Sermons upon the Book of Job

this man is far from receiving fruit by the chastisements which God sendeth him. I say, when we cease not to allege this or that, too hold our selves still to the creatures: we profit very ill. Therefore we must mount up to this step: that is, that the adversities come of God, and that they come upon us because of our sins: and heerewithall let us understand how it is as much as if God had shot his arrows at us, and wounded us. So then let us bethink us well of this word, when Job sayeth, that the arrows of the almighty were let flee against him. Yea and he sayeth expressly that they stick fast in him, and that his spirit is as it were swallowed up. Where by he meaneth, that his distress cometh of the said fearing of God, according also as he addeth, that the terrors of God are bent against him. And for the better understanding of this strain: let us mark that God doth oftentimes afflict those that are wilful and hard hearted. But what? Their mind is never the more humbled for all that. For they beat back all Gods judgements, as an Anvil beateth back the hammer. But God woundeth whom he listeth when he meaneth to humble them, insomuch that they be stricken quite through, yea even to the bottom of their hart. Thus ye see what Job meant to express. True it is that sometimes the like shall happen to the reprobates also. But when full account is made: it is a special grace which god bestoweth upon his own children, when he pierceth them so throughout, and maketh them too feel his vengeance within their harts, in such wise as they are as it were swallowed up by it, and their hearts are consumed by it. This will be very hard for us, and we will flee from it if it be possible. But thereby God worketh our welfare, and it is much better that it should be so, th•• that we should be blockish to beat back all the conceits which God sendeth us when he purposeth to scourge us for our sins, and too make us feel how it is a terrible thing to have him against us. Behold how we must profit our selves by such woundings, knowing that god intendeth to humble us, to the end we should not be as the scorners, who do nothing but mock at his judgements: and that his making of us too feel them to the quick, is too the end we should quake at them.

this man is farre from receyuing frute by the chastizementes which God sendeth him. I say, when wee ceasse not to alledge this or that, too hold our selues still to the creatures: we profite verie yll. Therefore we must mount vp to this step: that is, that the aduersities come of God, and that they come vpon vs bicause of our sinnes: and heerewithall let vs vnderstande howe it is as much as if God had shotte his arrowes at vs, and wounded vs. So then let vs bethinke vs well of this woorde, when Iob sayeth, that the arrowes of the almightie were let flee agaynst him. Yea and hee sayeth expresly that they sticke fast in him, and that his spirit is as it were swallowed vp. VVhere by hee meeneth, that his distresse commeth of the sayde fearing of God, according also as hee addeth, that the terrours of God are bent agaynste him. And for the better vnderstanding of this streyne: let vs marke that God dooth oftentimes afflict those that are wylfull and hard hearted. But what? Their mynde is neuer the more humbled for all that. For they beate backe all Gods iudgements, as an Anuylde beateth backe the hammer. But God woundeth whom he listeth when he meeneth to humble them, insomuch that they be stryken quite through, yea euen to the bottome of their hart. Thus yee see what Iob ment to expresse. True it is that somtimes the like shall happen to the reprobates also. But when full account is made: it is a speciall grace which god bestoweth vpon his own children, when he pearceth them so throughout, and maketh them too feele his vengeance within their harts, in such wise as they are as it were swallowed vp by it, and their hartes are consumed by it. This will be very hard for vs, and we will flee from it if it be possible. But thereby God worketh our welfare, and it is much better that it should be so, th that we shoulde be blockish to beate backe all the conceytes which God sendeth vs whē he purposeth to scourge vs for our sinnes, and too make vs feele howe it is a terrible thing to haue him agaynst vs. Beholde how we must profite our selues by such woundings, knowing that god intendeth to humble vs, to the ende we should not bee as the scorners, who doo nothing but mocke at his iudgements: and that hys making of vs too feele them to the quicke, is too the ende wee shoulde quake at them.