Sermons upon the Book of Job

Behold then how God would assure us of his succour, and yet we cannot find in our harts to trust unto it. On the contrary part, when he doeth us good, we imagine that he is weary to be overcloyed by us, and that he would not have us too trouble him any more, or rather we forget his relieving of us, so as we put no trust in him as he would that we should do. We see then how we have need to mind well this lesson, that is to wit, that God will deliver us §60out of six troubles: as if it had been said, we must not trust in God, only for a day or two, or only for one push: but forasmuch as our life is full of many miseries, so as we be no sooner cropen out of one adversity, but there cometh another fresh in the neck of it, and so we be tormented with miseries out of number: therefore inasmuch as we have a continual battle, and should be overthrown incontinently if God were not at hand to help us: we must believe it for a certainty, that he will not fail us. Some expound this text more precisely, as though it were said, that God will deliver us from miseries all the time of our life, and in the end make us to pass out of all, by taking us out of this world. For like as the world was made in six days: so also mans life is willingly comprehended in that number, and then cometh rest when God strippeth us out of this mortal body: for ye see how he then maketh an end of all our labours, griefs, and battles. But let it suffice us to have the plain meaning of this text: which is, that although we be tossed with many miseries during this present life: God will continually make us way out of them, and bring us to a good haven. To be short, mention is made here of seven corrections after the common manner of the holy Scripture: for this said number of Seven importeth a great, and as it were an infinite quantity. And here ye see why it is said in the Proverbs, That the righteous man falleth seven times a day and riseth again. True it is that some men understand this to be meant of sinning: but Solomon speaketh only of the mischances that we fall into. For we be beaten with many rods, one while there cometh some disease, and an other time some other adversity: now some man shall trouble us, and an one another shall do us some wrong.

Behold then how God would assure vs of his succoure, and yet we cannot find in our harts to trust vnto it. On the contrary parte, when he doeth vs good, we imagin that he is werie to bee ouercloyed by vs, and that hee woulde not haue vs too trouble him any more, or rather wee forget his releeuing of vs, so as we put no trust in him as hee would that wee should do. VVe see then how we haue neede to mynde well this lesson, that is to witte, that God will deliuer vs