Sermons upon the Book of Job

that a man for saketh the fear of God when he hath not compassion of the afflicted. And truly if a man remember well the rule which is given by our Lord Jesus Christ: he shall well see how there is no fear of God in us, when we be so shrunk away. And why so? For ye see how our Lord Jesus Christ telleth us, that we ought to follow our heavenly father if we will be taken for his children. The very heathen themselves could well skill to say, that there is nothing wherein a man doth more resemble God too fashion himself like unto him, than in doing good, inasmuch as it is a kindly thing for a man to succour those that are in necessity. And now ye see how God causeth his day sun to shine both upon good and bad. If I see my brother, if I see him that is as it were a mirror of mine own flesh and mine own nature pinched with adversity, and have no care of him, is it not a token and proof that I think not of God, and that I am overbeastly? And so it is not without cause said in this strain. That such as have no pity upon the poor wretched creatures which are in adversity, have given over the fear of God. Ye see also why our Lord Jesus Christ sayeth, that the chief points of the law are judgement, righteousness, mercy, and truth. When we will show that we fear God and desire to serve him: we must come to this present point, that we walk in soundness among men, so as we be not given too guy lefulnesse and malice: and furthermore that we render every man his right, that we maintain good and rightful cases as near as we can, and that we pity such as have need of our help, in succouring them to the uttermost of our power. Ye see (I say) wherein we shall fulfil Gods law. But if we be full of cruelty, so as every of us think only upon himself, and make no account how other men fare: herein we show our selves to have no regard of God. And why? For if we had God before our eyes, we would consider that he hath set us here to live together and to communicate one with another: we would consider that he is the father of us all: we would consider how he hath made us all of one kind, to the end we should one of us have care of another, and none of us draw away by himself alone, considering that we have need one of another.

that a man for saketh the feare of God when hee hath not compassion of the afflicted. And trulye if a man remember well the rule whiche is giuen by our Lorde Iesus Christ: hee shall well see howe there is no feare of God in vs, when wee bee so shrunke away. And why so? For yee see howe our Lorde Iesus Christ telleth vs, that wee ought to followe oure heauenly father if wee will bee taken for his children. The very heathen themselues coulde well skill to say, that there is nothing wherein a man dooth more resemble God too fashion himselfe like vntoo him, than in doing good, inasmuche as it is a kindely thing for a man to succour those that are in necessitie. And now yee see howe God causeth his daysunne to shyne both vpon good and bad. If I see my brother, if I see him that is as it were a mirrour of myne owne flesh and myne own nature pinched with aduersitie, and haue no care of him, is it not a token and proofe that I thinke not of God, and that I am ouerbeastly? And so it is not without cause sayd in this streyne. That suche as haue no pitie vppon the poore wretched creatures which are in aduersity, haue giuen ouer the feare of God. Yee see also why our Lorde Iesus Christ sayeth, that the cheefe poyntes of the lawe are iudgement, rightuousnesse, mercie, and truthe. VVhen wee will shewe that wee feare God and desyre to serue him: wee muste come to this present poynt, that wee walke in soundnesse among men, so as wee bee not gyuen too guy lefulnesse and malice: and furthermore that wee render euerye man his ryght, that wee maynteyne good and ryghtfull caces as neere as wee can, and that wee pitie suche as haue neede of our helpe, in succoring them to the vttermost of our power. Yee see (I say) wherein wee shall fulfill Gods lawe. But if wee bee full of crueltie, so as euery of vs thinke onely vpon himselfe, and make no account howe other men fare: herein wee shewe our selues to haue no regarde of God. And why? For if wee had God before our eyes, we would consider that hee hath set vs here to liue togither and to communicate one with another: wee would consider that hee is the father of vs all: wee woulde consider howe hee hath made vs all of one kinde, to the ende wee shoulde one of vs haue care of another, and none of vs drawe awaye by himselfe alone, considering that wee haue neede one of another.