Sermons upon the Book of Job

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 §40him straightways withdraw his hand and that our afflictions should not be of any long continuance. It stands us in hand to mark well this strain. For in the person of Job, the holy Ghost hath set our frailty before our eyes as it were in a glass: I mean the frailty of mind and not of body. It is certain (as I have said heretofore) that Job had such a courage and constancy as is wonderful among men and yet a man may see in what taking he is. So then what shall become of those that have nothing but infirmity, and which have scarcely received three §50drops of courageousness to sustain themselves withal in the midst of their afflictions? Must not such men quail out of hand, when we see that Job was so beaten down whom God had strengthened so mightily with his grace? But first of all let us forward with this lesson, to apply the same to our own use: namely that a time is appointed to man that is upon the earth.

WE know well that as long as we liue in this world wee must indure many miseries, but yet wee could find in our harts that God should handle vs after our own measure. And wee bee so tender and nice, that so soone as he layeth his hand vpon vs, we thinke