University of Virginia Library

O Father, I acknowledge (Job repli'd)
Thy all effecting Power. O who can hide
His thoughts from thee! who can reverse, or shun
Thy just Decree! what thou would'st doe, is done.
I heard thee say; Dare brutish Man profane
My darkned Counsels? and of God complaine?
Great Judge, I in thy Mirror see my shame:
Those Lips that justifi'd, my guilt proclaime.
Our knowledge is but ignorance, and wee
The Sonnes of Folly, if compar'd with thee.
Thy wayes, and sacred Mysteries, transcend
Their Apprehensions, who in Death must end.
O to my Prayers afford a gracious Eare!
Instruct thy Servant, and his Darknesse cleare!
I, of thy Excellence, have oft beene told:
But now my ravish't eyes thy Face behold.
Who therefore in this weeping Palinod
Abhorre my selfe, that have displeas'd my God:
In Dust and Ashes mourne. Nor will my feares
Forsake me, till I cleanse my Soule with teares.

VVhen contrite Job had this submission made;
The Lord to Eliphas of Theman said:
Against thee, and thy two Associates,
My Anger burnes, and hastens to your fates:
Since you, unlike my Servant Iob, have err'd;
And Victory before the Truth preferr'd.
Seven spotlesse Rams, seven Bulls that never bare
The yoake, select; with these to Iob repaire:
Their bleeding Limbs upon my Altar lay,
His ready Charitie for you shall pray,
And reconcile my wrath: Else merited
Revenge should forthwith send you to the Dead;
VVho have my Rule and providence profan'd:
Nor, like my Servant Iob, the truth maintain'd.
Then Bildad, Eliphas, and Zophar, came
To their old Friend: The feasted Altars flame.
For whom that injur'd Saint devoutly pray'd:
And with the Incensed their attonement made.
Even in that pious Duty, the most High
Beheld his Patience with a tender Eye:
From envious Satans tyranny releast;
Dry'd-up his teares, and with aboundance blest.
His Brothers and his Sisters, all the traine
That follow'd his Prosperitie, againe
Present their visits; at his table feed:
Bemone, and Comfort. Joyes his griefe succeed.
With Gold and Silver they increase his Store:
And gave the precious Earerings which they wore.
So that Jehova blest his latter Dayes
More then the first: His Losse with Interest payes.
His Droves of Asses, Camels, heards of Neat,
And flocks of Sheepe, grew shortly twice as great.
Blest with Seven sonnes: three Daughters; who for faire
Might with the Beauties of the Earth compare.
One call'd Jemima, of the rising Light:
A second, for her sweetnesse, Cassia hight:
The youngest Kerenhappa; of the powre
And rayes of beauty. Rich in Natures Dowre;
As in their Fathers Love: who gave them shares
Among his Sonnes, and joyn'd them with his heires.
Iob seven-score yeares his Miseries surviv'd:
His Childrens Children saw; those who deriv'd
From them their birth, even to the fourth descent:
And in Tranquilitie his old-Age spent.
Then full of Dayes, and deathlesse Honour, gave
His Soule to God: his Body to the Grave.