Sermons upon the Book of Job

For the chief point in a man, is to have an equal steadiness, that he be not full of vaunts to fling into the field and to make great flourishes with his shield, and afterward to mean nothing in deed but only a bravery, according as we shall see some that make fair faces, and by and by in the turning of a hand they are become other men, insomuch that at sometimes a man would say: Behold yonder Angels: and anon a man shall see them wash away like water, so as there is no hold of them. Job then in applying this comparison to his friends, showeth that they have not the said equal steadiness, and the said hold of themselves, which is requisite above all things in men. Therefore we have a very profitable lesson to gather upon this sentence: That is, that it were much better for us to be as some little spring, which shall not seem to have any great store of water in it, than to be as great brooks to be dried up at times. There may be some little spring, & perchance it is well seen that it hath but one little hole, so as a man shall have much a do to draw up one pot of water: but yet notwithstanding the spring continueth always still, it serveth ones turn, it keepeth his course, it dryeth not up. True it is that such a one beareth no great show, it is not much made of among men: the spring it self shall lye hid, so as a man may pass over it and not perceive it, for the head of it is innermore, and yet it is much better for too have this little trickling grope in us that holdeth out and continueth still from time too time, than too have huge gushing streams that make a great show, and at length dry up. As how? Ye shall see some man that is a still man, and maketh no great talk: he is a labouring man, or he shall be some handicrafts man that is of no great reputation: but what soever he is, he leads a blameless life, he laboureth faithfully, and referring himself too God, he contenteth himself with the little that he hath: if God give him children, he bringeth them up, he is a good example too them, and he giveth no occasion of stumbling. Moreover he is sure he can make no great troubles nor riots: for his hands are not so long, as that he can stretch them hither or thither.

For the cheefe poynte in a man, is to haue an egall stedinesse, that he bee not full of vaunts to fling into the feeldand to make great florishes with his sheeld, and afterwarde to meene nothing in deede but onely a brauerie, according as wee shall see some that make fayre faces, and by and by in the turning of a hand they are become other men, in somuche that at sometimes a man would say: Behold yonder Angels: and anone a mā shall see them wash away like water, so as there is no holde of them. Iob then in applying this cōparison to his freends, sheweth that they haue not the sayd egall stedinesse, and the sayd holde of themselues, which is requisite aboue all things in men. Therfore we haue a very profitable lesson to gather vpon this sentence: That is, that it were muche better for vs to bee as some little spring, whiche shall not seeme to haue any greate store of water in it, than to bee as greate brookes to bee dryed vp at tymes. There maye bee some little spring, & perchaunce it is well seene that it hath but one little hole, so as a man shall haue muche a do to draw vp one pot of water: but yet notwithstanding the spring continueth alwayes still, it serueth ones turne, it keepeth his course, it dryeth not vp. True it is that such a one beareth no greate shewe, it is not much made of among men: the spring it selfe shall lye hid, so as a man may passe ouer it and not perceyue it, for the head of it is innermore, and yet it is muche better for too haue this little trickling grope in vs that holdeth out and continueth still from tyme too tyme, than too haue houge gushing streames that make a greate shewe, and at length dry vp. As howe? Yee shall see some man that is a still man, and maketh no great talk: he is a laboring mā, or he shall be some handycraftes man that is of no greate reputation: but what soeuer hee is, hee leads a blamelesse life, hee laboreth faythfully, and referring himselfe too God, he contenteth himselfe with the little that he hath: if God giue him children, hee bringeth them vp, hee is a good example too them, and hee gyueth no occasion of stumbling. Moreouer hee is sure hee can make no greate troubles nor royots: for his hands are not so long, as that hee can stretch them hither or thither.