Iob expounded by Theodore Beza, partly in manner of a commentary, partly in manner of a paraphrase. Faithfully translated out of Latine into English

¶ THE SVMME AND ORDER of the Chapters 27, 28, 29, 30, 31.

HEtherto Job hath made answer to Eliphaz and Bildad. Tso∣phar yet remaining behinde. But forasmuch as he held his peace (either for that he esteemed Iob as a desperate person, of whose a∣mendment there was no hope at all; or because he was not able to make his parte good with him, in respect of the truth of his cause, & the strength of his arguments) Iob in the five Chapters next & im∣mediatelie following, goeth forward in the apologie or defence of him selfe: and first in this 27. Chapter, he sheweth, that whatsoeuer he had before spoken and disputed concerning the happie and prosperous estate of the wicked, was not so be taken, as if God did fauour their proceedings, or as if none of them did tast of Gods fearefull and iust iudgements in this life: Which thing was verie farre from his mea∣ning. For on the contrarie side, he doth confesse and acknowledge, that God iustlie punisheth their wickednes by manifold and sundrie plagues euen in this life (according as he thinketh best:) which is a thing so cleare and euident, that no doubt neede be made thereof. Neuerthelesse he flatlie denyeth, that this is alwaies true, and there∣fore they might see how they leaned but to a weake ground & foun∣dation, whereas by this suddeine and miserable fall they concluded against him. For, saith he, there is a certaine hidden and secret wis∣dome of God, wherby he so gouerneth and ruleth all things, that man by no wit or industrie can atteine to the reason thereof: and vvhich ought indeede rather highlie to be reuerenced, then curiouslie to be searched into, as namelie, when he doth most grieuouslie afflict the

godlie, of which number he professeth and prooueth himselfe to bee one, and on the other side, in great patience and long suffering for∣beareth the wicked. Jn breefe therefore Iob in these fiue Chapters doth handle these three things,. Jn this 27. hee doth intreat of the punishments which euen in this life doe ouertake the wicked, how be it this happeneth not to all, nor yet at all times, but so often and to so manie as it pleaseth God. Jn the 28 Chapter hee reasoneth of the secret and hidden wisdome of God: which argument he han∣dleth generally, that it may haue the greater force and efficacie to conuince the gainsayers, Jn the 29.30.31. Chapters, he discour∣seth of the integritie of his former life, till such time as this so sudden and almost incredible calamity came vpon him. In which two things for asmuch as euerie where hee kepe not that measure which was meete, therefore he was worthelie reprooued, first by Eliphaz and that not altogether without bitternes, and then by God himselfe, but yet farre more grauely aed with greater moderation; as after∣wards wee shall heare.