Sermons upon the Book of Job

Now then if we have our minds thus disposed, then shall God be honoured as he deserveth. But i• we be hasty, if we be furnish, if we cast forth our complaints at random to say, What shall become of it? It seemeth that God will never make any end of our miseries: I say that if we do so, it is all one as if we would pluck God out of his seat, and not suffer him to have any more authority over us. Lo how Job dealeth in this case. True it is that he is patient howsoever the world go: but yet is that no let but that there is some faultiness mingled therewith: for the patience of the faithful sort is not always so perfect as were requisite. Seeing that Job hath missed in this behalf, ought not we to bethink our selves well who are fully as brittle or more? So then let us mark well that as often as God shall scourge us, although the misery endure and be prolonged, and although we see not that he intendeth to deliver us out of hand: yet notwithstanding we must not go after the manner of Job and say, What? God leaveth me here in continual torment, and he seeth that my misery hath none end. But let us feed our selves with hope, and (as I said) let us call to mind that the determining of the time must not be by our lust, but that it is God that must order it according as he knoweth it to be good. And if we perceive not the end of our miseries at the first, but that it seem we must endure yet more: let us not cease to taste of the goodness which he hath promised us. For Gods promises will lead us to the darkness of death, and there give us light to the intent to put us always in some hope that we shall one day be delivered from our adversities. And here ye see why Saint Paul saith, that although we be harried here and there, yea and that we be made as it were the of skourings of all things: yet shall we not continue in that case, but God will gather us up to himself to join us with him, and to live for ever. Behold how we ought to profit our selves by all the promises that God maketh unto us, that we may taste of them in the midst of all our miseries. But now let us come to that which Job addeth. He useth similitudes to express what he meant by the appointing of the time whereof he hath made mention.

Now then if we haue our mindes thus disposed, then shal God be honoured as hee deserueth. But i• we be hastie, if we be furnish, if we cast forthe our complaintes at randon to saye, VVhat shall become of it? It seemeth that God will neuer make any end of our miseries: I say that if wee doe so, it is all one as if we would plucke God out of his seate, and not suffer him to haue any more authoritie ouer vs. Lo how Iob dealeth in this cace. True it is that he is pacient howsoeuer the world go: but yet is that no let but that there is some faultinesse mingled therewith: for the pacience of the faithfull sort is not alwayes so perfect as were requisite. Seeing that Iob hath missed in this behalfe, ought not wee to bethinke our selues well who are fully as brittle or more? So then let vs marke well that as often as God shal scourge vs, although the miserie indure and be prolonged, and although we see not that he intendeth to deliuer vs out of hand: yet notwithstanding wee must not goe after the manner of Iob and saye, VVhat? God leaueth me here in continuall torment, and he seeth that my miserie hathe none ende. But let vs feede oure selues with hope, and (as I sayde) let vs call to mynde that the determining of the time must not be by our lust, but that it is God that muste order it according as hee knoweth it to be good. And if we perceiue not the end of our miseries at the first, but that it seeme we must indure yet more: let vs not cease to tast of the goodnesse which hee hath promised vs. For Gods promises will lead vs to the darknesse of death, and there giue vs light to the intente to put vs alwayes in some hope that we shall one daye be deliuered from oure aduersities. And heere yee see why Saint Paule saith, that although we be harried heere and there, yea and that we be made as it were the of skourings of all things: yet shall wee not continue in that cace, but God will gather vs vp to himselfe to ioyne vs with him, and to liue for euer. Behold how we ought to profite our selues by all the promises that God maketh vnto vs, that wee may tast of them in the middes of all oure miseries. But now let vs come to that which Iob addeth. He vseth similitudes to expresse what he meant by the appointing of the time whereof hee hath made mention.