A commentary upon the whole Old Testament, added to that of the same author upon the whole New Testament published many years before, to make a compleat work upon the whole Bible. Vols. 2-4. Wherein the divers translations and expositions, literall and mysticall, of all the most famous commentators both ancient and modern are propounded, examined, and judged of, for the more full satisfaction of the studious reader in all things, and many most genuine notions inserted for edification in the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. A work, the like unto which hath never yet been published by any man, yet very necessary, nor only for students in divinity; but also for every Christian that loveth the knowledge of divine things, or humane, whereof this comment is also full. Consisting of IV parts. I Upon the Pentateuch, or five books of Moses. II Upon the historical part, from Joshua to Esther. III Upon Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Solomons Song. IV Upon all the prophets both great and small. By John Mayer, doctor of divinity.

The Preface to JOB.

SOME Hebrews, and others hold, that this Booke is onely Paraboli∣call, and no true History, because such things are herein related, as seem impossible to them to have been truely done, as that, Job 2. 13. That Jobs three Friends sate still mourning for Job seven dayes and seven nights, before that he or they spake one word, and because of the Devills appearing before God amongst his Sons, Chap. 1. 6. Which seemeth to them to be but a made thing, and because the name of Job, and of his Land Uz, are significative, and it is written in verse, and Josephus maketh no mention in his History of such a man. But against this, and to prove that there was truly such a man as Job, marke that pas∣sage, Jam. 5. Yee have heard of the patience of Job, And Ezek. 14. Although Noah, Job, and Daniel stood before me; for hereby it is implyed that if Noah and Daniell were true and no imaginary men, then Job was a man truly of that name also. And thus he hath been acknowledged by the Church of God in all times and ages. Moreover if it were not a true History, it were not of that force to move others to patience in extream misery by his example, as James improveth it. As for the reasons brought to the contrary, they are of little force; for first, nothing is impossible with God, and we are not to measure other men, that might be extraordinarily strengthned by our selves ordinarily. Secondly, For Satans coming toge∣ther with the Sonns of God before him, I see not how this should make a∣gainst the truth of the History, for the Angells here, called the Sons of God, minister continually unto him; and Satans coming and standing, is but when by his power and appointment he is brought, that his accusations may be heard, and he may receive commissions and license to do any thing against particular men, which he cannot do, unless God licenseth him so to do. For to imply his appearing before God to accuse men, he is sayd to have been cast down from Heaven, that was the accuser of the Bre∣thren, * 1.1 and that he can do nothing without Gods license against any crea∣ture, appeareth in that he could not enter into the Swine of the Gadarens * 1.2 without it. Thirdly, for the Argument drawn from this, that Jobs name is significative, so was Abels, for it signifieth mourning, and his Parents had cause, according to the signification of his name, to mourn for his Bro∣thers inhumane cutting of him off, and Noah rest, and Jacob sup∣planting; and it was usuall of old not to call children by their Fathers names, but either by way of presage, or as at the Birth, they saw cause: For they were generally significative. Fourthly, For the writing of it in verse, or Hebrew meetre, so were some of the Psalmes. Fifthly, Josephus propoun∣ded not to himself to write any thing, but what concerned the Jews, his Countreymen. For the authority of this Booke, it was never doubted of, but that it was Canonicall Scripture. For the Pen-men some have thought, that Moses Wrote it, in the time that the Hebrewes lived in so great misery in Egypt, for their comfort, some that Job himself wrote it: But of this

Ferus saith well, it is not materiall to know, who wrote the Kings Letters if we know that they be his, and declare his will unto us; so although we know not certainly, who penned some parcells of the holy Scripture, yet this ought to certifie us, that we know them to be the word of God. Lastly, touching this Job, of what time and linage he was, it is uncertain. Some say, that he was contemporanean with Abraham, some of the posterity of Ishmael, some of Esau, so the seventy render it, Job of the Sons of Esau. But it is enough to know that he was no Israelite, but to the shame of many Israelites, most excellent for Righteousnesse, Faith, and Patience, which both Jews and Gentiles may learn of him, as they desire to come to the like blessed end, that he did. For the scope of this Book, [Note.] it is apparantly to every man in the example of Job, to commend patience in adversity unto us. Secondly, to teach us that the most Righteous in this life are subject to most greivous sufferings. Thirdly, What an enemy to such the Devill is, but that he can doe no∣thing against them without Gods permission. Fourthly, How hardly the wise men of this World are ready to think of the best, being under greiveous Sufferings. Fifthly, that no man patiently beareth Afflictions in vain, but in the end he shall have a bountifull remuneration, if not in this, yet in the World to come for ever.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Revel. 12. 9, 10.
• * 1.2

  Matth. 8.