Sermons upon the Book of Job

Therefore it is too be said, that such as are turned away from this kindhartednesse, have also turned their back upon God, yea, and that they know not what thing manhood is. Then let us bear well in mind this sentence: That to prove our selves to have the fear of God, it behoveth us to labour to do good to the afflicted. True it is that for the observing of this general rule, we be bound to do good to all men. Howbeit forasmuch as we have great hardness of hart, we must be softened by the sight of every one that is in distress. And in the same is a good mean to break and abate all the enmities and evil will that have been afore? As how? If a man be in prosperity and afloat, and be hated, and afterward fall and have some great storm light upon his head, the said hatred which had been afore, ceaseth: insomuch that they which had borne rancour against him and would fain have eaten his hart and his guts ⟨p. 125⟩(as they say) are somewhat appeased when they see what a change is happened unto him. And seeing that affliction is enough to kill hatred to make enmity too cease: I pray you what shall it do when we see our neighbours in adversity? Ought we not to be double moved to succour them? As for those that torment and sting poor folk that are in misery and heaviness, they are not only unkind because they have no compassion: but also they exceed further, forsomuch as they come to increase the mischief. If I see a man that mourneth and desireth succour §10of me, and I turn my back upon him: I am cruel, and I show my self too know neither God nor nature. But if another come and laugh and mock at him that desireth to be somewhat relieved, so as his coming doubleth his grief: such a one is also double cruel. True it is that I have dealt churlishly on my behalf: but as for him that cometh to set his foot upon the poor mans throat, doth not he show himself to be a wild beast, yea and more than beastly? But such are Jobs friends of whom he complaineth. Therefore if we will prove our §20selves to be Gods children, let us learn, not to shake off them that are in misery, assuring ourselves how it is the thing whereunto God calleth us, & whereby he will have a record whither we take him for our father or no: that is to say, if we use brotherliness towards men.

Therefore it is too bee sayde, that suche as are turned away from this kindhartednesse, haue also turned their backe vpon God, yea, and that they knowe not what thing manhood is. Then let vs beare well in minde this sentence: That to proue our selues to haue the feare of God, it behoueth vs to labour to do good to the afflicted. True it is that for the obseruing of this general rule, wee bee bounde to do good to all men. Howbeit forasmuchas wee haue greate hardnesse of hart, wee must bee softened by the syght of euerye one that is in distresse. And in the same is a good meane to breake and abate all the enmities and euill will that haue bene afore? As how? If a man bee in prosperitie and aflote, and bee hated, and afterwarde fall and haue some greate storme lyght vpon his head, the sayd hatred which had bene afore, ceasseth: insomuche that they whiche had borne rancour agaynste him and woulde fayne haue eaten his hart and his guttes