Sermons upon the Book of Job

And therefore let us mark, that in alleging our frailty before God, it is not enough to humble our selves, and too confess that we have nothing wherein we may advance our selves: but we must have the modesty to confess that God is righteous, in making us to be in such state, yea though we perceive not the cause of it: and that although he have hid these secretes from us, yet must not we plead against him, nor have any heartburning in us, as if we were oversore pressed: but must bridle our selves with this, that God hath had just cause to set us in such state, as we might be hedged in with all manner of miseries and afflictions ⟨p. 141⟩Why so? To the end to hold us in awe and subjection unto him, and that we might not have the said presumption and puffednesse of pride. And hereunto Job addeth, That his life is nothing, and that he shall not return again to see good, that is to say, to take pleasure of the things that God giveth men in this present life. The eye (saith he) of the Seer shall see me no more: that is to say, I shall be no longer here. And in the end he likeneth man to a cloud. Ye see how a cloud vanisheth away, and a man can not tell where it becometh, and it returneth §10no more into his former state. And even so he that goeth down into the grave shall come no more up again. Job speaketh here of the frailty of mans life. And it is to the end that God should not handle him with such rigour, according as he will say anon in another strain, what am I that thou shouldest stretch out thine arm against me? as if he should say, Lord wilt thou fight against a shadow? But a man may think it strange, that Job speaking of death, leaveth no more hope neither for him self nor for all mankind, as who should say that in dying §20we do perish, and are utterly dispatched for a doe, and shall never be restored again. For he saith that the man which is once laid in his grave, abideth there and never returneth any more. It seemeth here that Job speaketh like an unbeliever, that hath neither known nor tasted aught at all of the true Religion. But we must consider that in this place he speaketh of the death of men as it is in it self, like as the holy scripture also useth the same manner of inditing very oftentimes elsewhere.

And therefore let vs marke, that in alledging our frailtie before God, it is not ynough to humble our selues, and too confesse that wee haue nothing wherein wee may auaunce our selues: but wee must haue the modestie to confesse that God is rightuous, in making vs to bee in suche state, yea though wee perceiue not the cause of it: and that although hee haue hid these secretes from vs, yet must not we plead againste him, nor haue any harteburning in vs, as if we were ouersore pressed: but muste bridle oure selues with this, that God hathe had iuste cause to set vs in suche state, as wee might bee hedged in with all manner of miseries and afflictions