It is therefore no good inference which many make, that God is angry with them, and loveth them not, that he is not their Father,1 nor they his children, because he suffereth them to be tempted. This was the inference which the friends of Job made of his trials and temptations. Butf Gods own censure of their disputation showeth the non-consequence thereof. The truth is, that they who find themselves wholly freed from temptations have most cause to doubt of Gods fatherly love to them, and care over them. The Apostle pronounceth such to be gbastards, and not sons. If we well consider the estate of the Church,4 we may soon find that such as are spiritual are much more fiercely assaulted then such as are carnal. The more sure ⟨p. 243⟩Satan is of any, the more quiet, and secure he suffers them to be. A Lyon runneth and roareth after that prey which is out of his clutches: but that which he hath brought into his den, and is sure of, he can suffer to be still, and quiet, till he mean to devour it. So Satan.h While a strong man armed keepeth his Palace, the things which he hath, are in peace. Woe to them that are in such peace within Satan that strong mans palace.
It is therefore no good inference which many make, that God is angry with them, and loueth them not, that hee is not their Father,1 nor they his children, because hee suffereth them to be tempted. This was the inference which the friends of Iob made of his trialls and temptations. Butf Gods owne censure of their disputation sheweth the non-consequence thereof. The truth is, that they who finde themselues wholy freed from temptations haue most cause to doubt of Gods fatherly loue to them, and care ouer them. The Apostle pronounceth such to be gbastards, and not sons. If wee well consider the estate of the Church,4 we may soone finde that such as are spirituall are much more feircely assaulted then such as are carnall. The more sure ⟨p. 243⟩Satan is of any, the more quiet, and secure he suffers them to be. A Lyon runneth and roareth after that prey which is out of his clutches: but that which he hath brought into his den, and is sure of, he can suffer to be still, and quiet, till he meane to deuoure it. So Satan.h While a strong man armed keepeth his Palace, the things which he hath, are in peace. Woe to them that are in such peace within Satan that strong mans palace.
- 1God is not angry with all that are tempted.
- fJob. 42. 7.Iob. 42. 7.
- gHeb. 12. 8.
- 4Si inagnum illud ecclesiae corpus considerare libet, facile satis aduertimus, longè acrius impugnari spiritual, viros ipsius ecclesiae, quam carnales. Bern in Psal. 91. Serm 7.Si inagnum illud ecclesiae corpus considerare libet, facile satis aduertimus, longè acrius impugnari spirituale, viros ipsius ecclesiae, quam carnales. Bern in Psal. 91. Serm 7.
- hLuk. 11. 21. [Greek or Hebrew].Luk. 11. 21. 〈non-Latin alphabet〉.
