Job Expounded, Commentary on Job · Chapter 25
THE SVMME AND ORDER of the XXV. Chapter.
IN this Chapter is set downe the thirde encounter of Bildad, in which he quite digresseth from the question that is in hande, concerning the prosperous and happie estate of the wicked, together with the wofull and miserable condition of the righteous, and falleth into the description of the power and maiestie of God, as if Iob, maintaining his innocencie against the reprochefull slaunders of his accusers, had taken vponupon him to charge God with iniustice, for dealing thus hardly with him: which thing was very false, for so much as Job doeth eueryevery where acknowledge him selfe a sinner, and speaketh most reverently of that incomprehensible maiestie of God. Neverthelesse it can not be denyed (which I hauehave verie often repeated, and for which Iob is reprooued afterward by Elihu, and in which respect also he him selfe doeth craue pardon at Gods handes) that Iob being wel nigh overthrowen partly with the odious and despitefull accusations which his friendes layde against him, and partly with the greatnesse and extremitie of his torments, went nowe and then too farre in defending him felfe, and avouching his owne integritie and vprightnesse. But howsoeuer Bildad doeth amisse in wrongfully applying this his speech, yet he thinketh & speaketh very truly, verie grauely, and verie reuerentlie of God: so that it may more trulie be saide of him, then of Menelaus, to whome Homer giueth this commendation, that his sayings they be but short and few, but yet verie graue, pithie, and sweet.
❧ CHAPTER XXV.
Vers. 1. But Bildad the Shuite answered, and saide.
2 Dominion and reuerence (are) with him: he maketh peace in hie places.
1 & 2 THen Bildad hearing these vvordes, vvhie, Iob, saith he, against whome doest thou thus inueigh? against vvhome doest thou poure out these bitter and taunting speeches? verilie against him, vvho alone is supreame Lord of al, & to vvhose incomprehensible maiestie, all honour feare, & reuerēce is due: vvho sitteth aloft in the highest heauens, gouerning all things vvith continuall peace and happines.
3 There is no number of his armies; and vponupon whom doth not his light arise?
His armies are innumerable, and is there any, I pray you, vvho enioyeth & beholdeth the light of this life, vnlesse it be by the benefit and meanes of that life, vvhichwhich proceedeth from him?
4 How then shall a man be iustified, (beeing compared) with God: and how can he be cleane that is borne of woman?
Hovv is it then, that thou darest so boldly and presumptuouslie to enter into his presence, & to plead thy cause before his iudgement seat, tell me if euer any man referring the censure, trial, & examination of his ovvne righteousnesse to this iudge, might rightlie & truly be accounted iust? and no meruaile. For hovv is it possible, that man borne of a sinnefull vvoman should be cleane and pure?
5 Behold (let vsus ascend) to the moone, & she shall giuegive no light: and the starres are not pure in his sight.
6 How much lesse man, (vvho is but a vvorme) and the sonne of man a sielie worme?
5 Behold, if vve shall compare the brightnes of the heauenlie regions, vvhichwhich giuegive light to these inferiour bodies, vvith the light of God the Creator of them, vve must needes confesse, that neither the moone, vvhichwhich first offereth her selfe most glorious to be seene among the rest, nor yet the starres in the firmament in comparison thereof, giuegive any light, but are altogether dimme and euen meere darkenes. 6 How much lesse can man in the iudgement of God, be accounted pure & cleane, who is nothing else but a vile worme which is taken out of the earth, and lieth groueling vponupon the earth, man, I say, that is borne of man, and is nothing else but a sielie and contemptible worme?