The Online Library of Liberty

A project of Liberty Fund, Inc.

• Introduction to the Life and Work of William Blake.
• Illustrations of the Book of Job.
• Plate I. “ Thus Did Job Continually. ”
• Plate II. “ When the Almighty Was Yet With Me, When My Children Were About Me. ”
• Plate III. “ the Fire of God Is Fallen From Heaven. ”
• Plate IV. “ and I Only Am Escaped Alone to Tell Thee. ”
• Plate V. “ Then Went Satan Forth From the Presence of the Lord. ”
• Plate VI. “ and Smote Job With Sore Boils From the Sole of His Foot to the Crown of His Head….”
• Plate VII. “ They Lifted Up Their Eyes Afar Off, and Knew Him Not. ”
• Plate VIII. “ Let the Day Perish Wherein I Was Born ”
• Plate IX. “ Then a Spirit Passed Before My Face. ”
• Plate X. “ the Just, Upright Man Is Laughed to Scorn. ”
• Plate XI. “ With Dreams Upon My Bed Thou Scarest Me, and Affrightest Me With Visions. ”
• Plate XII. “ I Am Young, and Ye Are Very Old, Wherefore I Was Afraid. ”
• Plate XIII. “ Then the Lord Answered Job Out of the Whirlwind. ”
• Plate XIV. “ When the Morning Stars Sang Together, and All the Sons of God Shouted For Joy….”
• Plate XV. “ Behold Now Behemoth, Which I Made With Thee. ”
• Plate XVI. “ Thou Hast Fulfilled the Judgment of the Wicked. ”
• Plate XVII. “ and My Servant Job Shall Pray For You. ”
• Plate XVIII. “ and My Servant Job Shall Pray For You. ”
• Plate XIX. “ Every One Also Gave Him a Piece of Money. ”
• Plate XX. “ There Were Not Found Women Fair As the Daughters of Job In All the Land. ”
• Plate XXI. “ So the Lord Blessed the Latter End of Job More Than the Beginning. ”

PLATE XVI.

For this subject the Book of Job does not supply authority. It is, however, required to complete the drama. It represents the fall of Satan, baffled in his attempt to overcome the integrity of Job. The earth has opened between Job and his wife on one side, and the three friends of Job on the other; from the gulf flames are darting up, and into them “Satan as lightning falls from Heaven.” “Hell is naked before him, and Destruction has no covering.” Two of his ministers fall with him. On either side are two angels of light; above, in the centre, sits the Almighty, raising his hand alike for doom and for blessing. In the circle of light around him are figures of angels, two of them with veiled faces. The chief motto in the border is, “Thou hast fulfilled the judgment of the wicked.” The other mottoes give a clew to Blake’s conception, which is conformed to the common Christian doctrine, and shows no trace of his peculiar tenets. The design and the texts are alike intended to show that the Devil is powerless against holiness, and that the ways of God are past finding out. “Even the Devils are subject to us through thy name.” “God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things that are mighty.” “The Prince of this World shall be cast out.” “The Accuser of our brethren is cast down which accused them before our God day and night.” Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty to perfection? It is higher than heaven, what canst thou do? it is deeper than hell, what canst thou know?”