Page:The Holy Bible faithfvlly translated into English ovt of the authentical Latin, diligently conferred with the Hebrew, Greek, & other Editions in diuers languages.pdf/974

946 ''and causes, as appeareth in very manie places. Al which varietie and aboundance of matter, comprised in smal rowme, make manie things hard and obscure, yet are the same so tempered with other things plaine and easie, that here is verified S. Augustin’s obseruation (li. 2. c. 6. doct. Christ) ''certaine places of holie Scriptures serue as delectable meate to them that hunger and thirst diuine knowledge, and the obscure take away tediousnes from them, that loath vsual plaine doctrine.

It is most probable that Iob himself, inspired by the Holie Ghost, by whose grace he excelled al in right simplicitie (c. 1) writ his owne historie, the most part in verse, only the two first chapters and the last in prose, in the Arabian tongue, which Moyses translated into Hebrew, for the consolation of the Israelites afflicted in Ægypt.

''And it may be diuided into three general parts. First, the change of Iobs state from prosperitie into affliction, with his lamentation for the same, are recorded in the three first chapters. In foure and thirtie chapters folowing are sundrie disputations, conflicts, and discourses between him and his freinds, touching the cause of his so vehement affliction. In the fiue last chapters, God discusseth the quarel, giueth sentence for Iob against his aduersaries, pardoneth them, and rewardeth him.'' Rh