Sermons upon the Book of Job

but by that means God punisheth the unthankfulness of the world. And this is it that saint Paul meaneth by saying that the wicked and such as annoy the Church shall go on and prevail and increase. And how is that? Is it not for that God giveth Satan the bridle, and suffereth the devils champions to advance themselves in such wise, as it seemeth that they ought to be Lords of all? But God suffereth it not without cause: for we see the unthankfulness of the world. There are many that would willingly be deceived, and which are grieved when men teach them in all pureness: who could find in their hart that Gods word were so confused, yea even in such sort as a man might not know nor discern aught, but that it had two faces [in one hood] as they say. Othersome, although they can abide to hear one say the truth, yet they have no great care too be throughly rooted in it: all is one too them. Now forasmuch as God seeth in the one sort such a maliciousness, and in the other sort such a carelessness, that it turneth even to an open rebelliousness, and many men quench the light that God setteth before them: do we marvel if he slack the bridle too the wicked, and too those that turn the truth into lying, and utterly deface it? But yet in the mean while it is certain, that God strengtheneth and maintaineth those to the end, whom he hath taught his truth. And so ye see wherefore it is said that the fault-finders may well strain themselves: howbeit in the end they shall be vanquished, and God will show himself too be on that side where good right is. And this is spoken, not only of the doctrine of the Gospel: but also of all that ever concerneth the life of the faithful. True it is that the doctrine of salvation is one of the preciousest things that god hath. And therefore ye see also that he will show the power thereof in such wise, as he will destroy the wicked by the breath of his mouth, and they shall feel that the said word which they have despised, is a sword too slay them with, and to drive them into damnation. Then behoveth it God to utter his power in this behalf above all. But yet in other doings, whensoever we be wrongfully oppressed by men, and that whereas we ought to be sustained, it shall seem that all goeth clean Backward: yet let us not cease to trust still in God. And why?

but by that meanes God punisheth the vnthankfulnesse of the world. And this is it that sainct Paule meeneth by saying that the wicked and such as anoy the Church shal go on and preuayle and increase. And how is that? Is it not for that God giueth Satan the brydle, and suffereth the diuels champions to aduaunce themselues in such wise, as it seemeth that they ought to be Lords of all? But God suffreth it not without cause: for we see the vnthankfulnesse of the world. There are many that would willingly be deceyued, and which are greued when men teache them in all purenesse: who coulde fynde in their hart that Gods word were so confused, yea euen in such sort as a man myght not knowe nor discerne aught, but that it had twoo faces [in one hoode] as they say. Othersome, although they can abide to heare one say the truthe, yet they haue no greate care too be throughly rooted in it: all is one too them. Now forasmuch as God seeth in the one sort suche a maliciousnesse, and in the other sort such a carelesnesse, that it turneth euen to an open rebelliousnesse, and many men quenche the lyghte that God setteth before them: do wee maruell if he slacke the brydle too the wicked, and too those that turne the truthe intoo lying, and vtterly deface it? But yet in the meane whyle it is certayne, that God strengtheneth and mainteyneth those to the end, whome he hath taught his truth. And so yee see wherefore it is said that the faultfinders maye well streyne themselues: howbeit in the ende they shalbe vanquished, and God will shew himselfe too be on that side where good right is. And this is spoken, not only of the doctrine of the Gospel: but also of al that euer concerneth the life of the faithfull. True it is that the doctrine of saluation is one of the preciousest things that god hath. And therfore ye see also that he wil shew the power thereof in such wise, as he will destroy the wicked by the breath of his mouth, and they shall feele that the sayd word which they haue despised, is a sworde too slea them with, and to driue them into damnation. Then behoueth it God to vtter his power in this behalfe aboue al. But yet in other doings, whensoeuer we be wrongfully oppressed by men, and that whereas we ought to be susteyned, it shal seeme that all goeth cleane Backward: yet let vs not cease to trust still in God. And why?