Sermons upon the Book of Job

But it is said immediately, That we shall be in league with the stones and with the wild beasts. Whereby Eliphas meaneth, that the things which are wont too annoy and too trouble men, (such as the stones of the field and the wild beasts are) shall not disquiet us. And how shall not the stones of the field trouble us? Neither in walking, nor in tilling the ground. For we know that the tilling of a ground is the more painful, if it be stony, and that it is the more laboursome for a poor man where his plough shall be oftentimes in danger of breaking, if he turn not away the stones. Lo wherefore our Lord telleth us that the stones shall not hurt our walking nor our labouring in the fields: our walking (I say) to have any unhappy stumbling plot. Also he addeth the beasts of the earth: for we see that the beasts are against us. True it is that the beasts ought of their nature too obey us, because God hath given man dominion over all his creatures, and specially because he hath created the beasts too the end they should be subject unto men, and acknowledge man as the Prince that reigneth here beneath according as God hath ordained. But yet not withstanding, now are the beasts fain to rise up against us And that is, because we have not done homage too God in respect of the sovereign Lordship which he hath over all creatures, and whereof he hath made us partakers. And like as if a man holding a fee of a Prince, and being his liege man had committed some offence, as of treason or rebellion, the goods which he hath shall be escheated: Even so dealeth our Lord. For, for our unthankfulness sake he hath been fain to bereave us of the goods that he had put into our hands, in so much that he hath armed the wild beasts which ought to yield us full obedience, and he raiseth them up daily against us. Behold whereof cometh the contrariety, and as it were the enmity that is between men and beasts. But here it is said that we shall be in league with the beasts: that is to say, that God will restrain the rage that is in beasts, so as they shall have no desire to do us harm. Truly we see that God hath not as yet utterly bereft us of the dominion which he gave us in Adam. For although that Horses and Bulls also be beasts full of fierceness, so as it seemeth that they should overmaster men:

But it is sayde immediatly, That wee shall bee in league with the stones and with the wilde beastes. VVhereby Eliphas meeneth, that the things whiche are woonte too anoy and too trouble menne, (suche as the stones of the fielde and the wilde beastes are) shall not disquiet vs. And howe shall not the stones of the fielde trouble vs? Nother in walking, nor in tilling the ground. For wee knowe that the tilling of a grounde is the more painefull, if it bee stonie, and that it is the more laboursome for a poore man where his plough shall bee oftentimes in daunger of breaking, if hee turne not away the stones. Lo wherefore our Lord telleth vs that the stones shall not hurte oure walking nor our labouring in the fieldes: our walking (I say) to haue any vnhappie stumblingplot. Also he addeth the beastes of the earthe: for wee see that the beasts are against vs. True it is that the beastes ought of their nature too obey vs, bycause God hath giuen man dominion ouer all his creatures, and specially bycause hee hath created the beastes too the ende they shoulde bee subiect vnto menne, and acknowledge man as the Prince that reigneth heere beneath according as God hath ordeyned. But yet not withstanding, now are the beastes fayne to rise vp against vs And that is, bicause wee haue not done homage too God in respect of the souerayne Lordship which hee hath ouer all creatures, and whereof he hath made vs partakers. And lyke as if a man holding a fee of a Prince, and beeing his leege man had committed some offence, as of treason or rebellion, the goodes whiche hee hath shall be excheated: Euen so dealeth our Lorde. For, for our vnthankfulnesse sake hee hath bene fayne to bereeue vs of the goodes that hee had put into our handes, in so much that hee hath armed the wylde beastes which ought to yeeld vs ful obedience, and he rayseth them vp dayly against vs. Behold wherof commeth the contrarietie, and as it were the enmitie that is betweene men and beastes. But heere it is sayde that we shall be in league with the beastes: that is to saye, that God will restrayne the rage that is in beastes, so as they shall haue no desire to do vs harme. Truely wee see that God hath not as yet vtterly bereft vs of the dominion whych he gaue vs in Adam. For although that Horses and Bulles also bee beastes full of fiercenesse, so as it seemeth that they should ouermayster menne: