Sermons upon the Book of Job

howbeit that we must match another article with it, that is to wit, we must always think that God in afflicting us doeth not cease too love us, yea and that he will procure our salvation what rigour soever he use towards us, so as all our afflictions shall be assuaged through his grace, and he will give them a gladsome end. And after that Baldad hath spoken so, he addeth, Thy children have sinned, and God hath sent them too the place of their iniquity. But if thou return too him betimes, he will wake towards thee, or he will make prosperity come again. Hereby he meaneth that God hath set a fair looking glass before Jobs eyes, to the intent he should not advance himself any more, nor play the horse that is broken loose, seeing that they which are stubborn against God do come to confusion, & must be plunged into perdition for ever. Secondly there is a promise, that God doth still wait, & would fain draw him back to repentance, & therefore, that he ought to make haste while time serveth for it. Thus then ye see the two points that are touched here by Baldad. But I have told you before, how he misapplieth it to the person of Job. Why so? It is an evil case well handled. Therefore let us take the same for a general lesson, to the end that every of us may apply it to himself in his degree & according to his necessity. It is said here, that God punisheth such as are stubborn against him: and hereby his meaning is to humble us, that we might not give the bridle to the infirmity of our flesh, as our manner is to be too licentious. When we come to taking a stomach against God, we make less difficulty in it than if we should encounter with our inferior or with our equal. Behold (I say) the devilish boldness that reigneth all the world through: which is, that the party which will be afraid of a mortal creature, and would be loth to offend him, will anger God boldly and without remorse of conscience. And therefore let us remember well this lesson that is showed us here:

howbeit that wee muste matche another article with it, that is to witte, wee muste alwayes thinke that God in afflicting vs doeth not ceasse too loue vs, yea and that hee will procure our saluation what rigour soeuer he vse towardes vs, so as all our afflictions shall bee assuaged through his grace, and he will giue them a gladsome end. And after that Baldad hath spoken so, he addeth, Thy children haue sinned, and God hath sent them too the place of theyr iniquitie. But if thou returne too him betymes, hee will wake towardes thee, or hee will make prosperitie come agayne. Hereby hee meeneth that God hath set a fayre lookingglasse before Iobs eyes, to the intent hee shoulde not aduaunce himselfe any more, nor play the horse that is broken looce, seeing that they which are stubborne agaynste God do come to confusion, & must be plunged into perditiō for euer. Secōdly there is a promisse, that God doth still wayte, & would fayne draw him backe to repētance, & therefore, that he ought to make haste while time serueth for it. Thus thē ye see the two poynts that are touched here by Baldad. But I haue told you before, how he misapplieth it to the person of Iob. VVhy so? It is an euill cace well handled. Therefore let vs take the same for a generall lesson, to the end that euery of vs may apply it to himselfe in his degree & according to his necessitie. It is sayd here, that God punisheth such as are stubborne against him: and hereby his meening is to humble vs, that we might not giue the bridle to the infirmity of our flesh, as our maner is to be too licentious. VVhen we come to taking a stomake agaynst God, wee make lesse difficultie in it than if wee shoulde incounter with our inferiour or with our equall. Behold (I say) the diuelish boldnesse that raigneth all the world through: which is, that the party which will be afraide of a mortall creature, and wouldbe loth to offend him, will anger God boldely and without remorse of conscience. And therefore lette vs remember well this lesson that is shewed vs heere: