Sermons upon the Book of Job

And the matter standeth not only upon our succouring of those with our goods, which stand in need: but also upon having compassion on them, without any abatement of our substance. For sith it costeth us nothing, so much the more shall we be unexcusable, if we be niggardly and have no pity upon such as are in distress. Thus ye see wherein Job meant to show the overgreat hypocrisy of those, that have had so fair a gloss for a little while, and yet had no steadiness nor firmness in them. This therefore serveth too condemn such as are of the same suit in these days according as we see some so far of from taking any of their goods too succour them that have need of it, that although nothing be desired of them, yet it is a grief and pain to them, to understand of the wants of their neighbours: I say it is a grief to them, not that they sigh for sorriness, for a man cannot wrest ⟨p. 128⟩a sigh from them, but rather they could find in their hearts that their poor neighbours were rooted out: not that they would wish them dead for pities sake, or for sorrow to see them in distress: but rather of a scornfulness which maketh them too shun such as they see are in necessity. Is there any so great an unkindness as this? Ye shall see some man that will be a friend to the uttermost: yea so long as he is in prosperity. But if God lay his hand upon him, we vouchsafe not to regard him, as a creature made after the image of §10God: but we would be as it were in a new world, that we might have no such thing too meet with, insomuch as we are ashamed only to say, such a man spake with me even now, or I spake with him. Seeing that the holy Ghost doth by the mouth of Job condemn such extreme hypocrisy: let us look too our selves, and when we see the afflictions that are either in great or small, let us assure our selves that God summoneth us, to make us understand the loving kindness which we ought to put in ure towards those that are so §20joined unto us. God should provide well for all mankind, if it were his good pleasure that no man were in pain, but that every man were contented and well at his ease. But what?

And the matter standeth not only vpon our succouring of those with our goods, which stand in neede: but also vpon hauing compassion on them, without anie abatement of oure substance. For sith it costeth vs nothing, so muche the more shall wee bee vnexcusable, if wee bee nigardlie and haue no pitie vppon suche as are in distresse. Thus yee see wherein Iob ment to shewe the ouergreate hypocrisie of those, that haue had so fayre a glosse for a little whyle, and yet had no stedinesse nor firmenesse in them. This therefore serueth too condemne suche as are of the same sute in these dayes according as wee see some so farre of from taking anie of their goods too succoure them that haue neede of it, that although nothing bee desyred of them, yet it is a greefe and peine to them, to vnderstand of the wants of their neyghboures: I say it is a greefe to them, not that they sygh for sorinesse, for a man cannot wrest