Dr.

Robert Hickson

24 October 2013 Feast of St. Raphael the Archangel

G. K. Chesterton's 1916 Reflections on the Book and Wounds of Job

Thro gh the pro!pt kin"ness of a #i#i"$so le" %atholic priest& 'ho is also a conte!plati#e (aronite !onk in (assach setts& ) recentl* recei#e" an n"ate"& ele#en$page te+t 'ritten b* ,.-. %hesterton an" entitle" .)ntro" ction to the /ook of 0ob.1 )t 'as& !oreo#er& a te+t that ) ha" ne#er before rea"& nor e#en kno'n abo t. F rther!ore& since this trans!itte" #ersion of the n"ate" te+t also ha" so!e ne+plaine" ellipses in it& as 'ell as an all ringl* s ccinct 2pigraph 3 . Man is most comforted b !arado"es1 3 ) starte" to 'on"er abo t the occasion of the essa*4s first appearance an" th s procee"e" to "o a little !ore research& 'hich le" to so!e a""itionall* ill !inating "isco#eries. D ring the "eep trials of 5orl" 5ar )& in 1617 3 so!e t'o *ears before his o'n brother %ecil 'as to "ie on the battlefiel" of a "isease contracte" near the #er* en" of the 5ar 3 ,.-. %hesterton 'rote a nineteen$page )ntro" ction 8pp. i+$++#ii9 to a ! ch longer an" ill strate" te+t of 102 pages fro! the Ol" Testa!ent& in an Anglican .a thori:e" #ersion1 of that spirit all* challenging book entitle"; The Book of Job: With an Introduction by G.K. Chesterton & Illustrated in Colour by C. Mary Tongue.1 /efore s'iftl* sen"ing !e his o'n electronic #ersion of that %hestertonian )ntro" ction& Father (ichael ,il!ar* ha" teasingl* tol" !* fa!il* " ring o r personal #isit 'ith hi! an" 'ith Father Robert; .Wait until ou see the endin#$1 %o!ing fro! a priest like hi!& that 'as certainl* an inspiring in#itation< Ho'e#er& ) pro!ise" to rea" the entire )ntro" ction fro! beginning to en"& 'itho t first .peeking at the en"&1 an" also to "o it at once as soon as 'e 'o l" recei#e his trans!ission after o r ret rn ho!e. His te+t 'as 'aiting for s pon o r arri#al. 5as that not b t another e+pression of philosophical an" theological ros<= )n fi"elit* to !* 'or"& ) first attenti#el* rea" Father (ichael4s gift to s& an" then

s bse> entl* re$rea"& no' e#en !ore attenti#el*& the f ll an" original 1617 te+t 'hich ) ha" "isco#ere"& fro! 'hich te+t 3 'hich& perhaps significantl*& contains no 2pigraph 3 ) shall henceforth
1 8?on"on; %ecil @al!er an" Ha*'oo"& 16179& 102 pp. an" 42 %hapters& 'ith ,. -. %hesterton4s )ntro" ction being on pages i+$++#ii& as alrea"* in"icate". The ?ibrar*$of$%ongress %all A !ber for this relati#el* rare book is; /S 1413 %B.

> ote in this little essa* an" co!!entar*. 2 ,.-. %hesterton begins his )ntro" ction& si+ *ears before his gratef l reception into the %atholic %h rch& 'ith the follo'ing searching an" !o"est 'or"s; The /ook of 0ob is a!ong the other Ol" Testa!ent /ooks both a philosophical ri""le an" a historical ri""le. )t is the !hiloso!hical riddle that concerns us in s ch an intro" ction as thisC so 'e !a* "is!iss first the fe' 'or"s of general e+planation or %arnin# 'hich sho l" be sai" abo t the historical aspect. %ontro#ers* has long range" abo t 'hich parts of this e!ic belong to its original sche!e an" 'hich are interpolations of consi"erabl* later "ate. Doctors "isagree& as is the b siness of "octors to "oC b t pon the 'hole the tren" of in#estigation has al'a*s been in the "irection of !aintaining that the parts interpolate"& if an*& 'ere the prose prolog e an" epilog e an" possibl* the speech of the *o ng !an 'ho co!es in 'ith an apolog* at the en". ) "o not profess to be co!petent to "eci"e s ch > estions. / t 'hate#er "ecision the rea"er !a* co!e to concerning the!& there is a #eneral truth to be re!e!bere" in this connection. 5hen *o "eal 'ith an* ancient artistic creation De#en as in the (e"ie#al& Ol" French 2pic& The !ong of "olandE "o not s ppose that it is an*thing against it that it #re% #raduall . 8i+3!* e!phasis a""e"93 Then& %hesterton brings an architect ral analog* to his assistance& that he !a* f rther con#e* an i!plication of this slo' fr itf lness; The /ook of 0ob !a* ha#e gro'n gra" all* F st as 5est!inster Abbe* gre' gra" all*. / t the people 'ho !a"e the ol" folk poetr*& like the people 'ho !a"e 5est!inster Abbe* Dor %hGrtres %athe"ralE& "i" not attach that i!portance to the act al "ate an" the act al a thor& that i!portance 'hich is entirel* the creation of the almost insane indi&idualism of !o"ern ti!es. 5e !a* p t asi"e the case of 0ob& as one DalsoE com!licated %ith reli#ious difficulties Das in the case of (osesE....The creation of the tribal epic 'as to some e"tent regar"e" as a tribal 'ork& like the b il"ing of the tribal te!ple....Re!e!ber that this ol" 'orl" 'hich !a"e these ol" poe!s like the )lia" an" 0ob& al'a*s kept the tra"ition of 'hat it 'as !aking Dlike the "esirable an" lo*al trans!ission of the #e$ositu% &idei& 'ith solicito s integrit*E..../ t let s re!e!ber that there 'as !ore nit* in those ti!es in a h n"re" !en than there is nit* no' in one !an. The cit* 'as like one !an.
2 For con#enience& the page citations to this 1617 te+t 'ill be place" abo#e in the !ain bo"* of this essa*& in parentheses. 3 After the 161H "eath of his brother& %ecil& ,.-. %hesterton consente" to 'rite& alrea"* in 1616& an )ntro" ction to another 2pic; na!el*& the %harles Scott (oncrieff translation of the Ol" French 2pic& The !ong of "oland. As 'e shall later see& that fo r$page )ntro" ction 'as also #er* !o#ing an" en" ringl* incisi#e& piercing the heart also b* its e#ocati#e i!plicitness.

Ao' one !an is like a cit* in ci#il 'ar....5e !a* sa* of the scholarl* DhistoricalE ri""le that the book Dof 0obE has unit in the sense that all #reat creations ha&e unit ' in the sense that Canterbur Cathedral has unit . 8i+$+i3!* e!phasis a""e"9 So& too& is it the case& sa*s %hesterton& that .the sa!e nit* is broa"l* tr e of 'hat ) ha#e calle" the philosophical ri""le Dof the /ook of 0obE.1 8+i9 / t ho' so= For& he a""s; There is a real sense in 'hich the /ook of 0ob stan"s apart fro! !ost of the books incl "e" in the Dass !e" Anglican$@rotestantE canon of the Ol" Testa!ent. / t here again those are 'rong 'ho !aintain that the Ol" Testa!ent is a !ere loose librar*C that it has not consistenc or aim. 5hether the res lt Dof s ch philosophic nit*E 'as achie#e" b* so!e s pernal spirit al tr th& or b* a stea"* DHebraicE national tra"ition& or !erel* b* an ingenio s selection in after ti!es& the books of the Ol" Testa!ent ha#e > ite a !erce!tible unit . 8+i$+ii3!* e!phasis a""e"9 %hesterton 'ill no' gra" all* intro" ce s to his reflecti#e n"erstan"ing of the

.consistenc*&1 .ai!&1 an" > ite .perceptible nit*1 of the Ol" Testa!ent; 4 To atte!pt to n"erstan" the Ol" Testa!ent 'itho t reali:ing this main idea Dof p rposi#e nit*E is as abs r" as it 'o l" be to st "* one of Shakespeare4s pla*s De.g.& .the histor* of Ha!let& @rince of Den!ark1 an" of .Ha!let4s procrastination13+iiE 'itho t reali:ing that the a thor ha" an* philosophical obFect at all....So speak the /ible smashers Dlike .)conoclasts1E& 'ho are nfort natel* al'a*s at botto! /ible %orshi!!ers D./ibliolaters1 ar"entl* "efen"ing .!ola !cri$tura1 as if the* "i" not ha#e their o'n& an" perhaps corr pt&.tra"itions1E. The* "o not n"erstan" the s!ecial tone and intention of the (ld )estamentC the* "o not n"erstan" its main idea& 'hich is the idea of all men bein# merel the instruments of a hi#her !o%er . 8+ii3!* e!phasis a""e"9 Ao' o r %hesterton 'ill s rprise s again& an" b* 'a* of an n!istakabl* apt 'arning abo t .rea"ing histor* back'ar"s1 8in H. /elloc4s o'n 'or"s93e#en tho gh& as Saint A g stine arg e"& one ! st finall* rea" the Ol" Testa!ent throu#h the Ae' Testa!ent& as 'ell as be attenti#e to the Ol" Testa!ent4s intentional an" clarif*ingl* prophetic T*polog*. Th s& %hesterton sa*s;

4 )t ! st be re!e!bere" thro gho t this co!!entar*& ho'e#er& that The -ing 0a!es Iersion of the /ible& the one that %hesterton 'as then sing& "oes not contain se&en books that are in the %atholic I lgate Iersion of the Ol" Testa!ent& so!e of 'hich are 'ar!l* h !ane& > ite bea tif l an" !o#ing to the h !an heart& na!el* these se#en books; Tobias& 0 "ith& 5is"o!& 2cclesiastic s& /ar ch& 1 (achabees& an" 2 (achabees. These o!issions !ight 'ell ha#e infl ence" %hesterton4s o#erall perceptions of the at!osphere of the Ol" Testa!ent& b t ) a! not co!petent to F "ge this !atter.

Those& for instance& 'ho co!plain of the atrocities an" treacheries of the F "ges an" prophets Dan" other s ch see!ingl* an" !erel* .negati#e e+a!ples1E ha#e reall* got a notion in their hea" that has nothing to "o 'ith the s bFect. )he are too Christian. The* are readin# back into the !re* Christian scri!tures a !urel Christian idea3the idea of saints+ the idea that the chief instruments of God are &er !articularl #ood men Dlike 0ob hi!self& perhaps=E. This is a "eeper& a !ore "aring& an" a !ore interesting i"ea than the ol" 0e'ish one. )t is the idea that innocence has about it somethin# terrible %hich in the lon# run makes and re*makes em!ires and the %orld . 8+ii$+iii3!* e!phasis a""e"9 On the pre!ise that .contrast clarifies the !in"&1 'e !a* no' also see ho' %hesterton n"erstan"s the "i#inel* p rposi#e& contrasting con" ct of !an* characters in the Ol" Testa!ent; / t Din contrast to the .p rel* %hristian i"ea1E the Ol" Testa!ent i"ea 'as 'hat !a* be calle" the common*sense idea& that strength is strength& that c nning is c nning& that 'orl"l* s ccess is 'orl"l* s ccess& an" that 0eho#ah ses these things for ,is ultimate !ur!ose& F st as He ses nat ral forces or ph*sical ele!ents. He ses the strength of a hero as He ses the strength of a (a!!oth3'itho t an* partic lar respect for the (a!!oth. ) cannot co!prehen" ho' so !an* si!ple$!in"e" sceptics ha#e rea" s ch stories as the fraud of Jacob an" s ppose" that the !an 'ho 'rote it 8'hoe#er he 'as9 "i" not kno' that Jacob %as a sneak F st as 'e "o. )he !rime&al human sense of honour "oes not change so ! ch as that. 8+iii3!* e!phasis a""e"9 )n"ee"& s ch .si!ple$!in"e" sceptics1 3 'ho are often& it ! st be sai"& .%hristians1 3 e#en .fanc* that the patriarchs ! st be !eant for patterns Dparagons or positi#e e+e!plarsEC the* fanc* that 0acob D)sraelE 'as being set p as so!e kin" of saintC an" in that case ) "o not 'on"er that the* are a little startle".1 8+iii$+i#9 / t& a""s %hesterton e!phaticall*& .That is not the atmos!here of the Ol" Testa!ent at all.1 8+i#3!* e!phasis a""e"9 At this stage of his o'n non$%atholic %hristian life& %hesterton then "iscloses to s his "eep an" ha nting sense both of the at!osphere an" of .the central i"ea1 of ! ch 8b t not all9 of the Ol" Testa!ent; )he central idea of the great part of the Ol" Testa!ent !a* be calle" the idea of the loneliness of God . ,o" is not the onl* chief character of the Ol" Testa!entC ,o" is properl* the onl* character in the Ol" Testa!ent. Com!ared %ith ,is clearness of !ur!ose all the other %ills are hea& and automatic & like those of ani!alsC com!ared %ith ,is actualit all the sons of flesh are 4

sha"o's.B Again an" again the note is str ck& .5ith 'ho! hath he taken co nsel=1 D)saiah 40;14E .) ha#e tro""en the 'ine press alone& an" of the people there 'as no !an 'ith !e.1 D)saiah 73;3E All the patriarchs an" prophets are !erel* His tools or 'eaponsC for the -ord is a man of %ar . He ses 0osh a like an a+e or (oses like a !eas ring$ro". For Hi! Sa!son is onl* a s'or" an" )saiah onl* a tr !pet. )he saints of Christianit Db* contrastE are s ppose" to be like ,o"& to be& as it 'ere& little stat ettes of Hi!. The Ol" Testa!ent hero is no !ore s ppose" to be of the sa!e nat re as ,o" than a sa' or a ha!!er is s ppose" to be of the sa!e shape as the carpenter. 8+i#3!* e!phasis a""e"9 ?ooking back to 'hat he has F st presente"& %hesterton e!plo*s the follo'ing 'or"s b* 'a* of s !!ar* concl sion; )his is the main ke and characteristic of the Hebre' script res as a %hole....Dan" "espite .inn !erable instances of ...r gge" h !o r& keen e!otion& an" po'erf l in"i#i" alit* 'hich is ne#er 'anting in great pri!iti#e prose an" poetr*13+#E. .e&ertheless the main characteristic remainsC the sense not merel that ,o" is stronger than !an& not merel that ,o" is !ore secret than !an& but that ,e means more+ that ,e kno%s better %hat ,e is doin#+ that com!ared %ith ,im+ %e ha&e somethin# of the &a#ueness+ the unreason+ and the &a#ranc of the beasts that !erish....5e !ight al!ost p t it th s. The book Di.e.& the Ol" Testa!entE is so intent pon asserting the personalit* of ,o" that it al!ost asserts the i!personalit* of !an. Jnless this giant cos!ic brain ha" concei#e" a thing& that thing is insecure and &oidC !an has not eno gh tenacit* Dhence perse#eranceE to sec re its contin ance. .Jnless the ?or" b il" the ho se their labo r is but lost that b il" it. 2+cept the ?or" keep the cit* the 'atch!an 'atcheth in &ain.1 D@sal! 12K;1E 8+#3 !* e!phasis a""e"9 After this fra!ing preparation an" general consi"eration of !ost of the portions of the Ol" Testa!ent& %hesterton 'ill no' lea" s to the e+ceptional an" en" ringl* challenging /ook of 0ob; 2#er*'here else& then& the Ol" Testa!ent positi#el* reFoices in the obliteration DsicE of !an in com!arison %ith the di&ine !ur!ose . The /ook of 0ob stands definitel alone because the /ook of 0ob definitel asks& .But %hat is the !ur!ose of God/ 0s it %orth the sacrifice e&en of our miserable humanit / Of co rse it is eas* eno gh to %i!e out o r o'n paltr* 'ills for the sake of a 'ill that is gran"er an" kin"er. / t is it gran"er an" kin"er= ?et ,o" se His toolsC let ,o" break His tools. But %hat is ,e doin# and %hat are the bein# broken for/1 )t is because of this 1uestion that 'e Dno'E ha#e to
B 2arlier on this page %hesterton ha" !ore " bio sl* 8e#en e+aggerate"l*9 sai"; .The heroes of the Ol" Testa!ent are not the sons of ,o"& b t the sla#es of ,o"& gigantic an" terrible sla#es Dlike Sa!son=E& like the genii& 'ho 'ere the sla#es of Ala""in.1 8+i#9

attack as a !hiloso!hical ri""le the /ook of 0ob. 8+#$+#i3!* e!phasis a""e"9 After gi#ing his opinion on certain !atters of religion& irreligion& an" philosoph*& %hesterton 'ill co!!ent on the /ook of 0ob& specificall* as 'ell as generall*C for& he sa*s; F n"a!ental h !an religion an" f n"a!ental h !an irreligion are both at once ol" an" ne'C philosoph* is either eternal or it is not philosoph*....The !o"ern habit of sa*ing .2#er* !an has a "ifferent philosoph*C this is !* philosoph* an" it s its !e1C the habit of sa in# this is mere %eak* mindedness. A cos!ic philosoph* is not constr cte" to fit a !anC a cos!ic philosoph* is constr cte" to fit a cos!os. A !an can no !ore possess a pri#ate religion D! ch less .the go" of *o r choice1E than he can possess a pri#ate s n an" !oon. The first of the intellectual beauties of the /ook of 0ob is that it is all concerned %ith this desire to kno% the actualit ' the desire to kno% %hat is+ and not merel %hat seems. 8##i$+#ii3!* e!phasis a""e"9 5ith his characteristicall* char!ing spec lations abo t ho' a .(o"ern1 'o l" ha#e 8or 'o l" still no'9 'rite the /ook of 0ob& %hesterton thereb* sharpens another clarif*ing contrast; 5e sho l" probabl* fin" Din the (o"ern4s propose" te+tE that 0ob an" his Ds perficial an" so!e'hat s! gl* self$ass re"E co!forters #ot on 1uite %ell to#ether b* the sim!le operation of referring their "ifferences to 'hat is calle" the tem!erament& sa*ing that the co!forters 'ere b nature .opti!ists1 an" 0ob b nature a .pessi!ist.1 2nd the %ould be 1uite comfortable+ as !eo!le can often be+ for some time at least+ b a#reein# to sa %hat is ob&iousl untrue. 8+#ii3!* e!phasis a""e"9 %hesterton a""s that& if the 'or" !eans an*thing& .then e!phaticall* 0ob is not a pessi!ist1C an" .0ob "oes not in an* sense look at life in a gloo!* 'a*.1 8+#ii9 (oreo#er& )f 'ishing to be happ* and bein# 1uite read to be ha!! constit te an opti!ist& 0ob is an opti!ist Dtho gh& a"!itte"l*& so!eti!es a .perple+e"& e+asperate"& o trage"& ins lte"1 opti!ist<3+#iiE. He 'ishes the ni#erse to F stif* itself& not because he %ishes it to be cau#ht out & b t beca se he reall* 'ishes it to be F stifie". He "e!an"s an e+planation fro! ,o"& b t he "oes not "o it at all in the spirit in 'hich Dthe (@ politician 0ohnE Ha!p"en D". 1743E !ight "e!an" an e+planation fro! Dthe 2nglish -ingE %harles ). He D0obE "oes it in the spirit in 'hich a 'ife !ight "e!an" an e+planation fro! her h sban" 'ho! she reall* respecte". ,e remonstrates %ith his Maker because he is pro " of his (aker. He e#en speaks of the Al!ight* as his ene!*& but he ne&er doubts& at the back of his !in"& that his ene!* has some kind of a case 'hich he "oes not n"erstan". )n a fine an" fa!o s blasphe!* D'hile 7

si! ltaneo sl* contendin# %ith+ and et trustin#& ,o"<E he sa*s; .Oh& that !ine a"#ersar* ha" 'ritten a book<1 D0ob 31;3BE )t ne#er reall* occ rs to hi! Dho'e#er&E that it D,o"4s /ookE co l" possibl* be a ba" book. He is an"ious to be con&inced& that is& he thinks ,o" co l" con#ince hi!....He shakes the pillars of the 'orl" an" strikes insanel at the hea#ensC he lashes the stars& but it is not to silence them' it is to make them s!eak . 8+#ii$+#iii3!* e!phasis a""e"9 The abi"ing& n!istakable ethos of 0ob hi!self is t'ofol"& an" it is e#en& %hesterton !ight sa*& an a"#ent ro s an" resilient para"o+; na!el*& to contend and to trust. 5hen ne+t speaking of .the official opti!ists& the %o!forters of 0ob&1 %hesterton sa*s that& on the contrar*& .the co!forters of 0ob !a* Dtr l*E be calle" pessi!ists rather than opti!ists1C for .All that the* reall* belie#e is not that ,o" is goo" b t that ,o" is so stron# that it is much more 3udicious to call Hi! goo".1 8+#iii3!* e!phasis a""e"9 5e can feel an" taste in this consi"ere" an" sincere .cens re1 %hesterton4s o'n gracio sl* restraine" iron*. Speaking& analogo sl*& of .the #ital error of the e#ol tionar* opti!ist1 8+i+9 of his o'n ti!e& %hesterton a""s an insight still ti!el* as 'ell as arg abl* ti!eless; The* Dlike 0ob4s s perficial %o!fortersE 'ill keep on Drather facilel* or glibl*E sa*ing that e#er*thing in the ni#erse fits into e#er*thing elseC as if there %ere an thin# comfortin# about a number of nast thin# all fittin# into each other. 5e shall see later ho' ,o" in the great cli!a+ of the DepicE poe! t rns this partic lar arg !ent altogether psi"e "o'n. 8+i+3!* e!phasis a""e"9 Anticipating his f rther reflections on ,o"4s so!e'hat abr pt entrance near the en" of the poe!& %hesterton sa*s that there& for s re& .is str ck the s ""en an" splen"i" note 'hich !akes the thing Dthe "i#ine entrance& as 'ell as the poe!E as great as it is.1 8+i+9 For& thro gho t the stor*& all the h !an characters& an" .especiall* 0ob&1 ha" been .asking > estions of ,o"&1 b t 'hen ,o" enters& He "oes not si!pl* ans'er those often profo n" > estions. Rather& /* a touch trul to be called ins!ired& 'hen ,o" enters& it is to ask a n !ber !ore > estions on His o'n acco nt. )n this drama of sce!ticism ,o" Hi!self takes p the rLle of sceptic. He "oes 'hat all the great #oices "efen"ing religion ha#e al'a*s "one. He "oes& for instance& 'hat Socrates "i". ,e turns rationalism a#ainst itself. He see!s to sa* that if it comes to askin# 1uestions+ ,e can ask some 1uestions 'hich 'ill fling "o'n an" flatten o t K

all concei#able > estioners. The poet b an e"1uisite intuition has !a"e ,o" ironicall accept a kin" of contro#ersial e> alit* 'ith His acc sers. He is 'illing to regar" it as if it 'ere a fair intellect al " el; .,ir" p no' th* loins like a !anC for ) 'ill "e!an" of thee& an" ans'er tho !e.1 D0ob 3H;3E The e#erlasting De#enE ado!ts an enormous and sardonic humilit . He is > ite 'illing to be prosec te". He onl* asks for the right 'hich e#er* prosec te" person possessesC ,e asks to be allo%ed to cross*e"amine the %itness for the prosec tion. An" He carries f rther the correctness of the legal parallel D i.e.& the legal !etho"E. For the first > estion& essentiall* speaking& 'hich He asks is the > estion an criminal accused b Job 'o l" be entitle" to ask. He asks 0ob 'ho he is. An" 0ob& being a man of candid intellect& takes a little ti!e to consi"er& an" co!es to the concl sion that he "oes not kno'. 8+i+$++3!* e!phasis a""e"9 5ith his irrepressibl* para"o+ical h !or& %hesterton f rther consi"ers .the speech of ,o"1 an" .the first great fact1 8++9 'e are properl* to notice abo t it< For& this .c l!ination of the in> ir*1 also is s ch that )t represents all h !an sceptics routed b the hi#her sce!ticism. )t is this !etho"& se" so!eti!es b* s pre!e an" so!eti!es b* !e"iocre !in"s& that has e#er since been the lo#ical %ea!on of the true m stic. Socrates& as ) ha#e sai"& se" it 'hen he sho'e" that if ou onl allo%ed him enou#h so!histr he co l" "estro* all the sophists. 0es s %hrist se" it 'hen He re!in"e" the Sa"" cees& 'ho co l" not ima#ine the nat re of !arriage in hea#en& that if it came to that the* ha" not reall* ima#ined the nat re of !arriage at all. )n the Df rtherE break p of %hristian theolog* in the eighteenth cent r*& / tler Dthe Anglican /ishop 0oseph / tler& ". 1KH2E se" it& 'hen he pointe" o t that rationalistic ar#uments could be used as much a#ainst &a#ue reli#ion as a#ainst doctrinal reli#ion& as ! ch a#ainst rationalist ethics as a#ainst Christian ethics. )t is the root and reason of the fact that !en 'ho ha#e religio s faith ha#e also philosophical "o bt& like %ar"inal Ae'!an& (r. DArth rE /alfo r& or (r. D5illia! H.E (allock. These Dlatter a thorsE are the s!all strea!s of the "eltaC the /ook of 0ob is the first great cataract that creates the ri#er De#en the ri#er of philosophical scepticis!E. 8++$++i3!* e!phasis a""e"9 5itho t sing the concept nor the na!e& .@*rrhonian Skepticis!&1 %hesterton ne#ertheless s ggests it !o"estl* as a 'a* to lea" to so!e h !ilit*& b* 'a* of being sceptical abo t *o r o'n scepticis!; )n "ealing 'ith the arro#ant asserter of doubt& it is not the right !etho" to tell hi! to stop "o bting. )t is rather the right !etho" to tell hi! to #o on doubtin#& to "o bt a little !ore& to doubt e&er da ne%er and %ider thin#s H

in the uni&erse+ until at last+ b some stran#e enli#htenment+ he ma be#in to doubt himself. 8++i3!* e!phasis a""e"9 After consi"ering that .first fact to ching the speech1 of ,o"& 'ho co!es in at the en"& .not to ans'er ri""les& b t to propo n" the!&1 %hesterton a""resses .the other great fact& 'hich taken together 'ith this one& !akes the 'hole 'ork religio s instea" of !erel* philosophical.1 8++i9 (oreo#er& it is another .fine inspiration1 an" .great s rprise 'hich !akes 0ob s ""enl* satisfie" 'ith the !ere presentation Db* ,o"E of so!ething i!penetrable.1 8++i9 )n"ee"& The enig!as of 0eho#ah see! "arker an" !ore "esolate than the enig!as of 0obC et 0ob 'as comfortless before the speech of 0eho#ah an" comforted after it. He has been tol" nothing& b t he feels the terrible and tin#lin# atmos!here of somethin# %hich is too #ood to be told . The ref sal Dor reticence=E of ,o" to e+plain His "esign is itself a b rning hint of His "esign. )he riddles of God are more satisf in# than the solutions of men . 8++ii3 !* e!phasis a""e"9 %hesterton no' has his thir" consi"eration 3 calle" also .the thir" fact1 3 to present to s& that it !a* she" !ore light as to the !eaning of the /ook of 0ob; Thir"l*& of course D<E& it is one of the s!lendid strokes that God rebukes alike the man %ho accused+ and the men Dthe .%o!forters1E %ho defended ,imC that He knocks "o'n pessi!ists an" opti!ists 'ith the sa!e ha!!er. An" it is in connection 'ith the mechanical and su!ercilious co!forters of 0ob that there occ rs the still dee!er and finer in&ersion of 'hich ) ha#e spoken....,o" 'ill !ake !an see things& if it is onl* against the black backgro n" of nonentit* Dnon$being& non$e+istence& nothingnessE....He DthenE unrolls before 0ob a lon# !anorama of created things....)he %hole is a sort of !salm or rha!sod of the sense of %onder Dthe ?atin .%irandu%&1 or the ,reek sense of .thau%u%a'ein1E. )he maker of all thin#s is astonished at all the thin#s ,e has ,imself made Das %hrist& the )ncarnate ,o" Hi!self& later e+presse" His o'n .%irandu%1 at the Faith of the Ro!an %ent rion<E. This 'e !a* call the thir" point. Job !uts forth a note of interro#ation' God ans%ers %ith a note of e"clamation. 8++ii$++iii3!* e!phasis a""e"9 As to a fo rth point he 'o l" !ake an" e!phasi:e& %hesterton to ches pon the epic poet4s n ances 'hich are also hints of hope an" Fo*; ?astl* Das a propose" fo rth factE& the poet has achie#e" in this speech Dof ,o"E& 'ith that nconscio s artistic acc rac* DalsoE fo n" in so !an* of the sim!ler e!ics& another an" ! ch !ore "elicate thing.... DHEe has contri#e" to 6

let fall here an" there in the !etaphors& in the parenthetical i!ager*& sudden and s!lendid su##estions that the secret of God is a bri#ht and not a sad one...like light seen for an instant thro gh the cracks of a close" "oor. )t 'o l" be "iffic lt to praise too highl*& in a !urel !oetical sense& the instincti#e e+actit "e an" ease 'ith 'hich these !ore opti!istic Dor tr l* .hope$f ll1E insin ations are let fall in other Dsterner or threateningE connections. For instance& 'here 0eho#ah& 'ith "e#astating sarcas!& asks 0ob 'here he 'as 'hen the fo n"ations of the 'orl" 'ere lai"...Dalso then stillE !entions the time %hen the sons of God shouted for 3o D0ob 3H;4$KE....Dan" He hints& or i!plies& thatE the* ! st ha#e ha" so!ething to sho t abo t....Or& again& 'hen ,o" is speaking of sno' an" hail M& He speaks of the! as a treasur that ,e has laid u! a#ainst the da of battle 3 a hint of so!e h ge Ar!age""on in %hich e&il shall be at last o&erthro%n. 8++ii$++i#3!* e!phasis a""e"9 Thro gho t the /ook of 0ob as %hesterton perspicacio sl* felt the!& hints of hope 'ere to be fo n" .breaking thro gh DtheE agnosticis! like fier* gol" ro n" the e"ges of a black clo ".1 8++i#$++#9 @reparing s also& in 1617& for his later 'or"s abo t the ne' 1616 translation of the Ol" French 2pic& The !ong of "oland& %hesterton has so!e f rther$ill !inating an" polite instr ction to i!part& s ggesting thereb* e#en that ,o" is a s btle artist Hi!self; Those 'ho look s perficiall* Dor s percilio sl*<E at the barbarian origin of the epic Dthe /ook of 0obE !a* think it fancif l to rea" so ! ch artistic significance into its cas al si!iles or acci"ental phrases. / t no one 'ho is 'ell ac> ainte" 'ith great e+a!ples of se!i$barbaric poetr*& as in the Song of Rolan"& or the ol" balla"s& 'ill fall into this !istake. Ao one 'ho kno's 'hat pri!iti#e poetr* is& can fail to reali:e that 'hile its conscio s for! is si!ple so!e of its finer effects are s btle. The )lia" contri#es to e+press the i"ea that Hector Dthe TroFan HeroE an" Sarpe"on Dthe ?*cian 5arrior& an" a TroFan All*E ha#e a certain tone or tint of chi&alrous resi#nation & not bitter eno gh to be calle" pessi!is! an" not Fo#ial eno gh to be calle" opti!is!C Ho!er co l" ne#er ha#e sai" this in elaborate 'or"s. / t so!eho' he contri#es to sa* it in sim!le 'or"s. )he 4on# of Roland contri&es to e"!ress the idea that Christianit im!oses u!on its heroes a !arado"5 a !arado" of #reat humilit in the matter of their sins combined %ith #reat ferocit in the matter of their ideas. )n the sa!e 'a* the /ook of 0ob ! st be cre"ite" 'ith !an* s btle effects....An" of these b* far the most im!ortant re!ains e&en et to be state". 8++#3!* e!phasis a""e"9 Ao' as he approaches his e#ocati#e concl sion %hesterton speaks gracio sl* also of the 0e's; ) "o not kno'& an" ) "o bt 'hether e#en the scholars kno'& if the /ook of 0ob 10

ha" a #reat effect or had an effect pon the after "e#elop!ent of 0e'ish tho ght. / t if it "i" ha#e an effect it ma ha#e sa#e" the! fro! an enor!o s collapse an" "eca*. Here in this /ook Dof 0obE the 1uestion is reall asked %hether God in&ariabl !unishes &ice %ith terrestrial !unishment and re%ards &irtue %ith terrestrial !ros!erit . 0f the 0e's ha" ans'ere" that > estion 'rongl* the* mi#ht ha#e lost all their after infl ence in h !an histor*. )he mi#ht ha&e sunk e&en do%n to the le&el of modern %ell educated societ . For 'hen once people ha#e beg n to belie#e that prosperit* is the re'ar" of #irt e their ne"t calamit is ob#io s. )f prosperit* is regar"e" as the re%ard of #irt e it 'ill be regar"e" as the s m!tom of #irt e. (en 'ill lea#e off the hea& task of !aking goo" !en s ccessf l. The* 'ill a"opt the easier task of !aking o r s ccessf l !en goo". This& 'hich has happene" thro gho t !o"ern co!!erce Dhence financeE an" Fo rnalis!& is the lti!ate DsicE Ae!esis of the %icked o!timism of the comforters of Job . )f the 0e's could be sa#e" fro! it& the book of 0ob sa#e" the!. 8++#$++#i3!* e!phasis a""e"9 Ho' "eft an" co rteo s %hesterton is in his o'n sincere ses of the s bF ncti#e !oo". )n"ee"& as this rbane 'itness a""s; The /ook of 0ob is chiefl* re!arkable& as ) ha#e insiste" thro gho t& for the fact that it "oes not en" in a 'a* that is con#entionall* satisf*ing. 0ob is not tol" that his !isfort nes 'ere " e to his sins or a part of an* plan for his i!pro#e!ent. / t in the prolog e 'e DalsoE see 0ob tor!ente" not beca se he 'as the 'orst of !en& b t beca se he 'as the best. 0t is the lesson of the %hole %ork that man is most comforted b !arado"es . 8++#i$++#ii3!* e!phasis a""e"9 Has %hesterton nothing !ore to sa* or hint at3after this a""itionall* s rprising last s !!ar* sentence= Nes& he no' goes e#en f rther& lea"ing s no' into another nfatho!able an" irre" cible !*ster*C an" he also bene#olentl* ass !es that his 1617 a "ience 'ill rea"il* grasp his biblical an" theological all sions& to incl "e an n"erstan"ing of /iblical T*polog* an" the F lfilling Ae' Testa!ent Antit*pes& a pre!ise 'hich is& regrettabl*& not likel* to hol" to"a*; Here is the &er darkest and stran#est of the !arado"es C and it is b* all h !an testi!on* the most reassurin#. ) nee" not s ggest 'hat a high an" strange histor* a'aite" this !arado" of the best man in the %orst fortune . ) nee" not sa* that in the freest an" !ost philosophical sense there is one Ol" 11

Testa!ent fig re 'ho is trul a t !e Das 'o l" be "iscerne" in the scholarl* n"erstan"ing of @rophetic T*polog*EC or D) nee" notE sa* 'hat is !re*fi#ured in the %ounds of Job. 8++#ii3!* e!phasis a""e"9 5e !a* no'& ho'e#er& at least ! ch better be able to conte!plate 'ith lo#e the 5o n"s an" the 5hole @assion of the ?or". The "eftl* gracio s an" e#ocati#el* i!plicit 'or"s of ,.-. %hesterton !ake s& therefore& e#en !ore gratef l to hi!& once again. For& 'e !a* still not forget the first ti!e 'e ne+pecte"l* rea" the si!ple 'or"s of "epth he once se" to con#e* the !*ster* of s ffering an" the !*ster* of libert*; 5ill !a"e the 'orl"C 5ill 'o n"e" the 'orl"C the sa!e Di#ine 5ill ga#e to the 'orl" for the secon" ti!e its chanceC the sa!e h !an 5ill can for the last ti!e !ake its choice. 7 C(62 Three *ears after ,.-. %hesterton4s 1617 )ntro" ction to the /ook of 0ob& he p blishe" his fo r$page )ntro" ction to a ne' translation b* %aptain %.-. Scott (oncrieff of The !ong of "oland.K Rea"ing these 'or"s 'ritten shortl* after the 161H Ar!istice 'ill fittingl* co!ple!ent& ) belie#e& %hesterton4s earlier treat!ent of the /ook of 0ob& especiall* in his sense of !*ster* an" para"o+& an" his accent on the realit* of loss an" the hea#* b r"ens of " t*. An" the 'o n"s of Rolan" an" of %harle!agne 'ill re!in" s of the 'o n"s of 0ob. %hesterton ne+pecte"l* begins his ne' )ntro" ction to the !ong of "oland 'ith a #i#i" i!age of a Fongle rH an" soon co!es to consi"er his para"o+ical actions& especiall* in the conte+t of a li#e
7 ,.-. %hesterton& The Co%%on Man 8Ae' Nork; Shee" an" 5ar"& 16B09& p. 237. This passage co!es fro! his essa* entitle" .The O tline of ?ibert*&1 'hich to be fo n" in its entiret* on p. 233$23K. The gracio s& char!ing rest of the paragraph 'hich begins 'ith the abo#e$> ote" 'or"s is& as follo's; .That is the real o tstan"ing pec liarit*& or eccentricit*& of the pec liar sect calle" Ro!an %atholics. An" if an*one obFects to !* li!iting so large a conception to Ro!an %atholics& ) 'illingl* agree that there are !an* 'ho #al e it so ! ch that the* o ght to be Ro!an %atholics. / t if an*one sa*s that it is not in fact an" histor* bo n" p 'ith the Faith of Ro!an %atholicis!& it is eno gh to refer hi! to the histor* an" the facts.1 8p. 2379 K %harles Scott (oncrieff& The !ong of "oland: #one into nglish( in the )riginal Measure 8?on"on; %hap!an O Hall& ?TD.& 162093!econd I%$ression: &irst *rinted +o,e%ber( -.-./"e$rinted 0in -.123 4ith 5lterations . ,.-. %hesterton4s )ntro" ction is to be fo n" on pp. i+$+ii. %aptain (oncrieff4s final 'ork is "e"icate" to his three inti!ate an" collaborating frien"s an" co!batant co!ra"es 'ho fell in 5orl" 5ar ); @hilip /ainbri"geC 5ilfre" O'enC an" )an (acken:ie. ,.-. %hesterton4s )ntro" ction !akes an n"erstate" all sion to others 'ho also fell an" "ie" in the 5ar& to incl "e his o'n ol"er brother& %ecil. H /roa"l* speaking& a .Fongle r1 8Ol" French .Fogleor19 is a kin" of professional stor*teller& or bar"& 'ho recites literar* 'orksC an" he is also so!eti!es& not onl* a co rt poet& b t e#en an itinerant !e"ie#al entertainer proficient in a #ariet* of engaging things; F ggling& acrobatics& ! sic& an" the oral rea"ing of poetr*.

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battle; (ost of s re!e!ber rea"ing& in the school histories of o r chil"hoo"& that at the /attle of Hastings Din 1077& " ring the initial Aor!an )n#asionE& Taillefer the 0ongle r 'ent in front of the .orman 2rm thro%in# his s%ord in the air and sin#in# the 4on# of Roland ....The Fongle r ! st at least ha#e selecte" e+tracts of fa#orite passages& or the battle 'o l" ha#e been n" l* "ela*e" D<E. / t the tale has the sa!e !oral as the translation Dof .the noble an" r gge" epic1EC since both ha#e the sa!e inspiration. The #al e of the tale 'as that it "i" s ggest to the chil"ish !in"& throu#h all the deadenin# effects of distance and indifference& that a !an "oes not !ake such a #esture %ith a s%ord nless he feels so!ething& an" that a man does not sin# unless he has somethin# to sin# about....)n short& the #al e of the tale 'as that it hinted that there is a heart in histor + e&en remote histor .....This Dinner!ost sense of .chi#alr*&1 fittingl* .sp rre" on b* #assalage1E is a t*pe of the tr ths that historical literat re Dlike the Song of Rolan"E o ght to !ake s feel....5e !ight DalsoE ha#e learne"& for instance& 'hat a 0ongle r 'asC an" realise" that this one Dat the /attle of HastingsE !a* ha#e ha" feelings as "eep or fantastic as the 0ongle r DlaterE celebrate" in the t'elfth cent r* poe!& %ho died #loriousl of dancin# and doin# somersaults before the ima#e of (ur -ad C that he 'as of the trade taken as a t !e b the m stical mirth of 4t. 7rancis& 'ho calle" his !onks the 0 gglers of ,o". A !an ! st rea" at least a little of the conte!porar* 'ork itself& before he thus finds the human heart inside the D#assal4sE ar!o r an" the !onastic go'nC the !en 'ho 'rite the philosoph* of histor* sel"o! gi#e s the philosoph*& still less the reli#ion& of the historical characters. An" the final e+a!ple of this Dprinciple& or factE is so!ething 'hich is also illustrated b the obscure minstrel DTailleferE 'ho thre' p his s'or" as he sang the Song of Rolan" Dabo t the heroic chief of %harle!agne4s o'n elite Rearg ar" trappe" in the @*renees of SpainE& as %ell as b the 4on# of Roland itself....For these Dinco!plete historiansE it is 'ell to note& in the real Aor!an stor* Dor& in .the Aor!an a"#ent re1E& that the &er bard in front of their battle line %as shoutin# Depic poetic passages fro!E the #lorification of failure. 0t testifies to a truth in the &er heart of Christendom & that e&en the co rt poet of 5illia! the %on> eror 'as celebratin# Roland the con1uered. 8i+& +i3!* e!phasis a""e"9 ?ooking poignantl* back to the final scene of Rolan"4s isolation an" heroic "eath& %hesterton then presents s 'ith his final elegiac paragraph 3 'hich& in the en"& brings s back to the recent past an" to an e#ocati#e sense of loss& as 'ell as of the nen"ing co!bat for the goo". For& as the /ook of 0ob has also earlier tol" s; . Militia est ,ita ho%inis su$er terra%.1 80ob K;193.5arfare 8chi#alr*9 is the life of !an pon the earth.1 Saint /ernar" of %lair#a +& #e 6aude +o,ae Militiae 8)n @raise of the Ae' %hi#alr*9< )n @raise of the Ae' -nighthoo" of %hrist 8circa 112H$11319& that is. 13

First speaking of the interior an" e+terior 'o n"s of Rolan" an" of %harle!agne in the concl sion of the !ong of "oland& %hesterton tests s& too& an" trenchantl* sa*s; That high note of forlorn hope& of a host at ba* an" a battle against the o""s 'itho t en"& is the note on %hich the #reat 7rench e!ic ends . ) kno' nothing !ore !o#ing in poetr* Dnot e#en the book of 0obE than that strange an" ne+pecte" en"ingC that splen"i"l* inconcl si#e concl sion. %harle!agne the %hristian e!peror has at last establishe" his e!pire in > ietC has "one F stice al!ost in the !anner of a "a* of F "g!ent& an" sleeps as it 'ere pon his throne 'ith a peace al!ost like that of @ara"ise. An" there appears to hi! the angel of ,o" cr*ing alo " that his D!artialE ar!s are nee"e" in a ne' an" "istant lan"& an" that he ! st take p again the en"less !arch of his "a*s. An" the great king Drecalling 0ob hi!selfE tears his long 'hite bear" an" cries o t against his restless life. The poe! en"s& as it 'ere 'ith a #ision an" #ista of 'ars against the barbariansC and the &ision is true. 7or that %ar is ne&er ended+ %hich defends the sanit of the %orld a#ainst all the stark anarchies and rendin# ne#ations %hich ra#e a#ainst it for e#er. That 'ar is ne#er finishe" in this 'orl"C and the #rass has hardl #ro%n on the #ra&es of our o%n friends %ho fell in it. 8+ii3!* e!phasis a""e"9

$$Finis$$

P 2013 Robert D. Hickson

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