Sermons upon the Book of Job

Furthermore it behoveth God to stablish that thing which he hath once put into us: for if he maintained it not by his grace, all would go to decay. And specially we must come to the Highest point, that is to wit, to the Resurrection which is promised us. And where shall we find that? Not in our own nature. But we must sty up above the world, and we must understand that there is none but only Jesus Christ, which is the true mirror wherein to see that thing. There we see that God will raise us up again too glory, that he will pluck us out of the corruption and rottenness wherein we now walk, and wherein we should abide [for ever,] were it not for this extraordinary remedy whereby he helpeth the matter. Ye see then how we must be fain too come too Jesus Christ, to know whereat it behoveth us to look, when we hope to be raised up again at the last day. Verily Saint Paul useth certain similitudes which he taketh of the common order of nature, too show the Resurrection: as when he saith, ye see how the grains of corn and other seeds are cast into the ground, and there rotting do grow up again. Now (saith he) in that men sow the bare corn, and afterward the same groweth up again out of the rottenness whereinto it behoved it to be first turned: ye have a figure and image of the Resurrection. But yet is not this as much to say, as that we see our Resurrection there: It serveth only too show, that the faithless are unthankful and overlewd to Godward when they dispute how it is possible that our bodies should rise again after they be so rotted and turned into dust. If such as will be so wise in their own conceit, do shoot out their subtle devises, and thereupon conclude that it is unpossible for God to raise us up again: Saint Paul showeth that such folk are malicious, and that it is nothing else but their own unthankfulness that turneth them away from the receiving of this power of God, whereby he promiseth too set us in perfect state again. And why so? For he giveth us certain familiar likelihoods in the order of nature, too assure us of his good purpose. So then, when Saint Paul useth the foresaid manner of reasoning: it is not meant that our Resurrection shall be as a natural thing:

Furthermore it behoueth God to stablishe that thing whiche he hath once put into vs: for if hee mainteyned it not by his grace, all woulde goe to decay. And specially we must come to the Highest poynt, that is to witte, to the Resurrection which is promised vs. And where shall wee fynde that? Not in our owne nature. But wee muste stie vppe aboue the worlde, and wee must vnderstande that there is none but onely Iesus Christe, whiche is the true mirrour wherein to see that thing. There wee see that God will rayse vs vp againe too glorie, that hee will plucke vs out of the corruption and rottennesse wherein we nowe walke, and wherein wee shoulde abyde [for euer,] were it not for this extraordinarie remedie whereby hee helpeth the matter. Yee see then howe wee must bee fayne too come too Iesus Christ, to knowe whereat it behoueth vs to looke, when we hope to be raysed vp agayne at the last day. Verely Sainct Paule vseth certaine similitudes whiche hee taketh of the common order of nature, too shewe the Resurrection: as when he sayth, ye see how the graines of corne and other seeds are cast into the ground, and there rotting do growe vp againe. Nowe (saythe hee) in that men sowe the bare corne, and afterwarde the same groweth vp againe out of the rottennesse whereintoo it behoued it to be first turned: ye haue a figure and image of the Resurrection. But yet is not this as muche to say, as that wee see oure Resurrection there: It serueth onely too shewe, that the faythlesse are vnthankfull and ouerlewde to Godwarde when they dispute how it is possible that our bodies shoulde ryse againe after they be so rotted and turned into duste. If suche as will be so wise in theyr owne conceyte, do shoote out their suttle deuises, and therevpon conclude that it is vnpossible for God to rayse vs vp againe: Saincte Paule sheweth that suche folke are malicious, and that it is nothing else but their owne vnthankfulnesse that turneth them awaye from the receyuing of this power of God, whereby hee poomiseth too set vs in perfite state agayne. And why so? For he gyueth vs certayne familiar likelyhodes in the order of nature, too assure vs of his good purpose. So then, when Sainct Paule vseth the foresayde maner of reasoning: it is not meante that oure Resurrection shall bee as a naturall thing: