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. |
Ch. XXXIII
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| XXXIV. |
| XXXV. |
| XXXVI. |
| XXXVII. |
| XXXVIII. |
| XXXIX. |
| XL. |
| XLI. |
| XLII. |
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| LIII. |
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Ch. XXXIII
A paraphrase on the Book of Job |  |
Ch. XXXIII
And sure, O Job, this Preface I have made,
Suffices thy Attention to perswade.
To my discourse afford a patient Ear,
I am prepar'd to speak, if thou art so to hear.
And be assur'd whatever I impart,
Shall be the inward Language of my Heart.
Such plain and clear Instruction I will give,
That thou with Ease my meaning shalt receive.
And first consider well, our Structure came
From the same Model, and our Clay's the same.
With Breath th' Almighty did my Breast inspire,
And kindled in my Veins the Vital Fire.
Therefore, if thou thy Cause wilt now defend,
Thou only with thy Equal shalt contend.
To plead with God thou rashly didst demand,
First answer me, I in his Place will stand.
Thou needest not thy Brother-Creature fear,
I can't in dreadful Majesty appear.
I bring no Terrors with me to affright;
No Force, but Reason's clear, convincing Light.
I'll not accuse thee, as thy Friends have done,
Of secret Errors, and of Crimes unknown.
None but th' Almighty's all-observing Eye,
The Heart his proper Empire can descry.
I shall assault thee with no other Force,
Then what I borrow from thy own Discourse.
Suffices thy Attention to perswade.
To my discourse afford a patient Ear,
I am prepar'd to speak, if thou art so to hear.
And be assur'd whatever I impart,
Shall be the inward Language of my Heart.
Such plain and clear Instruction I will give,
That thou with Ease my meaning shalt receive.
And first consider well, our Structure came
From the same Model, and our Clay's the same.
139
And kindled in my Veins the Vital Fire.
Therefore, if thou thy Cause wilt now defend,
Thou only with thy Equal shalt contend.
To plead with God thou rashly didst demand,
First answer me, I in his Place will stand.
Thou needest not thy Brother-Creature fear,
I can't in dreadful Majesty appear.
I bring no Terrors with me to affright;
No Force, but Reason's clear, convincing Light.
I'll not accuse thee, as thy Friends have done,
Of secret Errors, and of Crimes unknown.
None but th' Almighty's all-observing Eye,
The Heart his proper Empire can descry.
I shall assault thee with no other Force,
Then what I borrow from thy own Discourse.
Have I not heard thee oft in thy Defence,
Boldly assert thy spotless Innocence.
Hast thou not said, thy Justice to maintain,
“My Heart is pure, my Hands are free from stain.
“He, who I hop'd, would mitigate my Woe,
“On slight pretences is become my Foe.
“He seeks occasions to repeat his Strokes,
“And every slight Offence his Wrath provokes.
“In Prison me his Captive he detains,
“And loads my fetter'd Feet with pond'rous Chains.
“And yet his watchful Guards around me stay,
“Lest I should loose my Bonds, and break away.
By such absurd and wild Complaints as these,
Impatient of thy Grief thou seekest Ease.
Now tho' thy inward Faults I can't detect,
Nor like thy Friends uncertain Crimes object.
Yet here, O Job, thy rashness does appear,
Here thy presumptuous Arrogance is clear.
For can a Man, a Worm, a silly Wight,
Remov'd from God at distance infinite;
Can such a worthless, wretched Creature dare,
Himself, with him that gave him Breath, compare?
Why dost thou then engage in this dispute,
Audacious Man, wouldst thou thy God confute?
Will he his secret Counsels open lay,
And his mysterious Providence display?
Will he be summon'd to his Creature's Bar,
The grounds of his Transactions to declare?
Will e'er th' Almighty Soveraign condescend,
The Conduct of his Empire to defend,
A peevish Creature's Error to amend?
Will he, because he does our Censure fear,
Set forth his Justice, and his Prudence clear,
And let the hidden Springs of Government appear?
Th' Almighty's Works, thou shouldst have understood,
Because they're his, are therefore Just and Good.
Where shallow Reason can't the grounds discern
Of Providence, it should submission learn.
Not that our Knowledge of his Works and Ways,
Does e'er our kind Creator's Envy raise;
For he by various ways does Knowledge give,
And more than Man is willing to receive.
Boldly assert thy spotless Innocence.
Hast thou not said, thy Justice to maintain,
“My Heart is pure, my Hands are free from stain.
“He, who I hop'd, would mitigate my Woe,
“On slight pretences is become my Foe.
“He seeks occasions to repeat his Strokes,
“And every slight Offence his Wrath provokes.
“In Prison me his Captive he detains,
“And loads my fetter'd Feet with pond'rous Chains.
“And yet his watchful Guards around me stay,
“Lest I should loose my Bonds, and break away.
140
Impatient of thy Grief thou seekest Ease.
Now tho' thy inward Faults I can't detect,
Nor like thy Friends uncertain Crimes object.
Yet here, O Job, thy rashness does appear,
Here thy presumptuous Arrogance is clear.
For can a Man, a Worm, a silly Wight,
Remov'd from God at distance infinite;
Can such a worthless, wretched Creature dare,
Himself, with him that gave him Breath, compare?
Why dost thou then engage in this dispute,
Audacious Man, wouldst thou thy God confute?
Will he his secret Counsels open lay,
And his mysterious Providence display?
Will he be summon'd to his Creature's Bar,
The grounds of his Transactions to declare?
Will e'er th' Almighty Soveraign condescend,
The Conduct of his Empire to defend,
A peevish Creature's Error to amend?
Will he, because he does our Censure fear,
Set forth his Justice, and his Prudence clear,
And let the hidden Springs of Government appear?
Th' Almighty's Works, thou shouldst have understood,
Because they're his, are therefore Just and Good.
Where shallow Reason can't the grounds discern
Of Providence, it should submission learn.
Not that our Knowledge of his Works and Ways,
Does e'er our kind Creator's Envy raise;
For he by various ways does Knowledge give,
And more than Man is willing to receive.
141
Sometimes in Dreams and Visions of the Night,
He to our Minds conveys instructive Light.
When a deep Sleep does from our Breasts exclude
The Cares and Business which by Day intrude:
Or when a short Repose we seek to take,
And slumbring lye half sleeping, half awake;
With a still Voice he whispers to the Ear,
Or to the Eye, in Scenes distinct and clear,
He makes an Airy Imagery appear.
Thus he reveals his Will, and leaves behind,
Divine Instructions printed on the Mind.
But the Celestial Teacher does not show,
The Reasons of his Conduct here below.
This Heav'nly Converse is not with intent,
T' expose the Secrets of his Government.
God by his gracious Revelations tries,
Rather to make his Creature Good, than Wise:
From evil Paths to turn his erring Feet,
And make him humbly to his God submit.
Who thus preserves the Man, if he obeys
God's Admonitions, from pernicious Ways:
And from those Judgments does his Life defend,
Which on his Head were ready to descend.
He to our Minds conveys instructive Light.
When a deep Sleep does from our Breasts exclude
The Cares and Business which by Day intrude:
Or when a short Repose we seek to take,
And slumbring lye half sleeping, half awake;
With a still Voice he whispers to the Ear,
Or to the Eye, in Scenes distinct and clear,
He makes an Airy Imagery appear.
Thus he reveals his Will, and leaves behind,
Divine Instructions printed on the Mind.
But the Celestial Teacher does not show,
The Reasons of his Conduct here below.
This Heav'nly Converse is not with intent,
T' expose the Secrets of his Government.
God by his gracious Revelations tries,
Rather to make his Creature Good, than Wise:
From evil Paths to turn his erring Feet,
And make him humbly to his God submit.
Who thus preserves the Man, if he obeys
God's Admonitions, from pernicious Ways:
And from those Judgments does his Life defend,
Which on his Head were ready to descend.
Oft does th' Almighty to the Mind convey,
Divine Instruction by a sharper way.
Sickness and Pain at his Command assail
The strongest Man, and in th' Assault prevail.
Ev'n he who prospers in his youthful Pride,
And feels within a vig'rous, vital Tyde;
When e'er the Infection thro' his Veins is spred,
Shall groaning lye extended on his Bed.
The secret Poison will his Beauty blast,
Unbrace his Sinews, and his Vigour wast.
He'll languish, and abhor th' offensive sight
Of those rich Meats, that were his great delight.
He who before had such a beauteous Air,
And pamper'd with his Ease, seem'd plump and fair,
Does all his Friends (amazing Change!) surprise
With pale, lean Cheeks, and ghastly, hollow Eyes.
His Bones, a horrid Sight! start thro' his Skin,
Which lay before in Flesh and Fat unseen.
His throbbing Heart in Pain and Labour beats,
And Life pursu'd thro' every Vein, retreats.
His Friends believe each gasp will end his Toil,
And Death stands ready to possess her Spoil.
If then a Man, who does the rest out-shine
In sacred Knowledge, and in Gifts Divine,
Some rare and God-like Messenger be sent
To teach the Sick, and bring him to repent;
If by his Words the dying Person's Mind
Is form'd to Virtue, and to Heav'n inclin'd;
Then he with due Compassion touch'd, shall pray
That God his Mercy would extend, and say,
In Pity, Lord, to spare his Life consent,
Chastise, but not destroy a Penitent.
Let it suffice, that thou didst him Correct,
And that thy Rod has wrought its due effect.
Then presently th' Almighty shall restore
The Health and Ease, which he enjoy'd before.
He in his Blood reviving Heat shall find,
Renew'd as well in Body, as in Mind.
Again shall all his Bones be cloath'd with Flesh,
That like a Child's looks beautifully fresh.
He shall as bold and vigorous become,
As when he flourish'd in his youthful Bloom:
When he, his Veins swoln with a noble Tyde,
Did in the fullness of his Strength confide.
His humble Prayer shall be to Heav'n addrest,
And God well-pleas'd, shall grant him his request.
He shall the House of God approach with Joy,
And his glad Lips in Songs of Praise employ.
Th' Almighty reconcil'd, shall then Acquit,
And to his Favour this Poor Man admit.
Then to his Neighbours round him he'll confess
His Errors past, and thus himself express.
Against th' Almighty I have sinn'd, and he
For my Offence has justly punish'd me.
To my desert he suited a Reward,
But has my Life in great Compassion spar'd.
He kindly interpos'd his Hand, to save
A helpless Creature, sinking to the Grave.
And more, is pleas'd reviving Hopes to give,
That I again in Wealth and Joy shall live.
Therefore, let all his wondrous Goodness praise,
That finds t' admonish Man so many ways.
To turn him from the evil Paths, that led
His Feet so near the Chambers of the Dead.
To raise him from the Grave to live in Peace,
And see his Riches and his Friends increase.
Divine Instruction by a sharper way.
Sickness and Pain at his Command assail
The strongest Man, and in th' Assault prevail.
142
And feels within a vig'rous, vital Tyde;
When e'er the Infection thro' his Veins is spred,
Shall groaning lye extended on his Bed.
The secret Poison will his Beauty blast,
Unbrace his Sinews, and his Vigour wast.
He'll languish, and abhor th' offensive sight
Of those rich Meats, that were his great delight.
He who before had such a beauteous Air,
And pamper'd with his Ease, seem'd plump and fair,
Does all his Friends (amazing Change!) surprise
With pale, lean Cheeks, and ghastly, hollow Eyes.
His Bones, a horrid Sight! start thro' his Skin,
Which lay before in Flesh and Fat unseen.
His throbbing Heart in Pain and Labour beats,
And Life pursu'd thro' every Vein, retreats.
His Friends believe each gasp will end his Toil,
And Death stands ready to possess her Spoil.
If then a Man, who does the rest out-shine
In sacred Knowledge, and in Gifts Divine,
Some rare and God-like Messenger be sent
To teach the Sick, and bring him to repent;
If by his Words the dying Person's Mind
Is form'd to Virtue, and to Heav'n inclin'd;
Then he with due Compassion touch'd, shall pray
That God his Mercy would extend, and say,
In Pity, Lord, to spare his Life consent,
Chastise, but not destroy a Penitent.
Let it suffice, that thou didst him Correct,
And that thy Rod has wrought its due effect.
143
The Health and Ease, which he enjoy'd before.
He in his Blood reviving Heat shall find,
Renew'd as well in Body, as in Mind.
Again shall all his Bones be cloath'd with Flesh,
That like a Child's looks beautifully fresh.
He shall as bold and vigorous become,
As when he flourish'd in his youthful Bloom:
When he, his Veins swoln with a noble Tyde,
Did in the fullness of his Strength confide.
His humble Prayer shall be to Heav'n addrest,
And God well-pleas'd, shall grant him his request.
He shall the House of God approach with Joy,
And his glad Lips in Songs of Praise employ.
Th' Almighty reconcil'd, shall then Acquit,
And to his Favour this Poor Man admit.
Then to his Neighbours round him he'll confess
His Errors past, and thus himself express.
Against th' Almighty I have sinn'd, and he
For my Offence has justly punish'd me.
To my desert he suited a Reward,
But has my Life in great Compassion spar'd.
He kindly interpos'd his Hand, to save
A helpless Creature, sinking to the Grave.
And more, is pleas'd reviving Hopes to give,
That I again in Wealth and Joy shall live.
Therefore, let all his wondrous Goodness praise,
That finds t' admonish Man so many ways.
To turn him from the evil Paths, that led
His Feet so near the Chambers of the Dead.
144
And see his Riches and his Friends increase.
Mark well, O Job, for this is thy concern,
And I'll instruct thee on, if I discern
Thou art dispos'd attentively to learn.
Or if what I advance thou canst deny,
And to the Reasons I have urg'd reply;
A speedy Answer to my Reasons give,
Before th' important Subject I revive.
For 'tis my ardent Wish thou shouldst appear
From every Crime, and every Error, clear.
But if thou think'st my Words have weight and force,
Continue to attend to my Discourse.
And I'll instruct thee on, if I discern
Thou art dispos'd attentively to learn.
Or if what I advance thou canst deny,
And to the Reasons I have urg'd reply;
A speedy Answer to my Reasons give,
Before th' important Subject I revive.
For 'tis my ardent Wish thou shouldst appear
From every Crime, and every Error, clear.
But if thou think'st my Words have weight and force,
Continue to attend to my Discourse.
|
Ch. XXXIII
A paraphrase on the Book of Job | |