of his owne former prosperitie, and present calamitie, together with his good workes, and innocencie, which he stil auouched in respect of great iniquities.
The ninth conflict.After that Iob and his three freinds ceassed, nothing being agreed vpon in the point of controuersie, the diuel yet ceassed not, but stirred vp a yong man, called Eliu, proud and arrogant, but not vnlearned, who abruptly condemned them al, to wit, Iob of pertinacie, the others of insufficiencie. And therfore tooke vpon him to conuince Iob, though the others could not. Newest Sectaries hold themselues the wisest.Very like to late-rising Protestants or Puritains bragging that by new arguments, and proofes neuer heard of, they wil ouerthrow the Papists, or Catholike Romaine Church, and doctrine, which al former enemies, Iewes, Pagaines, Turkes, and Heretikes, nor Hel gates, could not ouercome. Especially these of our dayes, that relie ech one vpon his owne priuate spirite.This yong Eliu therfore, with his Priuate spirite, wiser in his owne conceipt then al that went before him, assaulted constant Iob (ch. 32. and fiue more ensuing) with manie wordes, and bragges, often chalenging and prouoking, but not extorting anie answer from so graue a man to his friuolous and idle arguments, largely discoursing of things either not denied, or so manifest false, that euerie meane seruant of God, could easely conuince them, and neuer approching to the maine controuersie, only railed against holy Iob, charging him more furiously then anie had done before, with impietie, impatience, ignorance, pride, blasphemie, and obstinacie, vices farre from Iobs sanctitie, dilating also of Gods iustice, mercie, wisdome, power, and prouidence, and that no man ought to contend, nor expostulate with God, that afflictions must be borne patiently, and that God is iust, and maruelous in his workes: wherof no wiseman euer doubted, and so Iob conuinced him with silence.
In the tenth place God decided the controuersie.But God himself for decision of al (from ch. 38. to the end of the Booke) first by way of examining instructed Iob more particularly, reciting manie maruelous workes of nature, shewing therby his Diuine Maiestie, Power, and Wisdome, exercising Iob in more patience, and withal perfecting him in humilitie. So that with al reuerent feare and subiection, he offered and submitted himselfe to Gods onlie good pleasure. Penitents pardoned.Then finally God gaue sentence that Iob had defended the truth, & his three freinds had erred. Iob rewarded.Whom after Sacrifice, and Iobs prayer for them, he pardoned, restored Iob to health, and to duble prosperitie, of al he had lost before, giuing him also long life, and a happie end.
The literal sense of this historie.In this historie besides the literal sense, shewing that Iob was iust and sincere, and not for his sinnes (as his freinds falsly supposed) but for his more merite was most extremly afflicted, and afterwards restored to health and wealth: Allegorical.we haue also here in the Allegorical sense, an especial figure of Christ. Who as he was absolutley most innocent, and most perfect: so was he without comparison most afflicted of al mankind. Likewise Iobs restauration to better state then before, Anagogical.signified in the Anagogical sense, the Resurrection, and restauration of better, and most glorious qualities in the blessed, with fulnes of daies, in eternal glorie. Moral.Finally in the Moral sense (which S. Gregorie most
