Sermons upon the Book of Job

so must our hope stretch out it self far and wide, too the end we may continually wait for the said deliverance which he hath promised us, what soever kind of miseries we endure. Ye see why here is mention made of dearth, of war, of wild beasts, of storms and tempests, of fire, and of other calamities, according as we see how our poor life is besieged with so many sorts of adversities as nothing can be more. The thing then that is declared to us in effect, is that God not only draweth us out of dearth, nor only delivereth us from war: but also that in what trouble soever we be, we shall find that he hath the issue of it in his hand, according as it is said that he hath the issues [or outgoings] of death in his hand. And this is a right necessary point. For we see what the superstition of men is: that is too wit, that they distribute God's offices unto others, because that (too their seeming) they could not find remedy for all inconveniences, if they should resort all too one place. Here ye see why the Papists make one Saint or two, or three, or four too have the charge of Agues, another too have the keeping of the fruits of the earth, and a third too have rule of such a disease. And why is it? for they imagine that if they should resort unto God when they have the ague, or if they should come to him for help when they have the dropsy: he were not able too intend too so many things at once, and therefore it were better that each several office were committed too a several Saint, or else to two or three of them, and so consequently that the like should be done too this Saint and that Saint. Behold how men tear Gods majesty in pieces by their devilish superstitions, when they rob him after that sort of his operation, and put it over too his creatures. Also let us mark well this doctrine, wherein it is declared unto us, that if God keep us from the plague, he will also keep us from the sword, so as men need not too go distribute his office to this man or that: for let us assure ourselves that he will be our Saviour, not only in part, but also throughout in all things.

so muste our hope stretch out it selfe farre and wide, too the ende wee maye continually wayte for the sayde deliuerance whiche he hath promised vs, what soeuer kynde of miseries wee indure. Yee see why heere is mention made of dearth, of warre, of wilde beastes, of stormes and tempestes, of fyre, and of other calamities, accordyng as wee see how our poore lyfe is besieged with so many sortes of aduersities as nothing can bee more. The thing then that is declared to vs in effect, is that God not only draweth vs out of dearth, nor onely deliuereth vs from warre: but also that in what trouble soeuer wee bee, we shall fynde that hee hath the issue of it in his hande, according as it is sayde that hee hath the issues [or outgoings] of deathe in hys hande. And thys is a right necessarie poynte. For wee see what the superstition of menne is: that is too witte, that they distribute Goddes offices vntoo others, bycause that (too their seeming) they coulde not fynde remedie for all inconueniences, if they shoulde resorte all too one place. Heere yee see why the Papists make one Sainct or twoo, or three, or fower too haue the charge of Agues, another too haue the keeping of the fruites of the earth, and a thirde too haue rule of suche a disease. And why is it? for they imagine that if they shoulde resorte vntoo God when they haue the ague, or if they shoulde come to hym for helpe when they haue the dropsie: he were not able too intende too so many things at once, and therefore it were better that eche seuerall office were committed too a seuerall Sainct, or els to two or three of them, and so consequently that the lyke shoulde bee done too this Sainct and that Sainct. Behold how men teare Gods maiestie in pieces by their diuelish superstitions, when they robbe him after that sorte of his operation, and put it ouer too his creatures. Also lette vs marke well thys doctrine, wherein it is declared vnto vs, that if God keepe vs from the plague, he will also keepe vs from the swoorde, so as men neede not too go distribute hys office to thys man or that: for lette vs assure ourselues that he will be our Sauiour, not onely in parte, but also throughout in all things.