First, that he rose up early in the morning. Secondly, that he offered so many sacrifices as he had sons. Thirdly, that he performed this offering every day while their feast lasted. Of every circumstance a little, because some had rather hear many things then learn one. First here is to be noted that amongst the blessings of Job, his children are reckoned first, so soon as the holy Ghost was past his spiritual blessings which he mentioneth in the first verse of all, before all his other blessings, lands and houses, and goods, and cattle, and friends, and servants, he speaks of his children, as the chiefest treasure which Job had next unto his virtues; although he was counted the greatest man for riches and cattle, and all things else in all the east parts, 3. verse. Therefore the Devil when he had taken away all his other riches, took away his children last of all, trying him as it were by degrees, as if he should say, I have a greater plague for him yet, if the loosing of his goods and stealing of his cattle, and burning of his houses, and slaying of his servants will not move him, yet I know what will rouse him: when his children are all feasting together I will raise a mighty wind, and blow down the house upon their heads, and kill every son & daughter which he hath at a clap. Indeed this news frighted him forest, as appeareth in ⟨p. 1038⟩the 20. verse, his patience was so great, that when they brought him word of his oxen, & camels, and asses, and sheep, he never shrinked, we do not read that he made any answer; as though he cared not for them, but when he heard that his dear children, seven sons, and three daughters, after he had brought them up to ripe years, were slain all at once, then the story saith, that he rose up from his seat, and rent his garments, and shaved his head, and fell down to the ground and cried; Naked came I out of my mothers womb, and naked shall I return again. So even the devil knoweth what a man loveth, and what a blessing it is to have children, therefore when God commanded the man and the woman to increase and multiply, it is said before, that God blessed them. Gen. 1. 28. which was the first blessing that was given to man, which is called a blessing, The blessing of children. Again, when God spake the same words to Noah & his sons, it is said before, that God blessed Noah & his sons Gen.
First, that he rose vp early in the morning. Secondly, that he offered so many sacrifices as he had sonnes. Thirdly, that he perfourmed this offering euery day while their feast lasted. Of euery circumstance a little, because some had rather heare many thinges then learne one. First heere is to bee noted that amongst the blessings of Iob, his children are reckoned first, so soone as the holy Ghost was past his spirituall blessings which he mentioneth in the first verse of all, before all his other blessings, landes and houses, and goods, and cattell, and friends, and seruants, hee speakes of his children, as the chiefest treasure which Iob had next vnto his vertues; although hee was counted the greatest man for riches and cattels, and all things else in all the east parts, 3. verse. Therefore the Diuell when hee had taken away all his other riches, tooke away his children last of al, trying him as it were by degrees, as if he should say, I haue a greater plague for him yet, if the loosing of his goods and stealing of his cattell, and burning of his houses, and slaying of his seruauntes will not moue him, yet I know what will rowse him: when his children are all feasting together I will raise a mighty wind, and blow downe the house vppon their heads, and kill euery sonne & daughter which he hath at a clap. Indeed this newes frighted him forest, as appeareth in ⟨p. 1038⟩the 20. verse, his patience was so great, that when they brought him word of his oxen, & camels, and asses, and sheepe, he neuer shrinked, we doe not reade that he made any answer; as though he cared not for thē, but whē he heard that his deare children, seuen sonnes, and three daughters, after he had brought thē vp to ripe yeares, were slaine all at once, then the story saith, that he rose vp from his seat, and rent his garments, and shaued his head, and fell downe to the ground and cryed; Naked came I out of my mothers wombe, and naked shall I returne againe. So euen the diuell knoweth what a man loueth, and what a blessing it is to haue children, therefore when God commaunded the man and the woman to increase and multiply, it is saide before, that God blessed them. Gen. 1. 28. which was the first blessing that was giuen to man, which is called a blessing, The blessing of children. Againe, when God spake the same words to Noah & his sonnes, it is said before, that God blessed Noah & his sons Gen.
