Sermons upon the Book of Job

For that is for those to do which would have the bridle laid loose in their neck to run at rovers, to the end that God should not chastise them at all. But if it were so: what should we gain by it? Let us put the case that God did shut his eyes, and that he did let us run at random all the fields over, so as we gave our selves to riot, & he passed not of it: what should become §50of us? Behold, the devil would seize, upon us and we should be his pray, and he would carry us even into destruction. So then let us know that there is nothing better for our welfare, than that God should have his eyes open continually, that he should see all that we do, and specially that he should gauge the bottom of our thoughts, and that we should not remove one fingers breadth, nor step forth one pace, but he should note it & mark it, assuring our selves (I say) that it should not be for our profit, if he did otherwise. Thus ye see what we have to gather upon §60this text. And by and by Job addeth, Howe long will it be ere thou let me alone, and withdraw ••y self from me till I have swallowed in my spittle? Here Job declareth his passions wherewith he had been tempted. By the way we have to bear in mind what hath been said heretofore: that is to wit, that Job felt always some comfort, & that God forsook him not for a full do. Job then showeth here after what sort he was affectioned as in respect of the flesh, to the intent his friends might know, that he made not so great complaint without cause. And the better to express the anguish wherein he was, he turneth himself to God, because he sees he shall gain nothing at mens hands. But yet for all that, he ceaseth not to regard men, yea even too much. For had he been well gathered into himself, and had he made his prayer unto God: it is certain that he had behaved himself more quietly, and he had showed a greater token of faith and patience. What is the cause that Job martyreth himself in such sort, as it may seem at the first blush, that he is a desperate person? It is for that he hath an eye to the reproaches that are offered him, and he is not able to bear them, to pass them over, and to have an eye unto God. And this is it that I said heretofore, namely that if men come to molest and to sting us, we must not look upon that, we must not cast our countenance thitherward:

For that is for those to do which woulde haue the brydle layd looce in their necke to runne at rouers, to the end that God should not chastize them at all. But if it were so: what should we gayne by it? Let vs put the cace that God did shet his eyes, and that he did let vs runne at randon all the feeldes ouer, so as wee gaue oure selues to riot, & he passed not of it: what should become