Sermons upon the Book of Job

And here I see ye are overmastered: for he will set his feet upon mens bellies, (as they say) yea and upon their throats, and hold them still at that point, even till he have forced them to despair. For this cause when we enter into the consideration of our own wants, let us be well advised, that after we have bethought us of them, we be not utterly overwhelmed, so as we should not in the mean while always acknowledge the good things that God hath done for us and put into us, and which he bestoweth upon us continually, together with the remedies which he hath given us to relieve those wants wherein we should have rotted, had not Gods extraordinary goodness been. Then let us learn to know this, to the end we may take our breath. Thus ye see what we have to mark in this strain. And it ensueth, Seeing it is so (saith Job) I will not spare my mouth, I must needs speak, I must needs make my moan, I must needs talk of my sorrow and anguish. Herein we see that which I have touched already: that although Jobs consideration was good, and although the thing that he allegeth here be both holy and agreeable to the doctrine of the holy ghost: yet he ceaseth not to have some temptation of excess. For he saith, Behold I must needs speak, seeing I have not past a moment to live: for I am overpressed with the hand of God: and therefore I must revenge my self by speaking in my sorrows, for I can not hold my self. True it is that God giveth us leave to speak in making our moan. Howbeit, not in such wise as there should be any choler in it, or that it should be to increase our sorrows, whereas we think to ease them by that means. What then? It is permitted, to the intent we should return unto him, to unburden our selves by it. Sometimes they that speak not at all cease not to displease God more grievously through their impatience, than they that blaspheme with full mouth. Doubtless it is a very heinous crime when men dare open their mouths to blaspheme God. But yet there are many also that will not utter one word, and yet are they full of rancour against God, yea they be much fuller of pride and bitterness than those that speak. Ye shall see some man that will chafe upon the bridle like a Mule, and yet not speak one word.

And here I see yee are ouermaystred: for hee will set his feete vpon mens bellies, (as they say) yea and vpon their throtes, and holde them still at that poynte, euen till hee haue forced them to dispayre. For this cause when wee enter intoo the consideration of our owne wantes, let vs bee well aduised, that after we haue bethought vs of them, we be not vtterly ouerwhelmed, so as wee should not in the meane while alwayes acknowledge the good thinges that God hath done for vs and put into vs, and which he bestoweth vpon vs continually, togither with the remedies whiche hee hathe giuen vs to releeue those wantes wherein wee should haue rotted, had not Gods extraordinarie goodnesse bene. Then let vs learne to knowe this, to the ende we may take our breath. Thus yee see what wee haue to marke in this streyne. And it insueth, Seeing it is so (sayth Iob) I will not spare my mouthe, I muste needes speake, I muste needes make my mone, I must needes talke of my sorrowe and anguishe. Herein we see that which I haue touched alreadie: that although Iobs consideration was good, and although the thing that he alledgeth here be both holie and agreeable to the doctrine of the holy ghost: yet he ceasseth not to haue some temptation of excesse. For he sayth, Behold I must needes speake, seeing I haue not past a moment to liue: for I am ouerpressed with the hand of God: and therfore I must reuenge my selfe by speaking in my sorrowes, for I can not hold my selfe. True it is that God giueth vs leaue to speake in making our mone. Howbeit, not in such wise as there should be any choler in it, or that it shoulde be to encrease our sorrowes, wheras we thinke to ease thē by that meanes. VVhat then? It is permitted, to the intent we should returne vnto him, to vnburthen our selues by it. Sometimes they that speake not at all ceasse not to displease God more greeuously through their impaciencie, than they that blaspheme with full mouthe. Doubtlesse it is a verie heynous cryme when men dare open theyr mouthes to blaspheme God. But yet there are many also that will not vtter one word, and yet are they full of rancour against God, yea they bee much fuller of pryde and bitternesse than those that speake. Yee shall see some man that will chafe vpon the bridle like a Mule, and yet not speake one word.