Images de page
PDF
ePub

giving, the evils which encompassed them; and hearing withal how bountifully God rewarded Job for his datience, they might hope for deliverance, and expect the benefit of a blessed reward of their labours.

"Be ye constant, O children of Israel, (said Moses with a pleasing countenance, when he delivered this book into their hands), do not faint in your minds, O ye posterity of Abraham, but suffer grief, and bear these evils patiently, as that man in the land of Uz did, whose name was Job; who, though he was a righteous and faithful person, in whom was no fault, yet suffered the sorest torments by the malice of the devil; as you do now most unjustly from Pharaoh and the Egyptians. They treat you indeed very basely, and have enslaved you, without any fault of yours, &c. But do not despair of a better condition; you shall be delivered, as Job was, and have a reward of your tribulations, like that which God gave to him"

There follows a great deal more to the same purpose in that writer, which I shall not transcribe, but only add, that the church of Christ, as he observes, was wont, after this example, to read this passion of Job publicly in all their assemblies, upon holidays, (when they commemorated the martyrs), and upon fasting days, and days of abstinence, and upon the days of our Saviour's passion, of which they thought they saw a figure in the sufferings of Job; and of our Saviour's resurrection and exaltation, in Job's wonderful recovery, and advancement to a greater height of prosperity. And as they read this history in the church publicly, so when they went to visit any one privately that was in grief, mourning, or sorrow, they read a lesson of the patience of Job for their comfort or support under their troubles, and to take away the distress and anguish of their heart.

I pray God it may have that effect upon all afflicted persons who shall read it; and that others also, considering the instability of all worldly things, (which is here also lively represented), may use their prosperity with such moderation, that they may bear a change of their condition, if it come, with an equal mind. I am sure there is no man, of whatsoever rank, or in whatsoever condition he be, but may learn very much, if he please, from this admirable pattern. Which is the very first that is left us upon record, of a virtuous life, both in prosperity and in adversity, and that not only as a private man, but as a prince; " in whom it is the greater commendation to obey the will of God, because he hath more means and temptations to fulfil his own."

That therefore shall conclude the character of Job, who, when he had no superior to controul him, (as you may read, chap. xxix. and xxxi.), gave such an example of piety and devotion, humility and moderation, chastity and purity, justice and equity, charity and compassion, as few have done in a private condition. This is as admirable, and will be praised as much to all generations, as his generous patience; which was so much famed in ancient times, that (from a passage which some editions of the LXX. have added to the conclusion of this book) it went as a common tradition, ἐδὲν ἄπεςον ἔχων, (as Theophanes speaks), having nothing incredible in it, that Job was one of those who had the honour to rise out of his grave at our Saviour's resurrection, when, as St Matthew assures us, chap. xxvii. 51. " Many bodies of saints which slept, arose, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many."

James, v. 7. 11.-" Behold, we count them happy which endure. Be patient, therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord."

A

PARAPHRASE

ON THE

BOOK OF JOB.

CHAP. Ι.

THE ARGUMENT. - This Chapter is a plain narration of the flourishing condition wherein Job lived, before the envy and malice of the devil brought upon him the sorest calamities; which are particularly described, with the occasion of them, and his ad. mirable constancy under them, whereby he became as eminent an example of patience in adversity, as he had been of piety and all manner of virtue in his prosperity.

Ver. 1. THERE was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared GOD, and eschewed evil.] In the time of the ancient patriarchs, before the giving of the law of Moses, there lived in Arabia a person of great eminence, whose name was Job; a man not more illustrious for his birth or place, than for the height of his virtue, which appeared in a most unblameable life, void of all hypocrisy, both in his piety toward God, and in his dealings with men, and all other ways.

Ver. 2. And there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters.] Whom God therefore had so wonderfully blessed, that his outward prosperity was equal to the perfections of his mind. For first, he had given him the sweet fruits of marriage, in a numerous issue of seven sons and three daughters :

Ver. 3. His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she-asses, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the east.] And then enriched him abundantly with the wealth of that country, which consisted in seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, as many she-asses; with such a very great tillage, and so many servants, that in those eastern parts he had neither superior nor equal.

Ver. 4. And his sons went and feasted in their houses every one his day, and sent and called for their three sisters, to eat and drink with them.] And together with all this happiness, he had the pleasure to see his children

live in love and unity. For it was the custom of his sons to meet at each other's houses, and to make a feast every one upon his birth-day: (iii. 1.) And he whose turn it was to treat the rest, always invited their three sisters to come and be merry with them.

Ver. 5. And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt-offerings, according to the number of them all; for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed GOD in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.] This feast was wont to last seven days, at the end of which their good father never failed to send a messenger to them, to call upon them to prepare themselves by fasting and prayer for the sacrifice he meant to offer for them: And when they were assembled, he rose up early in the morning, (the fittest time for devotion), and prayed to God, by offering burnt-offerings for every one of them, because he was afraid they might have done or spoken something that was profane, and misbecoming their religion, when their minds, loosened by mirth, were less upon their guard. And thus he did constantly after every feast.

Ver. 6. Now there was a day when the sons of GOD came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among then. But this great piety was not sufficient to preserve him from false accusations. For as Job set a time for his children to examine themselves, so there are certain seasons when the angels come and stand in the divine presence, to give an account of their ministry, and to receive commands from God, the Judge and Governor of the world; and Satan, that subtle adversary of mankind, came one day, and thrust in himself among them.

Ver. 7. And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.] And the Lord (to make him sensible he was not an absolute prince, but his subject) called to him, and demanded an account of him, where he had been, and from whence he came? To

which he gave an answer, which expressed, as the great restlessness of his mind, and his unwearied diligence, so the limitation of his power, which extends only to this lower world; for he told him, he came from going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.

Ver. 8. And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth GOD, and escheweth evil.] Then the Lord said to him again, After all thy inquisitiveness and busy search, thou hast nothing to object against the integrity of my servant Job; a man that excels in piety and justice, and all other virtues, which he practises exactly and sincerely.

Ver. 9. Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear GOD for nought?] Yes, said Satan; he serves himself rather than thee; it is not thy plea. sure which he regards, but his own profit.

Ver. 10. Hast thou not made an bedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? Thou hast blessed the work of bis hands, and bis substance is increased in the land.] Hast not thou pay. ed him well for his pains? and so environed him and his family, and all belonging to him in every place, that no harm can come to them? Whereby all his business prospers, and all his flocks and his herds are so increased, that the country can scarce hold

them.

Ver. 11. But put forth thine band now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face. But I am confident, if thou wilt but employ that power to plague him, which hath so long preserved him, he will not only in his heart, but openly, deny thy providence.

Ver. 12. And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine band. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.] Then the Lord (who was willing to prove the virtue of his servant in an afflicted estate, as he had done in a prosperous) withdrew the protection he had given him, and granted Satan a commission to dispose of all belonging to Job according as he pleased; excepting only his person, which he commanded him not to touch. This was joyful news to that malicious spirit, who went immediately to do what he had long desired.

Ver. 13. And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house:] And within a short time found an opportunity to try the constancy of Job, by doing him all the mischief possible, in one and the same day: which was the birth-day of his eldest son, when all his children (far from fearing any evil) were met, according to their custom, at his house, to feast and rejoice together.

Ver. 14. And there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them.] Then it was that Satan put in execution what he had designed; and first of all stirred up a thievish sort of people in Arabia, to fall upon that part of his land which was next to them. Of which

tidings were presently brought to Job by a messenger, saying,

Ver. 15. And the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword, and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.] As the oxen were at plough, and the asses in a pasture hard by them, the Sabeans made an inroad into thy country, and carried them all away; having slain, by an unexpected assault, all those who should have preserved them, except myself alone, who made an escape to acquaint thee with it.

Ver. 16. While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of GOD is fallen from beaven, and bath burnt up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell the:.] He had not quite delivered his message before another of his servants arrived, (as evils seldom come single), to tell him that there had been a very great lightning in those parts where his sheep were feeding, which had consumed both them and the shepherds, and left none surviving but himself alone, to give notice of this disaster.

Ver. 17. While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried them away, yea, and have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.] He had not finished his narration before another messenger was at the door, saying, Our neighbours the Chaldeans, seeking for booty, divided themselves into three parties, who set upon us all at once; and they have carried away the camels, and killed all the servants that looked after them, except myself, who made a shift to save myself by flight, to bring the news of this invasion.

Ver. 18. While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their elder brother's bouse:] Before he had concluded, came in another, the most doleful messenger of all, saying, Thy children, as thou know. est, were feasting with their elder brother:

Ver. 19. And behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.) And behold, on a sudden there arose a violent wind, which coming from the desart, and whirling about the house, took away the four corners of it, and buried them all in its ruins; and there is not one of the guests escaped, that I know of, but only myself, to be the messenger of this great calamity.

Ver. 20. Then Job arose, and rent bis mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and wor. shipped.] Then Job (who had heard all the rest without disturbance) was overcome with grief at this last word, and laying aside all other thoughts, gave up himself to the most lamentable sorrow; for he rent his upper garment, cut off the hair of his head, and threw himself upon the ground.. Where he deceived the devil's expectation; for he most reverently adored, as became his piety, the Divine Majesty, and submitted himself to his will, saying,

Ver. 21. And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.] I am but what I was at first, and what I must have been again at last; and he that hath stript me of all before I die, hath taken away nothing but what he gave. Let him, therefore, be praised, who is the donor of all good things, and the disposer of all events. Ver. 22. In all this Job sinned not, nor charged GOD foolishly.] This was the worst word that he spake, when all these evils came upon him so unexpectedly, and so thick together: ali the rest was like this; and nothing dropt from his mouth which in the least accused or questioned the providence of God.

CHAP. II.

THE ARGUMENT. - The first part of this chapter is a continuation of the narration, which was begun in the foregoing, of the calamities which befel this good man, whom God suffered the devil to afflict in his body, as he had already done in his goods and children. And then follows a farther testimony of his constancy, notwithstanding his wife's angry and profane accusation of the Divine Providence: Though, it is true, he was so much dejected to see himself reduced to this extremity of misery, that neither he nor his friends that came to visit him, were able for several days to speak a word.

Ver. 1.

was a

AGAIN there day when the sons of

GOD came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also to present himself before the LORD.] After these things, the angels going again to attend the pleasure of the Divine Majesty, and to give an account of their several charges, Satan also openly appeared among them, and presented himself, as ready and desirous to be examined about his management.

Ver. 2. And the LORD said unto Satan, From whence comest thou ? And Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. But not daring to speak before he was called, he waited till the Divine Majesty asked where he had been, and what he had done. To which he answered, as he had done before, that he had not lost his time, but had fetched a circuit round about the earth, to find opportunity for the exercise of his power.

Ver. 3. And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth GOD, and escheweth evil? and still be boldeth fast his integrity, although thou movest me against him, to destroy bim without cause. Well then, said the Lord, art not thou convinced how true a character I gave of my servant Job, and how much thou hast calumniated him? for he still resolutely continues as perfectly virtuous as he was in his prosperity, though I have consented to these miserable calamities which he suffers undeservedly.

Ver. 4. And Satan answered the LORD, and said, VOL. III.

B

Skin for skin, and all that a man bath will be give for bis life.] To which Satan answered again, and said, that his constancy was not so wonderful, since a man hath reason to think himself rich, who is in health. Who is there that will not give another's skin to save his own; nay, part with his children, as well as his goods, to save his life?

Ver. 5. But put forth thine band now, and touch bis bone, and bis flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face.] But enlarge now my commission a little farther, and let me afflict his body, so that it touch him to the very quick, and he will openly renounce thee, and deny thy providence.

Ver. 6. And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand, but save his life.) To which the Divine Majesty (knowing the fidelity of Job, which hereby would become more illustrious) was pleased to yield; and said, Behold, I give thee the same power over his person, which thou hadst over his family and goods: inflict what diseases thou wilt upon him, so they do

not kill him.

Ver. 7. So went Satan forth from the presence of the LORD, and smote Job with sore boils, from the sole of bis foot unto his crown.] No sooner had Satan obtained this new grant, but, withdrawing himself from the presence of the Divine Majesty, he went to pursue his mischievous desires; and smote Job from top to toe with a fiery ulcer, whose sharp humour was extreme, grievous, and painful, and pricked him (according to his wish) to the very bone.

Ver. 8. And be took him a potsherd to scrape himself withal; and be sat down among the ashes.] The filthiness of the disease also increased that sorrow and hea

viness which before had seized on him, and made him sit down in the ashes: where he laid hold on what came next to hand, a piece of a broken pot, to wipe away the foul matter which issued out of his boils.

Ver. 9. Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity ? Curse GOD and die.) And it was a farther addition to his grief, to hear his dear consort (whom the divine goodness, he thought, had still left to help him to bear his affliction) utter this profane speech, What a folly is it still to persist in the service of God, when all thou gettest by it is to give him thanks and perish.

Ver. 10. But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh : What? shall we receive good at the band of GOD, and shall we not receive evil ? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.] These words struck him to the very heart: but instead of being angry with God, he only severely reproved her, tell. ing her that she talked like one of the wicked women: and then piously represented to her, that we ought to take nothing ill which comes from the hand of God, (as all evil things do as well as good); and the more good we have received from him, the less reason we have to complain when we suffer any evil. No discourse but such as this was heard to come from his mouth.

Ver. 11. Now when Job's these friends beard of all.

this evil that was come upon him, they came every man from his own place; Elipbaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Sbulite, and Zopbar the Naamathite; for they bad made an appointment together to come to mourh with him, and to comfort him.] Now, there dwelt in the neighbouring provinces three great men, with whom Job had long maintained a particular friendship; who, hearing the sad tidings of his sufferings, came every one from his country to visit him. Their names were Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite; who all three met at his house on the same day, according to an appointment they had made, to come and condole with him, and comfort him.

Ver. 12. And when they lift up their eyes afur off, and knew him not, they lifted up their voice and wept; and they rent every one bis mantle, and sprinkled dust upon their heads towards heaven. But as soon as ever they entered into the place where he lay, they were surprised with so miserable a spectacle of deformity, that they shrieked aloud, as men affrighted, and burst out into tears, and rent their garments, and threw dust into the air; which falling on their heads, expressed the confusion they were in, to find him so covered over with ulcers, that they could not know him.

Ver. 13. So they sat down with him upon the ground seven days and seven nights : and none spake a word unto bim, for they saw that his grief was very great.] And when they approached nearer him, they only sat down upon the earth, in the same mournful posture wherein they found him, but were not able (so much were they astonished) for seven days and nights to say one word of the business about which they were come to him. And indeed his grief was so exceeding great, that they did not well know what to say, till time, which alters all things, had assuaged a little both his grief and theirs.

CHAP. III.

THE ARGUMENT. Here begin the discourses which Job and his friends had about his affliction; which are all represented by the author of this book poetically; not as hitherto, in a plain simple narration, but in most elegant verse. And being overcharged with grief, (without the least word of comfort from his friends), he that had for some time borne the weight of his afflictions with an admirable constancy, could not contain himself any longer, but bursts out (to such a degree was the anguish of his spirit increased) into the most passionate complaints of the miseries of human life. The consideration of which made him prefer death much before it, and wish that either he had never come into the world, or gone presently out of it again, or at least might now forthwith be dismissed.

Ver. 1. AFTER this opened fob bis mouth, and cursed his day. And at the end of seven days Job himself began by complaints to give some vent to his grief, which had stupified him thus long:

But he burst out into such bitter lamentations, that he wished a thousand times he had never been born.

Ver. 2. And Job spake and said,] That which he said was to this effect:

Ver. 3. Let the day perish wherein I was born, and the night in which it was said, There is a man-child conceived.] Let the day and the night of my birth be never more mentioned, but be quite forgotten, as if it had never been.

Ver. 4. Let that day be darkness, let not GOD regard it from above, neither let the light shine upon it.] Let that day be turned into night, and not be counted among the days: let the sun then withdraw its light, and never shine upon it.

Ver. 5. Let darkness and the shadow of death stain it, let a cloud dwell upon it, let the blackness of the day terrify it.] Let the most dismal darkness and the thickest clouds wholly possess it, and render it terrible to

men.

Ver. 6. As for that night, let darkness seize upon it, let it not be joined to the days of the year, let it not come into the number of the months.] And let the night be of the same sort, and both of them quite blotted out of the kalendar.

Ver. 7. Lo, let that night be solitary, let no joyful voice come therein.) Let nobody meet together on that night, to feast or make merry.

Ver. 8. Let them curse it that curse the day, who are ready to raise up their mourning.] Let it be as the day wherein men bewail the greatest misfortune, or the time wherein they see the most dreadful apparition.

Ver. 9. Let the stars of the twilight thereof be dark; let it look for light, but have none, neither let it see the dawning of the day :) Let there not so much: as a star appear in that night, nor so much light as we see at peep of day.

Ver. 10. Because it shut not up the doors of my mother's womb, nor hid sorrow from mine eyes.] Because it did not bury me in my mother's womb, and thereby secure me from all these miseries.

Ver. 11. Why died I not from the womb ? why did I not give up the ghost when I came out of the belly?] What a misfortune was it that I did not die before I was born, or at least as soon as I came into the world?

Ver. 12. Why did the knees prevent me? or why the breasts that I should suck?] That they who received me from the womb did not let me fall on the ground? or my nurse refuse to give me suck?

Ver. 13. For now should I have lien still, and been quiet, I should have slept ; then had I been at rest:] Then should I have felt none of these miseries which I now endure, but lain quiet and undisturbed;

Ver. 14. With kings and counsellors of the earth, which built desolate places for themselves;] Equal to kings and the greatest persons, who lie alone in the tombs which they built themselves:

Ver. 15. Or with princes that had geld, who filled their houses with silver: Having gold and silver in abundance, whereof now they are bereaved :

Ver. 16. Or as a hidden untimely birth I kad not

« PrécédentContinuer »