Page:Aelfric's Lives of Saints Vol 1.djvu/353

 and in  his  innocence  unto  his  life's  end,

or whether  he  would  turn  from  God  through  the  exceeding  persecution

which the  envious  devil  sent  him.

Thereupon the  devil  in  one  day  slew  all  his  cattle,

and his  seven  sons,  and  three  daughters,  and  likewise  afterward

afflicted himself  with  an  awful  sickness;

but the  constant  Job  would  never  swerve  from  God's  love,

neither for  persecution,  nor  for  sickness,  nor  for  the  loss  of  his bairns,

neither spake  he  one  foolish  word  against  God,

but with  great  patience  he  ever  thanked  God

and from  his  inward  heart  ever  praised  his  Lord.

Then God  healed  him  of  that  awful  affliction,

and repaid  him  all  his  possessions  by  twofold,

and he  then  lived  happily,  because  he  had  overcome  the  devil.

David for  his  meekness  and  mildheartedness

was pleasing  to  God,  and  was  chosen  king,

so that  God  Himself  spake  thus  concerning  him,

I have  found  Me  David,  Jesse's  son,  after  mine  heart,

who shall  perform  my  will  by  his  works.

Again Elias,  the  noble  prophet,  because  he  combated  against unrighteousness,

was taken  up  to  Heaven  in  a  heavenly  chariot,

and there,  like  Enoch,  dwelleth  securely;

because no  ghostly  offering  is  so  pleasing  to  God,

as [that]  is  to  Him,  that  a  man  alway  strive  against  unrighteousness,

for men's  correction,  yet  nevertheless  with  meekness,

and with  sobriety,  and  mildheartedness,

that one  may  put  down  wrong,  and  raise  up  God's  right,

even as  the  prophet  Elias  strove  against  unrighteousness

until that  God  took  him  in  a  fiery  chariot  to  heaven