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994 A BRIEF

OF THIS STRANGE AND SACRED HISTORIE.

OR auoiding prolixitie (this volume growing great) we haue for most part contracted our Annotations into the margent, making very few others in this booke, which otherwise offered much more occasion, as wel for explicating hard places, as of other doctrinal and moral instructions. Neither in deed can ordinarie Annotations wel suffice for vnderstanding of this, and other hard bookes. But rather large Commentaries are required, such as S. Gregorie, and other ancient Fathers, as also Fr. Iohn de Pineda, and others haue lately written; wherto we therfore remitte the learned readers. And for the benefite of others of our nation, we shal here briefly recapitulate the summe, and principal al [sic] points of this holie and admirable historie, consisting in a singular holie mans conflicts and glorious victorie, against inuisible and visible aduersaries, both in prosperous and aduerse fortune.

First this holie man Iob in al abundance of wealth and riches, blessed with manie children (ch. 1.) sitting in a princelie throne and royal dignitie (ch. 29.) in the land of Hus, was not only assaulted with common tentations of the enuious enimie, as al are that liue piously in God, but so much the more, as he was more godlie, sincerer, and perfecter then other men: yet he neuer set his hart vpon worldlie or temporal things, but with al due feare so serued God, and parted from euil, that Satan himself (the calumniator of mankind) could not charge him with anie sinne at al. Though he would not for al that confesse him to be iust or perfect: but for further trial of him, demanded and obtained licence of God to touch al his possessions, and so bereaued him of al his goods and children in one day. And when he perseuering constant in vertue, thanking God for al, not sinning in his lips, neither speaking anie foolish thing against God, the diuel getting more ample permission to touch his bones and flesh (chap. 2) sudenly struck him with most grieuous botch (or boyle) from the sole of the foote to the top of the head: who sitting on a dunghil, and scraping the corruption of his sores with a shel in extreme paine, his owne wife, by the diuels suggestion, reuiled him for his sinceritie, and prouoked him to blaspheme God: but he seuerely reprehended her follie, stil keeping necessarie patience.

Then came three special freinds, noble wise men (or litle Kings) to visite, and comfort him, who in seuen dayes not speaking one word of Rh