Sermons upon the Book of Job

his justice is so dreadful to us, as behold, we are enclosed round about with a maze, whereout of we see no way to scape, so as it seemeth that he will make us go every day deeper into it than other. Ye see then how men are astonied when Gods justice toucheth them in good §30earnest. And so much the more behoofefull for us is this doctrine, when God telleth us that forasmuch as we must pass through many miseries while we live in this world, we ought to consider that our life is transitory: and so shall it not grieve us to be under such a state, seeing that the end of it is appointed aforehand. And afterward if God chastise us, if he send us any afflictions: well, he presseth us now, but it will not last so for ever. It is certain that we be not able to hold out overlong: & therefore he keepeth measure, for he knoweth what is convenient §40for us. So then let us abide patiently till he deliver us, and we shall not be disappointed of such hope. Verily if every of us have an eye to himself, we shall find our selves to have very great need to be put in mind of this gear. For although we know it: yet we forget it and wot not what it meaneth when we come to the putting of it in ure. And for proof hereof, there is not any of us that faith not, will this gear never be done? If we have any affliction, so as one be sick, another pinched with poverty, and the third tormented with some heartgrief that §50troubleth him without ceasing: we ask, shall we always be new to begin again? will there never be end of it? Seeing that our flesh & our nature is so inclined to storm & repine, let us assure our selves how it is not without cause that God forsetteth the determinate time whereof mention is made here. And heerewithall let us mark, that (whereas it is said, is there not a time appointed for men ▪) it belongeth only to God to forset us the time. And this may do us much service. Wherefore? For if God knew not what we be, and what is good and convenient for §60us▪ we might well be sorry to hear that the time of our misery is in his hand, and at his appointment. But for so much as he knoweth what we be able to bear, and perceiveth that if we should be charged oversore, we should sink under the burden, yea and be utterly crushed and broken: