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. |
Chap. IX.
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| 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. |
| XXXIX. |
| XL. |
| XLI. |
| XLII. |
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| LIII. |
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Chap. IX.
A paraphrase on the Book of Job |  |
Chap. IX.
Then answer'd Job. This Sacred Truth I own,
That God has still unblemish'd Justice shown.
Nor can a Man his Innocence defend,
If with him God should in Debate contend.
What Reasonings e'er he offers in dispute,
Man of a thousand could not one Confute.
He's Wise in Heart, and guides all Nature's Ways,
And at a View the Universe surveys.
The Heart he searches with his piercing Eye,
And bubbling Thoughts does in their Spring descry.
Unfinish'd Notions in the Mind he sees,
And the rude Lines of half-drawn Images.
He views the Spark that first our Bosom fires,
And the first struggling of unborn Desires.
He from the Hills of Time looks down, to see
The boundless Vale of dark Futurity.
He sees all Ages from Duration's Deep
Come rolling on, and how they Order keep.
All things he sees in Time's Capacious Womb,
And turns the Annals o'er of Years to come.
He sees each Chance, and every future Turn,
And reads the Lives of Monarchs yet unborn.
He views Events that in their Causes lye,
And sees Effects in Nature's Energy.
He minds our Ways, and to his clearer Sight
Those Paths are crooked, which we thought were right.
That God has still unblemish'd Justice shown.
Nor can a Man his Innocence defend,
If with him God should in Debate contend.
What Reasonings e'er he offers in dispute,
Man of a thousand could not one Confute.
He's Wise in Heart, and guides all Nature's Ways,
And at a View the Universe surveys.
33
And bubbling Thoughts does in their Spring descry.
Unfinish'd Notions in the Mind he sees,
And the rude Lines of half-drawn Images.
He views the Spark that first our Bosom fires,
And the first struggling of unborn Desires.
He from the Hills of Time looks down, to see
The boundless Vale of dark Futurity.
He sees all Ages from Duration's Deep
Come rolling on, and how they Order keep.
All things he sees in Time's Capacious Womb,
And turns the Annals o'er of Years to come.
He sees each Chance, and every future Turn,
And reads the Lives of Monarchs yet unborn.
He views Events that in their Causes lye,
And sees Effects in Nature's Energy.
He minds our Ways, and to his clearer Sight
Those Paths are crooked, which we thought were right.
His Strength proportion with his Wisdom shows,
Fit to Protect his Friends, and Crush his Foes;
Who with Success did e'er his Arm oppose?
Hills with their Woods, when his fierce Anger burns,
He from their Seat amidst the Vally spurns.
He turns up Mountains Roots against the Sky,
And from his Wrath the Rocks find Wings to fly.
He makes the Earth with strong Convulsions shake,
Her Pillars start, and their old Base forsake.
Vast, gaping Chasms, amazing to the Sight,
Mingle the Day with Subterranean Night.
Th' inclining Poles as wrench'd aside appear,
And diving Isles conceal themselves for fear.
At his Command the rising Sun will stay,
And from the World keep back the ling'ring Day.
His marshal'd Clouds to intercept the Light,
Seal up the Stars the twinkling Eyes of Night.
The spreading Heav'n's he as a Curtain draws,
Treads down aspiring Waves, and gives the Ocean Laws.
With Orbs of Light he inlays all the Sphears,
And studs the Sable Night with Silver Stars.
He all the Constellations hangs on high,
And bids the Planets wander thro' the Sky.
Stormy Arcturus round the Northern Pole
By his direction does unweary'd roll.
Orion and the Pleiades dispence,
At his Command, their Rays and Influence.
His skillful hand on Airy Pillars reers
The Vaulted Chambers of the Southern Spheres.
The long Succession of his Mighty Deeds,
Our everlasting Admiration feeds.
Fit to Protect his Friends, and Crush his Foes;
Who with Success did e'er his Arm oppose?
Hills with their Woods, when his fierce Anger burns,
He from their Seat amidst the Vally spurns.
He turns up Mountains Roots against the Sky,
And from his Wrath the Rocks find Wings to fly.
He makes the Earth with strong Convulsions shake,
Her Pillars start, and their old Base forsake.
Vast, gaping Chasms, amazing to the Sight,
Mingle the Day with Subterranean Night.
34
And diving Isles conceal themselves for fear.
At his Command the rising Sun will stay,
And from the World keep back the ling'ring Day.
His marshal'd Clouds to intercept the Light,
Seal up the Stars the twinkling Eyes of Night.
The spreading Heav'n's he as a Curtain draws,
Treads down aspiring Waves, and gives the Ocean Laws.
With Orbs of Light he inlays all the Sphears,
And studs the Sable Night with Silver Stars.
He all the Constellations hangs on high,
And bids the Planets wander thro' the Sky.
Stormy Arcturus round the Northern Pole
By his direction does unweary'd roll.
Orion and the Pleiades dispence,
At his Command, their Rays and Influence.
His skillful hand on Airy Pillars reers
The Vaulted Chambers of the Southern Spheres.
The long Succession of his Mighty Deeds,
Our everlasting Admiration feeds.
Behind a black impenetrable Screen
Of Pitchy Clouds, th' Allmighty walks unseen.
He that to follow in his Steps essays,
Thro' all his craggy, dark, perplexing Ways,
Scar'd by the sacred Horrors of the Place,
Will own, the Maze Divine he cannot trace,
Nor the black Gulph, and trackless Mountains pass.
He'll stand astonish'd, and bereft of Sense,
Lost in the awful Wilds of Providence.
If he his settled Purpose has exprest,
A Man of Wealth and Honour to divest,
What hardy Mortal will his Power withstand,
Or dares a reason why 'tis done, demand?
Till God withdraws the heavy, galling Yoke,
And reconcil'd, forbears th'afflicting Stroke:
Those who would rescue, may their Pride express,
But by their fall their weakness shall confess.
Of Pitchy Clouds, th' Allmighty walks unseen.
He that to follow in his Steps essays,
Thro' all his craggy, dark, perplexing Ways,
Scar'd by the sacred Horrors of the Place,
Will own, the Maze Divine he cannot trace,
Nor the black Gulph, and trackless Mountains pass.
He'll stand astonish'd, and bereft of Sense,
Lost in the awful Wilds of Providence.
35
A Man of Wealth and Honour to divest,
What hardy Mortal will his Power withstand,
Or dares a reason why 'tis done, demand?
Till God withdraws the heavy, galling Yoke,
And reconcil'd, forbears th'afflicting Stroke:
Those who would rescue, may their Pride express,
But by their fall their weakness shall confess.
Since none a Match in Power with God contends,
And none his Ways and Counsels comprehends,
Can I pretend to speak, my Case to state,
And grapple with th' Allmighty in debate?
Can I his Ear with chosen Language charm,
And God of all his Arguments disarm?
Tho' I believ'd my Cause most Right and Just,
I would my doubtful Innocence distrust.
I would not plead with God, but only pray
That Justice he with Mercy would allay.
Tho' he should kindly grant me my Request,
Yet I so much despond, am so Distrest,
That I th' amazing Truth should ne'er believe,
But, as a gawdy Dream the joyful News receive.
Both sharp and lasting Suff'rings I have born,
With Wrath Divine, as with a Tempest torn;
He perseveres and multiplies his Strokes,
Tho' no uncommon Guilt his Wrath provokes.
So fast his fierce, redoubled Blows descend,
That I can scarce to all my Wounds attend.
No breathing Time is giv'n, no short Relief
From exquisite and never-ceasing Grief.
Should I his Throne with all my force Assail,
Against Allmighty Strength can I prevail?
If I Appeal to Judges and to Laws,
What higher Court can Sit to hear my Cause?
If I my Righteousness before him plead,
Will not my Words to my Conviction lead?
Will he not thence my Condemnation draw,
And in my purest Virtue find a flaw?
Should God pronounce me just, yet I'd refuse
Uneasy Life, and Death's Embraces chuse.
And none his Ways and Counsels comprehends,
Can I pretend to speak, my Case to state,
And grapple with th' Allmighty in debate?
Can I his Ear with chosen Language charm,
And God of all his Arguments disarm?
Tho' I believ'd my Cause most Right and Just,
I would my doubtful Innocence distrust.
I would not plead with God, but only pray
That Justice he with Mercy would allay.
Tho' he should kindly grant me my Request,
Yet I so much despond, am so Distrest,
That I th' amazing Truth should ne'er believe,
But, as a gawdy Dream the joyful News receive.
Both sharp and lasting Suff'rings I have born,
With Wrath Divine, as with a Tempest torn;
He perseveres and multiplies his Strokes,
Tho' no uncommon Guilt his Wrath provokes.
So fast his fierce, redoubled Blows descend,
That I can scarce to all my Wounds attend.
36
From exquisite and never-ceasing Grief.
Should I his Throne with all my force Assail,
Against Allmighty Strength can I prevail?
If I Appeal to Judges and to Laws,
What higher Court can Sit to hear my Cause?
If I my Righteousness before him plead,
Will not my Words to my Conviction lead?
Will he not thence my Condemnation draw,
And in my purest Virtue find a flaw?
Should God pronounce me just, yet I'd refuse
Uneasy Life, and Death's Embraces chuse.
To all things you advance, to represent
God's Power and Justice fully, I assent.
But then you err, when you assert that God
Exempts the Righteous from his scourging Rod.
No Fav'rite Son is from his Frown secure,
But in his Turn does his sharp Stripes endure.
The Foolish from the Wise you cannot know
By the false marks of Happiness, or Woe.
'Twixt Good and Bad there's no distinction made,
Unless more frequent Darts the Good invade.
Against the Just th' Allmighty's Arrows fly,
For he delights the Innocent to try.
To show their Constant and their God-like Mind,
Not by Afflictions broken, but refin'd.
He to the Wicked gives the Earth away,
And raises Monsters to Imperial Sway.
He makes them Peace and Plenty to possess,
And crowns their Undertakings with Success.
While Men for Empire fit, and Publique Trust,
Quick in discerning, in deciding Just,
Worthy of Thrones, Men of unblemish'd Fame,
Are oft expos'd to Misery and Shame.
This is th' Allmighty's Deed, if not, declare
Its genuine Authors, who, and where they are.
God's Power and Justice fully, I assent.
But then you err, when you assert that God
Exempts the Righteous from his scourging Rod.
No Fav'rite Son is from his Frown secure,
But in his Turn does his sharp Stripes endure.
The Foolish from the Wise you cannot know
By the false marks of Happiness, or Woe.
'Twixt Good and Bad there's no distinction made,
Unless more frequent Darts the Good invade.
Against the Just th' Allmighty's Arrows fly,
For he delights the Innocent to try.
To show their Constant and their God-like Mind,
Not by Afflictions broken, but refin'd.
He to the Wicked gives the Earth away,
And raises Monsters to Imperial Sway.
37
And crowns their Undertakings with Success.
While Men for Empire fit, and Publique Trust,
Quick in discerning, in deciding Just,
Worthy of Thrones, Men of unblemish'd Fame,
Are oft expos'd to Misery and Shame.
This is th' Allmighty's Deed, if not, declare
Its genuine Authors, who, and where they are.
My Life consumes in never-ceasing Woe,
My rolling Days uninterrupted flow,
To disembogue their Flood within the Deep,
Where all the Streams of Time collected Sleep.
No eager Couriers in their greatest haste,
Nor Ship before the Wind advance so fast.
The Eagle from the Mountains Airy top,
To strike his Prey, does ne'er so swiftly stoop.
If I resolve my Sorrow to forget,
That I'll no more my rash Complaints repeat,
That my unbridled Passion I'll restrain;
This humble Resignation is in vain.
For God will never my Distress relieve,
He'll punish on, and tempt Men to believe.
That Job by some unusual, black Offence,
Has Heav'n provok'd such Judgments to dispence.
In vain I strive my Innocence to clear,
Since I must still these grievous Suff'rings bear,
Still the sad marks of Heav'n's displeasure wear.
If by my Vindication I should grow
As clean and spotless, as the Fleecy Snow,
When God replies, my Stains before conceal'd
To my Confusion would be all reveal'd.
My Foulness he'll detect, that I no more
Should boast my Cleanness, but my self abhor.
My rolling Days uninterrupted flow,
To disembogue their Flood within the Deep,
Where all the Streams of Time collected Sleep.
No eager Couriers in their greatest haste,
Nor Ship before the Wind advance so fast.
The Eagle from the Mountains Airy top,
To strike his Prey, does ne'er so swiftly stoop.
If I resolve my Sorrow to forget,
That I'll no more my rash Complaints repeat,
That my unbridled Passion I'll restrain;
This humble Resignation is in vain.
For God will never my Distress relieve,
He'll punish on, and tempt Men to believe.
That Job by some unusual, black Offence,
Has Heav'n provok'd such Judgments to dispence.
In vain I strive my Innocence to clear,
Since I must still these grievous Suff'rings bear,
Still the sad marks of Heav'n's displeasure wear.
If by my Vindication I should grow
As clean and spotless, as the Fleecy Snow,
38
To my Confusion would be all reveal'd.
My Foulness he'll detect, that I no more
Should boast my Cleanness, but my self abhor.
He's not a Man, my equal in dispute,
That I should hope his Reasons to refute:
Can I in Courts of Judgment take my place,
And plead against th' Allmighty Face to Face?
In this Debate what Umpire shall preside,
Hear all our Arguings, and the Cause decide?
Let him his Terrors, and his Rod withdraw,
And let his Mercy mitigate his Law;
For humane Frailty due Allowance make,
And I with Courage will my Tryal take.
I then will boldly speak, and free from fear
I'll quickly make my Innocence appear.
But this request th' Allmighty does refuse;
He does the Rigour of his Justice use.
His awful Terrors which my Soul surround,
Drink up my Spirits, and my Hope confound.
As I have done, I therefore will complain,
This only way is left to sooth my Pain.
That I should hope his Reasons to refute:
Can I in Courts of Judgment take my place,
And plead against th' Allmighty Face to Face?
In this Debate what Umpire shall preside,
Hear all our Arguings, and the Cause decide?
Let him his Terrors, and his Rod withdraw,
And let his Mercy mitigate his Law;
For humane Frailty due Allowance make,
And I with Courage will my Tryal take.
I then will boldly speak, and free from fear
I'll quickly make my Innocence appear.
But this request th' Allmighty does refuse;
He does the Rigour of his Justice use.
His awful Terrors which my Soul surround,
Drink up my Spirits, and my Hope confound.
As I have done, I therefore will complain,
This only way is left to sooth my Pain.
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Chap. IX.
A paraphrase on the Book of Job | |