Sermons upon the Book of Job

for so much (I say) as God knoweth this, and thereupon declareth unto us, that he holdeth us up according as he seeth our feebleness doth require, and that if he uphold us not continually with his hand we should be in danger to be broken all to pieces, but he knoweth well how to moderate the weight of the afflictions that he sendeth us: now seeing we have such promises, have we not good cause to be glad of this foresetting of the time? And further let us mark well, that inasmuch as we have our time determinate here below: we must thereafter make the comparison with Saint Paul, between the miseries that last but the twinkling of an eye: and the [endless] glory of heaven. For the shortness of the afflictions of this world (saith he) must make us too think them light. For when we have an eye to the everlasting and endless kingdom of heaven: it ought to outweigh in the balance all the worldly misery that is possible to be devised. Seeing then that the case standeth so, as oft as we be tempted to oversorowing, impatience, or despair: let us have recourse to that which is said here, which is, that the time thereof is foreappointed, and let us understand that God hath foreseen what is good for us too endure, and that our afflictions befall us not without his good pleasure. Furthermore also let us understand that he handleth us not only with uprightness and reason: but also with a fatherly loving kindness. Lo what we have to mark. And this doctrine extendeth very far, howbeit, it consisteth more in experience than in talking upon it. For we may reason of it long enough [to no purpose] but the chief point is that every of us regard to profit himself by it at his need: as how? Surely our life would seem very short unto us, if it were not subject to so many wants: so long as we have our own wish and are at rest, every of us can confess that our life is nothing, and that it is as short as any thing can be. But when we think upon the infinite miseries wherewith it is full fraught, and that as soon as we be passed out of one misery we must enter straightways into another and begin continually new again: this long lingering makes us stark weary. And therefore let us have recourse to that which is said here: namely that God hath appointed the time, and that it is in him to dispose of us [as he listeth.]

for somuch (I saye) as God knoweth this, and therevpon declareth vnto vs, that hee holdeth vs vp according as he seeth our feeblenesse doth require, and that if he vphild vs not continually with his hand we shoulde bee in daunger to be broken all to peeces, but hee knoweth well how to moderate the weight of the afflictions that hee sendeth vs: now seeing wee haue such promises, haue we not good cause to be glad of this foresetting of the time? And further let vs marke well, that inasmuche as we haue our time determinate heere bylowe: we must thereafter make the comparison with Sainct Paule, betweene the miseries that last but the twincling of an eye: and the [endlesse] glory of heauen. For the shortnesse of the afflictions of this world (saith he) must make vs too thinke them light. For when we haue an eye to the euerlasting and endlesse kingdome of heauen: it ought to outway in the balance all the worldly miserie that is possible to be deuised. Seing then that the case standeth so, as ofte as we be tempted to ouersorowing, impaciēcie, or despair: let vs haue recourse to that which is sayd heere, which is, that the time thereof is foreappointed, and let vs vnderstand that God hath foreseene what is good for vs too indure, and that oure afflictions befall vs not without his good pleasure. Furthermore also let vs vnderstande that hee handleth vs not onely with vprightnesse and reason: but also with a fartherly louing kindnesse. Lo what we haue to marke. And this doctrine extēdeth very farre, howbeit, it consisteth more in experience than in talking vpon it. For we may reason of it long ynough [to no purpose] but the chiefe poynt is that euery of vs regard to profite himselfe by it at his neede: as how? Surely our life would seeme very short vnto vs, if it were not subiect to so many wantes: so long as we haue our owne wish and are at rest, euery of vs can confesse that our life is nothing, and that it is as short as any thing can be. But whē we thinke vppon the infinite miseries wherewith it is full fraughte, and that assoone as wee be passed out of one miserie wee muste enter streightways intoo another and begin continually new agayne: this long lingering makes vs starke weery. And therefore let vs haue recourse to that whych is sayde here: namely that God hath appointed the tyme, and that it is in him to dispose of vs [as he listeth.]