ESTHIR, rhegreateftjSnd alwaycslouingCod, by vhofe hcrcfue the kingdom was gcocn both ro ©ur fathers and :o vs, and* kepi 17 vn;o this day. | "Wherfore know ye rhofe letters, which he aS direcled in our name, to bcof nonectfe&. f For thewhich heinous fade, before the gates of this citie, that is, of Snfan, boih him fclfthat dcuifed it,andal his kmred hang on gib- bcttes: not vc, but God repaying him that which he haih 19 deferucd. f Bur this edift, which vc nov fend, lee it be fer forthinalcities,thatitbclawful for the lewes to rfe their ao owne lawes. f Whom you muft helpc, that thofe, xrhich had . prepared them felucs to their flaughter, they may kil the thir* .. AiMat ^ m it tenth dayof the twelfth raooeth, vhichiscallcd Adar. -J- For cbeujiuc,- God omnipotent hath rurncd thic day of fadncs and mour- ccftcd, the. tx ningintoioy to them. f Vhcrforc - countycu alfothisday Kinecoofir. among other fcftiual daics, and celebrate it with al ioy, that aj hcreatteralfoitnuy be knowne, J rhata!,which faythfully f^^^mo- obey the Pcru'ans.rcceiur worthie reward for their fijtlit iet tt of Ciodi and they thathe in wayte againft their kingdom, peruh for benctwe and la theK wicked fa&.f And cuerie prouince and citie, th-u wi! ^j 0 ^^* 1 not be partaker ofrhisfolemnitic, lent periih by (word and ^, cout fyre.andlctitfobcdcftroycd. that not oiilie men, but alfo beateshaue no ajceflc therto for cucr, for an eaamplc of t . . 3 . contempt, and difobeJience.* *>.*•
THE ARGVMENT OF THE
BOOKE OF IOB.
Holie Iob otherwise called Iobab (Gen. 36.) as S. Augustin, S. Chrisostom, S. Ambrose, S. Gregorie, and other fathers teach, the sonne of Zara, the sonne of Rahuel, the sonne of Esau, was king (or absolute prince) of the land of Hus. Who being perfect in religion, sincere in life, rich in wealth, and blessed with children, for an admirable example of patience, and to shew that a mortal man through Gods grace, may resist al the diuels tentations, by Gods permission, sudainly lost al his goodes and children, was striken with horrible sores in al his bodie, reuiled by his wife, and in steed of comforth which his special freindes pretemted towards him, was iniuriously charged by them, with impatience, arrogancie, blasphemie, and other crimes, for which they falsly supposed he was so afflicted, affirming, and by diuers sophistical argumentes, grounded as they pretended vpon Gods iustice, wisdome, powre, mercie, and goodnes, would proue that God suffereth none but wicked men to be so afflicted. But Iob constantly defendeth his owne iust innocencie, and that worldlie calamities, and prosperitie happen indifferently
to good
