Instructions for a right comforting afflicted consciences with special antidotes against some grievous temptationsInstructions for a right comforting afflicted consciences with speciall antidotes against some grievous temptations

The one was this: He had bin ^*happy. Now as that mans happiness is holden the greatest, who hath bin in miserable condition; for He tasteth the double sweet; of remembering his forpassed misery; and enjoying his present felicity:² So on the contrary; It is the greatest misery, they say, to have bin happy.

The one was this: He had bin ^*happy. Now as that mans happines is holden the greatest, who hath bin in miserable condition; for He tasteth the double sweete; of remembring his forpassed misery; and enioying his present felicity:² So on the contrary; It is the greatest misery, they say, to haue bin happy.

1. *Cap. 29.6. &c.
2. 2Felicem fuisse, miserrimum.

The other was that, which most nettles a generous nature. He being a Man of so great honour and worth; whose rare, and incomparable wisdom, even the Princes and Nobles adored as it were with a secret, and silent admiration, as appears Cap. 29.9.10. was now contemned of the most contemptible. The children of fools, and the children of base men; that were viler then the earth, make him their song, and their By-word, cap. ⟨p. 24⟩30.8.9. For when true nobleness, and worth is down, and any one of the Lords Champions dejected, it is ordinary with all those dunghill dispositions, to whom His sincerity was an Eye-sore; His power and authority, a restraint to their lewdness; the glory of His virtues, fuel to their envy; to run as a Raven to the fallen Sheep, to pick out His eyes; I mean, which yet asts of a truly cowardly, and merciless constitution, to wound his very wounds, and to vex his vexations. This was Jobs case.