Pulter Reads George Sandys’s Paraphrase Upon Job

Pulter likely owned a copy of George Sandys’s A Paraphrase Upon the Divine Poems, which features, as its first main biblical book, the Book of Job. Like “And Must the Sword this Controverse Decide” (Poem 64), the Book of Job prophesies that truth and equity will resolve the controversy, that is, the disputes or wars, which are being waged by the sword.

George Sandys, A Paraphrase Upon Job

The great in Pride, and Power, like Meteors shall
(If he relent not) by his Vengeance fall.
And Oh shall I, a worme, my cause defend;
Or in vaine Argument with God contend?
I would not were I innocent dispute;
But humbly to my Judge present my Suite.
Yet never could my hopes be confident;
Though God himselfe should to my wish consent:
Who with incessant stormes my peace confounds;
And multiplies my undeserved wounds:
Nor gives me time to breathe; my Stomack fills
With food of bitter tast, and Lothsome pills.
Speake I of strength, his strength the strong obay:
If I of Judgement speake, who shall a Day
Appoint for tryall? should I Justifie
A Vice, my heart would give my tongue the lye.
If of perfection boast; I should herein
My guilt disclose: thought I, I had no Sin;
My selfe I should not know. Oh bitter strife!
Whose only Issue is the hate of life!
Yet judge not by events: in generall.
The good and bad without distinction fall.
For he th’Appeale of innocence derides;
And with his Sword the controverse decides:*
*In this verse (which Pulter would use but suggestively modify for her opening line in Poem 64) and in the previous verse, Sandys alludes to Job 9:23: “If the scourge slay suddenly, he will laugh at the trial of the innocent.”
He gives the Earth to those that tyrannize:
And spreads a vaile before the Judges Eyes.
Or else what were his power? Oh you who see
My miseries, this truth behold in mee!
My dayes runne like a Post,* and leave behinde
*A person who travels express with letters, dispatches, etc., esp. along a fixed route; a courier, a post-rider. A similar bearer of messages in ancient times or other countries. “post, n.3.I.2b.” OED Online. December 2020. Oxford University Press. The OED cites KJB Job ix. 25.
No tract of joy: as ships before the winde,
They through this humaine Ocean sayle away:
And fly like Eagles which pursue their prey.
If I determine to remove my care;
Forget my griefe, and comfort my Despaire:
The feare that he would never purge mee, mocks
M’imbarqued Hopes, and drives them on the Rocks.
For if he hold me guilty; if I soile
My selfe with Sin, I then but vainely toyle.
Though I should wash my selfe in melting Snow,
Untill my hands were whiter; he would throw
Me downe to Earth: and, ah! so plunge in mire,
That I should loath to touch my owne attire:
For he, is not as I: a man, with whom
I might contend, and to a Tryall come.
I, in my cause shall find no Advocate;
Nor Umpire, to compose our sad debate.
Oh should he from my shoulders take his Rod;
Free from the awe and terror of a God:
Then would I argue in my owne defence;
And boldly justifie my Innocence.
Oh I am sick of life! nor will controule*
*“Chap. 10” appears in the margin to the left of this line.
My Passion, but in bitternesse of Soule,
Thus teare the Aire: what should thy wrath incense
To punish him who knowes not his offence?
Ah! do’st thou in oppression take delight?
Wilt thou thy Servant fold in shades of Night,
And smile on wicked Counsels? do’st thou see
With Eyes of Flesh? is Truth conceal’d from thee?

By Equitie let us our Judgements guide:*
*“Chap. 34” appears in the margin to the left of this line.
And this long controverted Cause decide.
Iob cries; I guiltlesse fall, to God appeale:
Yet will not he the clouded truth reveale.
Shall I with lyes betray my Innocence?
My wound is mortall: ô, for what offence!
Who of himselfe but he so vainely thinks?
Who contumacy like cold water drinks.
He is in shackles by the wicked led;
And walkes the way which his Associates tread.
What bootes it man (sayes he) to take delight
In God! and live as alwayes in his sight!
O heare me, you who high in knowledge sit:
Is it with God that he should Sinne commit?
No, each according to his Merit shall
Receive his hire: to Justice stand, or fall.

George Sandys, Selections from chapters 9, 10, 34 of A Paraphrase Upon Job, in A Paraphrase Upon the Divine Poems (London, 1638), 13-14, 43 (1-55). Transcribed by Elizabeth Sauer, Brock University. Bolded lines indicate my emphasis. W and U/V are modernized in this transcription.