The Whole Book of Job Paraphrased

GOD, for whose pleasure all things [Rev. 4. 11.] are, and were created, having made Job fit for use, resolveth to imploy him, and having first tried him in a calme sea of prosperity, and not finding him to leake, at last launcheth him into the deep, and ingageth him in a long and dangerous voiage of adversity, where hee must undergoe many a fight and storme, to prove God a Master-builder.

Hereupon, because Satan knew not Gods designe, God himselfe hints it to him by commending Job, which his malice not abiding to heare, and desiring to contradict, presently becomes a sutor, to God, to have the winnowing of him, which God for many reasons granteth to him: Partly, in respect to shew him that hee is the onely discerner of the heart: Partly, in [heb. 4. 12.] respect of the errour of those times wherein it was generally received, that God afflicted not in soveraignty, but onely for, and according to the proportion of sinne: Partly, in respect of Job, for his after-honour and preferment: And lastly, in respect of after-times, to leave upon record a paterne of patience, and a seale of Gods power and faithfulnesse in upholding the righteous, and in delivering them out of all their troubles.

Satan having received his commission to worke he goeth, and dischargeth all his Ordinance at once upon Job, thinking through force and policy, to wring some discontented blasphemy from him, and so to disprove God, but Job abid the shocke, and uttered not a misbeseeming word, till at last his sores began to smart, and therewith also the light of Gods countenance through the thicke cloud of those many afflictions began to shine dim upon his spirit, and then hee opened his mouth, not as Satan hoped, to blaspheme, but to ease his forrwfull soule, with breathing forth a dolefull wish or two; as that either he had never seene life, or might now see death.

Which impatiency of Jobs, his friends standing by, tooke fire at, and thereupon they being ignorantly prejudiced of God, that hee afflicted not but in proportionable punishment to sin committed, and consequently were opinionated of Job, that for all his faire shew, he must needs be but a hollowhearted hypocrite; they with vehement importunity, pressed these sore upon him as infallible maximes, thereby to have disarmed him both of his sword of faith, and shield of sincerity, but Job, though conscious to his owne infirmities which he ingenuously confesseth, yet was also privie to his owne uprightnesse, which he as manfully maintaineth against all his opposites, and the more they laboured to loose his hold on God, the faster he clung unto him, yea, though God himselfe seemed to take their part, by suffering Satan afresh to face him with his forepast sinnes accompanied with present terrours, and himselfe too utterly benighted his soule with an absolute sun-set of all present sight and sense of immediate favour: yet in this great desertion God gave him underhand for his secret support, a little chinke of light whereby he was able to see, and sustainingly to remind himselfe of Gods former favours (though hee felt none present) which made him able to leane upon his God, yea, and which enlightned him clearely to see also his owne sincerity, though it were sore shot at by his friends, which did drive him to appeale from man to God (the onely Judge of secret things) with whom he desired to plead his cause (with some exceedings) in that behalfe, provided he would substitute one that was his equall in his stead.

Which Elihu hearing, when his time came to speak accordingly addressed himselfe unto him in Gods behalfe, wisely, both justifying Job against his friends, and cond◊mning their ungrounded opinion in judgeing him an hypocrite, because of his great afflictions; and also justifying God against Job, who, through his friends unadvised spurring him on, had overreached. Wherefore Elihu sheweth Iob his fault which God strucke at by his affliction, to wit, pride, whereof hee convinceth him by his saufie capitulating with God, who both in right of prerogative, over his creature, yea and in justice for his sinne, (though not for his hypocrisie) might justifie all he did against him, and was by no means to be disputed withall touching any thing he did, because of his excelling power, unsearehable wisdome, and undeniable justice.

Which Elihu having spoken, God himselfe secondeth him with a large expression of his owne transcendent greatnesse in wisedome and power beyond Jobs capacity, consequently shewing him his presumption and solly, and his owne unquestionablenesse in all his workes, however they appeare to humane reason.

Which, when Job understood from God himselfe, his mouth was stopped, saving in abasing himselfe and confessing of his fault, which was no sooner done, but God shaketh hands with Job, Brings forth his righteousnesse [Psal. 37, 6.] as the light, and his judgement as the noone-day, in the sight of all his accusers; preferreth him to be Mediatour for his friends, and finally maketh him a large amends, even double to all hee lost.

1 THere was a man whose [1. There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Iob, and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evill.] Story the Lord would have recorded for example, and believed for a truth; and therefore for further confirmation, know, that for the Country where he lived, it was the land of Uz, lying upon the borders of the Caldeans, Sabeans and Cananites; and for his name, it was Job, who was of the Posterity of Abraham by Keturah. This man was faithfull, believing in the promised Messiah, and sincere in heart, devoting himselfe to serve & please the Lord alwaies, in all p. 2things, and hee walked accordingly in his life and conversation, for fearing to offend him, he was therefore diligent, with care and circumspection to avoid all sin, and the occasions thereof in the time & place when and where he lived.