Sermons upon the Book of Job

1 IS there not a time appointed too man which is upon the earth, and are not his days as the days of an hireling? 2 As a bondman longeth for the shadow, and as an hireling longeth for the end of his labour: 3 So have I the vain months, and painful nights are appointed unto me. 4 In laying me down I say, when shall I rise? and being in my bed, I am cloyed with bitterness even until the evening. 5 My flesh is clothed with worms and with dust of the earth: my skin is alto broken & corrupted. 6 My days glide away like a weavers shuttle, and wast away without hope.

1 IS there not a time appoynted too man vvhiche is vppon the earth, and are not his dayes as the dayes of an hireling? 2 As a bondman longeth for the shadovve, and as an hireling longeth for the end of hys laboure: 3 So haue I the vayne moneths, and paynefull nights are appoynted vnto me. 4 In laying me dovvne I say, vvhen shall I rise? and being in my bed, I am cloyed vvith bitternesse euen vntill the euening. 5 My flesh is clothed vvith vvormes and with dust of the earth: my skin is alto broken & corrupted. 6 My dayes glide avvay like a vveauers shettle, and vvast avvay vvithout hope.

WE know well that as long as we live in this world we must endure many miseries, but yet we could find in our harts that God should handle us after our own measure. And we be so tender and nice, that so soon as he layeth his hand upon us, we think §20it to be very much: yea and even the patientest of all are at that point. But when God proceedeth with afflicting of us still, ye shall see our faintness bewray and discover it self more. And this is the thing that we have to handle at this time. For Job complaining that his misery endureth over long, saith that a man ought to have had a time set him afore hand: as if he should say, God hath not set us upon the earth in such unquietness as we be, but that there should be some time to make an end of our miseries. But I am in such plight, as I have no release nor rest §30night nor day. It seemeth then that my case is worse than all other mens, and that God is minded to afflict me beyond that which the state of mans life is able to bear. Lo what his purpose is. And we see how all this answereth unto that which I have touched: that is to wit, that at the first sight we can well confess it too be good reason that we should be troubled, and that we should have heart-sores here in this world: but yet therewithal we would fain that God should spare us, and as soon as he doth but touch us with the tip of his finger, we would have