Sermons upon the Book of Job

there is none other conceit with them but of coining and framing new devises in their head, and never too pray unto God. Behold here an intolerable vice. Howe so? In that men wander away so, whereas God allureth them familiarly too come unto him? And whereas he telleth them they may be unburdened, by casting all their cares upon him: is it not a great wilful frowardness that men will make themselves such strangers and draw back from him? Yet notwithstanding it is an ordinary matter. Let every man search what is in himself. I pray you how many foolish desires have we in us, which move us too ⟨p. 120⟩sigh in our selves, although God were not privy too them? Another sort swerve aside to a contrary extremity: which is, that they become like blocks before God, asking this and that, without knowing how, and without having any rule or choice. And hereby it is too be seen, that this said lesson which I have erst set afore you, is very ill known, not only of those that have not been instructed in Gods word: but also of all of us. And therefore so much the better must we mark this text, to the end that every of us may hold himself in §10awe, and learn to frame our desires better than we have done: and to bring this to pass, we must lay them open before God, assuring our selves that we shall win nothing by our slinking aside. For all things must come to account in their time. And therefore as oft as we shall be provoked and minded to desire any thing: let us learn to be at this point with God, that he may always be made privy too them. And for the doing hereof, let us examine well all our sins, that we may condemn whatsoever we see is not agreeing to the will of him that ought to have the whole §20dominion over us. But let us come back once again too that Job saith, that his wish was that God should slay him, and stretch out his hand too cut him off. I have already briefly showed whereto these words tend: that is to wit, that God should at one stroke quite dispatch a man without making him to linger. Yea, but what gaineth he by that? Shall a man fare the better by that? Yea, so it seems to him. For we know that when we must be fain to endure any torment: it is a comfort to us, when it is not long a doing. But Job hath here a further respect:

there is none other conceyte with them but of coyning and framing newe deuises in their heade, and neuer too pray vntoo God. Beholde heere an intollerable vyce. Howe so? In that men wander awaye so, whereas God allureth them familiarly too come vntoo him? And whereas hee telleth them they may bee vnburthened, by casting all their cares vpon him: is it not a great wilfull frowardnesse that men will make themselues suche straungers and drawe backe from him? Yet notwythstanding it is an ordinarie matter. Let euerie man searche what is in himselfe. I pray you howe many foolishe desyres haue wee in vs, whiche mooue vs too