Sermons upon the Book of Job

Therefore while God giveth us some leisure, let us learn to think upon our infirmities which are so excessive in us, and too know that there is nothing better than that God should visit us, look to us, and dispose of us: for else we should decay every minute. Thus ye see what we have to mark upon this strain. And it is certain that in the person of one faithful and patient man, God intended to give us a mirror of our inordinate affections, to the end we should beware of them, and seek too feel the succour and refreshment that are showed us here. And how shall we feel it? There is no better way than too call upon him that hath all power in himself, that he may restrain us and not suffer us to start aside when we be chastised after that sort by his hand. Now he addeth immediately, I have sinned, what shall I do to thee, O thou the keeper of men? Some men expound this, as though Job disputed against God, saying: I can do none other but sin, wherefore haste thou made me such a one? If thou be the preserver of men: why shouldest thou condemn me so, seeing it lieth in thee too save me? But a man may well see that this is not the natural meaning: and such as take it so, never knew the intent of the holy Ghost as touching this strain: & moreover they have ill considered that which is witnessed to us concerning Job, how he was patient how soever the world went with him. What is it then that Job meant? It is as if he should say, well, I confess my fault, & I cannot scape the judgement of God. Why so? He is the keeper of men. But this word Keeper, hath been misconstrued: for men have taken it for a preserver of mankind, and for one that shieldeth them under his protection. It is certain, that (as the Greek translator also hath well marked, which thing he is not commonly wont too do) Job meant too say, that God waiteth upon us, that he watcheth us, and that he knoweth all, as if a man should watch one too spy and mark all that ever he doth and sayeth. Ye see then in what sense Job applieth this title unto God, That is the Keeper of men. True ⟨p. 149⟩it is that God doth well preserve us, that he hath us in his hand, and that our life continueth by him.

Therfore whyle God gyueth vs some leysure, let vs learne to thinke vppon oure infirmities whiche are so excessiue in vs, and too knowe that there is nothing better than that God shoulde visit vs, looke to vs, and dispose of vs: for else wee shoulde decay euery minute. Thus yee see what wee haue to marke vpon this streyne. And it is certayne that in the person of one faythfull and pacient man, God intended to gyue vs a mirrour of our inordinate affections, to the ende wee shoulde beware of them, and seeke too feele the succour and refreshment that are shewed vs heere. And howe shall wee feele it? There is no better way than too call vpon him that hath all power in himselfe, that he may restreyne vs and not suffer vs to starte aside when wee be chastyzed after that sorte by his hand. Nowe hee addeth immediately, I haue sinned, what shall I do to thee, O thou the keeper of men? Some men expound this, as though Iob disputed agaynst God, saying: I can do none other but sinne, wherefore haste thou made mee suche a one? If thou bee the preseruer of men: why shouldest thou condemne mee so, seeyng it lyeth in thee too saue mee? But a man may well see that this is not the naturall meening: and such as take it so, neuer knewe the intent of the holy Ghost as toucing this streyne: & moreouer they haue yll considered that which is witnessed to vs concerning Iob, how hee was pacient how soeuer the worlde went with him. VVhat is it then that Iob ment? It is as if he should say, well, I confesse my fault, & I cannot scape the iudgement of God. VVhy so? Hee is the keeper of men. But this woorde Keeper, hath bene misconstrued: for men haue taken it for a preseruer of mankinde, and for one that sheeldeth them vnder his protectiō. It is certeyne, that (as the Greeke translater also hath well marked, whiche thing hee is not commonly woont too doe) Iob ment too say, that God wayteth vppon vs, that hee watcheth vs, and that hee knoweth all, as if a man shoulde watche one too spie and marke all that euer hee dooth and sayeth. Yee see then in what sense Iob applyeth this title vnto God, That is the Keeper of men. True