The conflict of Iob. By way of dialogue. Compiled for illustration, or opening of that great encounter: and may also serue as a paraphrase vpon that heauenly worke. By R.H.

Syrraxis. 21.

Persons.

• ...The Lord.
• ...Iob his Wife.
• ...Acquaintance.
• ...Contemners.
• ...Iob.
• ...Kinsefolks.
• ...Seruants.

Lord.

THat all the World may know, that I am a most bountiful rewarder of such, as whē the greatest afflictions and tentations are vppon them, beare them not∣withstanding patiently, holde out without fainting in the combate, & trust in me, and as well in the storme as when it is ouer, pray for their enimies, as thou Iob hast done: I wil free thee from the captiuity of Sathan to whose tyranny I deliuer•• ••••••••ee ouer for a time, & enuiron thee round with the sence of my Angels, as in times past, remoue away thy disease and restore thee to health of body, make thy Wife and seruants to humble themselues vnto thee, thy Kinsfolk and acquaintance to repaire vnto thee with great giftes in their hands, those y^t cōtemned thee to sue vnto thee for for∣giuenes. I wil also blesse theea more aboū dantly then in thy former prosperity, with al maner of riches, the number of thy sheep, Camels, Oxen, Asses, shal be doubled vnto thee, Sons and Daughters more vert••ous andb comely then the former; longer,c and more happy daies shall bee be stowed vpon thee, and at length which is a thing far more blessed and desired of mine elect, because of that which followeth, then all aboue mentioned, a timely, peaceable, and honora∣ble funerall. Heereby to let thee with the rest of my Chil∣dren see, and vnderstand, how beneficiall I am in my tem∣porall fauours when is shall be good for them: but specially how infinite are the heauenly treasures which I haue reser∣ued in my euerlasting kingdome of glory for such as in the time of tentation, tryall, and aduerfity, beare contentedly my visitation, and constantly cleaue vnto me.

Iob.

Wonderfull is thy goodnes toward me (O my God) great is thy power, and thy wisedome infinite. I forgat to extoll thy righteousnes, notwithstanding thou now hono∣rest me: I murmured against thee, yet art thou liberal vnto me▪ I cursed the day of my birth, howbeit thou makest my life most happy vnto me. Thou did dest, because it was thy pleasure, & for my profit, wound me, now thou healest me: when I was rich through thy beneficence, thou madest me poore, to humble me, and now thou hast againe inriched me to declare thy power what it is, thy loue and bounty to them that fear thee. When I looked for nothing but death, euen then thou gauest me life, my griefe that was so vnsup∣portable, thou hast turned into such gladnesse as cannot be expressed: my misery, wherein I was thought to bee the most wretched man vppon the face of the earth, thou hast made most comfortable and commendable vnto me. For what greater inward comfort, what greater outward com∣mendation can there bee vnto a man, then being tryed so many waies, in such admirable manner, and to the astonish∣ment of al men as I haue been, yet notwithstanding for al that to be found faithful vnto thee. Hence therefore doth grow forth matter to praise thee, in that thou hast suppor∣ted me in that sort with thy mighty Arme, that no assault nor battery of that puisant enimy, the God of this World with his spirituall forces, hath surprized the bulwarcke of mine assurance in thy mercy. Hence is my hart filled with loue vnto thy maiesty, that hast thus magnified thy Name in my great deliuerance: and my hope strengthened for the victory ouer all future calamities and tentations what∣soeuer̄, because of this my present conquest, that hath bin so miraculous, as maketh all the World amazed to thinke of it.

Who can deny thee to be most wonderfull in this, the contemplation of thy blessinges to haue vtterly ouerwhel∣med the remembrance of thy punishmentes, thy fearefull plagues to be vanished away through the beholding of thy inestimable fauours? This thy mixture of mercy and iudge∣ment

prosperity, and aduersity together: whom would it not incite to extoll thy greatnesse? And the former to beare the preheminance aboue the latter, whom would it not prouoke vnto thy loue, and the commendation of thy goodnesse? O that Men therefore could see thy singular wisedome in the chastizing of thy Children, consider a∣right of thy power in the vpholding them, that amiddest the greatest calamity they dye not, in the withholding them a∣mong the most strong tentations, heauiest conflictes, and extremest tortures that can be deuised, that they fall not a∣way from thee: and so aduance thy mercy therein, as the fountains which causeth thy strength to lift vppe it selfe in their deliuerance.

O that such as are afflicted could be perswaded to learne to indure patiently their corrections, vndergoe willingly and thankefully their visxations, inregard of the blessed end thou makest with them that thus suffer, in regard of the neuer perishing ioy they shall reape at the last, that are thus pressed downe for a season.

Iob his Wife.

Husband, I perceiue now, that the Lord in indeed loueth thee, and therefore confesse that my coun∣sell was wicked, whereas I bid thee ply the Lord with prai∣er, and thanksgiuing by way of derision, I am nowe sor∣ry for it. That which I then did, the extremity of griefe wherewith I was touched, moued me therevnto. It was strange vnto me, that the Lord whom thou haddest so care∣fully serued, as I think no Man vpon the earth did the like, should for that thy seruice, deale so hardly with thee. If the Children which I bare vnto thee, the long society in the which we haue bin yoak-follewes together▪ if thy faith∣ful promise made vnto me at the first entrance of our loue, which notwithstanding ought to be speciall inducements, may not winne thee to continue thy wonted kindnes. Let the frailty of mankind, the weakenes of our sex aboue thine own moue thee to pitty.

Or for that the offence was so grosse and monstrous,

thou canst not bee brought vnto this: yet let the resem∣blance of our marriage betweene that of the Messias and his spouse the Church, as being bone of her bone, and flesh of her flesh, how foule and notorious soeuer her sportes appeare in the face of the World, draw thee to reconcilia∣tion.

What if I could not abide to come at thee in the time of thy calamity: was not the loathsomnessea * of thy disease such, as no body was able to indure to come neare thee? And beside who is their but at one time or other hee forsa∣keth his Messiah? What if I haue transgressed through my impatiency? The Messiah is patient toward his spouse, and beareth with whatsoeuer her infirmities.

What if I haue beene a vexation or a tentation, make the worst of it thou canst, vnto thee in thy calamity: doe not our sacrifices shew that when the Messiah commeth hee shall not onely forgiue them, but be slaine for the sins of al the worlde, and so for them that grieue, tempt, contemne, deride, reuile, with wordes of blasphemy, yea more then this, though this bee the most that thou canst make of my fault, buffer, kill, & crucifie him? Thou professest thy selfe the Lordes Disciple, he remitteth thy transgressions, and this great one made against him, or rather a multitude of transgressions concurring together in one action, and some of them in the same nature with mine: tread in thy maisters steps, do by me as he hath done by thee. Vppon thy repentance he hath receaued thee againe that haddest gone out of the way, vpon the same condition accept of me thy disobedient and vndutiful wife. Wicked am I indeede, and most vnworthy to haue that name any way to bee cast vpon me, because I derided him that conioyned vs together in that holy estate, and hath beene euer from our first com∣ming together, saue onely now of late for a small time, a most good and bountifull father vnto vs: yet for that I am now grieued for my offence I know he will not refuse mee, do not thou then reiect me, but vouchsafe me the place and honor I before enioyed with thee.

And I vow vnto thee, that come what can come, I wil 〈◊〉〈◊〉 heereafter sorsake thee, neither will I euer gri•••••• the•• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 more, but yeeld what comfort possible I may at all times, specially in the time of aduersity, when there is most need consider of y^e vehemency of sicknes what it is, stick by thee vnto death, how tedious soeuer shal be thy visitation, obey thee both in word and deed, render al due reuerence vnto thee, yea endeuor my self by al means vnto that good car∣riage euery way vnto thee, as is recorded to haue been in Sara, the onely excellent patterne for married Women to follow, toward her worthy husband Abraham Who also may be a notable spectacle for all married Men, as well for his wise dome in gouermnent, as for his loue vnto his Wife: from whom rather then he would indure a separati∣on, hee chose to be at defiance with Kings, for whose sake though she were barren, he renounced his Co••cu••in, by whom he had issue, and therefore most deare vnto him.

Kinsmen.

We committed a fault in that wee did not vi∣site thee (Iob) in the time of thy calamity, the greatnesse and strangenesse therof, caused vs to forget our selues, and thee, how deare soeuer vnto vs. Our harts were with th•••• then, and we prayed for thee: so that ther was no loue wan∣ting in vs. The defect of our duty did arise from an ama∣zednesse, which possessed our harts, in regard of the won∣derfull burden of the Lord vpon thee, and his vnwonted dealing toward thee. And moreoner, wee durst not* a come at thee, least peraduenture we might haue beene pu∣nished after the same manner. For many times, the Lorde scourgeth those, that haue any familiarity* b with the wicked, euen for that cause onely, because they consort themselues with them.

This made vs to forbeare, from resorting to comforte thee in thy great extremity & misery: for that we knew not what thine hart, and secret sin might be to Godward, albe∣it we had seene thee demeane, and carry thy selfe no otherwise then well outwardly. But now the LORD

hath approued of thee, and we know we may repaire vn∣to thee without danger, we do most gladly, and willingly come vnto thee, for to administer what comfort we may after thy distresse. And for that experience teacheth vs, that nothing is more delightfull vnto vs, then to conferre and discourse of our aduersity when it is ouer, our purpose is to sit with thee a while to that end: And further, for that wee are not ignorāt, that the body after long sicknes, needeth to bee cherished, we are not altogether vnmindful to gra∣tifie thee in that respect, as also to leaue with thee beside some token of our good will.

Our desire is, thou wouldest take these thinges in good part, and renue again toward vs, (and the rather for affini∣ty sake) thy former loue and amity, Nature hath wrought this kindnesse in vs toward thee, let it worke the like in thee toward vs: and as we are met together in thy house, which we thought wee should neuer haue done, to solace thy hart after thy great sorrowe, so vouchsafe thou to frequent our houses vpon the like occasion. But if thou shalt please to adde vnto this, as a supereminent frendship, a care to see vs as well when we are in our affliction, as when we are out of it, wee shall holde thee more faithfull vnto vs a great deale, then we haue beene to thee. For to speake ingenu∣ously of our selues, we haue beene to to vnnaturall, yet we confessing this, thou oughtest so much the rather to forgiue vs.

Acquaintance.

We shold haue seen thee (Iob) rather in thy affliction thē now in thy recouery, but better now then not at all, and in some sort our cōming vnto thee now is better then before, because now we may performe a double duty, first to declare the griefe of our harts for thy heauinesse, past, and our gladnesse for thy present deliuerance, all vn∣der one. Howbeit we come not with an intent to excuse our selues, (for we cannot but acknowledge that labour to be ill spared, that might bee spent to the comfort of the distressed) but hauing brought with vs something to make merry withall, and some remembrance, that all former in∣tercourse

of benefits rece••••ed, is not quite buried with vs: our request is thou wouldest accept it at our hands, & think no worse of vs notwithstanding the neglect of that care we should haue had of thee in the time of thy misery, then heretofore thou hast done: thou wouldest let this our loue present, blot out vtterly the imputation of our former vn∣kindnesse, euen so far forth to afford vs, vpon a promise of fidelity on our part, that inwardnes with thee again, which we haue had in times past.

Seruants.

Our calling to be necessary, all Men are com∣pelled to confesse: because there is no degree, or estate that can liue without vs: Howbeit very few there are that com∣mend our fidelity. Our loue (they say) is seldome knit, our harts seldome bent to do them good, to whom by bond and couenant we haue tyed our selues, where is honor and wealth bringing gaine and ease vnto vs, there wee striue to be entertained, their we are contented to vse some di∣ligence for a time, vntill our turne be serued: but where is either great store of businesse, or else the least shew of po∣uerty, or want any way, there wee are soone weary: and during the time that wee serue such, if the worke seeme any thing tedious, wee are euer repining, if there bee any kinde of tribulation, we are both vnwilling, and vnable to suffer with them, discontented straight-way, vnpatient to beare that we see our betters vndergo.

Yea, we take (they say) an occasion heereby to scorne and deride them, to shake of all obedience and duty to∣ward them, to contemne and disdaine their persons, office, and authority ouer vs. This voyce goeth vppon vs that are either Men Seruants, or Maid* b Seruants. And it is true we confesse for the most part, neither can we excuse our selues heerein toward thee (Iob) our good Maister, but must acknowledge our selues faulty, and worthy of the greatest blame that can possibly be layed vpon vs: nay, that we haue deserued to bee made a publike example, by some extreame punishment iustified vppon vs, that others

may beware how they shew themselues vndutifull toward their Maisters, how they mocke at their calamity, whose misery they ought to reckon as their owne. For this be∣longeth vnto seruants so to be affected toward them whom they serue, as toward themselues: to esteeme their losse as their own, their visitation as the hand of God vpon them∣selues. None of all these things came once into our minds, while it was in season to bee performed: but now when it is past, we consider it and lament with teares. Receiue vs to fauour good Syr, vppon our promise of amendment, conceiue of it as an ouer-sight in vs, and a want of true wisedome and iudgement: a common defect in those of our place. We are giuen to follow our leaders, our Lady, and Mistrisse, together with your three friendes, they were the parties that misled vs. Their reasons, and example so preuailed with vs, that for the present time, we thought wee did rather well to disobey and scorne thee, that wast at defiance with the Lord, (as we supposed) then ny whit offend in that wee pittied thee not, and were not seruiceable vnto thee.

Contemners.

VVE that are a heap blowen together of all sortes, friends and foes, knowne, and vnknowne, of the mighty, middle, and meanest ones, learned, & vnlearned, of such as are not at all acquainted with the truth, or being acquainted with it, doe either embracc it carefully, or are carelesse of it, are driuen through the Lords mighty dely∣uerance which he hath wrought for thee, to condemne our selues for our contempt toward thce, and to bewray the ex∣ceeding griefe we endure by reason thereof: had wee felt before the waight of this sin, no benefit, no punishment in y^e world shold haue drawn vs vnto it. For what is ther vpō the face of the earth, that on the one side, or on the other

can counteruaile the same. But alas, we were ignorant that thou wast the Lords seruant,a or that thou haddest the truth on thy part; yea, we rather thought thee to bee an e∣nimy vnto him, and vnto his righteousnesse, because thou both spakest against him, and for thy owne righteousnesse, to lift it vp aboue his. For so we conceiued of thy speech? And who woulde haue thought the matter should haue come to this passe? But we see the wisedome of the Lord is too deep a point for vs, or any man to wade into, with∣out some direction from aboue. We perceiue also, that no Man is able to iudge what shall be the euent of things; & againe, that temporary affliction is no certaine argument that the Lord hateth, nor these outward blessinges that hee loueth. This was our opinion before, and that which all the world for the most part imbraceth for a truth: yet not∣withstanding they are beguiled in that they build vpon it, and so are we in following thē. But howsoeuer relying our selues vpon this ground: such of vs as had knowledge, bare our selues bold to breake forth into open contempt, scorne and derision against thee Iob, and such among vs as had no knowledge, imagined that thy misery, wherin thou wast, to be layd vpon thee to that very end, that thou shouldest be in disdaine and repr••ch. And thy very words, as being at defiance with Heauen, and making thy selfe a God for thine integrity, did not onely confirme vs in our opinion, but also stir vs and incourage vs, to more outrage against thee: supposing indeede yea being verily perswaded, that we had done God very good seruice, and had performed a most laudable and commendable part therein. Yet wee speak not this as indeuoring to purge our selues of al blame, but to shew the manner of our offence, that thou mightest the more easily be pacified toward vs. For all this cannot free vs, but that we haue broken still the bond of charity, that ought to be between man & man: nay, which is more, that we haue persecuted the Seruant of the high God, and so are in the ranke of the chiefest sinners.

For in that wee did it of ignorance, doth not exempt

vs from the ranke of Persecutors of the Church of GOD: something indeede it doth extenuate the sinne, yet for all that our Names must be inrolled still among that number. What then would our case haue beene, if wee had willing lie and maliciously fallen into this so notorious an offence? What pretence then could we haue had? What allegations could wee haue made for our selues, seeing now as it is, wee remaine vnexcusable, and seeing as the matter now standeth with vs, did wee not seeke reconcilement both of the Lord and of thee, as we vnfainedly doe, euen all of vs, our state were damnable, and we should be adiudged to most horri∣ble torments, because of our most hainous transgression.

Notes

• Cha. 24, v. 10
• a

  Verse 12
• b

  Verse 15
• c

  Verse 16.
• It cannot bee chosen, but that he which was indued with so many notable ver∣tues, & bles∣sed god in his lostes, must needs breake forth into prayses vnto the Lorde for his enlarge∣ment, and o∣uerflowing liberality vn∣to him: and therefore is added this thanksgiuing.
• Albeit her re∣concilement with her hus∣band bee not exprossed. Chap. 42, v, 11 Yet is it very likely because there is no mention of her death, and her husbandes chastity so cō∣mended by the spirit of God, that it is not to be thought hee would take another Wo∣man, because also her sin by the iudgment of Boza was no other then that of the three friends, which the lord forgaue, and lastly be∣cause this booke as it began with iudgment, for¦row, and vex∣ation on all sides, so it concludeth with mercy, ioy, and con∣solation vnto all: as it begā with miracu∣lous trouble, so being shut vp with mira∣culous deliue∣rance, the birth of Iobes latter Childrē must in cor∣respondent manner bee extraordina∣ry, and so by consequence borne by the same wise now in years, and therefore she was recō∣ciled to her husband.
• a *

  Chap. 19 Verse 17.
• Cha. 41, v, 11
• * a

  Pro. 4, ••4
• * b

  1 King 22 32.
• Cha. 42, v, 11
• Though ther be no expresse mention cha. 42, v, 11. of Iobs seruants returne, and humbling thē∣selues vnto him after his prosperity re∣corded, yet is there very great likeli∣hood for it, because of that which is writtē, of the alienation of them in plain termes, Chap. 19, v, 15, 16 See the reason hereof after∣ward vpon Contemners.
• * b

  Chap. 19 Verse 15.
• It cannot be denied, but Iobs recouery must be in an equal propor∣tion vnto his misery: nowe his misery con¦sisted,

  First, in the losse of his goods. Second¦ly, in the losse of his Childrē. Thirdly, in the visitatiō of the Lord vpon his owne body. Fourthly, in the forsaking, and contemning of his friendes and acquaintance together withall other, and therefore his recouery must be in the like largenesse, which moued me to adde the comming in of his contemners, vnto the for∣mer pointes layed open.
• a

  For these in the time of his calamity see chap. 19. Verse 18