Sermons upon the Book of Job

Lord what is man that thou makest so much of him. Ye see here how the words are set in their proper signification: but in Jobs saying, they be taken clean contrary. For in the said text of the Psalm which I have alleged, David recounteth Gods infinite goodness, in that he thinketh so upon his creatures, and that he vouchsafeth too have a care of them too guide them, and to govern them. If ye look upon man in himself, ye shall see so poor a creature, as it may well seem that God ought not too have respect of him, or too caste his §50eye upon him. Now then when we see that God not only vouchsafeth too govern men, but also maketh them Lords of all his creatures: according as it is said there, that he hath made both the beasts of the field, and the birds of the air, and the fishes of the sea, too serve our turns withal: seeing he hath so disposed all things to serve us, and to succour our necessities: it seemeth that God beareth us such a love, as he putteth all that he hath under our hands, saying, I withhold nothing from you. Ye see then that the wretchedness and poorness §60of men, yieldeth a greater beauty to Gods goodness and mercy, than if we had any thing of our own that could provoke him to do us good. Thus ye see Davids plain meaning. And this thing is specially fulfilled in the person of our Lord Jesus Christ. For although he be the only son of God: yet notwithstanding, so it is that in respect of his manhood he was the son of Abraham, and was fully like us in all points, sin only excepted. And so when we see that God hath made much of him by giving all things into his hand, to the end that we should recover that thing in him, which we lost in Adam: therein God hath showed the great and infinite treasures of his mercy. And verily Jesus Christ is the true looking glass of Gods grace, which afterward is spread out upon all his members. And so after the example of David, we have good cause too exalt the goodness of God, when we see that having begun first in Adam, and afterward in Jesus Christ, (by whom all is made whole again that was beaten down and defaced in Adam) he continueth still at this day in doing us good, and we be made partakers of all his riches.

Lorde what is man that thou makest so muche of him. Yee see heere howe the woordes are sette in theyr proper signification: but in Iobs saying, they bee taken cleane contrarie. For in the said text of the Psalme which I haue alledged, Dauid recounteth Gods infinite goodnesse, in that he thinketh so vpon his creatures, and that he vouchsafeth too haue a care of them too guyde them, and to gouerne them. If ye looke vpon man in himselfe, ye shall see so poore a creature, as it may well seeme that God ought not too haue respect of him, or too caste his