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. |
| XXXV. |
| XXXVI. |
| XXXVII. |
| XXXVIII. | C. XXXVIII |
| XXXIX. |
| XL. |
| XLI. |
| XLII. |
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| LIII. |
 | C. XXXVIII A paraphrase on the Book of Job |  |
C. XXXVIII
Then did th' Almighty quit his high Abode,
And on the Winds his swift-wing'd Coursers rode.
Involv'd in Darkness, down the Skys he came,
Whirlwinds before him flew, and Storms of ruddy Flame.
The trembling Poles their Terror did express,
And flying Hills their dreadful Fright confess.
All Nature felt a Reverential Shock;
The Sea amaz'd, stood still to see the Mountains rock.
Approaching near the place th' Eternal spoke,
And from an opening Cloud these awful Accents broke.
And on the Winds his swift-wing'd Coursers rode.
Involv'd in Darkness, down the Skys he came,
Whirlwinds before him flew, and Storms of ruddy Flame.
The trembling Poles their Terror did express,
And flying Hills their dreadful Fright confess.
All Nature felt a Reverential Shock;
The Sea amaz'd, stood still to see the Mountains rock.
Approaching near the place th' Eternal spoke,
And from an opening Cloud these awful Accents broke.
Where art thou Job, who by thy gross mistake,
Dost false Constructions of my Actions make?
Gird up thy Loyns, O Man, prepare to stand
Before a Judge, that comes at thy demand.
I will thy Wisdom and thy Knowledge try,
And to my Questions, if thou canst, reply.
Say, what wert thou, who could thy Station find,
When by the Model in my Breast, design'd
Before all Ages, I was pleas'd to reer
The Frame of this capacious Theater?
Tell, if thou canst this pitch of Knowledge reach,
Whence for my World did I Materials fetch?
Hast thou the unexhausted Mines explor'd
In Chaos Bowels, which supplys afford?
Know'st thou the Strength and Skill that I employ'd,
To dig out Matter from an empty void?
Know'st thou how walking o'er the lonesome Plains
Of antient Night, I found the wealthy Veins
Of Stones and Metals, which her Womb contains.
Canst thou declare by what stupendous Art,
I squar'd, and shap'd, and fitted every Part?
How for the World I mark'd a proper place,
And with what Compass, circumscrib'd the Space?
How from the barren Wast I took in Ground,
Enclos'd it for a World, and fenc'd it round?
On what think'st thou are its Foundations plac't?
What Cement binds and knits the Fabrick fast?
When I to work upon the World begun,
And of the Building laid the Corner Stone,
Know'st thou how soon the World's high Case was reer'd?
How soon the wide expanded Roof appear'd?
When all the Seraphs, whose Celestial Race,
The Morning Star in Lustre, far surpass;
The first-born Sons of God, my Praises sung,
While the glad Heav'n's with Acclamations rung.
Dost false Constructions of my Actions make?
165
Before a Judge, that comes at thy demand.
I will thy Wisdom and thy Knowledge try,
And to my Questions, if thou canst, reply.
Say, what wert thou, who could thy Station find,
When by the Model in my Breast, design'd
Before all Ages, I was pleas'd to reer
The Frame of this capacious Theater?
Tell, if thou canst this pitch of Knowledge reach,
Whence for my World did I Materials fetch?
Hast thou the unexhausted Mines explor'd
In Chaos Bowels, which supplys afford?
Know'st thou the Strength and Skill that I employ'd,
To dig out Matter from an empty void?
Know'st thou how walking o'er the lonesome Plains
Of antient Night, I found the wealthy Veins
Of Stones and Metals, which her Womb contains.
Canst thou declare by what stupendous Art,
I squar'd, and shap'd, and fitted every Part?
How for the World I mark'd a proper place,
And with what Compass, circumscrib'd the Space?
How from the barren Wast I took in Ground,
Enclos'd it for a World, and fenc'd it round?
On what think'st thou are its Foundations plac't?
What Cement binds and knits the Fabrick fast?
When I to work upon the World begun,
And of the Building laid the Corner Stone,
Know'st thou how soon the World's high Case was reer'd?
How soon the wide expanded Roof appear'd?
166
The Morning Star in Lustre, far surpass;
The first-born Sons of God, my Praises sung,
While the glad Heav'n's with Acclamations rung.
Who plac'd the rocky Doors before the Deep?
And did in sandy Chains the Billows keep?
When the disruption of the upper Earth
Open'd its Womb, to give the Ocean birth?
Which I with Clouds as with a Garment wrap'd,
And misty Mantles o'er its Bosom lap'd.
Did I not form a Deep within the Land?
Did not the watry Troops at my Command,
March to their Station with obsequious hast,
And find my rocky Bolts, had bar'd their Prison fast?
Then said I to the Sea diffus'd around,
Behold the Frontiers which thy Empire bound;
Hither thou may'st, but may'st no further roll,
These Bars shall thy impetuous Waves controul.
By Job's appointment does the Sun display
His Morning Beams, and bless the World with Day?
By thy discretion does the springing Light
To lengthen or contract, the Day or Night;
Early or later, in the East appear,
Dividing thus the Seasons of the year?
Dost thou with Wings equip the dawning Ray,
Thro' the vast Gulph of Air to make its way?
Ev'n in a moment to compleat its flight,
And gild the Earth's remotest Bounds with Light?
Whose Heav'nly Rays the Shapes of Things reveal,
And shew them fair as printed with a Seal:
Nature that lay before with Shades opprest,
Is now with Light, as with a Garment, drest.
Light, by the Guiltless peaceably enjoy'd,
But which obnoxious Criminals avoid;
For if detected by its beams, they know
They must the Death they Merit undergo.
And did in sandy Chains the Billows keep?
When the disruption of the upper Earth
Open'd its Womb, to give the Ocean birth?
Which I with Clouds as with a Garment wrap'd,
And misty Mantles o'er its Bosom lap'd.
Did I not form a Deep within the Land?
Did not the watry Troops at my Command,
March to their Station with obsequious hast,
And find my rocky Bolts, had bar'd their Prison fast?
Then said I to the Sea diffus'd around,
Behold the Frontiers which thy Empire bound;
Hither thou may'st, but may'st no further roll,
These Bars shall thy impetuous Waves controul.
By Job's appointment does the Sun display
His Morning Beams, and bless the World with Day?
By thy discretion does the springing Light
To lengthen or contract, the Day or Night;
Early or later, in the East appear,
Dividing thus the Seasons of the year?
Dost thou with Wings equip the dawning Ray,
Thro' the vast Gulph of Air to make its way?
Ev'n in a moment to compleat its flight,
And gild the Earth's remotest Bounds with Light?
167
And shew them fair as printed with a Seal:
Nature that lay before with Shades opprest,
Is now with Light, as with a Garment, drest.
Light, by the Guiltless peaceably enjoy'd,
But which obnoxious Criminals avoid;
For if detected by its beams, they know
They must the Death they Merit undergo.
Say, hast thou e'er descended to survey
The secret Springs, that feed the spacious Sea?
Hast thou the Ocean search'd, and wander'd o'er
The watry Walks, their Wonders to explore?
Did Death e'er meet thee at her Palace Gate?
Lead thee thro' all her Guards, and on thee wait
To see her gloomy Throne, and horrid Rooms of State?
Did she her Arms and bloody Trophys shew,
And draw her Armys forth for thy review?
Did ever Hell its Realms to thee disclose,
To thee its mournful Subjects e'er expose?
Did it to thee its various Scenes explain,
Of perfect Grief, and everlasting Pain?
The secret Springs, that feed the spacious Sea?
Hast thou the Ocean search'd, and wander'd o'er
The watry Walks, their Wonders to explore?
Did Death e'er meet thee at her Palace Gate?
Lead thee thro' all her Guards, and on thee wait
To see her gloomy Throne, and horrid Rooms of State?
Did she her Arms and bloody Trophys shew,
And draw her Armys forth for thy review?
Did ever Hell its Realms to thee disclose,
To thee its mournful Subjects e'er expose?
Did it to thee its various Scenes explain,
Of perfect Grief, and everlasting Pain?
Hast thou thy Compass ever drawn around
The spacious Globe, and its Dimensions found?
Say, dost thou know th' Etherial Mines on high,
Which the refulgent Oar of Light supply?
Is the Celestial Furnace to thee known,
In which I melt that Golden Metal down?
Know'st thou the Magazines, in which I lay
My Stores, and bright Materials for the Day?
Treasures, from whence I deal out Light as fast
As all my Stars, and lavish Sun can wast.
Can'st thou describe the silent Desart, where
Imperial Night does her black Standard reer,
To which her sable Troops, and must'ring Shades repair.
Whence she her gloomy Partys sends abroad,
To beat in chase of Day, th' Aerial Road.
Didst thou divide the Empire of the Air,
And give to Light and Shade an equal share?
Canst thou to favour this alternate sway,
By turns extinguish, and restore the Day?
Hast thou in all the Airy Regions been;
The Houses where I work my Meteors seen?
In which the Exhalations, which arise
Born on rebounding Sunbeams thro' the Skys,
Are thicken'd, wrought, and whiten'd till they grow
A Heav'nly Fleece, and softly drop in Snow.
Hast thou discover'd how ascending Steams,
Thinn'd by the Sun's insinuating Beams,
Are wrought and temper'd and become so hard,
That they to fall in Hail-stones are prepar'd?
Hast thou survey'd the Magazines on high,
Where I repose my loud Artillery?
Where I my Arms and Ammunition lay,
To be employ'd upon the dreadful Day,
When I against a sinful Land, declare
Destructive Vengeance, and resistless War.
When I my keen Etherial Weapons weild,
And to discharge my Fury take the Field.
The spacious Globe, and its Dimensions found?
Say, dost thou know th' Etherial Mines on high,
Which the refulgent Oar of Light supply?
Is the Celestial Furnace to thee known,
In which I melt that Golden Metal down?
168
My Stores, and bright Materials for the Day?
Treasures, from whence I deal out Light as fast
As all my Stars, and lavish Sun can wast.
Can'st thou describe the silent Desart, where
Imperial Night does her black Standard reer,
To which her sable Troops, and must'ring Shades repair.
Whence she her gloomy Partys sends abroad,
To beat in chase of Day, th' Aerial Road.
Didst thou divide the Empire of the Air,
And give to Light and Shade an equal share?
Canst thou to favour this alternate sway,
By turns extinguish, and restore the Day?
Hast thou in all the Airy Regions been;
The Houses where I work my Meteors seen?
In which the Exhalations, which arise
Born on rebounding Sunbeams thro' the Skys,
Are thicken'd, wrought, and whiten'd till they grow
A Heav'nly Fleece, and softly drop in Snow.
Hast thou discover'd how ascending Steams,
Thinn'd by the Sun's insinuating Beams,
Are wrought and temper'd and become so hard,
That they to fall in Hail-stones are prepar'd?
Hast thou survey'd the Magazines on high,
Where I repose my loud Artillery?
Where I my Arms and Ammunition lay,
To be employ'd upon the dreadful Day,
When I against a sinful Land, declare
Destructive Vengeance, and resistless War.
169
And to discharge my Fury take the Field.
How does the Light (I ask again) display
Its radiant Wings and spred the dawning Day?
Who the rich Metal beats, and then with care
Unfolds the Golden leaves to gild the Fields of Air?
Canst thou declare which way the Architect,
His Cloudy Forges did aloft erect?
How the Metalic Mass was thither brought
From which the ruddy Thunderbolts are wrought?
At whose command do Winds whole Tempests blow;
That in those Forges make the Metal glow?
How in the Air are Trains of Sulphur found,
Which, when with watry Clouds encompass'd round,
Take Fire, and give imprison'd Lightning birth,
Which tears the Air, and terrifys the Earth?
How are the Heav'nly Aqueducts contriv'd,
Whence fruitful Floods are to the Earth deriv'd?
With which refresh'd the sandy Wilderness,
Do's in its chearful looks its joy express;
When like a healing Balm distilling Rains,
Cement their Wounds, and cure the gaping Plains
With all their Fibrous Mouths the Plants and Trees
Drink the sweet Juices and their Thirst appease.
The rising Sap thrusts forth the tender Bud,
And crowns with verdant Honours all the Wood.
Its radiant Wings and spred the dawning Day?
Who the rich Metal beats, and then with care
Unfolds the Golden leaves to gild the Fields of Air?
Canst thou declare which way the Architect,
His Cloudy Forges did aloft erect?
How the Metalic Mass was thither brought
From which the ruddy Thunderbolts are wrought?
At whose command do Winds whole Tempests blow;
That in those Forges make the Metal glow?
How in the Air are Trains of Sulphur found,
Which, when with watry Clouds encompass'd round,
Take Fire, and give imprison'd Lightning birth,
Which tears the Air, and terrifys the Earth?
How are the Heav'nly Aqueducts contriv'd,
Whence fruitful Floods are to the Earth deriv'd?
With which refresh'd the sandy Wilderness,
Do's in its chearful looks its joy express;
When like a healing Balm distilling Rains,
Cement their Wounds, and cure the gaping Plains
With all their Fibrous Mouths the Plants and Trees
Drink the sweet Juices and their Thirst appease.
The rising Sap thrusts forth the tender Bud,
And crowns with verdant Honours all the Wood.
If thou art Master of the secret, shew
How drops of Rain are form'd, and how the Dew.
How is the Dew arrested in its flight,
Congeal'd, and whiten'd in the Air by Night?
How do's it spred its Frostwork o'er the Meads,
Oppress the Trees, and bend their hoary Heads?
What is the nature of the Icy chain
Which do's the fluid Element restrain,
Which oft compels a rolling Flood to stand,
Hardens the Stream, and makes the Water Land?
Grown stiff with Cold the Billows roll no more,
But with their Crystal Arms embrace the rocky Shore.
Pavements of Glass conceal the Oceans Face,
And Armour like his spacious back encase.
Canst thou keep back the Spring? close opening Flow'rs,
And sprouting Plants restrain, when kindly Show'rs
From Heav'n descend, caus'd by the Influence
And Lustre which the Pleiads dispence?
Canst thou in Winter break the Frosty Chains,
With which Orion binds the slipp'ry Plains?
And then to fit it for the Farmer's use,
Thro' all the heaving Soil prolific heat diffuse?
Canst thou with Constellations fill the Skies,
And in his turn make Mazzaroth arise?
Canst thou Arcturus guide around the Pole,
And bid his shining Sons in Order roll?
Know'st thou th' eternal Rules decreed above
By which the Sphears in fluid Ether move?
What to his Crooked Path the Sun confines
Between the Northern and the Southern Lines?
Who gave him strength to run so swift a pace,
And set the Stages of his daily Race?
Do Planets chuse untrodden Roads, and stray
By thy Appointment from the common way?
Dost thou on Stars their Influence bestow,
And give them Empire o'er the World below?
Manag'd by thee will they their Power diffuse,
To make such Seasons here as thou shalt chuse?
Will Clouds to Orders giv'n by thee attend?
And if thou call'st for Rain, will Rain descend?
At thy Command will ready Lightnings fly,
And Peals of Thunder ring around the Sky?
Who Godlike Wisdom did to Man impart?
And who with Understanding fill'd his Heart?
Didst thou inspire him with this Ray divine?
Was it thy Bounty Job, or was it mine?
Who can the number of the Clouds enroll,
Which spred the Atmosphere from Pole to Pole?
Canst thou the Liquor which they hold restrain,
Or on the Earth pour down the Bottled Rain?
When from above sufficient Showers have bound
The dusty Glebe, and clos'd the cleaving Ground,
Canst thou the Sluces fix, the Waters stop,
And in their floating Cisterns shut them up?
Are Forrest Beasts by thee with Food supply'd,
For hungry Lyons do's thy Care provide?
If an old Lyon, that can now no more
(His vigor wasted) range the Desart o'er,
Couch'd in his Den shall watch to seize his Prey,
Thither dost thou th' uncautious Fawn betray?
Or do's the Raven on thy Care depend?
Dost thou their Portion to his Young Ones send?
Dost thou thus far thy Providence extend?
How drops of Rain are form'd, and how the Dew.
170
Congeal'd, and whiten'd in the Air by Night?
How do's it spred its Frostwork o'er the Meads,
Oppress the Trees, and bend their hoary Heads?
What is the nature of the Icy chain
Which do's the fluid Element restrain,
Which oft compels a rolling Flood to stand,
Hardens the Stream, and makes the Water Land?
Grown stiff with Cold the Billows roll no more,
But with their Crystal Arms embrace the rocky Shore.
Pavements of Glass conceal the Oceans Face,
And Armour like his spacious back encase.
Canst thou keep back the Spring? close opening Flow'rs,
And sprouting Plants restrain, when kindly Show'rs
From Heav'n descend, caus'd by the Influence
And Lustre which the Pleiads dispence?
Canst thou in Winter break the Frosty Chains,
With which Orion binds the slipp'ry Plains?
And then to fit it for the Farmer's use,
Thro' all the heaving Soil prolific heat diffuse?
Canst thou with Constellations fill the Skies,
And in his turn make Mazzaroth arise?
Canst thou Arcturus guide around the Pole,
And bid his shining Sons in Order roll?
Know'st thou th' eternal Rules decreed above
By which the Sphears in fluid Ether move?
What to his Crooked Path the Sun confines
Between the Northern and the Southern Lines?
Who gave him strength to run so swift a pace,
And set the Stages of his daily Race?
171
By thy Appointment from the common way?
Dost thou on Stars their Influence bestow,
And give them Empire o'er the World below?
Manag'd by thee will they their Power diffuse,
To make such Seasons here as thou shalt chuse?
Will Clouds to Orders giv'n by thee attend?
And if thou call'st for Rain, will Rain descend?
At thy Command will ready Lightnings fly,
And Peals of Thunder ring around the Sky?
Who Godlike Wisdom did to Man impart?
And who with Understanding fill'd his Heart?
Didst thou inspire him with this Ray divine?
Was it thy Bounty Job, or was it mine?
Who can the number of the Clouds enroll,
Which spred the Atmosphere from Pole to Pole?
Canst thou the Liquor which they hold restrain,
Or on the Earth pour down the Bottled Rain?
When from above sufficient Showers have bound
The dusty Glebe, and clos'd the cleaving Ground,
Canst thou the Sluces fix, the Waters stop,
And in their floating Cisterns shut them up?
Are Forrest Beasts by thee with Food supply'd,
For hungry Lyons do's thy Care provide?
If an old Lyon, that can now no more
(His vigor wasted) range the Desart o'er,
Couch'd in his Den shall watch to seize his Prey,
Thither dost thou th' uncautious Fawn betray?
172
Dost thou their Portion to his Young Ones send?
Dost thou thus far thy Providence extend?
| C. XXXVIII A paraphrase on the Book of Job | |