Iob militant with meditations diuine and morall. By Fra. Quarles.

THE ARGVMENT.

Rash Eliphaz reproues, and rates, And falsly censures Iob; Relates His Vision; shewes him the euent Of wicked men: Bids him repent.

Sect. 7.

THen Eliphas, his pounded tongue replieu'd, * 1.1 And said, Shuld I cōtēd, thou would'st be grieu'd; Yet what man can refraine, but he must breake His angry silence, hauing heard thee speake?

O sudden change! Many hast thou directed, And strengthned those, whose minds haue been deie∣cted, Thy sacred Thewes, and sweet Instructions, did Helpe those were falling, rays'd vp such as slid: But now it is thy case, thy soule is vext, And canst not helpe thy selfe, thy selfe perplext; Thou lou'dst thy God, but basely for thy profit, Fear'st him, in further expectation of it; Iudge then: Did Record euer round thine eare, That God for sooke the heart, that was sincere? But often haue we seene, that such as plow Lowdnesse, and Mischiefe, reape the same they sowe? So haue proud Tyrants from their throanes bin cast, With all their of spring, by th'Almighties Blast;

And they, whose hands haue bin imbrew'd in blood, Haue with their Issue dyed, for want of Food:

A Vision lately' appeard before my sight, * 1.2 In depth of darknesse, and the dead of night, Vnwonted feare vsurpt me round about, My trembling bones were sore, from head to foot: Forthwith, a Spirit glanc'd before mine eyes, My Browes did sweat, my moystned Haire did rise, The Face I knew not, but a while it stayd, And in the depth of silence, thus it said,

Is man more Iust, more pure then his Creator? Amongst his Angels, (more vpright by nature Then Man) he hath found Weaknes, how much more Shall he expect in him, that's walled ore With mortall Flesh, and Blood, founded, and floor'd With Dust, and with the Wormes to be deuour'd? They rise securely with the Morning Sunne, And (vnregarded) dye ere Day be done; Their Glory passes with them, as a Breath, They dye (like Fooles) before they thinke of death.

Rage then, and see who will approue thy rage, * 1.3 What Saint will giue thy railing Patronage? Anger destroyes the Foole, and he that hath A wrathfull heart, is slaine with his owne wrath; Yet haue I seene, that Fooles haue oft been able To boast with Babel, but haue falne with Babel: Their sons despairing, roare without reliefe In open Ruine, on the Rocks of Griefe: Their haruest (though but small) the hungry eate, And robbers seaze their wealth, though ne'r so great: But wretched man, were thy Condition mine, I'de not despaire, as thou dost, nor repine,

But offer vp the broken Sacrifice Of a sad soule, before his angry eyes, Whose Workes are Miracles of admiration, He mounts the Meeke, amidst their Desolation, Confounds the worldly wise, that (blind-fold) they Grope all in Darknesse, at the noone of Day: But guards the Humble from reproach of wrong, And stops the current of the crafty Tongue. Thrice happy is the man his Hands correct: Beware, lest Fury force thee to reiect Th' Almighties Tryall; He that made thy Wound In Iustice, can, in Mercy, make it sound: Feare not, though multiply'd Afflictions shall Besiege thee; He, at length, will rid them all; In Famine he shall feed, in Warre defend thee, Shield thee from Slander, and in Griefes attend thee, The Beasts shall strike with thee eternall Peace, The Stones shall not disturbe thy fields Encrease; Thy House shall thriue, replenisht with Content, Which, thou shalt rule, in prosprous Gouernment, The number of thy Of-spring shall abound, Like Summers Grasse vpon a fruitfull ground, Like timely Corne, well rip'ned in her Eares, Thou shalt depart thy life, struck full of yeeres: All this, Experience tels: Then (Iob) aduise, Thou hast taught many, now thy selfe be wise.

Meditatio septima.

THe perfect Modell of true Friendship's this: A rare Affection of the soule, which is * 1.4 Begun with rip'ned Iudgement, doth perseuer With simple Wisdome, and concludes with Neuer. 'Tis pure in substance, as refined Gold, That buyeth all things, but is neuer sold: It is a Coyne, and most men walke without it; True Loue's the Stampe, Iehouah's writ about it; It rusts, vnvs'd, but vsing makes it brighter, 'Gainst Heauen high Treason 'tis, to make it lighter. 'Tis a Gold Chaine, linkes soule and soule together * 1.5 In perfect Vnitie, ties God to either. Affliction is the Touch, whereby we prooue, Whether't be Gold, or guilt with fained Loue. The wisest Moralist, that euer diu'd Into the depth of Natures bowels, striu'd With th' Augar of Experience, to bore Mens hearts so farre, till he had found the Ore Of Friendship, but, despaying of his end, My Friends (said he) there is no perfect Friend. * 1.6 Friendship's like Musick, two Strings tun'd alike, Will both stirre, though but onely one you strike. It is the Quintessence of all Perfection Extracted into one; A sweet connexion Of all the Vertues, Morall and Diuine, Abstracted into One. It is a Mine,

Whose nature is not rich, vnlesse in making The state of others wealthy by partaking:

It bloomes and blossoms, both in Sunne and shade, Doth (like the Bay in winter) neuer fade: It loueth all, and yet suspecteth none, Is prouident, yet seeking not her owne: * 1.7 'Tis rare it selfe, yet maketh all things common, And is iudicious, yet it iudgeth no man.

The * 1.8 noble Theban, being asked, which Of * 1.9 three (propounded) he suppos'd most rich In vertues sacred Treasure, thus reply'd, Till they be dead, that doubt cannot be try'd.

It is no wise mans part, to waigh a Frend, Without the glosse, and goodnesse of his End: For Life, without the Death considered, can Affoord but halfe a story of the Man.

'Tis not my friends Affliction, that shall make Me either Wonder, Censure, or Forsake: Iudgement belongs to Fooles; enough that I Find hee's afflicted, not enquier, Why: It is the hand of Heauen, That selfesame Sorrow Grieues him to Day, may make me grone to Morrow:

Heauen be my comfort; In my highest griefe, I will not trust to mans, but Thy reliefe.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Eliphaz speech Chap. 4.
• * 1.2

  The Vision.
• * 1.3

  Chap. 5.
• * 1.4

  The descripti∣on of true friendship.
• * 1.5

  Sali••s homo ami∣co amicus Ter. Phorm Act. 3. scn 3.
• * 1.6

  Aristotle.
• * 1.7

  1. Cor. 13.
• * 1.8

  Epaminond as.
• * 1.9

  Chahrias, or Jphicrates, or himselfe.