Sermons upon the Book of Job

15 My brothers have beguiled me as a dry brook, and as the waters that pass through the valleys. 26 They be troubled with ice, and are full of snow. 17 And afterward fail through drought, and are taken out of their places by heat. 18 They turn aside by diverse ways, and vanish and perish. 19 They that have seen [them] waiting in the quarters of Thema, come in Seba. 20 But being there, they were confounded: and having hoped, when they were come too the place, they were ashamed. 21 Behold how you be to me as dry brooks: for ye have been amazed at the sight of me. 22 Have I said to you, bring hither give me of your goods? 23 Deliver me from the enemy, rescue me from the hand of Tyrants.

15 My brothers haue beguyled mee as a dryebrooke, and as the vvaters that passe throughe the valleyes. 26 They be troubled vvith yce, and are full of snovve. 17 And aftervvarde fayle through drought, and are taken out of their places by heate. 18 They turne aside by diuerse vvayes, and vanish and perish. 19 They that haue seene [them] vvayting in the quarters of Thema, come in Seba. 20 But beeing there, they vvere confounded: and hauing hoped, vvhen they vvere come too the place, they vvere ashamed. 21 Behold hovv you be to me as driebrookes: for ye haue bene amazed at the sight of mee. 22 Haue I saide to you, bring hither giue me of your goodes? 23 Deliuer me from the enemie, rescue me from the hand of Tyrans.

The first sentence that we have heard,§50 tendeth to this end. That the man which is pressed so as he can no more, deserves well to be excused if he be excessive in his passions. And that is it that Job allegeth for his excuse. Although I speak out of measure (saith he) men must not think me much to blame, for the misery enforceth me to do it. True it is that this colour may be admitted among men: but as to Godward, it cannot be justified if we allege that the misery is so excessive, that we wot not what to do. For §60God is able to assuage it, if we desire it at his hand. And furthermore we cannot excuse our selves after this present manner, but God shall by and by be accused as if he had no regard of our welfare, or as if he had handled us without any advisement. Verily men think not of this: and yet when we speak of God, we ought not to open our mouth but with all reverence and soberness. Now let us consider whether God chastise us with discretion or no When it is once agreed upon, that God knoweth why he afflicteth us, and that he never passeth measure: the same must not go for payment when we come to excuse our selves: but rather we must yield our selves guilty. So then, seeing that Job hath failed in