CHAP. XIX.
TEn times have yee reproached mee, yee are not ashamed, that yee estrange your selves from me. They had spoken yet but five times against Job, * 1.1 sayth Gregory, how then calleth hee them ten times? and he answereth, that hee meaneth not only the vexation that he had by their speaking so of∣ten to him, but also by his own speakings in answering to their calumnies; because, as he once sayd, whether he spake or held his peace, he could have none ease: Some others will have a certain number put for an uncer∣tain, and the number of ten, because it is a number of perfection, and therefore in saying ten times he intimateth, that they had even spoken to the full whatsoever they could devise to aggravate his misery, so that now for shame they had need hold their peace, and not multiply words any more in that way; and this I think to be the best, for it standeth not with rea∣son to understand by the manifold reproaches of him, his own speeches in any part whereby he defended himself against them.
Be it known indeed that I have erred, mine errour remaineth with my self. * 1.2 If yee will magnify your selves against me, and plead against me my reproach. Here Job humbleth himselfe, not denying, but that he might have erred, but he sayth it was to himself, he did beare the shame and reproach thereof abundantly, and humbled himself, therefore, but they not like friends, nor like men that feared God, taking occasion from hence for the magnifying of themselves over him, to plead these his sufferings against him hereby, and herefrom to argue, that he was notoriously wicked as they did.
But when they saw another, no way inferiour to them, thus dejected, it should have stricken fear into them, and have made them thus to reason with themselves, we are as well worthy of these judgments as he, what need then have we to humble, and not lift up our selves against him, least God seeing it destroy us with a far greater destruction then him: For this use do the righteous make of Gods judgments upon others, but contrariwise to [Note.] take occasion hereupon to strout out themselves, as if they were better and to insult over the afflicted is the part of men farr gone in wickednesse, that may well expect, that their turne shall come next to drink of the cup of Gods wrath filled even up to the brim.
Know now that GOD hath overthrown me, and compassed me with his net * 1.3