A paraphrase upon Job; written in French by J.F. Senault, father of the oratory: and dedicated to the Cardinal of Richlieu.

CHAP. IV.

THE ARGUMENT.

ELiphas, a neighbour Prince and friend of Job's, resting upon exteriour appearances, would perswade him that he is guilty because he is afflicted, and relating to him a vision which he had had, endeavours to prove that no creature is in∣nocent before God.

1 AFter Job had ex∣pressed his griefes with so much re∣sentment, 2 Eliphaz the most ancient of his friends judging that his complaints offended the Divine Justice, spoke in its defence, and be∣gan his discourse in this manner I know not if in the griefe which afflicts you,

you are capable of hearing us; and whether our reasons will not exasperate your evils, instead of sweetning them. But who can hinder a discourse from coming forth, which is already conceived? who would conceale from his friend those sentiments which are profita∣ble to his soule, and which coming from a good intenti∣on, ought in reason to pro∣duce a good effect?

3 And for to propose to you no other examples than your owne, remember that when heaven blest your labours, and favoured your designes, you gave instructions to all the world, and there was not a man who had more addresse than you, in comforting the afflicted, and raising up the courage of them in whom grief had beaten it down.

Your discourses animated the feeble, 4 if the assault of

temptations did shake them, you assured them by your rea∣sons; and if the apprehension of evils to come astonished them, you prepared them for them so well, that they were never lesse touched with them than when they saw them ar∣rived.

5 Notwithstanding when the tempest fell upon your selfe, and that the evils of which you had cured others, assault∣ed you, your prudence left you in your need, and the af∣fliction which hath put your soul in disorder, hath made you lose your courage.

6 Where is that feare and that constancy which tendred you admirable, and whose just temperature made you that you were neither cowardly in fight, nor insolent in victory? where is that patience gone which seemed to be proofe a∣gainst all evils, and which

could finde none but what were easie to conquer? what is become of that integrity which accompanied all your actions; and which in a cor∣rupt age made you have the name of Just?

7 But because you take a va∣nity in the vertues which you have lost, I pray you remem∣ber that God never abandon∣ed the innocent; that he hath alwayes taken the part of the just, and never suffered them to perish.

Indeed we have seene that those men, 8 who make them selves illustrious but by their crimes, who doe evill with pleasure, to whom others mi∣series are more sweet than a plentifull harvest is agreeable to the Husbandman, 9 have not been able to avoid his justice; and that as those great Trees which are planted upon the Mountaines, they have been

made the sport of the windes and tempests.

Hath not experience taught you, 10 that men who raigned like Lions, that their chil∣dren who equalled them in cruelty, that their wives who surpassed them in insolence, have ended their lives tragi∣cally, and that heaven hath made seene in their persons, that it never leaves sinners without chastisement?

Know you not that those great ones, 11 who under the face of men carry the hearts of Tygers, and those who not being of the same birth, are notwithstanding of the same humour, receive the punish∣ments which their sinnes de∣serve; and that as there are no innocent ones abandoned, there are no culpable ones un∣punished?

But because you doubt of these truths, 12 and your afflicti∣ons

themselvs cannot per∣swade you that you are guilty, I shall tell you a secret which was revealed to me, and trust you with some words, which though they dropt softly into my eare, are imprinted strong∣ly in my heart.

Imagine then that during the horrours of the night, 13 when sleepe sliding into the eyes of men, makes it self ma∣ster of all their sences, and leaves no freedome to the minde but to treat with God, and receive his inspirations.

A strange feare, 14 the cause of which was hidden from me, seized upon my soule, and as strong agitations of the minde make powerfull impressions upon the body, there was not a part of me but was moved at it; the bones themselves which steme to be the foundations of this living Edifice, felt asto∣nishment.

A furious winde which a∣rose in my Chamber, 15 redou¦bled my feare, and my haire being sensible of this acci∣dent stood an end and taught me, that of all feares those which surprise us doe most astonish us.

This tempest calmed by the presence of a man, 16 whose face was vnknowne to me, and whose features notwith∣standing remaine so livelily imprinted in my imagination, that me thinkes I have his portraiture yet before my eyes. He opened his mouch, and spake to me in a voyce, whose sweetnes equalled that of the westerne wendes.

May men be found who pretend to justifie themselves before God, 17 and must not that creature have lost his judgement, who will contest with his Creator, and dispute with him his innocence?

Those noble spirits dis-in∣gaged from the body, 18 those quick intelligences, which have no commerce with flesh and blood, and for increase of their happinesse, have the glory to be his Domestiques, could not subsist in nature, nor persevere in grace, if they were not ayded by his boun∣ty: So all they who have de∣spised him, are become guilty, and the purity of their being hath not hindred God from finding in their person disor∣ders to reforme, and crimes to punish.

If it be true that these no∣ble creatures cannot justifie themselves before him, 19 how much lesse ought men to hope it, who are condemned to carry bodies, which may well be called houses of earth, since the habitation is so con∣tagious, and the Vestments of their soules, fince they shall

be consumed with wormes.

Indeed with whatsoever vaine hope the proud flatter themselves, 20 and whatsoever Artifice they use to cloak their miserable conditions, they know that their life is so short, that the same day may see the beginning and the end of it; but because they thinke not upon these truths, and to give themselves liberty to sin, they perswade themselves that they are immortall, God will pu∣nish them eternally.

And if their children which survive them be not exe••pt from their crimes, 21 they shall not be exempt from their pu∣nishments; and death which will come and surprize them, shall be a just chastilement of their foolish rashnesse.

Notes

• 1

  Then Eli∣phaz the Te∣manite answe∣red and said,
• 2

  If we assay to commune with thee, wilt thou be grie∣ved? but who can with hold himself from speaking?
• 3

  Behold, thou hast in∣structed ma∣ny, and thou hast strengthe∣ned the weak∣hands.
• 4

  Thy words have upholden him that was falling, & thou hast strength∣ened the see∣ble knees.
• 5

  But now it is come up∣on thee, and thou faintest, it toucheth thee, and thou art troubled
• 6

  Is not this thy fear, thy confidence, the uprightnes of thy wayes, and ••hy hope?
• 7

  Remem∣ber, I pray thee, who ever petished be∣ing innocent? or where were the righteous cut off?
• 8

  Even as I have seen, they that plow ini∣quiry, and sow wickednesse, reap the same.
• 9

  By the blast of God they perish, and by the breath of his nostrils are they consumed.
• 10

  The roa∣ring of the li∣on, and the voyce of the fierce lion, and the teeth of the young li∣ons are bro∣ken.
• 11

  The old lion perisheth for lack of prey, and the stont lions whelpes are scattered a∣broad.
• 12

  Now a thing was se∣cretly brought to me, and mine eare re∣ceived a little thereof.
• 13

  In thoughts from the vi∣sions of the night, when deep sleep fal∣leth on men.
• 14

  Feare came upon me, and trembling, which made all my bence to shake.
• 15

  Then a spirit passed before my face, the haire of my flesh stood up.
• 16

  It stood still, but I could not dis∣cerne the form thereof: an i∣mage was be∣fore mine eyes, there was si∣lence, and I heard a voice, saying,
• 17

  Shall mortall man be more just then God? shall a man be more pure then his Maker?
• 18

  Behold he putteth no trust in his ser∣vants, and his angels he thar∣ged with folly:
• 19

  How much lesse on them that dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, which are crushed before the moth?
• 20

  They are destroyed from morning to evening: they perish for ever without any regarding it.
• 21

  Doth not their excellen∣cy which is in them go away? they dye, even without wis∣dom.