Sermons upon the Book of Job

THE holy Scripture telleth us oftentimes that God pitieth us in respect of our frailty: for we must not think that he is moved with any worthiness that is in us: there is no such thing. Then if §20God spare us and use mercy towards us, it is more in respect of the neediness that he knoweth to be in us, than otherwise: according also as it is said, he considereth that men are but as grass which fadeth out of hand and withereth away. Men are but flesh, (that is to say, corruption) and breath, that is to say a wind that passeth away and vanisheth without returning any more. Now seeing that the holy Scripture witnesseth this unto us: we also ought to set it before us in our prayers, for to that intent doth the holy Ghost speak it. Then let us §30bear in mind, that if we will move God to pity, we must not allege that we have deserved aught at his hand, or that there is any excellency in our persons or in our nature. All this gear must be laid under foot, and there is none otherway for us to deal, but to acknowledge, Alas Lord, what am I but rottenness? I fleet away incontinently, there is no strength in me, my life is but a shadow. When we speak after this manner: it is a following of the warning that the holy Ghost giveth us. But we must advise our selves well, after what sort and to what purpose §40we use such manner of speech: that is to wit, that all should redound to Gods glory, and to worship him by humbling ourselves unto him. For there are that can skill to say, Alas, I am but a worm, there is nothing in me but vanity, my life is but a smoke that vanisheth away: & yet in the mean while they have neither humility nor obedience, to abase themselves before God, and to acknowledge how it is he to whom they are beholding for all things: but clean contrariwise, the same shall tend rather to make such complaint as this: How now? Seeing that God hath authority §50over all his creatures, were it not meet that he should give us that which he taketh from us? were it not meet that we should have this or that? Then let us mark, that when the Scripture telleth us that God pitieth us in consideration that we be so frail, and that our life is less than nothing:

THE holy Scripture telleth vs oftentimes that God pitieth vs in respecte of our frailtie: for we must not thinke that he is moued with any worthinesse that is in vs: there is no such thing. Then if