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. |
Ch. XXXV.
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| XXXVI. |
| XXXVII. |
| XXXVIII. |
| XXXIX. |
| XL. |
| XLI. |
| XLII. |
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| LIII. |
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Ch. XXXV.
A paraphrase on the Book of Job |  |
Ch. XXXV.
He paus'd: and Job not answering, Elihu
Did thus th'important Argument pursue.
To th' uncorrupted Judge within thy Breast
Thy Conscience I appeal; will that attest
That thou believ'st what thou hast boldly said,
That Job does God in Righteousness exceed?
To any other meaning who can wrest
These Irreligious Words by thee exprest?
“Does ever God the least concernment show
“Whether I'm Just and Innocent, or no?
“What Profit shall I reap by being so?
I will a short, but a full answer give
To thee, and those that thus of God believe.
Then up to Heav'n cast thy admiring Eyes,
View the bright Orbs, and Clouds, and distant Skies.
High as they are, they're by th' Almighty's Throne
In height, as much as thou by them, outdone.
Therefore, O Job, the most atrocious Crime
Thou dar'st commit, can never injure him.
Nor can his perfect Happiness be less,
Should thou grown bold, and hard in Wickedness,
By multiply'd Affronts thy Hate of God express.
Nor can he e'er the least advantage reap,
Shouldst thou revere him, and his Precepts keep.
Did thus th'important Argument pursue.
To th' uncorrupted Judge within thy Breast
Thy Conscience I appeal; will that attest
That thou believ'st what thou hast boldly said,
That Job does God in Righteousness exceed?
151
These Irreligious Words by thee exprest?
“Does ever God the least concernment show
“Whether I'm Just and Innocent, or no?
“What Profit shall I reap by being so?
I will a short, but a full answer give
To thee, and those that thus of God believe.
Then up to Heav'n cast thy admiring Eyes,
View the bright Orbs, and Clouds, and distant Skies.
High as they are, they're by th' Almighty's Throne
In height, as much as thou by them, outdone.
Therefore, O Job, the most atrocious Crime
Thou dar'st commit, can never injure him.
Nor can his perfect Happiness be less,
Should thou grown bold, and hard in Wickedness,
By multiply'd Affronts thy Hate of God express.
Nor can he e'er the least advantage reap,
Shouldst thou revere him, and his Precepts keep.
But do not thence this false Conclusion draw,
'Tis therefore fruitless to obey his Law.
Thee and thy Sons thy Goodness will avail,
And Heav'nly Blessings on thy House entail.
And thy Injustice and Impiety,
Tho' not to God, will hurtful be to thee.
Nor does the Mischief thee alone respect,
The Crimes of mighty Men Mankind affect.
When Men of Wealth and Power Oppressors turn,
They always make their Suff'ring Neighbours mourn.
The lamentable Crys of Realms opprest,
What Evils wild Injustice brings, attest.
Crush'd, and insulted by Tyrannic Might,
To the Just God they cry aloud for Right:
Who tho' unhurt himself, touch'd with the sense
Of their sharp Suff'rings, will be their Defence.
Tho' 'tis a true, but sad Remark, that none
Of these poor Wretches who their Fate bemoan;
Do ever with a serious Mind enquire,
After the God who did their Breath inspire:
Who cannot therefore only Ease bestow,
And Comforts give to moderate their Woe.
But midst their greatest Sorrows can employ
Their Mouths in Songs, and fill their Breasts with joy.
'Tis strange, that Man has so far lost his Sight;
Has not th' Almighty giv'n to guide him right,
Reason, a Portion of Etherial Light?
By which he is enabled to collect,
That he who does with tender care protect
Brute Beasts and Birds, will never Man neglect:
If we not only by complaining shew
Our Wants, as those unreasoning Creatures do;
But of our past Offences do repent,
And of his Goodness humbly confident,
Our Supplications to our God present.
'Tis therefore fruitless to obey his Law.
Thee and thy Sons thy Goodness will avail,
And Heav'nly Blessings on thy House entail.
And thy Injustice and Impiety,
Tho' not to God, will hurtful be to thee.
Nor does the Mischief thee alone respect,
The Crimes of mighty Men Mankind affect.
When Men of Wealth and Power Oppressors turn,
They always make their Suff'ring Neighbours mourn.
152
What Evils wild Injustice brings, attest.
Crush'd, and insulted by Tyrannic Might,
To the Just God they cry aloud for Right:
Who tho' unhurt himself, touch'd with the sense
Of their sharp Suff'rings, will be their Defence.
Tho' 'tis a true, but sad Remark, that none
Of these poor Wretches who their Fate bemoan;
Do ever with a serious Mind enquire,
After the God who did their Breath inspire:
Who cannot therefore only Ease bestow,
And Comforts give to moderate their Woe.
But midst their greatest Sorrows can employ
Their Mouths in Songs, and fill their Breasts with joy.
'Tis strange, that Man has so far lost his Sight;
Has not th' Almighty giv'n to guide him right,
Reason, a Portion of Etherial Light?
By which he is enabled to collect,
That he who does with tender care protect
Brute Beasts and Birds, will never Man neglect:
If we not only by complaining shew
Our Wants, as those unreasoning Creatures do;
But of our past Offences do repent,
And of his Goodness humbly confident,
Our Supplications to our God present.
He'll not, 'tis true, extend his Arm to save
All that Compassion and Protection crave.
For many to their God in Trouble cry,
From sense of Suff'ring, not of Piety.
To Pity he's inclin'd, but will not save
Th' Impenitent, tho' they his Pity crave.
Those who his Worship and his Laws despise,
In vain repeat their Prayers, and graceless crys.
And therefore tho' of God thou dost complain,
That thou hast waited for his Aid in vain;
Yet do not thence infer, that he's unjust;
But go and humbly prostrate in the Dust,
Condemn thy Self, and for his Mercy wait,
To rescue thee from thy afflicted State.
For 'tis because th' Almighty cannot find
These pious Inclinations in thy Mind,
That he this weight of Trouble on thee lays,
And disregards thy former prosp'rous Days.
Hereafter thy complaining Speeches spare,
Which fruitless and unreasonable are;
And which, besides thy other Wants and Woes,
Thy want of Sense and Piety expose.
All that Compassion and Protection crave.
For many to their God in Trouble cry,
From sense of Suff'ring, not of Piety.
153
Th' Impenitent, tho' they his Pity crave.
Those who his Worship and his Laws despise,
In vain repeat their Prayers, and graceless crys.
And therefore tho' of God thou dost complain,
That thou hast waited for his Aid in vain;
Yet do not thence infer, that he's unjust;
But go and humbly prostrate in the Dust,
Condemn thy Self, and for his Mercy wait,
To rescue thee from thy afflicted State.
For 'tis because th' Almighty cannot find
These pious Inclinations in thy Mind,
That he this weight of Trouble on thee lays,
And disregards thy former prosp'rous Days.
Hereafter thy complaining Speeches spare,
Which fruitless and unreasonable are;
And which, besides thy other Wants and Woes,
Thy want of Sense and Piety expose.
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Ch. XXXV.
A paraphrase on the Book of Job | |