University of Virginia Library

Chap. 9.

This is a truth acknowledg'd; Iob replies:
But Oh what Man is righteous in his Eyes!
VVho can not-guilty plead before his Throne?
Or of a thousand Actions answer one?
God is in wisedome, as in power, immense:
VVho ever could contend without offence,
Offend unpunish't? you who Glory most
In your owne Strength, can you of conquest boast?
Cloud-touching Mountaines to new seates are borne
From their Foundations, by his fury torne.
Th'affrighted Earth in her distemper quakes;
VVhen his Almighty Hand her Pillars shakes.
At whose command the Suns swift Horses stay;
VVhile Mortalls wonder at so long a Day.
The Moone into her darkned Orbe retires:
Nor seal'd up Starres extend their golden fires.
He, only He, Heavens blew Pavillion spreads:
And on the Oceans dancing Billowes treads.
Immane Arcturus, weeping Pleiades,
Orion, who with Stormes plowes up the Seas,
For severall Seasons fram'd: and all that rowle
Their radiant Flame about the Antartick Pole.
VVhat wonders are effected, by his might!
Oh how inscrutable, how Infinite!
Though he observe me, and be ever by;
Yet, ah! Invisible to mortall Eye.
Can hands of Flesh compell him to restore
VVhat he shall take? or who dare aske wherefore?
The great in Pride, and Power, like Meteors shall
(If he relent not) by his Vengeance fall.
And Oh shall I, a worme, my cause defend;
Or in vaine Argument with God contend?
I would not were I innocent dispute;
But humbly to my Judge present my Suite.
Yet never could my hopes be confident;
Though God himselfe should to my wish consent:
VVho with incessant stormes my peace confounds;
And multiplies my undeserved wounds:
Nor gives me time to breathe; my Stomack fills
With food of bitter tast, and Lothsome pills.
Speake I of strength, his strength the strong obay:
If I of Judgement speake, who shall a Day
Appoint for tryall? should I Justifie
A Vice, my heart would give my tongue the lye.
If of perfection boast; I should herein
My guilt disclose: thought I, I had no Sin;
My selfe I should not know. Oh bitter strife!
VVhose only Issue is the hate of life!
Yet judge not by events: in generall.
The good and bad without distinction fall.
For he th'Appeale of innocence derides;
And with his Sword the controverse decides:
He gives the Earth to those that tyrannize:
And spreads a vaile before the Judges Eyes.
Or else what were his power? Oh you who see
My miseries, this truth behold in mee!
My dayes runne like a Post, and leave behinde
No tract of joy: as ships before the winde,
They through this humaine Ocean sayle away:
And fly like Eagles which pursue their prey.
If I determine to remove my care;
Forget my griefe, and comfort my Despaire:
The feare that he would never purge mee, mocks
M'imbarqued Hopes, and drives them on the Rocks.
For if he hold me guilty; if I soile
My selfe with Sin, I then but vainely toyle.
Though I should wash my selfe in melting Snow,
Vntill my hands were whiter; he would throw
Me downe to Earth: and, ah! so plunge in mire,
That I should loath to touch my owne attire:
For he, is not as I: a man, with whom
I might contend, and to a Tryall come.
I, in my cause shall find no Aduocate;
Nor Vmpire, to compose our sad debate.
Oh should he from my shoulders take his Rod;
Free from the awe and terror of a God:
Then would I argue in my owne defence;
And boldly justifie my Innocence.