Sermons upon the Book of Job

True it is that he will not succour us at every pinch, to exempt us utterly from all misery: but yet will he succour us in due season, and that shall be enough for us, although we be driven to an afterdeale, and be not aided by him so soon as our desire would crave it. For our desires are as boiling as may be, and God delayeth and letteth us alone too try our patience. But in the mean season (as I have said) let that suffice us which God hath declared unto us: namely that we shall §30not be disappointed of his help, so we tarry his leisure quietly, till he see it good to deliver us. Thus ye see what we have to bear in mind. And in conclusion, whensoever God shall have made us to wade out of miseries, so as he suffereth us not to enter into them any more, but delivereth us out of them once for all: It is as much to say, as God will continually increase his goodness towards us, and that if we have felt his help six times (that is to say many a time and often) in the end he will show himself yet more favourable towards us, and his §40meaning is, not only to reach us his hand at all times, to make us way out of the miseries wherein we be: but also will take us into his eternal rest, and make an end of all the troubles wherewith we are encompassed as now. So then, all the benefits that God bestoweth upon us in this present life, do guide us unto this one mark: that is to wit, that in the end our salvation shall be perfect and full. God as now giveth us a little taste of it: but let us tarry till he have brought things to their true perfection, and then shall we perceive him to be our Saviour. Lo how §50the benefits which we receive in this world, ought to give us a more large and high expectation of Gods goodness, the which is showed now in part, and not all wholly. But after he hath said so, he addeth, That we shall be delivered in the time of dearth. Some are of opinion, that Eliphas declareth here the seven afflictions whereof he hath spoken. But this so curious exposition, hath no substantialness for a man to rest fully upon. Therefore let us follow the natural sense such as it is: that is too wit, that according as the miseries §60are infinite wherewith God scourgeth us in this world:

True it is that hee will not succour vs at euerie pinche, to exempt vs vtterly from all myserie: but yet will he succour vs in due season, and that shall bee inough for vs, althoughe wee bee driuen to an afterdeale, and bee not ayded by him so soone as our desire would craue it. For oure desires are as boyling as may bee, and God delayeth and letteth vs alone too trie our pacience. But in the meane season (as I haue sayde) let that suffize vs which God hath declared vnto vs: namely that wee shall