Sermons upon the Book of Job

For we may perhaps be little set by for a time, and we may be abhorred as if there were nothing but evil in us: But let us be contented too have God and his Angels too be good witnesses of our soundness. Let us tarry till God chase away all droopy darkness, and make our innocency to shine out, that it may be seen as the break of the day. Thus ye see what we have to mark in this strain. And by and by Job addeth, that his friends which came to him under pretence to comfort him, have framed talk to confound his holy purpose (that is to say, to confound his right sayings) and have let the words of the afflicted pass into the wind. Here Job accuseth those of extreme spitefulness, which proceed so eagerly against him. And it behoveth us to mark well this point. For no doubt but the holy Ghost showeth us here, what we have to beware of, if we be loth to displease God & would not make as it were open war against him. Behold (I say) a vice that is hateful before God: which is, when we will be cunning to overthrow a good matter: specially when it happeneth ⟨p. 133⟩that we advance our selves against them that are afflicted to the worldward: and when there is such presumptuousness in us, as we will provoke them to cast themselves into despair: and yet there is no vice so over rife as this. And why so? Because no man thinketh of that which is told here: namely, that when men forge such inventions, (that is to say,) when they devise things to overthrow all equity (as much as they can) and to make such krinks as the truth might not be known any more, nor take place any more: it is all one as if they came too jostle against §10God, and took him to be their adversary party. Now then, if men would think themselves to say thus, how no we, we bid battle unto God: it is certain they would be so afraid as their hear would stand up upon their head, so as it would be a bridle to them to hold them in, that they should not fling themselves out so at random. But sith that we think so little of it: at leastwise let us receive that which God showeth us, seeing that he giveth us warning in this strain. Ye see then in effect what we have to bear in mind: that is to wit, that when any man §20speaketh to us, we should delay our answer until we know what the matter is. We see there is some communication ministered: what is to be done: