Sermons upon the Book of Job

Therefore let us boldly have our recourse unto him, not only in one kind of adversity, but in as many as shall come upon us, assuring our selves that his power shall extend even unto all the deaths that can threaten us, according as it is said, that he not only hath a way too deliver us from death, but also hath ways which are incomprehensible to us. When we be afflicted on the one side, God will on the other side make us feel that we be helped. When we be locked up so as there seemeth no way for us to scape, God will find one for us, yea after his own fashion, that is too say, above the understanding and opinion of the flesh. But by the way we be here new again warned too prepare ourselves to patience, not only for some one kind of adversity, but for all that ever can betide us, according as we see how men are borne too divers afflictions. And I say this, because that such as are strong enough too endure some one adversity, will immediately be overcome of some other temptation. As for example, a man shall find some that can endure poverty and yet one sickness will carry them away in such sort, as they shall fret against God and there shall be no mean ⟨p. 110⟩to appease them. Other some can well away with sickness, or with this thing or that: but if a man do them any wrong or injury, or if a man go about too deface them, in that case they have lost all their patience. Then may there now and then be an appearance of virtue in a man, as in respect of some one kind of temptation: but in some other he shall fail. For this cause it behoveth us too mark well what is contained in this strain: namely that God will not commend a man for showing himself stout in some one point, if he be cold and §10incontinently quailed in the rest. But our patience must reach further: that is too wit, we must yield our selves peaceably in all that ever God shall send us. For when we be exhorted too be patient, God setteth not before our eyes one misery, or two, or three: but he sayeth that every of us must take up his cross or fardel. And what manner fardel must this be? we must not make our own packet, to say, I will have such a measure or such a portion: but it belongeth to God too give us our burden.

Therefore lette vs boldely haue our recourse vnto him, not onely in one kynde of aduersitie, but in as many as shall come vpon vs, assuring our selues that hys power shall extende euen vntoo all the deathes that can threaten vs, according as it is sayde, that he not only hath a way too deliuer vs from deathe, but also hath wayes which are incomprehensible to vs. VVhen wee bee afflicted on the one side, God will on thother side make vs feele that wee bee helped. VVhen wee bee locked vp so as there seemeth no way for vs to scape, God will finde one for vs, yea after his owne fashion, that is too saye, aboue the vnderstanding and opinion of the fleshe. But by the way wee bee heere new againe warned too prepare ourselues to pacience, not onely for some one kind of aduersitie, but for all that euer can betyde vs, according as wee see howe menne are borne too diuers afflictions. And I say this, bycause that suche as are strong inough too indure some one aduersitie, will immediatly bee ouercome of some other temptation. As for example, a man shall finde some that can indure pouertie and yet one sickenesse will carie them away in suche sorte, as they shall frette against God and there shall be no meane