Now out of this speech of Job; It may be that my sons have sinned, or it may be that my self have sinned, which I may properly and rightly term the jealousy of a holy man; wherein Job showeth in what fear he stood of his sons so long as their feasts lasted, even as a merchant doth till his ship come home. First, we may see this, that the best things may soon be corrupted, by the wickedness of men, such is our nature ever since Adam chose evil before good, good hath bin turned into evil, Gen. 3. Notwithstanding, that our intent and meaning be good. As for example, when an husband loveth his wife, or a father loveth his children, these are good & holy, and commendable things, yet there is no man can be found that doth love his wife, or his children with that evenness (as I may call it) or just proportion, but that there is some odds in the balance when his affection is weighed, which may crave pardon like the feasts of Jobs children. If this odds be in all our measures, then it is no strange case, that Job thought with himself, that his children might offend God in the thing that of it self of fendeth not. Therefore it is good for a man so ⟨p. 1051⟩long as he liveth in this world, to remember still that he is among temptations, and sits at a feast like Jobs children, where he may soon take too much. If the fish did know the hook, & the bird had seen the net, though they have but the understanding of fishes and birds, yet they would let the hook alone, and fly over the net, and let the fouler whistle to himself: so we must look upon our riches, as we look upon snares, and behold our meats, as we behold baits, & handle our pleasure as we handle Bees, that is, pick out the sting, before we take the honey, for in Gods gifts Satan hath hid his snares, and made Gods benefits his baits, that as Adam said, The woman which thou hast given me, tempted me to sin, so they may say, the riches or the honours, or the liberty, or the wife, or the servants, or the children, or the meats, or the wit, or the beauty which thou hast given me, tempted me to sin, so many sins lie in wait for us, about our meats and drinks, & beds, & ways, that unless we watch, pray, and look about us at every time, it may be, as Job saith, that we may sin in our doings, or in our sayings, or at least in our hearts, as he thought of his sons.
Now out of this speech of Iob; It may bee that my sonnes haue sinned, or it may bee that my selfe haue sinned, which I may properly and rightly terme the ielousie of a holy man; wherein Iob sheweth in what feare he stoode of his sonnes so long as their feasts lasted, euen as a merchaunt doth till his shippe come home. First, wee may see this, that the best thinges may soone be corrupted, by the wickednesse of men, such is our nature euer since Adam chose euil before good, good hath bin turned into euill, Gen. 3. Notwithstanding, that our intent and meaning be good. As for example, when an husband loueth his wife, or a father loueth his children, these are good & holy, and commendable things, yet there is no man can be found that doth loue his wife, or his children with that euennesse (as I may call it) or iust proportion, but that there is some oddes in the ballance when his affectiō is weighed, which may craue pardon like the feasts of Iobs children. If this oddes be in all our measures, then it is no strange case, that Iob thought with himselfe, that his children might offend God in the thing that of it selfe of fendeth not. Therefore it is good for a man so ⟨p. 1051⟩long as he liueth in this world, to remember stil that he is among temptations, and sits at a feast like Iobs children, where he may soon take too much. If the fish did know the hook, & the bird had seen the net, though they haue but the vnderstanding of fishes and birds, yet they would let the hooke alone, and flie ouer the net, and let the fouler whistle to himselfe: so we must looke vpon our riches, as we look vpon snares, and behold our meats, as we behold baites, & handle our pleasure as we handle Bees, that is, pick out the sting, before we take the honie, for in Gods giftes Sathan hath hid his snares, and made Gods benefites his baits, that as Adam said, The womā which thou hast giuen me, tempted me to sin, so they may say, the riches or the honours, or the liberty, or the wife, or the seruants, or the children, or the meates, or the wit, or the beauty which thou hast giuen me, tempted me to sinne, so many sinnes lie in wait for vs, about our meats and drinks, & beds, & waies, that vnles we watch, pray, and looke about vs at euery time, it may be, as Iob sayth, that we may sinne in our doings, or in our sayings, or at least in our hearts, as he thought of his sons.
