Sermons upon the Book of Job

He desireth not too be eased of his misery, that he might know his infirmity and humble himself before God, so as he might confess it to be good reason that he should be handled after that manner. What then? He intendeth to show how God handleth him after an extraordinary fashion, and that men are not wont to be so overpressed. His meaning then is to enter as it were into the field of battle with God, and that God should likewise take his sword or I wot not what. Lo how Job runs a head. But we must demand and seek what our strength is: not in our selves, but in him that strengtheneth us. For we shall never find any thing but vanity in our selves. If we think our selves to have strength to carry but one fardel, we shall find our selves overwhelmed under it. For we are faint of our selves, and there needeth no adversity too come from otherwhere to bear us down. Our strength then is none at all to Godward. True it is that too outward show there may well seem to be some strength in us: but the same in deed is but a very shadow. So then forasmuch as we know how our strength is nothing, let us conclude in general, Alas, what shall become of me if God lay his hand upon me? Ought I not to endure a far greevouser torment, & yet notwithstā ding not lift up my self against him? Then although God afflict us as well in our bodies, as in our minds: yet must we not grudge against him to condemn him, as if he did us wrong. But forasmuch as we know that our strength in all cares and respects is nothing: ye see how we must learn to humble our selves before God, and beseech him to strength us, assuring our selves that it is he which hath the spirit of strength, and how it belongeth to him only to give it us. For else if we were not sustained by him, and that yet nevertheless it behoveth us to endure a long time: what a thing were it? Let us assure our selves we should be utterly beaten down at the first blow. God should not need to make the misery endure long to destroy us: for who is he that could warrant himself to continue patient one only day, or but one hour only? Then needeth not God to prolong our miseries to show our feebleness, & to make us to be convicted of it: but let us assure our selves that we cannot so much as begin any good thing, and much less perform it.

He desyreth not too bee eased of his miserie, that hee myghte knowe his infirmitie and humble himselfe before God, so as he myght confesse it to be good reason that he shoulde be handled after that maner. VVhat then? Hee intendeth to shewe howe God handleth him after an extraordinary fashion, and that men are not woont to bee so ouerpressed. His meening then is to enter as it were into the field of battell with God, and that God shoulde likewise take his swoorde or I wote not what. Lo howe Iob runnes a heade. But we must demaund and seeke what our strēgth is: not in our selues, but in him that strēgtheneth vs. For wee shall neuer finde any thing but vanitie in our selues. If we thinke our selues to haue strength to carie but one fardel, we shal find our selues ouerwhelmed vnder it. For wee are faynte of our selues, and there needeth no aduersitie too come from otherwhere to beare vs downe. Our strength then is none at all to Godwarde. True it is that too outwarde shewe there maye well seeme to bee some strength in vs: but the same in deede is but a verie shadow. So then forasmuch as wee know how our strength is nothing, let vs conclude in generall, Alas, what shall become of me if God lay his hande vpon mee? Ought I not to indure a farre greeuouser torment, & yet notwithstā ding not lift vp my selfe agaynst him? Thē although God afflict vs as well in our bodies, as in our minds: yet must wee not grudge agaynste him to condemne him, as if hee did vs wrong. But forasmuche as wee knowe that oure strength in all cares and respects is nothing: ye see howe wee muste learne to humble our selues before God, and beseech him to strength vs, assuring oure selues that it is hee whiche hath the spirite of strength, and howe it belongeth to him onely to gyue it vs. For else if wee were not sustayned by him, and that yet neuerthelesse it behoueth vs to indure a long tyme: what a thing were it? Let vs assure our selues wee should bee vtterly beaten downe at the firste blow. God should not neede to make the miserie indure long to destroy vs: for who is he that could warrant himselfe to cōtinue pacient one only day, or but one houre onely? Then needeth not God to prolong our miseries to shew our feeblenesse, & to make vs to be conuicted of it: but let vs assure our selues that we cannot so much as begin any good thing, and muche lesse performe it.