Sermons upon the Book of Job

It seemeth to us that we should be in better case, if God would afflict us after another manner than he doth: but that would never a whit assuage our grief. In this case it behoveth us too flee unto God, and too pray him too withdraw his hand from us: and when he hath once received us too his mercy: then we shall see our selves rightly eased. As concerning that Job sayeth that he should be warmed in his sorrow: he meaneth that his sorrow should be assuaged to his comfort: Like as when there is a great fire §40under a pot, the flesh will by and by be sodden as soon as the pot is throughly heated: otherwise the flesh will lie sapping a long while, and become unsavoury. So then is it: It seemeth too Job, that when we pine and linger in such extremities, it is nothing else but too make us rot away in our miseries. But yet nevertheless (as I have said) men do not then cease too show themselves utterly desperate: that is to wit, not even then when God forbeareth to make them to languish. But it behoveth us to understand, that if God list to prolong §50our miseries, it is enough for us that he giveth us patience: and that seeing he hath given it us to day, he will continue it to morrow. If God work after this manner: it is well, the adversities will be easy to be borne, so as if he plunge us over head and ears a hundred thousand times, we will always remit our selves unto him, so be it that he sustain us by his grace which he hath given us from heaven, making us to feel this comfort of the holy Scripture in our hearts: insomuch that if God touch us, whither he fillip us with his finger, or strike us §60with his hand, whether he give us great blows with a beetle, or whether he make us too pine away by piecemeal, or dispatch us out of hand: surely nothing shall happen without his will, and his will t•n•eth too our welfare: and so seeing we be his children, there is no cause for us to doubt. And when Job sayeth, Let him not spare me, I will not conceal the words of the holy one: He maketh a drotestation which he was not able to perform. But he speaketh after the manner of them, which are carried away by their affections. Behold (sayeth he) though God have so overpressed me at the first blow:

It seemeth to vs that wee should be in better cace, if God would afflict vs after another maner than he doth: but that would neuer a whit asswage our greefe. In this cace it behoueth vs too flee vnto God, and too pray him too withdrawe his hande from vs: and when hee hath once receyued vs too his mercie: then wee shall see our selues rightly eased. As concerning that Iob sayeth that hee shoulde bee warmed in his sorowe: hee meeneth that his sorow should bee asswaged to his comfort: Like as when there is a greate fyre