Sermons upon the Book of Job

And by the way the remedy hereof is not, that we should not pray unto God, when our flesh provoketh us to desire this or that: as there are some who (if a mantel them that it is a perverting of true prayer, to demand any thing of God other than he hath allowed:) I say there are some which will answer, very well sir. I will not pray God at all, for I should displease him if I should make him subject after that sort to my desires: but I may well enough wish this or that, and yet the while not be minded that God should be subject to my desires: But we must not use such by leaps. What is to be done then▪ When we see such wishes, so foolish and full of vanity, and which are not only fond, but also wicked: what is to be done? There is no seeking of any lurking holes. What then? Let us rather lay open our hearts before God, (as the holy Scripture speaketh thereof) so as we have nothing wrapped up in them. But as soon as any desire comes in our mind, [let us think thus:] Is it lawful for me to wish such things? Doth God permit me then? Let us fall too examining of our selves, that the thing which is entered into our heart may be laid open: and when we have made God privy too it, let us dispose our selves to pray unto him according to his will. When we have so done, let us on our part consider, that we must not come unto God with our head upright, nor be so bold as to make so far account of him, that he should do whatsoever we have conceived in our brain: but we must be subject too him in all points, and in all respects. Now then if we hold us too this measure: ye shall see all our evil lusts corrected and repressed, and our knowing that a man must not covet any thing which he might not be bold to ask at Gods hand, will be a bridle too us. And we must not presume to ask any thing, but that which God hath granted by his word. If it be so, we must needs be restrained, and our flesh must not overmaster us to carry us away to this or that. Lo what we have too mark concerning Job in this strain. Yet notwithstanding it is a lesson that is very slenderly practiced in all the world. For we see how one sort make their wishes without any submitting of them unto God at all: in another sort, there are such vain and fantastical minds, as they desire contraries:

And by the way the remedie hereof is not, that we should not pray vnto God, whē our flesh prouoketh vs to desire this or that: as there are some who (if a mantel thē that it is a peruerting of true prayer, to demaund any thing of God other than he hath allowed:) I say there are some which will answere, verie wel sir. I will not pray God at all, for I shoulde displease him if I should make him subiect after that sort to my desires: but I may wel ynough wish this or that, and yet the while not be mynded that God should be subiect to my desires: But we must not vse such by leapes. VVhat is to be done then VVhen we see such wishes, so foolish and full of vanitie, and which are not onely fonde, but also wicked: what is to bee done? There is no seeking of any lurking holes. VVhat then? Let vs rather lay open our hartes before God, (as the holy Scripture speaketh therof) so as we haue nothing wrapped vp in them. But as soone as any desire comes in our mynde, [let vs thinke thus:] Is it lawfull for me to wish such things? Doth God permit me then? Let vs fall too examining of oure selues, that the thing which is entred intoo our heart may be layde open: and when we haue made God priuie too it, let vs dispose our selues to pray vnto him according to his will. VVhen we haue so done, let vs on our part consider, that wee must not come vnto God with our heade vpright, nor bee so bolde as to make so farre account of him, that he shoulde do whatsoeuer wee haue conceyued in oure braine: but wee must bee subiect too him in all poyntes, and in all respectes. Nowe then if wee holde vs too this measure: yee shall see all oure euill lustes corrected and repressed, and our knowing that a man muste not couet any thing which he might not be bolde to aske at Gods hande, will bee a brydle too vs. And wee must not presume to aske anye thing, but that whiche God hath graunted by hys woorde. If it bee so, wee must needes bee restrayned, and our flesh must not ouermayster vs to carie vs away to this or that. Lo what wee haue too marke concerning Iob in this streyne. Yet notwithstanding it is a lesson that is verie slenderly practized in all the worlde. For wee see howe one sorte make their wishes without any submitting of them vnto God at all: in another sort, there are suche vaine and fantasticall myndes, as they desyre contraryes: