Sermons upon the Book of Job

And when we chafe at our adversities, we wage battle against God, and would overthrow his Justice and bring it to nothing, as near as we can. Yet notwithstanding §40it behoveth us to go on further, if we will be rightly patient. And why so? because we shall be nevertheless tempted to despair though we have known the righteousness and Justice of God. Look upon a poor sinner that feeleth himself pressed too the uttermost: well he will confess (yea even unfeignedly) that God is righteous in punishing him: but yet it seemeth to him that he shall perish, & that there is no forgiveness to be looked for in his case. Ye see then how he which is visited by the hand of God may fall into despair,§50 notwithstanding that he acknowledge God to be righteous. And in good faith we see what is happened unto Job. True it is that he was not utterly destitute of patience: but yet he ceased not to be tormented with horrible passions, as we have seen heretofore and shall see hereafter. And certainly, he doubted not at all that God was righteous: but he had an eye to his own infirmity, [saying in himself:] Lord I am frail, and yet nevertheless, thou utterest thy strength against me: and what am I? It seemeth that thou art minded here §60too thunder against me silly creature which am less than a worm. Ye see now wherewith Job sound himself grieved and vexed: namely, that he could not (at the first brunt) taste how God succoured him in the midst of his rigour: and afterward would give him a happy end of it, so he tarried his leisure. Verily Job had some feeling hereof: but yet he is so cumbered with heaviness, as he could not rid and dispatch himself of it at the first brunt. Ye see then that Job is partly unpacient: And notwithstanding that he be set forth to us as a mirror of patience: yet are his afflictions so vehement, that he quaileth. What is the reason? It is because he hath not such a savour of the fatherly care that God hath of him, as is requisite. For this cause I have said, that to know Gods righteousness and too be fully persuaded of it, is a mean too bring us too patience:

And when we chafe at our aduersities, we wage battell against God, and woulde ouerthrowe his Iustice and bring it to nothing, as neere as we can. Yet notwithstanding §40it behoueth vs to go on further, if wee will bee rightly pacient. And why so? bycause we shall bee neuerthelesse tempted to despayre though wee haue knowne the rightuousnesse and Iustice of God. Looke vpon a poore sinner that feeleth himselfe pressed too the vttermost: well hee will confesse (yea euen vnfaynedly) that God is rightuous in punishing him: but yet it seemeth to him that he shall perishe, & that there is no forgiuenesse to bee looked for in his cace. Yee see then how he which is visited by the hande of God may fall into despayre,