A paraphrase on the Book of Job As likewise on the Songs of Moses, Deborah, David: On Four Select Psalms: Some Chapters of Isaiah, and the Third Chapter of Habakkuk. By Sir Richard Blackmore |
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| I. |
| II. |
| III. |
| IV. |
| V. |
| VI. |
| VII. |
| VIII. |
| IX. |
| X. |
| XII. |
| XIII. |
| XIV. |
| XV. |
| XVI. |
| XVII. |
| XVIII. |
| XIX. |
| XX. |
| XXI. |
| XXII. |
| XXIII. |
| XXIV. |
| XXV. |
| XXVI. |
| XXVII. |
| XXVIII. |
| XXIX. |
| XXX. |
| XXXI. |
| XXXII. |
| XXXIII. |
| XXXIV. |
Ch. XXXIV
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| XXXV. |
| XXXVI. |
| XXXVII. |
| XXXVIII. |
| XXXIX. |
| XL. |
| XLI. |
| XLII. |
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Ch. XXXIV
A paraphrase on the Book of Job |  |
Ch. XXXIV
After a pause, Job making no reply,
The wise young Man proceeded thus: Should I
Presume to judge alone in such a Cause,
I should receive Contempt, and not Applause:
Wherefore to you who Knowledge have acquir'd,
Who are as Men of mighty Reach admir'd:
To all the Wise among you I appeal;
For Truth to you her Secrets will reveal.
As by the Palate various Meats are try'd,
So does the Mind what's true or false decide.
Let us a strict Examination make,
That we in judging may right Measures take.
Let us the matter carefully debate,
Let us the weighty Subject justly state.
For Job asserts his Innocence, and says,
“My Heart is pure, and Righteous are my Ways.
“Yet God in my Affliction takes Delight,
“And tho I pray, denys to do me Right.
“Evasions I'll not use in my Defence,
“Nor shall a Lye support my Innocence.
“I must assert, I have not Justice found,
“Mine, tho' a fatal, is a causless Wound.
A Man, like Job, say, have you ever known
So Arrogant, and so Licentious grown?
One, who instead of honouring his God,
And humbly suff'ring his Chastising Rod,
Justice Divine presumptuously arraigns,
And of his Wrongs receiv'd from Heav'n, complains?
Who boldly does contemptuous Language vent
Against th' Almighty, and his Government.
Who joyns himself with th' Irreligious Crew,
And speaks of God, just as the Wicked do.
He seems this impious Doctrine to defend,
That tho' a Man should all his Days contend
To please his God, yet should he nothing gain;
And therefore all Religion is in vain.
Ye Wise, to whom I first my self addrest,
At this, what Passions rise within your Breast?
Say, do not you such impious thoughts detest?
Can God the sacred Rules of Right transgress,
God who does all things in himself possess?
He by his full and rich Sufficiency,
Is from Temptation to Injustice free.
He on his Independent Throne secure,
No favour courts, and dreads no greater Power.
Th' Almighty so much weakness ne'er betrays,
But deals with Man according to his Ways.
Ne'er is the bold obdurate Sinner spar'd,
Nor does the Righteous miss a just Reward.
Sure none can censure me when I assert,
Our great Creator cannot Right pervert.
Who shall of Fraud or Violence condemn
Nature's Despotic Lord, and Judge supream?
Is there a Being of superiour Sway,
Whose Laws oblige th' Almighty to obey?
For which of all his Kingdoms does he Homage pay?
With his great Power what Prince does him entrust,
Whose Frowns should him incline to be unjust?
He that with all Perfections does abound,
He must with perfect Justice too be crown'd.
His Mind without a Stain shines pure and bright,
No Spot appears in uncreated Light.
He who is Lord of all can injure none,
Whate'er he takes, he but resumes his own.
All Beings are the Creatures of his Power,
And only while he pleases, they endure.
Should he recall the Breath and Vital Fire,
With which at first he did our Breasts inspire,
Mankind would perish, and to Common Dust
Would strait return, from whence they came at first.
If thou art Wise these Observations mind,
And well attend to what is yet behind.
The wise young Man proceeded thus: Should I
Presume to judge alone in such a Cause,
I should receive Contempt, and not Applause:
Wherefore to you who Knowledge have acquir'd,
Who are as Men of mighty Reach admir'd:
To all the Wise among you I appeal;
For Truth to you her Secrets will reveal.
As by the Palate various Meats are try'd,
So does the Mind what's true or false decide.
Let us a strict Examination make,
That we in judging may right Measures take.
Let us the matter carefully debate,
Let us the weighty Subject justly state.
145
“My Heart is pure, and Righteous are my Ways.
“Yet God in my Affliction takes Delight,
“And tho I pray, denys to do me Right.
“Evasions I'll not use in my Defence,
“Nor shall a Lye support my Innocence.
“I must assert, I have not Justice found,
“Mine, tho' a fatal, is a causless Wound.
A Man, like Job, say, have you ever known
So Arrogant, and so Licentious grown?
One, who instead of honouring his God,
And humbly suff'ring his Chastising Rod,
Justice Divine presumptuously arraigns,
And of his Wrongs receiv'd from Heav'n, complains?
Who boldly does contemptuous Language vent
Against th' Almighty, and his Government.
Who joyns himself with th' Irreligious Crew,
And speaks of God, just as the Wicked do.
He seems this impious Doctrine to defend,
That tho' a Man should all his Days contend
To please his God, yet should he nothing gain;
And therefore all Religion is in vain.
Ye Wise, to whom I first my self addrest,
At this, what Passions rise within your Breast?
Say, do not you such impious thoughts detest?
Can God the sacred Rules of Right transgress,
God who does all things in himself possess?
He by his full and rich Sufficiency,
Is from Temptation to Injustice free.
146
No favour courts, and dreads no greater Power.
Th' Almighty so much weakness ne'er betrays,
But deals with Man according to his Ways.
Ne'er is the bold obdurate Sinner spar'd,
Nor does the Righteous miss a just Reward.
Sure none can censure me when I assert,
Our great Creator cannot Right pervert.
Who shall of Fraud or Violence condemn
Nature's Despotic Lord, and Judge supream?
Is there a Being of superiour Sway,
Whose Laws oblige th' Almighty to obey?
For which of all his Kingdoms does he Homage pay?
With his great Power what Prince does him entrust,
Whose Frowns should him incline to be unjust?
He that with all Perfections does abound,
He must with perfect Justice too be crown'd.
His Mind without a Stain shines pure and bright,
No Spot appears in uncreated Light.
He who is Lord of all can injure none,
Whate'er he takes, he but resumes his own.
All Beings are the Creatures of his Power,
And only while he pleases, they endure.
Should he recall the Breath and Vital Fire,
With which at first he did our Breasts inspire,
Mankind would perish, and to Common Dust
Would strait return, from whence they came at first.
If thou art Wise these Observations mind,
And well attend to what is yet behind.
147
The God from whom that Truth and Justice flow,
Which we observe in Kings that Rule below;
He who with Power does Potentates entrust
Only for Good, can he be thought unjust?
Should we Terrestrial Kings as Tyrants blame,
Their Wrath would show how they abhor the Name.
If to inferiour Rulers we object
That they in judging Law and Right neglect;
Would they th' opprobrious Language tamely bear?
When thus provok'd, would they the Offender spare?
How impious then is that envenom'd Tongue,
That dares th' Almighty charge with doing wrong?
By him great Conqu'rors are esteem'd no more
Than Captives, nor the Wealthy than the Poor.
All Men before him stand on equal ground;
There Kings and Slaves are undistinguish'd found.
On all alike he executes his Laws,
And Judges not the Person, but the Cause.
The High and Low, the Rich and Needy are
Alike his Creatures, and alike his Care.
Can he be over-aw'd? will he to make
Unjust Decrees, a Bribe in secret take?
Will he the Power of mighty Monarchs dread?
His Arm can in a moment strike 'em dead.
He can affright whole Nations, and destroy
Great Empires, when they setled Peace enjoy.
When a proud Prince is ripe for Vengeance grown,
Tho' God by humane means oft pulls him down,
Yet he without them can his Foe dethrone.
For Powers unseen descending thro' the Air,
Shall far away the trembling Tyrant bear.
Which we observe in Kings that Rule below;
He who with Power does Potentates entrust
Only for Good, can he be thought unjust?
Should we Terrestrial Kings as Tyrants blame,
Their Wrath would show how they abhor the Name.
If to inferiour Rulers we object
That they in judging Law and Right neglect;
Would they th' opprobrious Language tamely bear?
When thus provok'd, would they the Offender spare?
How impious then is that envenom'd Tongue,
That dares th' Almighty charge with doing wrong?
By him great Conqu'rors are esteem'd no more
Than Captives, nor the Wealthy than the Poor.
All Men before him stand on equal ground;
There Kings and Slaves are undistinguish'd found.
On all alike he executes his Laws,
And Judges not the Person, but the Cause.
The High and Low, the Rich and Needy are
Alike his Creatures, and alike his Care.
Can he be over-aw'd? will he to make
Unjust Decrees, a Bribe in secret take?
Will he the Power of mighty Monarchs dread?
His Arm can in a moment strike 'em dead.
He can affright whole Nations, and destroy
Great Empires, when they setled Peace enjoy.
When a proud Prince is ripe for Vengeance grown,
Tho' God by humane means oft pulls him down,
Yet he without them can his Foe dethrone.
148
Shall far away the trembling Tyrant bear.
His vast and wide Creation God surveys,
Views all his Subjects, and remarks their ways.
He sees our Thoughts first rising in the Mind,
Knows what we do, and how we are inclin'd.
Therefore th' Almighty cannot thro' mistake,
Or ignorance, a wrong Decision make.
A Judge that cannot err, unbiass'd, free
From Hopes and Fears, can't make an ill Decree.
Evasive Arts in vain the Wicked use,
Their Crimes in vain they labour to excuse.
No Mist before th' Almighty's Eye can dwell,
Whose piercing Beams will blackest Shades dispel,
Shades from the dark and deepest Caves of Hell.
Therefore as God will ne'er our Guilt enlarge,
Nor on us Crimes we ne'er committed charge;
So when for Judgment he appoints a day,
He'll the Judicial Sentence not delay,
To hear what Man, for his excuse can say.
He calls no Witness, no Enquiry needs,
But strait to Condemnation he proceeds.
He breaks the Mighty, pulls the Tyrant down,
And raises others to the vacant Throne.
These wrathful Strokes inflicted justly, show,
He does th' Offences and th'Offender know.
On these he doubles his avenging blows,
And marks them out as Heav'n's notorious Foes
The Wretches are expos'd to publick sight,
Objects of Vengeance others to affright.
Because they hated Virtue's Heav'nly way,
And would not God's most equal Laws obey:
But crush'd the Needy with Tyrannic Pride,
Whilst humbly they to Heav'n for Justice cry'd.
And when such poor, afflicted Creatures cry,
The God of Mercy will not help deny.
At last th' Almighty will proud Kings dethrone,
Beneath whose Yoke the ruin'd People groan.
Tho' they would Pious seem, and Zeal pretend
For Publick Good, Destruction is their end.
Lest their Examples which Contagious are,
Should by degrees the Peoples Minds ensnare.
Views all his Subjects, and remarks their ways.
He sees our Thoughts first rising in the Mind,
Knows what we do, and how we are inclin'd.
Therefore th' Almighty cannot thro' mistake,
Or ignorance, a wrong Decision make.
A Judge that cannot err, unbiass'd, free
From Hopes and Fears, can't make an ill Decree.
Evasive Arts in vain the Wicked use,
Their Crimes in vain they labour to excuse.
No Mist before th' Almighty's Eye can dwell,
Whose piercing Beams will blackest Shades dispel,
Shades from the dark and deepest Caves of Hell.
Therefore as God will ne'er our Guilt enlarge,
Nor on us Crimes we ne'er committed charge;
So when for Judgment he appoints a day,
He'll the Judicial Sentence not delay,
To hear what Man, for his excuse can say.
He calls no Witness, no Enquiry needs,
But strait to Condemnation he proceeds.
He breaks the Mighty, pulls the Tyrant down,
And raises others to the vacant Throne.
These wrathful Strokes inflicted justly, show,
He does th' Offences and th'Offender know.
On these he doubles his avenging blows,
And marks them out as Heav'n's notorious Foes
149
Objects of Vengeance others to affright.
Because they hated Virtue's Heav'nly way,
And would not God's most equal Laws obey:
But crush'd the Needy with Tyrannic Pride,
Whilst humbly they to Heav'n for Justice cry'd.
And when such poor, afflicted Creatures cry,
The God of Mercy will not help deny.
At last th' Almighty will proud Kings dethrone,
Beneath whose Yoke the ruin'd People groan.
Tho' they would Pious seem, and Zeal pretend
For Publick Good, Destruction is their end.
Lest their Examples which Contagious are,
Should by degrees the Peoples Minds ensnare.
Therefore let all in Misery and Pain
Suspect themselves, and not of God complain.
Let them to God such words as these address,
“Just are my Suff'rings, freely I confess.
“Nor will I now commit a fresh Offence
“By pleading at thy Bar my Innocence.
“Teach me thy Will, my Ignorance instruct,
“And thro' the Paths of Life my Feet conduct.
“Before my Eyes thy Heav'nly Light display,
“Which may both cheer, and guide me in my way.
“Forgive my Sin, my inward Peace restore,
“Have I offended, I'll offend no more.
Say, Job, didst thou in such an humble way,
E'er due Submission to th' Almighty pay?
If thou this wholesome Counsel dost despise,
Be sure thy stubborn Folly he'll chastise.
Job may the method I propose refuse,
Which I, were I in his Distress, would chuse.
Tell therefore, Job, what thy Opinions are,
Or let Judicious Men their Sense declare,
For I such Judges ask in this Affair.
To me, as impious Job's Discourses sound,
And with egregious Errors they abound.
He argues on a Capital mistake,
That does the Pillars of Religion shake.
Therefore that he may yet be farther try'd,
I wish his sharp Affliction may abide;
Till he retract his Words, which God arraign,
Till he no more of Providence complain.
Else to the past he'll fresh Rebellion add,
And justify what he has rashly said.
He will applaud his Wisdom, and relate,
That he the Conquest won in this Debate.
Harden'd in Folly he'll his Crimes repeat,
And Heav'n with more indecent Language treat.
Suspect themselves, and not of God complain.
Let them to God such words as these address,
“Just are my Suff'rings, freely I confess.
“Nor will I now commit a fresh Offence
“By pleading at thy Bar my Innocence.
“Teach me thy Will, my Ignorance instruct,
“And thro' the Paths of Life my Feet conduct.
“Before my Eyes thy Heav'nly Light display,
“Which may both cheer, and guide me in my way.
“Forgive my Sin, my inward Peace restore,
“Have I offended, I'll offend no more.
Say, Job, didst thou in such an humble way,
E'er due Submission to th' Almighty pay?
150
Be sure thy stubborn Folly he'll chastise.
Job may the method I propose refuse,
Which I, were I in his Distress, would chuse.
Tell therefore, Job, what thy Opinions are,
Or let Judicious Men their Sense declare,
For I such Judges ask in this Affair.
To me, as impious Job's Discourses sound,
And with egregious Errors they abound.
He argues on a Capital mistake,
That does the Pillars of Religion shake.
Therefore that he may yet be farther try'd,
I wish his sharp Affliction may abide;
Till he retract his Words, which God arraign,
Till he no more of Providence complain.
Else to the past he'll fresh Rebellion add,
And justify what he has rashly said.
He will applaud his Wisdom, and relate,
That he the Conquest won in this Debate.
Harden'd in Folly he'll his Crimes repeat,
And Heav'n with more indecent Language treat.
|
Ch. XXXIV
A paraphrase on the Book of Job | |