non minus interdum Oratoris eſt tacere quam dicere. There is a time to keep ſilence, and a time to ſpeak, Eccleſ. 3.7.
Verſe 11. When the ear heard me, then it bleſſed me.] That is, it praiſed me, and praiſed God for me, as for a common bleſſing: ſo weighty were my words, and ſo juſt my ſentence, not unlike that of the Areopagites in Athens, which was ſo upright, that none could ever ſay, That he was unjuſtly condemned by them; but both parties, as well thoſe that were caſt, as they that caſt them,foreign were alike contented.
And when the eye ſaw me, it gave witneſſe to me] Job (though he neither ſought it, nor was puffed up with it) had that Pulchrum monſtrari, & dicier Hic eſt. foreign.The like happineſs befel Demoſthenes at Athens, and Pliny at Rome.
Verſe 12. Becauſe I delivered the poor that cryed] Here are ſet forth the true cauſes of that great reſpect that was generally given Job: he was a good Juſticer, ſuch as Jethro deſcribeth, Exod. 18.21. He hated, much more then did Mithridates, ſuch as maliciouſly perſecuted Vertue forſaken of fortune. And as James 5 of Scotland was called, The poor mans King, ſo might Job well have been: for no ſooner could a poor body cry to him for help, but he relieved him,Caſſiodor and reſcued him out of the hands of his oppreſſor. Theodorick of old, and Guſtavus King of Swedes of late, are famous for ſo doing.Mr. Clark.
And the fatherleſſe, and him that had none, &c.] The fatherleſſe, and friendleſs, from whom he could not expect any reward. He was not of thoſe who follow the adminiſtration of Juſtice as a trade only, with an unquenchable and unconſcionable deſire of gain, but held out a conſtant courſe of integrity, and righted thoſe whom others would have ſlighted.
Verſe 13 The bleſſing of him that was ready to periſh came upon me] Such poor creatures as were deſtined to deſtruction, and ſeaſonably delivered by my meanes, gave me their good words and wiſhes; yea, they cryed me up for their gracious Deliverer, with a Courage, as the Grecians did Flaminius the Roman General, as the Chriſtian Captives did Hunniades, Plut. Turk Hiſt. Val. Max. Chriſt 41who had ſet them at liberty from Turkiſh ſlavery: as the drowning man pulled out of the water by King Alphonſus, cryed, Arragon, Arragon: and as the Italian priſoners in 88, releaſed and ſent home by Queen Elizabeth, Sainted her, and ſaid, That although they were Papiſts, yet they would worſhip no Saint but her.
And I cauſed the widowes heart to ſing for joy] ſcil. By ready righting her upon her Adverſary; and this out of conſcience of duty, and not for her importunity, as that unjuſt Judge, Luke 18.5. or becauſe ſhe conjured him to it, as that widow did Adrian the Emperour, to whom, when he had anſwered, That he was not at leiſure to hear her Cauſe,Dio in Adrian. ſhe boldly replyed, foreign, Then lay down the Empire. Whereupon he turned again, and did her right, and ſent her away a joyful woman.
Verſe 14 I put on righteouſneſſe, and it cloathed me] It was not ambition, popularity or ſelf-intereſt, that put Job upon theſe and the following good practices and proceedings,…omem horum officiorum aperit Merlin. but the care he had of diſcharging his truſt, and the pure love he bare to Juſtice and upright dealing. For although he deſired more to be loved then honoured (as it is ſaid of Trajan the Emperour,) yet he would not do any thing of popularity or partiality,foreign Dio. Declinatione & detorſione judicii. Merlin. by writhing or warping, but retained the gravity of the Law; which is a heart without affection, an eye without Luſt, a mind without paſſion, a Treaſurer which keepeth for every man what he hath, and diſtributeth to every man what he ought to have. Job did put on righteouſneſſe, and it put on him; ſo the Hebrew hath it. By which ſimilitude he declareth, that he could as little be drawn from doing Juſtice, as he could go abroad without his cloathes, or ſuffer them to be puld off him.
My judgment was as a robe and a Diadem] Righteouſneſſe is that whereby the innocent is delivered, Judgment is that whereby the guilty perſon is puniſhed, ſaith Brentius. With theſe was Job arrayed and adorned, far better then was Alciſt henes the Sybarite with his cloak,Athenaus. ſold by Dionyſius to the Carthaginians for an hundred and twenty talents; or Hanun with his maſſie Diadem, the weight whereof was a talent of gold with the precious ſtones, 2 Sam. 12.30. Some Judges have nothing more to commend them then their Robes, which are oft lined with rapine and robbery: So were not Jobs: He made the like uſe of them that old Eleazer did of his hoarineſſe, he would not do any thing that might ſeem to be evil, becauſe he would not ſpot his white head: No more would Job, leſt he ſhould ſtain his purple, diſgrace his Diadem.Salvian. He knew that dignitas in indigno eſt ornamentum in luto, Ruledom without righteouſneſs is but eminent diſhonour.
Verſe 15 I was eyes to the blind] Here he ſaith the ſame in effect as before, verſ. 12, 13.Mercer. only he ſetteth it forth Pulcherrimis allegoriis per ſynathroiſmum velut conglobatis, by a heap of moſt elegant allegories. He meaneth here, I gave advice to the ſimple, and ſupport to the weak and impotent. But how many great men are there, qui etiam videntes, circumveniunt & fallunt, who put out the eyes of men, as Korah falſely accuſed Moſes, Numb. 16.14. And cut off their legs (as that Tyrant in the Story ſerved his Gueſts that were too long for his bed) by diſabling or diſcouraging them to follow their juſt cauſes, ſo that they are ready to ſay with Themiſtecles, that if two wayes were ſhewed him,Plut. whereof the one led to hell, and the other to thoſe corrupt courſes of Juſtice, he would ſeriouſly chuſe the former rather then the latter.
Verſe 16. I was a father to the poor] Ab lacbionim, an elegant agnomination, as Mercer here noteth. Job was not only a friend to the poor as aforeſaid, but a father providing for their neceſſitites,Sue…. and protecting them from injuries. So Auguſtus. Caeſar delighted to be called, Pater Patriae, the Father of his Country. And our Queen Elizabeth would many times ſay that ſhe could believe nothing of her people,Cambden. Eliz. that parents would not believe of their children.
And the cauſe which I knew not I ſought out] Sifting it to the bran, and not pronouncing ſentence till I had fully underſtood each circumſtance of the controverſie. Judge not according to the appearance, but judge a righteous judgement, John 7.24. Thucydides well ſaith, That there are two things moſt oppoſite to right proceedings, foreign, Haſte and Anger; A Juſticer muſt do nothing raſhly, but with greateſt deliberation and induſtry, to come to a right underſtanding of matters, in capital cauſes eſpecially, leſt he repent it too late: as that Sir James Pawlet did, who out of humour and for revenge, laid by the heels Thomas Wolſey, Negotiat. of Card. Wolſey.then a Country Miniſter (afterwards a Cardinal, and Lord Chancellour of England,) for the which he ſuffered long impriſonment. And as that Judge mentioned by Forteſcue, who having condemned a Gentlewoman to death for the murder of her husband, upon the bare accuſation of her man, which afterwards was found falſe, ſaepius ipſe mihi falſus eſt. He afterwards confeſſed unto me, ſaith the Authour, that he ſhould never during his life be able to clear his conſcience of that Fact. We know what paines Solomon took in the caſe of the two harlots that ſtrove before him. And we have read of a Judge, who to find out a Murther, cauſed thoſe that were accuſed to open their boſomes, and felt the beating of their hearts. And when he found one of their hearts to beat extraordinarily, Tu, inquit, feciſti; Thou art the Murtherer certainly, ſaid he. The man preſently confeſſed the fact,Job. Manl. loc. com.pag. 290 and was executed for it.
Verſe 17. And I brake the jawes of the wicked] It is a mercy to have Judges, ſaith One, Modò audeant quaeſentiunt, as the Oratour hath it: ſo they dare do as their conſciences tell them they ſhould do. Job was ſuch a Judge,Cic. pro Milom. he feared not to encounter and keep under thoſe unruly Beaſts and Belialiſts, who oppreſſed the poor, and then doubted not to oppoſe with creſt and breſt whatſoever ſtood in the way of their humours and luſts, Hîc forti magnoque animo opus fuit, ſaith One: Here Jobs courage was put to the proof, if ever. Is it nothing to break the Jaw-bones of the wicked, to take the prey out of the Lions mouth, and to reſcue the oppreſſed from the man that is too mighty for him? Is it nothing to encounter the Hydra of ſin, to oppoſe the current of times and torrent of vice, to turn the wheel over the wicked, and to leave them as powerleſſe as old Entellus in Virgil did Dares; whom his fellowes led away well beaten, and well nigh broken,
Jactantemque utroque cáput,Virg. Aeneid. craſſumque crúorem
Ore rejectantem, miſtoſque in ſanguine dentes?
And pluckt the ſpoile out of his teeth.] i.e. I made him make reſtitution of his ill gotten goods, whether by fraud or force. So that Jobs Court, we ſee, was not vitiorum ſentina, ſed virtutum Officina; his courſe was, Parcere ſubjectis, & debellare ſuperbos, to fuccour the afflicted, and to puniſh the proud.foreign Dio. Auguſtus the Emperor was wont to ſay, That ſuch an one only was fit to be a Magiſtrate, that was free from foule offence himſelfe, and could withſtand the corruptions of the times, keep a conſtant countermotion to the evil manners of the multitude: as Cato was ever inveying againſt covetouſneſſe and riot in the Roman State. Here alſo we have in Job the lively picture of a good Magiſtrate, much better then that of Caeſar Borgia, that Villain,De Principe P. 185 whom Machiavel propoſeth as the only pattern for Princes to imitate.
Verſe 18. Then I ſaid, I ſhall dye in my neſt] Heb. I ſhall expire and breath out my laſt, by a natural death in my houſe, and amidſt my people; as a bird dyeth in his neſt when he hath lived his utmoſt. Pollicebar mihi ſecuritatem; I promiſed my ſelf a proſperous and long life, all health and happineſſe.Brent. This ſome make to be a fault in Job, as it was likewiſe in David, when in his proſperity he ſaid, I ſhall never be moved. Pſal. 30.6. And indeed the holieſt hearts are apt in ſuch a ſtrait to grow proud and ſecure: like as wormes and waſps eat the ſweeteſt apples and fruits. But others are of judgement, That this was a commendable confidence in Job. grounded upon Gods Promiſes, and the conſcience of his own uprightneſs; an foreign, a ſpiritual ſecurity, a bleſſed calme and compoſedneſſe, a Sabbath of Spirit, flowing from faith, and cauſing joy. This was all well, only that of Bernard muſt be carefully heeded and held to, Laeti ſimus non ſecuri, gaudentes in Spiritu ſancto, ſed tamen caventes à recidivo. Be merry we may, but not carnally ſecure; rejoycing in the Holy Ghoſt, but yet beware that we backſlide not. David by miſreckoning of a point miſſed the Haven, and ran upon the Rocks, Pſal. 30. And Job here ſeemeth to have been miſtaken, by taking the promiſes of outward happineſs with out exception of the croſs; for the which he is afterwards reproved by Elihu, and alſo by God himſelf.
And Shall multiply my dayes as the ſand] i.e. Very long, by a Scripture hyperbole, Gen. 22.17. and 32.12. and 41.49. The Septuagint read, As the Phoenix: The Vulgar Latine, as the Palm-tree, which is reckoned among the long lived trees, as is likewiſe the Phoenix among the longeſt lived creatures. R. Solomon ſaith he liveth a thouſand yeers, others five hundred, and then dyeth in his neſt, made of Frankinſence and Myrrhe, and other ſweet Odours, which being kindled by the heat of the Sun, he is burnt to aſhes, they ſay: out of which aſhes, a long time after, cometh another Phoenix. How true all this of the Phoenix is, I have not to ſay. Let them that will, reade more in Geſners Hiſtory of Birds: or let them look upon Lactantius his Poem called the Phoenix, with Betuleius his Comment.
Verſe 19. My root was ſpread out by the waters] Heb. Opened to the waters; which therefore had free recourſe to it, and much refreſhed it. Hereby he deſcribeth his flouriſhing condition when time was, through the perpetual inflowings of Gods free Grace and favour.
And the dew lay all night upon my branch] Pernectabat; becauſe in the night the dew falleth. Beza thus Paraphraſeth this whole verſe: For, downward the root of my good and upright conſcience was ſpred out by the everflowing waters of Gods bountifulneſs, with which it was daily watered: and upward, the boughs growing out of this root, to wit, my children, my ſervants, my flocks of ſheep, and in a word, my ſubſtance, were waſhed with the coeleſtial dew which from heaven fell down upon them: ſo that by this bleſſing of God they were marvellouſly increaſed.
Verſe 20. My glory was freſh in me] i.e. I had daily new acceſſions to mine honours: and I was herein like a Bay-tree that is alwayes green. This was alſo Joſephs happineſs in Egypt; David in the Court of Saul; Mordecai's and Daniels in the Court of Perſia; and Queen Elizabeths; concerning whom (beſides that famous Epitaph ſet upon her Tomb by command of King James) Thuanus a French Hiſtorian teſtifieth, that the Lady Anna Ateſtina (Mother to the Guiſes and Nemours) pronounced her to be Glorio…ſſimam & omnium quae unquam ſceptrum geſtarunt feliciſſimam …, The moſt glorious and happieſt Woman that ever ſwayed Scepter. Among her Subjects the got a continual increaſe of honour and reſpects, by coupling mildneſs with Majeſty, and ſtooping yet in a ſtately manner, to the meaneſt ſort: but eſpecially by ſetting up God and his ſincere Service, wherever ſhe had to do, truſting God with her precious life, (ſo much ſought for by Popiſh Aſſaſſinates;) which whiles her Contemporary Henry 4. of France durſt not do, he loft his life, and much of his honour: witneſs that known Anagram, Borbonius, once Bonus orbi, now Orous boni.
And my bow was renewed in my hand] That is, I had freſh and new ſupplies of ſtrength,Robur meum inſtaurabi…ur maſuſque reddetur. Vatab. by friends and otherwiſe outwardly and inwardly, according to that above, Chap. 17.9. The righteous alſo ſhall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands ſhall be ſtronger and ſtronger. See Gen. 49.24. 1 Sam. 2.4.
Verſe 21. Ʋnto me men gave eare, and waited] i.e. Such a gift I had in flexanimous Oratory, that my Auditours were held as it were by the ears in great attention to my ſpeeches: as Lucian ſaith of Alcibiades, and Cicero of Craſſus: and as the Poets fable of their Hercules, that he had the ears of his hearers chained to his tongue, as being, foreignHom.
And kept ſilence at my counſel] Received it as an Oracle from Heaven with all humble ſubmiſſion.Tanquam ex tripode dictum. Erant foreign Lavat. and plenary ſatisfaction: ſo great was the force of his wiſdom, the weight of his counſel, and the authority of his perſon. In ſome mens diſcourſes a man ſhall have ſat… el quentiae, ſapientiae parùm, much eloquence little enough wiſdom. But where there is a concurrence of theſe two, as was in Job, much may be done. This, great men are not ignorant of, and do therefore greatly covet eloquence, Non phaleraram illam ſed fortem; non effoeminatam ſed vi…ilem, non a Pedantike ſtile or phraſe, but majeſtick: ſuch as was that of Phocion a great Oratour, but one that could ſpeak much in few,foreign Plut. as Plutarch reporteth: or that of Julius Caeſar, who wrote as he fought; and whom a man might know to be a Souldier by his words, had he never heard of his noble atchievements.
Verſe 22. After my words they ſpake not again] They replyed not, but reſted in my words, as if I had been ſome Doctor Reſolutus, or rather Irrifragubilis. The vulgar rendreth it, Verbis meis addere nihil audebant; they durſt not adde any thing to my words as holding them currant and ſufficient.
And my ſpeech dropped upon them] Viz. As dew-drops, Deut. 32.2. or as ſome Propheſie, ſaith R. Levi here. Confer, Mic 2.6. Am. 6.17. Surely as the dew refreſheth and cheriſheth the dry and fady fields; ſo do fit words the hearts of the hearers. And as the dew allayeth great heats, and moiſteneth the earth, that it may fructifie; ſo it is here. Ille regit dictis animos, & pectora …. And laſtly,Virg. as the dew lies in a little compaſs; ſo in fewneſs of words there is oft a fulneſs of matter, &c.
Verſe 23. And they waited for me as for the rain] Which in thoſe hot Countries was highly prized, and dearly longed for.
And they opened their mouth wide] Stupebant, me loquente, & ere blabant; They gaped, as if they would have eaten my words: they liſtened as for life.
As for the latter rain] A rain which came very ſeldom in that Countrey, ſaith Diodate; but was much deſired for the refreſhing and nouriſhing of the corn and other fruits and benefits of the earth, Prov. 26.1. Zach. 10.1. Merlin collecteth from this text, that Job came not into the publick Aſſemblies there to ſpeak, and g…ve counſel, but upon deliberate premeditation. Demoſthenes would not be drawn to ſpeak extempore to an Audience. Ariſtides being by the Emperour put upon ſuch a task, anſwered, Propound to day, and I will anſwer to morrow: foreign S…e his life by Mr Clark.for I am not of thoſe that ſpet or vomit out my conceptions; but of thoſe that weigh things before I utter them, and poliſh before I publiſh them. Mr. Bradſhaw was called the Weighing Divine: and Melancthon took time to Anſwer Eckius his cavils; though by him, and his Popiſh-party, he was jeared for ſo doing. It muſt be an elaborate ſpeech that ſhall perſwade or prevaile much. Among the Roman, the Prince was not to be treated with, otherwiſe than by writing. Caeſar brought in this cuſtome, that he might have time to conſider of that which was demanded, and what Anſwer to return. Auguſtus ſermones libello habuit; nè plus minuſve lequeretur; Auguſtus had his ſpeeches ſet down in a book,Suetòn. leſt he ſhould ſay more or leſs than that he thought of.
Verſe 24. If I laughed on them, they beleeved it not] They took it for a great favour, and could hardly think that I would grace them ſo far as to ſmile upon them, or jeſt with them: which if I did at any time, they were over-joyed.Eccleſ. 10.19. Prov. 29.9. De Orat. lib. 2. Ingeni fractus tenniſſimus eſt riſus, ſaith Tully. To break a jeſt is no ſuch witty thing, as men conceit it. Howbeit, an harmleſs jeſt (that hath nothing in it which may juſtly grieve or offend another) may very well conſiſt with Piety and Chriſtian gravity, whatever ſome ſowre Anabaptiſts have held to the contrary. Jocularity indeed and ſcurrility are flatly forbidden; and reckoned among thoſe foreign, things that conduce not to the main end of our lives, Epheſ. 5 4. But Socrates would be very merry when he liked his company; yet ſo as that his mirth ſhould be ſome way profitable, ſaith Xenophon. And Eraſmus did the Papiſts more prejudice by his jeſting, ſaith a grave Author, than Luther did by his ſtomaching and ſtorming.Lib 4 de dic. & fact. Socr. Good mens jeſts ſhould have ſomething in them of ſeriouſneſs and uſefulneſs. All their ſpeeches ſhould be ſeaſoned with falt of grace: and in the midſt of their recreations they ſhould ſhew, that their beſt affections are upon better things. Great care muſt be taken, that too much familiarity with thoſe below us, breed not contempt; which ſome think is meant by the next clauſe, And the light of my countenance they caſt not down; Or, Tet the light, &c. that is, they did not ſlight me becauſe of this familiar carriage; they did not therefore count me ridiculous and vain: as men did that Rodulphus the 35. Archbiſhop of Canterbury that ſucceeded Anſelm; whom for his jeſting and merry toyes,Godw. Catalog. p. 82. unbeſeeming the gravity of his age and place, they ſirnamed, or rather nick-named, Nugax, the Triſter: Sed authoritatem m…am non ſpernehant, nihilominùs me reverebantur; Vatab.They deſpiſed not mine authority; they reverenced me no whit the leſs: but rather they took care that nothing might be done whereby of merry I might be made ſad: they cheriſhed this ſigne of complacency in me as a rare thing, and ſo much the more accepted, as leſs expected and unuſual: neither would they be ſo bold and ſo bob with me, as to return me jeſt for jeſt, as if I had been their compeer, and hail fellow well met. One Paraphraſt ſenſeth the whole verſe thus; If I by my ſmiles gave any intimation of any report or buſineſs,Mr. Abbot. it was preſently diſtruſted and diſſented from of all the reſt. And on the other hand; my leaſt countenance or ſhew of approbation to any cauſe was obſerved of others, as a rule to go by. He goes on to give the meaning of the next words thus:
Verſe 25. I choſe out their way, and ſate chief] In thoſe dayes I was the onelyonly man in all matters, choſen by conſent of all to be the Prolocutour, and advanced to the firſt place in all Aſſemblies and places of Judicature &c. Tremellius, and others, read it thus, If I choſe their way. (that i…, If of mine own accord, I came unto them at any time) I ſate chief, and was Chair-man: in a word, I dwelt as a King amidſt his Troopers, when he comforteth them being caſt down; that is, when after ſome defeat or diſappointment, he cheereth up their ſpirits by his ſpeeches, and cryes, Courage my hearts:
Flebile principium, melior fortuna ſequatur:
Victorem à victo ſuperari ſaepè videmus.
The Tigurines render the former part of the verſe thus, Accommodam me illorum moribus cum judicio, I fitted my ſelf to their faſhions, yet with diſcretion. R. Solomon and others thus, They asked me, What way ſhall we go? What courſe take? And I choſe out their way, and ſet them down a courſe; as a Counſellour doth to his Clyents, a King to his Souldiers, or a Caſuiſt thoſe that reſort to him for comfort.
And dwelt as a King in the army] Where he is continually ſurrounded by his ſouldiers, and highly honoured. The Bees, in their Common-wealth, have a King, whoſe Palace they frame as fair in ſhew, as ſtrong in ſubſtance: if they find him fall, they ſtabliſh him again in his Throne with all duty, with all devotion: they guard him continually for fear he ſhould miſcarry, for love he ſhould not. Job had ſo tempered and mixed gravity and lenity, he had ſo fourbiſhed the ſword of Juſtice with the Oyle of Mercy, that he was at once both feared as a King, and loved as a Comforter.
As one that comforteth the mourners] That mourn for the loſs of ſome dear thing or perſon, as the word ſignifieth: and eſpecially, for the loſs of Gods favour, as Zach. 12.10. groaning under the ſenſe of ſin, and fear of wrath. Now to comfort ſuch mourners in Sion, is as difficult a work as to raiſe the dead, ſaith Luther; and ſcarce one of a thouſand can skill of it, Job 33.23. Every Chriſtian ſhould have feeding lips. and an healing tongue, to comfort the feeble-minded, to drink to them in a cup of Nepenth…s, that cup of conſolation, Jer: 16.7. taking them down into Chriſts Wine-cellar, Cant. 2.4. and there ſtay them with Flagons, and comfort them with Apples, verſe 5. thoſe Apples of the garden of Eden, (as the Chaldee there hath it) the ſweet and precious Promiſes, which are pabulum fidei, the food of Faith, and do give the joy of faith; even that peaceable fruit of righteouſneſs unto them that have been in a low and loſt condition. But this, few can do to purpoſe; becauſe they are either unskilful in the word of truth, or unexperienced; they dig not their diſcourſes out of their own breſts, they utter them more from their brains, than from their bowels, from their own experience I mean; which made even Chriſt himſelf a more compaſſionate high-Prieſt, Heb. 5. And that eminent ſervant of his, St. Paul, had by this means got an excellent faculty in comforting the diſconſolate,Melancthon. 2 Cor. 1.4. So had Luther, as having himſelf from his tender years been much beaten and exerciſed with ſpiritual conflicts. Conceive we may the like of Job, who was therefore flocked unto from far and near, as known to be able to time a word, and to ſpeak to the hearts of drooping and dejected perſons. But now, &c.