Iob To the King. A Colon-Agrippina studie of one moneth, for the metricall translation: but of many yeres for Ebrew difficulties. By Hugh Broughton.

The Argument of the book of Iob.

IOb tried of God with many and heavy sorowe〈…〉〈…〉 losse of all his cattel, children, health, is further tried of his wife & frends. She greveth him with mocking and scolding, as though all his religion was but hypocrisy; They from God his majesti〈…〉〈…〉 and mans corruption, and Iobs disturbed speac〈…〉〈…〉 would prove that eyther Iob was an evil doer; or an hypocrytes otherwise the just God would never afflict him so grevously. Iob defendeth his speaches, Gods iustice & his own: & sheweth th〈…〉〈…〉 commonly the godly are in this life more afflicted then the wic∣ked: and blameth his frends of impietie in handling Gods cause vniustly, & in false accusing of him. At last, Elihu maketh a 〈…〉〈…〉 dest agremēt: & blameth both: & teacheth Iob of Gods highness by his workes, shewing his eternall power and godhead: that bas〈…〉〈…〉 & blind man should not wish to plead with him. At the last, God confirmeth the same doctrine, by examples frō al his works▪ & driveth Iob first to silence: then to confession and repentance▪ and teacheth his frends reconciliation: and restoreth Iob to health: and new children, & double wealth.

THE ARGVMENTS of each Chapter.

Chap. 1.

Iob in the land of Uz, Aus in old pronouncing, whence Ausitae, in Ptol. table 4. where Thema, Saba, Buz, & Madian, and Chaldaea, and Minnaej be neare; where Arabie the stony held Tharahs house, Ismaels, Keturaes, ••eare Esawes; Iob being Godly is tried by Satan going a∣bout like a roaring Lion and accusing the godly, by losse of catell and children: and still continueth in synceritie.

Chap. II.

Iobs body is afflicted by Satan with all greifs: he is moc∣ked of his wife: visited of his frends, of Esaw, Ketura, Buz.

Chap. III.

Iob wisheth he never had bene borne, in merveilous vehemency of speeches: and lastly that still he feared, but now found, extreme vexation.

Chap. IV.

Eliphaz vpon Iobs chiding with God, Ch. 3. 19. exhor∣teth him to patience: and to consider Gods holynes: be∣fore whom the angels be not perfect: & men in this earth∣ly tabernacle of sorow, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 of one dayes life: and pe∣rish almost all by ignorance of the Lord, whom to know they regard not.

Chap. V.

No holy would defend Iob: whose punishment ariseth from his sin: and to God he should seek: and so find an happyer state then his first.

Chap. VI.

Iob defendeth his speaches, Ch. 3. that they were no∣thing to his pangs: and as the wild asse would not bray nor oxe low at fodder: so would not he have done: & sheweth that he wisheth death: and cannot hope to live: and look for prosperity, by repentance: and hath integri∣tie to defend himself, against his frends; in prosperity, need∣les; in distresse, amazed: and requireth disputation, against his speach, Chap. 3.

Chap. VII.

All mens time is short, and they naturally grone for a passage hence: and flit like a * 1.1 Post, Pinesse, or Egle to prey. One in pangs endlesse should desire death: as Iob did, Ch. 3. and now desireth pardon of trespas, & passage away.

Chap. VIII.

Bildad holdeth Iobs words of pleading innocencie but as a strong blast: that seemed to make God vnrighteous: who, as he said, kild not his children, but for their sinne: and wisheth Iob repentance, so he should be happier then ever he was. Ancient stories tell, that as segges can not grow without moisture, so man cannot without moisture of iust life: But his house is made a spiders webbe: or a tree over luxurious in braunches, to provoke the Lord of the soile to root him out: as Iobs children in their feasting by course. But seeking to God would bring prosperity.

Chap. IX.

Iob acknowledgeth Gods justice, and himself a sinner: 〈…〉〈…〉 God is onely wise and mighty. He maketh seas where ••ountaines were: he maketh earthquakes: cloudy, faire,

and calme weather: the starres order shew his wisdome: calling vs to consider how his works are vnsearcheable: in election and reiection: in punishing or sparing: when he robbed Iob by Sheba & Chaldy, none could stay him: or plead with him. Iob, if he were iust, would not plead: but crave mercy: though for civil cariage, he knoweth no grosse trespas. But this is the sum: Gods wrath in this world is vpon iust and vniust. But commonly the wicked rule countreys: who kill them that would do iustice: And Iobs lyfe fled away: full of heavie cares: and now can hope for no quietnes: nor dare plead: for God would find him loth some. But wisheth leave out of greif to plead with God: because he knoweth not him self worthy of so heavie punishmentes.

Chap. X.

Iob humbly pleadeth with God of his afflictions; and of wicked mens prosperity: and acknowledgeth Gods old mercy: with petition to haue an end of this praesent sorow.

Chap. XI.

Zophar blameth Iob for long vehement speach, for ly∣ing and for checking Eliphaz and Bildad: and for justify∣ing of himself: deserving double punishment by Gods ju∣stice. The height the depth the length the breadth, of whose counsel, none can see. (From this speach, S. Paul wisheth Gods mercy in Christ knowen to vs. Ephe. 3. 18. 19.) But here punishment from justice doth Zophar plead: by which God would wise Adams sonns being naturally dull as beasts. But Iob by repentance may come to joy, otherwise while he continueth in wickednes, his hope can be but panges of soule.

Chap. XII.

Iob taketh vp all his three frends at once, for arrogancy in geving counsel: and chalengeth equall skil: and plea∣deth vpon their speach, that the just is a mock, in afflicti∣on, to the welthy: And that the God of this world hath from the true God power, to prosper the wicked. Beasts & fowles, plants and fish, shew God rules all: and so from him wicked rule: & no repentance of godly can find this worlds prosperitie.

Chap. XIII.

Iob repeateth the checking of his frends: as not supe∣riours to him in wisdome: and calleth them liers: and foo∣lish physicians, and foolish pleaders for God: and trusteth that if God would give him leave to plead without his pangs, he would frame a sufficient narration.

Chap. XIV.

Iob pleadeth of mans cōmon frailty: as a floure: (from him Moyses Psal. 90.) and confesseth all vnclean: and cra∣veth ease of his pangs, til neare death come. A tree dying from by-rootes yeeldeth new: but man not so. As waters passe & not returne: so he, dead ariseth not: till the heauens and worlds end. Rockes of mountaynes break: and tum∣ble into rivers: which being soft, yet consume them: So would mans hope soft strokes, and consume.

Chap. XV.

Eliphaz in this second reply is vehementer then in the first: wherein he blamed Iob not so, as openly wicked: nor justifying of himself. His long speaches he counteth a wind: and that he sayth, perfect & wicked God destroy∣eth, so all prayer to God he holdeth also destroyed: if God regard all alike. And checketh him as ch. 4. that misera∣ble

man would compare with God: before whom the An∣gels be not perfect. And by old testemonies he would prove, that the wicked be aey full of sorow.

Chap. XVI.

Iob blameth them for often windy and vehement words: and if they had bene in his case he had otherwise solaced them. And he sheweth that his sores exceedingly passe punishment of wicked: from deep counsell of God.

Chap. XVII.

Iob continueth blame of his frends mockages: how God hath hid their hart from vnderstanding: and wi∣sheth wiser pleaders: where God will not give such ho∣nour: and sheweth himself being just and in miserie, an example for martyrs not to shrink, Apoc. 22. And bla∣meth their smooth words how repentance can help him that is already as death.

Chap. XVIII.

Bildad the second tyme blameth Iobs much speach in defence of himself: and in sending the disputers to learne of beasts, Ch. 12. And against Iobs speach there, he giveth this rule generall, that the wicked man is ful of sorow, and nippeth Iob, as one that knew not God.

Chap. XIX.

After five speaches of Iobs, and so many of his felowes, tedious and teaching nothing, as he wished, Chap. 6. he wisheth better argument then his afflictions to prove him one that knew not God: and now, seing they have har∣ped still vpon the same string, he desires them to leave him rest in his errour: and sheweth his punishments extraordi∣nary, and that he is not godlesse, but knoweth Christ his incarnation and resurrection, the cause of ours to see God

in Christ: and he blameth his frends of badnes.

Chap. XX.

Zophar in his second reply chafeth that he was counted bad, v. 3. and could not chose but reply that the wicked ever since Adam stood vpon the earth wicked were to themselves and children, highly plagued.

Chap XXI.

Iob replyeth how he desireth not to complain to mans perswasion: but hath occasion of sighing: and therfore must have leave to sigh: and biddes them merveil at his case: & not speak as of an ordinarie, that speach of repen∣tance might help him. And to confute Zophar, he reply∣eth, that wicked and their issue commonly prosper. Or if yssue doth not: the wicked litle careth but for himself. And in this sort theyr counsel is in vain.

Chap. XXII.

Eliphaz now the third tyme cōmeth nere Iob: that he should not look for familiaritie with God: to think that he would regard his teaching: or ioy that he pleaded iustice: or punish him for being religious. And chargeth him of open trespasse: that therevpon punishment cometh: as generally vpon all wicked in Noes flood: to all the old world: and biddeth him in the world now, where yet fyre consumeth not the wicked remnant, seek vnto God: and he shall have a golden life: and as iust Noe save the vn∣just.

Chap. XXIII.

Iob greived that his frends complaine of his desire to plead with God; and blame his cariage: still standeth to his defence: and lamenteth that he cannot: and mervei∣leth that he neither dyed quickly, nor hath ease of calami∣ty.

Chap. XXIIII.

God hideth his iudgmēts: that even Prophets cannot see them. Wicked often prosper: often never haue good day.

Chap. XXV.

Bildad the third time replyeth that the terrour of God is high to his very Angels: and thereby peace is on high. And Gods light is too bright for man to abide: whereto starres to him be not cleare: lesse sorowfull man.

Chap. XXVI.

Iob mocketh him for telling playn knowen things: & telleth from the sea bottom and deep earth, the furthest from heaven, Gods works: and from the earths set in the middes, and mountaynes quakes, & clouds not broken, & sea shore not overflowen, & starres beauty, & Livjathans greatnes, that all these passe mans reach: that Bildads ar∣guments should not hinder Iob.

Chap. XXVII.

Iob still protesteth his innocency: and that he could not hope of good pleading before God if he were wicked. For the wicked when God entreth into judgement come to horrible ruine. But that is hid from vs: how he measureth judgement times.

Chap. XXVIII.

God teacheth men to find mines of silver and gold, & to refine it: and to make iron and brasse of stone: and to find the limit of all hid things: and precious stones deeply hid: and how of small springs deep rivers flow: and how the earth above beareth meat, Brimston and Saphir vn∣derneath: where foules and wild beasts could see nothing: so he changeth rocks at the root: and maketh rivers: and bringeth every precious thing to light.

But Gods wisdom for dealing with men cannot be foun〈…〉〈…〉 out among the living here: the deep sea expresseth it n〈…〉〈…〉 no mettalls nor precious stones match it: the living on t〈…〉〈…〉 earth and fowles expresse it not: though they shew mu〈…〉〈…〉 of Gods providence. The earth in the sea bottom, when live things be not, and which seemeth as cast off, the〈…〉〈…〉 have not similitudes of this: but God onely: who in h〈…〉〈…〉 meteores plainly sheweth his wisdome vnserchable: and sayd to Adam, Mark, the feare of Adonaj is wisdome, and to flee from evill is vnderstanding.

Chap. XXIX.

Iob wisheth his former happines restored: and sheweth all his duties to God and men.

Chap. XXX.

But now the vilest violate Iob, flowing on him as rive〈…〉〈…〉 breaking the stank: and Gods hand hath made him mise∣rable.

Chap. XXXI.

To all sortes he shewed goodnes: maydes, wife, man〈…〉〈…〉 servants, vvidowes, naked, orphanes: worshipped no starrs▪ nor gold, Ephe. 5. 5. loved his enemy, was hospital, con∣fessed his imperfections, payd for the land he tilled: and wisheth curse if this were not so.

Chap. XXXII.

Elihu seing Iob silent and his three frendes: was offen∣ded at Iobs comparing in justice to plead with God; and with his frends for concluding that Iob was wicked, be∣cause God afflicted him: sheweth hovv Gods spirit bid∣deth him speak vvithout respect of person.

Chap. XXXIII.

He replyeth to particular vvords of Iobs, wishing to

dispute with God as man doth with man. He will speak right: •• creature that Iob may abide. This he reproveth: vers. 9. I am pure without sinne: Ch. 9. 21. & 16. 17. & 29. 14. And ••. 10. He picketh quarrels with me: and boldeth me as his ene∣my. Ch. 14. 13. & 13. 24. & 19. 11. And v. 11. He layeth my feet ••n the stocks: and watcheth all my wayes, Ch. 13. 27. To this ••e sayth: God is too great for man to call to accompt for all his wayes. God doth by visions and sicknes warne men: which warning if they take, they are restored. And he as∣••eth Iob what he can say to this, and Iob is silent.

Chap. XXXIV.

Elihu, vpon Iobs silence repeateth his speaches: and sheweth their absurdities. Iob sayd, I am iust, and God hath kept away iustice from me: should I lye against myne own cause: ••y plague is deadly without my sin: Ch. 13. 18, & 23. 10. & 27. 2. & 6. 4. Gods just nature which rewardeth every man according to his doing, will not abide this: who might as in Noes flood call all to judgement at once. And ••f God were not just, how could he governe the world? (Gen. 18. Rom. 3.) Now he still destroyeth the froward, and the humble penitent he restoreth: and he prayeth God to testify that, by his owne judgement.

Chap. XXXV.

Iobs justice or sin cannot reach to help or hurt to God: the height of the heavens might teach that. Oppressed cry: but faithles in vain: more, proude contemners, who sayd, God will not regard: now because neyther Gods justice vpon all, nor his pacience is regarded, God is an∣gry with Iob.

Chap. XXXVI.

Elihu sheweth Iob of Gods power & tendering of his

creature, of his judgements, and mercies: and biddeth Iob apply himself accordingly, considering Gods judge∣ment, Politicall and Physicall, in the meteores.

Chap. XXXVII.

Thunder, lightening, snow, rain, ice, sayre weather shew power and mercy towards man: that he afflicteth not, but provoked: that the world may be governed i•• order.

Chap. XXXVIII.

God sheweth Iobs shortnes in vvisdome, to plead i•• Gods causes: by the earth, how it stands, vvhich thing•• the Angels the first with the heavens admired: by the sea how the shores keep it in: by night and day, hovv they have limits: by the bottom of the sea, and parts that see•• cast off: by snow and haile, for Gods judgements: by ligh∣tening and great rain; by lesser, and dew; by ice, and frost•• by the starres for all seasons, by their operation vpon the earth: by planting wisedome in mans soule: by making the clovvdes saphirlike: by calling the raine to fall out of them, to clod the earth. That which may be knowen of God, his eternall power and Godhead, wisdome may hence see to be vnsearchable.

Chap. XXXIX.

The Beasts and fowles on the earth and ayer, cal Iob to see weaknes of judgement. As how the Lions in the〈…〉〈…〉 dennes have beasts to come neare to be caught: and how the ravens forgetfull and foule kindes breed. The wil〈…〉〈…〉 goat among beasts in the high rocks keep their young fr•••• being taken: and hindes hide cunningly their faons. Th〈…〉〈…〉 wild beast, the wild asse, hath also a strange course: And the Vnicorne or Indians asse, a straungier. Again in foules

the Peacock hath a proud feather: the Curlew, a fligh∣ty: the Estrich a brave: a braue hath the Estrich, the dull of vnderstanding: which leaveth her egges in the sand: not thinking whether beastes tread them: Yet by Gods pro∣vidence they breed, to passe the horse with legges and wing: Also the horse sheweth Gods power by his bold∣nes in snurting: & digging the ground and desire to fight. Also Gods wisdome passeth mans reach, in the hauks change to South and North: and in the Egles wit to nest on the tooth of a rock, and in sharpe sight to find prey: (a pattern for the godly to search where Christ may be found. And none but of sharpe sight wilbe cheif guides herein.)

Chap. XL.

Iob not knowing Gods counsel in these visible things, should not plead with God for justice. Now for Gods power, as Elihu shewed it in taming the proude, Ch. 34. 24. &c. so God doth after long pacience: to shew his power and justice vpon vessels of wrath bent to destructi∣on: And who is he that will plead with God: who can∣not speak to this.

Of the Elephant.

The Elephant sheweth Gods power: not a devouring beast: but fed with grasse like the oxe: what strength is in his loynes? what force in the navel of his belly? his yard is like the Ceder: the nerves of his stones, like the branches of a tree: his bones and ioynts as iron & steel: God can tame him, who made him a strong one: and quiet to ly among willowes:: and heavie great wight: yet not by force will pierce his snorte. And thus the power of God passeth mans reach in a quiet dryland beast.

Chap. XLI.

The Whale in the sea sheweth that they curse their da•• that course him: and Dionysius the Greek Geographer, borne neare Iobs countrey, at Teredon on the Persia•• gulph, remembranceth vvhales hunting there: and poeti∣cally, how they svvallovvship and all. If none dare me∣dle vvith a fish in vvatery not hard earth breed: vvho dare compare vvith God: for Iobs afflictions: (or as S. Paul ci∣teth this place: for election, or rejection, Rom. 9. & 11.) vvho first could give to God: that he should be bound to repay them. Iob the godlyest could not plead: but must stand to Gods mercy. All that is vnder heaven is Gods, & Sa∣tans fall and all are from him, and by him, and for him▪ he praedestined them not: that is, he furthered not their meanes: but gaue infinite arguments of better advisement: but set them to anger: leaving them vnsearchably to re∣bellion.

Of the Whale.

A description of the Whales nature, for a waterie crea∣ture, to teach all of Gods power: (yea and of the God of this world, Satan, by Gods iust judgment: as the LXX here allude:) 1. An huck will not dravv him: 2. a cord can∣not be put in his tongue, 3. no rush in his nose, 4. no thorne shall perse his chekes. He vvill not be taken vvith sharpe pickes in skin or head: They are deceived vvho think to take him: and vvill not tvvise fight: but curse their day. Who can bring him out of the sea: and take avvay the vvaters, the garment that covereth him. Who dare medle vvith the iavves of his face vvith a snaffuld: his teeth be terrible: his skales one continued matter: His snurting maketh a light: his eyes be great, as the mor∣nings:

his eyes sends forth, torches, vvith sparkles of lea∣ping fyre: and all terribles of a creature is in him. Mans weapons hurt him not: and he despiseth all, all of the earth: which should be stronger by mans esteeme then the sea: as all other fish be weake•• then beasts. But God would have his will to rule and over-rule his meanes: that his will might be knowen the ground of all: who will suffer no pleading for his dealings full of power, and justice, & mercy in Christ: as Iob told, Chap. 19.

Chap. XLII.

Iob repenteth, and his fellowes: and sacrifice in Christ pleaseth God: and Iob is double happy.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Chap. 9.