The Garden of Zion, Dedication 3 – Part 11
To the moſt Royall Lady, ELIZABETH, His Majeſties only Siſter, Princeſſe of Palatine of Rhine, &c.
MADAME,
THE Tops of high Trees are mightily ſhaken by the windes, while the lower branches ſuffer a more gentle wagging; the thunder-bolts ſmi…e oftest upon the tops of …eepest rocks, while the baſe valleyes enjoy a …lme in a gentle gale.
Your HIGHNES, very eminent both in race and Place, hath felt this in your time, … much as any other of the land: As for the …rticulars, divers are big, like Habbakuks vi…n, which was in ſo great letters,Hab. 2.2. that men …ight run, and read the ſame.
I know none in Scripture, except CHRIST, …ho hath beene more put to the proof of patience then holy Job, his calamities were gre… he was brought very low, but GOD at last, … ter he had humbled him, bleſſed his latter e… more than his beginning: JOB 42.12.The Lord mak… ſo with your Highnes, when all thoſe ſtor… are paſt, your end with the Righteous ſhall Peace.PSAL. 37.37
Let it pleaſe your Highnes to take in part this little mite of my Muſe, with bleſſing, and moſt fervent prayers to GOD, ſoveraigne Comforts to cure all your Croſ… and to wipe the teares of troubles from … Eyes: Your Comfort is like the Prophets … ſion, Though it tarry, waite for it, beca… it will come, HAB. 2.3.it will not tarry.
From GSASGOVV the 30. day of September, 1644. Your HIGHNES moſt humble Servant, M. ZACHARY BOYD.
THE GARDEN OF ZION. The Booke of JOB.
A Prayer.
O Son of GOD, who from thy veines didſt powre
Ʋpon the Croſſe that moſtred crimſon ſhowre,
To ſave loſt man, me with thy Sprite inſpire,
And in my breaſt kindle a ſacred fire:
Conduct my pen, cleanſe both mine hand, and heart,
That I thy Prieſt may ſafely touch thine Arke:
Teach me to tune the glory of thy Name,
How thou by Job did Sathan foully ſhame,
Though he with an inſatiate furie fell
Did go about him, for to quaile and quell,
As thou favour to my Heroicks ſhew,
So for theſe Lyricks thy Graces renew.
JOB. Sorrowfull, or Hated.
INUZ a Man cald Jo there was,
both perfect, and u… right,
Who feared GOD, and d… eſchew
evill even with all h… might:
2 And in that place where he did live
in great proſperity,
By mariage were born to him
ſeven ſons, and daughters three.
3 His ſubſtance was ſeven thouſand Sheep;
and Camels thouſands three,
He alſo had five hundred yoke
of Oxen moſt luſty.
Five hundred Shee-aſſes he had,
rich both in men and beaſt:
So that he was the greateſt man
of all thoſe of the Eaſt.
4 His ſons did in their houſes feaſt,
yea, every one his day;
They cald their ſiſters there to eat,
and drink with them alway.
5 It was ſo when their feaſting dayes
were gone about quickly,
Job did them ſanctifie, and roſe
up in morning early.
For each he offred ſacrifice,
fearing his ſons greatly
That they had curs'd GOD in their hearts,
thus did good Job dayly.
6 Now it befell upon a day,
when Angels in a throng
Before GOD did preſent themſelves,
Satan came them among.
7 Then the LORD unto Satan ſaid,
whence comes thou? he anone,
From going to and fro on earth,
from walking up and down.
8 Then the LORD unto Satan ſaid,
Haſt thou conſidred well
My ſervant Job, there's none like him,
that on the earth doth dwell.
A perfect and an upright man,
like unto whom are few:
One that the mighty God doth feare,
and doth evil ſtill eſhew.
9 Then Satan in his malice great,
to God this anſwere brought,
It is no wonder that ſo be,
doth Job feare God for nought?
10 Haſt thou not hedg'd him and his houſe,
where he may ſafe abide?
Haſt thou not hedged all about,
he hath on every ſide?
Thou haſt by thy grace infinite,
bleſt the work of his hand,
And his ſubſtance is mightily
increaſed in the land.
11 But now put foorth thy hand, and touch
what he hath in each place,
And he will moſt deſpitfully
even curſe thee to thy face.
12 All that he hath is in thy power
ſaid God, on him onelyonly
Lay not thine hand; ſo Satan went
out from the Lord quickly.
…3 There was a day, when his children
(who were indeed numbrous)
Were eating, and wine drinking in
their eldeſt brothers houſe.
…4 At that time came a meſſenger,
unto good Job and ſaid,
Th' oxen were plowing, and th' aſſes,
were feeding them beſide.
15 The Sabeans have them all ſpoil'd,
thy ſervants they have ſlaine,
And I onelyonly eſcaped have
to tell to thee the ſame.
16 While he yet ſpake another came,
and ſaid moſt certainly,
The fire of the Almighty GOD,
is fall'n from the heav'ns hie.
It ſheep and ſervants hath burnt up,
and they conſumed be,
And I onelyonly eſcaped am,
alone for to tell thee.
17 While he yet ſpeaking was, there came
another who did tell,
The Caldeans made out three bands,
and on the Camels fell.
Yea they them cari'd have away,
and thy ſervants have ſlaine,
And only I eſcaped have;
for to tell thee the ſame.
18 While he thus ſpake, another ſaid,
Thy ſons and daughters all
Did eat, and als drink wine into
their eldeſt brothers hall.
19 But O behold what did befall,
a moſt fearfull diſtreſſe,
There came a ſtrong and mighty winde,
even from the wilderneſſe:
The houſe four corners it did ſmite,
which on the young men fell:
They are all dead, and I alone
eſcaped am to tell.
20 The Job aroſe, his mantle he
rent, and did ſhave his head;
He down upon the ground did fall,
and worſhip did with ſpeed.
21 Then ſaid he in his grief and ſmart,
Out of my mothers womb
I naked came, and ſhall return
als naked to my tomb.
The LORD hath given, and als the LORD
hath taken all away:
The LORDS great name be bleſſed ſtill
for ever and for ay.
…2 Yet worthy JOB moſt patient
in all this miſery
…id not offend, nor charge his GOD
with rigour fooliſhly.