Sermons upon the Book of Job

In effect we see that in all the life of man there is nothing but disguising of things, so as there is no more tidings to be heard of the said soundness and uprightness whereof we have spoken. And heerewithall we have to mark this saying, That the words of an afflicted person, (or of a despised person) pass away into the wind. For ye see how the cause why men advance them selves against God, is for that they set too much by themselves, and think there is no wisdom but in their own brain. Truly in all the affairs that men have, every man seeks his own avails And therefore when a naughty-pack would eschew the punishment that he hath deserved: he will by and by have his fair flatteries and glosses at hand, to the intent it should not be known how the case standeth, whither it be a money matter or any other thing. Behold how men corrupt the truth and turn it into a lie, for their own advantage sake. But if the case concern the doctrine of faith, and the Gospel: what else is the cause of so many countersayings, and that we see so many Sophisters come now adays to mock God flatly with their sophistical subtleties, but the pride that is in those which think them selves to have wit enough to win their spurs, and to reason Pro & con, as they term it [that is, to reason of and on, or too & fro on both sides?] No doubt but Gods spirit meant too taunt here this pride and presumptuousness, too the end that if we purpose to keep our selves from being enemies to God in fighting against his truth: we should shake off this overweening, and not despise our neighbours to tread them under feet, but rather be contented to be taught even by a little child if God shall have opened more unto him than unto us: according as Saint Paul showeth, that such as have the spirit of prophecy, although god have given them the grace to teach others, must notwithstanding not disdain to give place too any other unto whom God shall have given more knowledge than to them. Ye see then what we have too mark in this strain. And finally Job concludeth, that those which pretended to be his friends, do nothing else but dig a pit, for such a man to stumble into, as ought too be held up: and that they seek nothing but too wind the fatherless.

In effect wee see that in all the life of man there is nothing but disguising of things, so as there is no more tidings to be hearde of the sayd soundnesse and vprightnesse whereof wee haue spoken. And heerewithall we haue to marke thys saying, That the words of an afflicted person, (or of a despised person) passe away into the winde. For ye see howe the cause why men auaunce them selues against God, is for that they set too much by themselues, and thinke there is no wisedome but in their owne brayne. Truly in all the affaires that men haue, euery man seekes his own auayles And therefore when a naughtipacke woulde eschue the punishment that he hath deserued: he wil by and by haue his faire flatteries and gloses at hand, to the intent it shuld not be knowne howe the cace standeth, whither it bee a money matter or any other thing. Behold how men corrupt the truth and turne it into a lie, for their owne aduauntage sake. But if the case concerne the doctrine of faith, and the Gospell: what else is the cause of so manye countersayings, and that we see so many Sophisters come now adayes to mocke God flatly with their sophisticall suttleties, but the pride that is in those which thinke thē selues to haue witte ynough to winne their spurres, and to reason Pro & con, as they terme it [that is, to reason of and on, or too & fro on both sides?] No doubt but Gods spirite ment too taunt here this pride and presumtuousnesse, too the ende that if we purpose to keepe our selues from being enimies to God in fighting against his truth: we shoulde shake off this ouerweening, and not despise oure neighbours to tread them vnder feete, but rather be contented to be taught euen by a little childe if God shall haue opened more vnto him than vntoo vs: according as Sainct Paule sheweth, that such as haue the spirit of prophecie, although god haue giuen them the grace to teach others, must notwithstanding not disdayne to giue place too any other vntoo whome God shall haue giuen more knowledge than to them. Yee see then what we haue too marke in this streyne. And finally Iob concludeth, that those which pretended to be his friendes, do nothing else but dig a pit, for such a man to stumble into, as ought too bee hilde vp: and that they seeke nothing but too winde the fatherlesse.