Phi▪ To whom is the history of patient Job unknown?1 His Cross was so grievous, that I know not whether the like trouble hath chanced to any mortal man since his time or afore Al his substance in one moment almost was lost, all his cattle were driven away .vii.M. sheep iii M. Camels .v.C. yoke of Oxen and v.C. she asses. All these were ⟨p. 33⟩taken away suddenly. His house fell down, his children that were within were slain. Of all that ever he had, nothing remained untouched, that might comfort him any thing at all, but only his wife, and she seemeth to be left of the devil, only to this purpose, even to mock and scorn her husband, and to move him to blaspheme the name of God. Which thing without all doubt grieved the holy mans mind more, then all his calamities and wretchednesses. Furthermore his friends which came out of far countries to comfort him, seeing his sorrow and pain to be most vehement, being also wonderfully astonied with the horrible greatness of the plague, by the space of •ii. days spake not one comfortable word unto him. For they thought (although not truly) that God had cast this most grievous ⟨p. 34⟩pains upon Job worthily, even for his sinful life & wicked conversation. And did they not at the last fall to mocking and taunting of that good man, and told him that those plagues happened unto him for his sins, by the righteous judgement of God? for they thought it a matter of hie iniquity and unworthy Gods righteousness that so great calamities and miseries should causeless chance unto any holy and innocent man.2 Moreover after the loss of all his goods, after the driving away of his cattle, the casting down of his house the cruel death of his children & servants (which, all the most patient man very quietly suffered) what intolerable pains suffere• he on his body? Did not Satan through Gods suffrance smite Jo• with marvellous sore boils fro• the sole of his foot unto the crown• ⟨p. 35⟩of his head, so that he sate upon the ground in the ashes, and scraped of the filth of his sores with a potsherd? Oh who is able to express what pains he suffered?
Phi▪ To whō is the history of pacient Iob vnknowne?1 His Crosse was so greuous, that I knowe not whether the like trouble hath chaunsed to any mortall man since his tyme or afore Al his substance in one moment almost was lost, all his cattel were driuē away .vii.M. shepe iii M. Camels .v.C. yoke of Oxen and v.C. she asses. All these were ⟨p. 33⟩taken away sodenly. His house fel downe, his childrē that wer within were slaine. Of all that euer he had, nothing remained vntouched, that might comfort him any thing at all, but only his wife, and she semeth to be left of the deuill, only to this purpose, euen to mock and scorne her husband, and to moue him to blaspheme the name of God. Whiche thing without al doubt greued the holy mās minde more, then all his calamities and wretchednesses. Furthermore his frendes whiche came out of farre countries to comfort hym, seyng his sorowe and paine to be moste •ehement, being also wōderfully astonied with the horrible greatnesse of the plage, by the space of •ii. daies spake not one comforta•le worde vnto hym. For they •hought (although not truly) that God had cast this most greuous ⟨p. 34⟩paines vpon Iob worthely, euen for his sinful life & wicked conuersation. And did they not at the last fall to mocking and taunting of that good mā, and tolde hym that those plages happened vnto hym for his sinnes, by the righteous iudgement of God? for they thought it a matter of hie iniquitie and vnworthy Gods righteousnes yt so great calamities and miseries shuld causeles chaunce vnto any holy and innocent man.2 Moreouer after the losse of al his goodes, after the driuing away of his cattell, the casting down of his house the cruell death of his children & seruaunts (which, al the most pacient man very quietly suffered) what intollerable pains suffere• he on his body? Did not Satha• thorow Gods suffrance smite Io• with maruelous sore biles fro• the sole of his fote vnto ye crown• ⟨p. 35⟩
- 1Job. i.ii.Iob. i.ii.
- 2Job. ii.Iob. ii.
