Sermons upon the Book of Job

Furthermore we must also weigh how it is said, that when a man cometh to the way of Thema, and too the great beat, the waters of the Summer brooks will fail him, notwithstanding that in wintertime and in the moister grounds there had been a great quantity of water, & that it seemed to be marvellous. But this is it that is commonly to be seen in these jolly fellows that stand so much upon their reputation, & that make so great noise.§30 Why so? for they hold not themselves in modesty, but they overflow their banks, and swell in such sort, as it should seem there were too an invincible strength in them. They spread out their wings, & when they be at their ease they promise this & that. But when it cometh to the push, it is nothing so nor so. For as a river is more requisite in the great heat of Summer, & in a dry coast, than it shall be in winter & in moist grounds: so also must our virtuousness show it self when it comes to the true trial. If God afflict a man: it is the thing wherein he ought to §40show himself patient. And afterward if it hehove him to employ himself upon his neighbours: ye see wherein he ought to show his charity. Then let us bear in mind that such as endeavour to make themselves renowned a far off, do show themselves to be dry brooks in the end, whereas they that walk by measure & compass, keeping them selves in modesty, making no great show nor great noise, nor ranging far to enlarge their borders, shall be as a wellspring that is covered and hidden: the which (as I have touched heretofore) will not cease too do §50well, and yet (howsoever it be) we see it hath not any great abundance, that a man might say it were likely that it should never fail: howbeit this same is more commodious and bringeth more profit, than all these great brooks that make so great noise in overflowing their banks. And so they that make their great shows and musters before hand, are nothing else but little apes toys: and for our part let us take them to be so, that we may shun them. For God suffereth this foolish vaingloriousness that is in men so given to vanity, to §60•u•ne to a mockery, and themselves to be put to shame. It is certain, that all such as set such store by themselves and would make themselves renowned, are led by vaingloriousness: