Sermons upon the Book of Job

and if there were not such windiness and swelling in them, they would be more still and quiet than they be, and they would not hunt for so great reputation. But forasmuch as they be so haughty in themselves, that is to say, forasmuch as they be driven and led with vaingloriousness: it is good reason that God should make them reproachful among men, and that in the end we should know how there was nothing but leasing in their case. Ye see what ought too hold us yet still the more in awe, that we become not dry brooks, but that every of us may reserve himself till need require. Although the world despise us, yet notwithstanding▪ let us like better to walk in lowliness, than to make shows and too say, I have this and I have that. Nay, let us reserve our selves to good purpose, to relieve the necessity both of our selves and of our neighbours, and let us not be lavish for a time to lash out all at adventure and at one push, and afterward dry up in the end. For if we do so, we shall be like to the dry brooks. Thus ye see what we have too mark in this strain. And by and by Job addeth, That he had not desired his friends too relieve him with their goods, nor yet too be his borrow too rescue him out of the hands of his enemies, and yet notwithstanding in the mean season they were drawn back from him. When Job saith that he had not requested his friends to give him any thing, not to pay any ransom for him: he meaneth to apply the similitude which we have expounded, to his own purpose: as if he should say, when did I desire you to give me of your goods? If I have done so, then might ye well withdraw your selves from me. And much more reason were it that the waters should be dried up by you▪ ye might cut off the way to the fountain if I should sue to you to help me. I crave nothing of you: and yet nevertheless a man may see ye are as it were dazzled at the only sight of my miseries. Therefore in so doing ye show your selves well to be dry brooks. Now let us remember well this accusation here, that we may profit our selves by it. For although we have some show, and that it seem we were as ready and as forward as might be: yet if we succour not our neighbours when they have lack of us: therein we show our selves to be but dry brooks.

and if there were not suche wyndinesse and swelling in them, they would be more still and quyet than they be, and they would not hunt for so great reputation. But forasmuche as they bee so haultye in themselues, that is to say, forasmuche as they be driuen and led with vaynegloriousnesse: it is good reason that God shoulde make them reprochefull among men, and that in the ende wee shoulde knowe howe there was nothing but leasing in theyr cace. Yee see what oughte too holde vs yet still the more in awe, that wee become not drybrookes, but that euery of vs may reserue himselfe till neede requyre. Although the worlde despise vs, yet notwithstanding let vs like better to walke in lowlinesse, thā to make shewes and too say, I haue this and I haue that. Nay, let vs reserue our selues to good purpose, to releue the necessitye bothe of oure selues and of oure neyghbours, and let vs not be lauishe for a time to lashe out all at aduenture and at one pushe, and afterwarde drye vp in the ende. For if wee doe so, wee shall bee lyke to the drybrookes. Thus yee see what wee haue too marke in this streyne. And by and by Iob addeth, That hee had not desyred his freendes too releeue him with theyr goods, nor yet too bee his borowe too rescowe him out of the handes of his enemyes, and yet notwithstanding in the meane season they were drawne backe from him. VVhen Iob sayth that hee had not requested his freends to giue him any thing, not to pay any ransome for him: he meeneth to apply the similitude whiche wee haue expounded, to his owne purpose: as if hee shoulde say, when did I desyre you to giue me of your goods? If I haue done so, then might ye well withdrawe your selues from mee. And muche more reason were it that the waters shoulde bee dryed vp by you yee myght cut off the way to the fountayne if I shoulde sue to you to helpe mee. I craue nothing of you: and yet neuerthelesse a man may see yee are as it were dazeled at the onely sight of my miseries. Therefore in so dooyng yee shewe your selues well to bee drybrookes. Now lette vs remember well this accusation heere, that wee maye profit oure selues by it. For althoughe wee haue some shewe, and that it seeme wee were as readie and as forewarde as myghte bee: yet if wee succoure not oure neighbours when they haue lacke of vs: therein we shew our selues to be but drybrookes.