Sermons upon the Book of Job

And he advertiseth us, that when §20we shall have been persecuted after one fashion, we must be fain too enter into a new and far divers battle. Therefore we must prepare our selves thereunto. And here ye see also why afflictions are termed, A cup or drinking glass. For like as when a Physician giveth his patient such quantity as he thinketh good, the patient must be fain to receive the drink in such portion as the Physician shall have appointed: or like as a father in cherishing his children, cutteth every of them their pittance, and giveth them to eat and drink after §30his own pleasure: even so must God dispose of us, and have the authority over us too charge us, and too give us such portion of miseries as he shall think good. Seeing the case standeth so, let us remember the doctrine that is set down here, how God will deliver us from famine in the time of dearth, that he will save us from the sword in the time of war, and that he will defend us from wild beasts: as if it were said, that men shall not only be assailed, some by famine, some by war, some by pestilence, and othersome by annoyances §40of wild beasts: but also that as well the one as the other shall feel, that they may have as many annoyances, as we see there are means too trouble us, and that they are as many enemies near about us, and that if our God have not his hand stretched out continually too have pity upon us and too deliver us, we see a hundred thousand deaths, which threaten us and encompass us on all sides. Ye see then how it standeth every one of us on hand, too think well upon the dangers wherein he is, and too know how miserable §50our state is, too the end he may be the more earnest in calling upon God. And herewithall let us also be ready to endure patiently, not only some one kind of adversity, but also an infinite number of them, according as it shall please God to scourge every of us. For it is not said, that God contenteth himself with exercising of us after some one sort: but that we must be fain too pass through fire and water: that is too say, we shall not have one sort of affliction alone: but as soon as we be passed out of one adversity, we must straight §60ways enter into an other. Ye see in effect what is signified unto us here.