fire, nor the losse of his children, nor torments of his bodie, could drive from patience, but he stood immoueable in the seruice of God, for example to vs, that we fall not for anie wordlie damage, losse of dearest friendes or corporal afflictions. & blessed be God, by whose blessing we may now say: O happie English Catholiques, that patiently suffer the very same kindes of tribulation, (though not in so great a degree) in our time. S. Cyprian (li debono patientie.) Iob examined & proued by the vertue of patience was aduanced to the very height of prayse, a rich lord in possession, & a more rich father in children, sudainly was neither lord, nor father: was also most greuously afflicted in his flesh: and that no tentation might be wanting the diuel armed his wife against him, yet was he not moued, but by victorious patience thanked God for al. In like sorte other holie fathers, for encoregement and consolation of the afflicted, write much of holie Iobs inuincible patience. Aboue al S. Gregorie, our Apostle, dilateth most excellently in thirtie and fiue whole bookes, describing & proposing his so great vertues to be imitated by al Christianes, first of al (li. 1. c 5.) obseruing how great a prayse it is to be good in such a place, in the middes of a crooked and peruerse nation, shining as a light in the world, dwelling in the gentiles, where was the seate of Satan, a lillie amongst thornes.
5. Offered holocaustes for euerie one.] Albeit the vertue of Sacrifice as wel of Holocaust in the old Testament, as especially of Christs Sacrifice in the New, is of infinite valure in it selfe, yet the application therof to particular persons, and purposes is limited, and therfore holie Iob offered not only once for al his children, but manie times, seuerally for euerie one. Wherof see Cardinal Allan li. 2 de Eucharist. Sacrific. c. 35.
Chap. II.
Satan by Gods permission, 7. striketh Iob with sores from the sole of his foote to the toppe of his head. 9. His wife also insulteth against him, but he sinneth not. 11. Three freindes coming to visite and conforte him, sitte silent by him seuen dayes.
ANd it came to passe when on a certaine day the sonnes of God were come, and stood before our Lord, and Satan came among them, and stood in his sight, 2that our Lord sayd to Satan: From whence comest thou? who answering sayd: I haue gone round about the earth, and walked through it. 3And our Lord sayd to Satan: Hast thou considered my seruant Iob, that there is not the like to him in the earth, a man ∷[1] simple, and right, and fearing God, and departing from euil, and yet reteyning innocencie? But thou hast moued me against him, that I should afflict him in vaine. 4To whom Satan answering, said: Skinne for skinne, & al thinges that a man hath, he wil geue for his life: 5otherwise put thy hand, and touch his bone and flesh, and then shalt thou see that he wil blesse thee in the face. 6Our Lord therfore sayd to Satan: Behold he is in thy hand, but yet saue his life. 7Satan
- ↑ A man of plaine and true dealing mixed with meeknes without al guile is called a simple right man S.Greg. li. 1. Moral. c. 2 & 10.
