The grand tryal, or, Poetical exercitations upon the book of Job wherein suitable to each text of that sacred book, a modest explanation, and continuation of the several discourses contained in it, is attempted / by William Clark.

Cap. XXXVII.

AT this I also quake, my heart doth beat,* 1.1 Frighted almost out of its proper seat: For when on this great work of God I think, The very name of Thunder makes me shrink.

Heark how th' Almighty doth his speech direct* 1.2 To us in this same thundring Dialect: Heark—even at this time, whilst I yet do speak: Heark—how the noise increases more and more, Whilst all Heav'ns great Artilery do roar: Heark how his words do sound from North to South, In flames, and lightning issuing from his mouth.

All under Heav'ns do hear them, and adm* 1.3 The voice of God amidst those clouds of fire: Not that this Thunder is of such extent, As all that breath below the Firmament, Hear it at once, as if't were general; No, at one time he doth not speak to all; But to what ever people he would speak, Thither assoon he doth himself direct In this same dreadful language, for he will

Be heard by all: yes, he will thunder still, Until the deafest, and most hardned ear Do all the words of that loud message hear.

For first, before we hear this dreadful voice,* 1.4 Before our ••lower sense can hear the noise, Which, when the mighty Prince of Princes speaks Amidst that heap of ratling Clouds, he makes; We see some Troops of Avant-Curiors fly Hither, and thither, lightly through the Sky, Known by the name of Lightnings, these appear Only to show to mankind, as it were, That the Almighty doth himself draw near. Not, but that first, with reason we suppose The watry Clouds, through whose Battalions those Have made their way by force, are wholly broke, Not able to sustain the furious shock O' th' fiery Clouds, by which the noise is made, But that by th' eye these are discovered, Before the duller, counterwinding ear The noise in its perfection can hear. For the light lightning in an instant flyes Through th' Air, and soon appears before our eyes; Whilst th' heavier sound a slower march doth make, And through the Azure by degrees doth break; But in a little, after these appear; Then a most sense-confounding voice we hear: A voice of power, a voice of excellence, A voice of glory, and preeminence Above all voices: a stupendious noise, A most majestick, and commanding voice. Nay, after in the Thunder he doth speak, Yet still these Lightnings light incursions make, Even to our very Gates, yea furiously In at our doors and windows they do fly. As if, whilst the main body of this Thunder Encamp'd aloft, t'augment our fear, and wonder, These forragers were sent to kill, and plunder. For these Pickeerers, firing here and there, Do with their small Shot raise no little fear, Killing, or making of such subtile wounds, As even their sight the Surgeons skill confounds, Whilst by a Thunder-bolt, the bones within Are broke to pieces, and th' outward skin Untouch'd: nay sometimes these adventurers will Perform some other pranks, to show their skill In shooting, even on things inanimate, As if with sport they would us sometimes treat, And to allay our fears, would play the wag, Melting a sum of Money in a Bag, This still ty'd, seal'd, and closs, or emptying A Hogshead full of Wine; whilst no such thing Doth to the Cooper, by the Cask appear, That being still untouch'd, sound, and intire: With many such too numerous to relate,

Both on things living, and inanimate, As we may dayly see. Yet God will not For all his Thunder, stay those murdering shot. But still permits th' allarum'd world to feell Some hurt from those small bombs, which makes them reel Like mad men, and in their reiterat fits, Run almost out of all their little wits.

Thus, when our God doth speak, in fire, and thunder,* 1.5 He seems to rent the very Heavens assunder, As if he now to mankind, in his wrath, Did nothing, but a full destruction breath: As if he mean't t'unhinge the doors of Nature, And let in death on every living creature. Nay, so he speaks, as if he did intend To bring this goodly Fabrick to an end. Yet after all he's still so kind to men, As he shuts up this terrible Campaign, At last in a Cessation of rain.

But what needs more, 'twere tedious to relate, How many other things both high, and great, Our God performs: things strange and marvellous, Things neither known, nor understood by us: Things, which our proud philosophy transcend, Things, which our reason cannot comprehend. Of such great things then I shall speak no more, But only here, as I have said before, By these great outward works, we may perceive With how much reason, we do all believe, That he, who made all these, must surely be In greatnesse far beyond all that we see. On lesse things now then my discourse shall run, A word of snow, and frost, and I ha' done.

He, who did all create, doth all command,* 1.6 Holds all the Keys of Nature in his hand, Unlocks the doors of these great Magazines Of rouling Clouds, where vapours of all kinds Are keep'd in store.— Whence as he judges it convenient, Now this, now that upon the Earth is sent: And but a word he uses, for annon, As he doth speak, the businesse is done. He says to Snow, go thou, and quickly fall On Earth, and as soon we are pouldred all; Woods, Mountains, Valleys, Houses, all below Are wrapp'd up in a sheet of ivory snow, Annon he calls for rain, both great, and small, And bids now this, now that upon us fall, All do obey him: all do quickly run, Where ordered, and what he commands is done.

For instantly down from the Clouds doth fall,* 1.7 Such quantity of rain, as makes us all Give o're our works i'th' field, and lay aside Our labouring Tools, and within doors abide.

Then go the Beasts too to their several dens,* 1.8 And there themselves do shelter, while it rains. Not able to resist the storm, and there The fiercest of them is a Prisoner: Until the rain be over, and the sky Again put on a bright serenity.

That rapid wind, which wrapp'd up in a cloud* 1.9 Around us for some time doth roar aloud: The whirle-wind, which on all hands blusters so, As if it out of every Point did blow, Doth, as I take it, from the Southern Pole, Upon us, with a deal of fury roule. As by the boistrous North-wind cold is thought To be into our Southern Countreys brought.

For with that wind the hoary frost appears* 1.10 With Ice-sickles dangling about his ears: Upon our running Rivers he doth seize, And spite of their swift current makes them freeze, As also Lakes, Pools, Ditches, Marishes; And where before we sail'd, now in a trice We run in Sledges all along the Ice.

He makes the Clouds, with constant drudgery,* 1.11 (Like Slaves condemn'd to pump) incessantly Fill all our Canals; and the earth supply, With water at all times, as it doth need, And in that service, they're so hurried Hither, and thither posted, here, and there, In this, or th' other place, nay every where, As he thinks fit; that as't were out of breath, They halt, till with his hand he scattereth Them all along the Sky, and makes them flow In gentle rain, whether they will or no.

For all those numerous vapour-chests, which we* 1.12 Call clouds, and counter-tumbling daily see Above our heads, by him are ordered, Assembled, or in parties quartered Even as he will: he makes them turn, and reel I'th' Air, like the swist motion of a Wheel; When he thinks fit: he makes them pour out rain In any place o'th' earth he doth ordain.

Those Clouds on several errands he doth send,* 1.13 Some judgements, others mercies do portend: Each of 'em doth its own commission bear, For good, or ill: and none of 'em appear, Without a special warrand any where.

And now observe, O Job, take heed I pray,* 1.14 Compose thy self, advert to what I say, Consider, pray, consider seriously The works of God; and in sobriety Remark the methods of his providence, His power, his justice, and his excellence.

Dost understand those things? dost thou conceive* 1.15 The meaning of those wonders? dost believe That all those Clouds, do march, retire, disband,

Or war amongst themselves at his command.

Dost understand their motions, here and there,* 1.16 Or how by a just Ballance in the Air, He makes them hang above us? dost thou know On what they do depend? or canst thou show By what art he doth raise those Clouds on high, Beyond the reach of sight, and by and by, Doth let them down so low, as one with pain, Would think they could be hoised up agaèn. Which certainly is a great demonstration Of his vast knowledge, and with admiration On such things we should look.—

Dost understand, my friend, from whence the heat▪* 1.17 Proceeds, which is so violently great, As sometimes it can scarce be tollerat? When gentle Breezes from the South do blow, But when out of the North, it is not so.

Dost understand how he the Air has spread,* 1.18 Like a fair Sheet of Lawn above thy head? The thin, and fluid Air, oft broke to pieces By justling Clouds, and violent impresses Of Lightnings: and yet after all, this Air Appears transparent, and so calmly fair, As it in pleasant brightness, doth surpass The beauty of the finest Chrystal Glass.

If then thou understandest all those things,* 1.19 And wouldst thy self plead with the King of kings, In person: pray be pleas'd to let us hear, What thou wouldst say, if God should now appear Upon his Throne? if he should show his face, And bid thee freely speak upon thy case? What couldst thou say? or if thou dar'st not speak To him thy self, but dost perhaps expect That we should be thy Proctors, tell us pray, What we to God on thy behalf shall say? For thou, it seems, great knowledge dost enhance, Whilst we are buried in deep ignorance.

Then which of us thy friendswouldst have to speak* 1.20 To this great God in thy defence, and make Apology for thee: pray let us hear, For, if thou dost desire I should appear In thy behalf, I must demand excuse, For, seriously, my friend, I do not use To plead with God for any man, indeed I do not think it lawful so to plead: But if thou wilt that I should pray for thee To that just God, who doth both hear, and see What passes now amongst us, let me know And I shall quickly do it, for if so, I do but that good office, which I owe To all men: I in Prayer dare address At all times, and for all men, but to press My God to give a reason, why he now Doth punish thee: truth that I dare not do.

No, no, for to be free with thee; my friend, There's no man here dares so expresse his mind, As thou hast done? at least, I'me not the man Dares undertake this; for I neither can Nor dare, by publick Program, intimate That I am with my Maker to debate: For, if I did, I might expect a stroak From him▪ whom, by so doing I'd provoke To wrath against me, and for my offence, That I by death should soon be hurried hence.

But what needs further, let us cast our eyes,* 1.21 But, at this instant, up into the Skyes: Let us observe but how the troubled Air, All overspread with Clouds doth now appear: Who by their throng Eclipse the Heavens light, And keep the glorious Sun out of our sight. See how those Clouds from every quarter march, In several bodies through the spacious Arch, In dreadful squadrons strong, and numerous, All hastning to the general Rend••vous: T'attend the King of Heavens, who, as I guesse, By such great preparations, as these, Intends himself in person to appear;— Heark, how these Clouds do ramble:—dos't not hear A noise of Thunder? dost not now espy The Van-guard of his lightnings nimbly fly, In rambling parties through the darkned Air?— Yes sure, our God himself will now appear: For, as by dust afar, we quickly know Th'approach of mighty armies; even so By such prognosticks, we may understand, The Lord of Hosts is now himself at hand: Unlesse the winds do clear that troubled state, And all those foggy vapours dissipate.

For, if the Northern winds should blow apace,* 1.22 'Twould scatter soon those sad appearances; And by its cold, and cleansing blasts restore Th'Air to the same state, as it was before.

But still I think th' Almighty God draws nigh,* 1.23 Th' Almighty terrible in Majesty, And that these great (though usual preparations) Are but so many signs, and demonstrations Of his approach.—Here then he comes,—he comes— With such a noise, as millions of Drums, Trumpets, and Symbals cannot parrallel: Th'Almighty God, who doth in power excel, All that we can imagine now draws near, And he himself in judgement will appear:

That after all this tedious debate,* 1.24 Mannag'd on all hands, with such zealous heat, The supream Judge o'th' world may decide The controversie: and show either side, Where they have been i'th'right, where in the wrong, And let thee see, my friend, how all along,

Upon the matter thou hast err'd, and now What thou so oft desir'd, he will allow: He'll hear thee now himself, he'll challenge thee Now to debate, and thou shalt quickly see What 'tis before th' Almighty God to plead, Yes, now thou shalt perceive, thou shalt indeed, What 'tis to speak with him, remember now, 'Tis not with us thy friends thou hast to do; But 'tis with God, that will not be abus'd By such wild reasoning, as thou hast us'd With us: no, don't mistake, thou hast to do With no less then the Judge of Judges now. With thy Creator: one whom mortal Men Cannot esteem too much: prepare thee then To hear him; be attentive, when he speaks, For hear how in the Thunder he directs His speech to thee: I therefore shall forbear Further to speak, since he doth now appear, But what he speaks, shall with attention hear.

Notes

• * 1.1

  1 At this also my heart trembleth and is moved out of its place.
• * 1.2

  2 Hear attentive∣ly the noise of his voice, and the sound that goeth out of his mouth.
• * 1.3

  3 He directeth it under the whole hea∣ven, and his light∣ning unto the ends of the earth.
• * 1.4

  4 After it a voice roareth, he thunder∣eth with the voice of his excellency, and he will not stay them when his voice is heard.
• * 1.5

  5. God thunder∣eth marvellously with his voice, great things doth he, which we cannot compre∣hend.
• * 1.6

  6. For he saith to the snow, be the•• on the earth, likewise to the small ••••in, and to the great ••ain of his strength.
• * 1.7

  7. He sealeth up the hand of every man; that all men may know his work.
• * 1.8

  8 Then the beasts go into dens, and re∣main in their places.
• * 1.9

  9 Out of the south cometh the whirle∣wind, and cold out of the north.
• * 1.10

  10 By the breath of God frost is gi∣ven, and the breadth of the waters is strait∣ned.
• * 1.11

  11 Also by water∣ing he wearieth the thick cloud: he seat tereth his bright cloud.
• * 1.12

  12 And it is turn∣ed round about by his counsels: that they may do what so∣ever he command∣eth them upon the face of the world in the earth.
• * 1.13

  13 He causeth it to come, whether for correction, or for his land, or for mercy.
• * 1.14

  14 Hearken unto this, o ••ob, standfull, & consider the won∣drous works of God.
• * 1.15

  15 Dost thou know when God disposed them, and caused the light of his cloud to shine?
• * 1.16

  16 Dost thou know the b••ll••ncing of the clouds, the wondrous works of him which is perfect in know∣ledge?
• * 1.17

  17 How thy gar∣ments are warm, when he quieteth the earth by the south∣wind?
• * 1.18

  18 Hast thou with him spread out the sky, which is strong, & as a molten look∣ing glass?
• * 1.19

  19 Teach ••s what we shall say unto him; for we cannot order our speech, by reason of darkness.
• * 1.20

  20 Shall •• betold him, that I speak? it a man speak, sure∣ly he shall be swal∣lowed up.
• * 1.21

  21 And now men see not the bright light, which is in the clouds: but the wind passeth, and clean set in them.
• * 1.22

  22. Fair weather cometh out of the ••••••th, with God is terrible majesty.
• * 1.23

  23. Touching the Almighty, we cannot find him out: he is excellent in power, & in judgement, and in plenty of justice, he will not afflict.
• * 1.24

  24. Men do there∣fore fear him, he re∣specteth not any that are wise of heart.