Sermons upon the Book of Job

True it is that a man may live fifty or threescore years, but yet must we come back to that which is said in the song of Moses, namely that before God, a thousand years are but as one day, and therefore that a mans life is but as a dream that is past already. If we considered well the shortness of our life, how it glideth away as a shadow: it is certain that we would be so much the more diligent to inquire after things past. And why? For we are ignorant if we look no further than too the said shortness of life. But Gods will is that the things which have bin done before we were borne should be as it were present with us by stories, and by that which is left us in them. ⟨p. 158⟩Ye see then how gracious God hath showed himself towards us, in that he hath gathered all times together, and brought too pass, that a man which liveth but fifty years in this world, may be able to comprehend five thousand years that were before him, and too dispose them, put them in order, and know them. Ye see how long time slipped away afore the flood. Very well, how went things then? Howe hath God wrought since the flood? When it liked him to prepare himself a Church, after what manner did he govern it? Howe did the §10faithful behave themselves which were persecuted for witnessing the truth? Afterward, when faults were crept in, how did God redress them? Again, how did the Church continue in her state, after it was set a float? I say we may see all these things as it were before our eyes, and yet notwithstanding there are above five thousand years passed. It is true. But (as I have said) it is a grace of God which cannot be prized sufficiently. And surely this ought too spur us well forward, not only to look before our feet: but also to §20cast our eyes further off, knowing that God hath set us upon a stage, where he will have us too discover the time, not only of an hundred years or more, but also even since the beginning of the world. Now we see what was Baldad's intent, and also in what wise we ought to apply this sentence too our own use: that is too wit, that seeing we are but of yesterday, and that our life is but a shadow (that is to say, that we abide not so long time in this world, that the things which we see here may suffice us:)

True it is that a man may liue fiftie or threescore yeares, but yet must we come backe to that which is sayde in the song of Moyses, namely that before God, a thousande yeares are but as one day, and therefore that a mans life is but as a dreame that is past alreadie. If wee considered well the shortnesse of our life, howe it glydeth away as a shadow: it is certaine that wee woulde be so much the more diligent to inquire after things past. And why? For wee are ignorant if we looke no further than too the sayde shortnes of life. But Gods wil is that the things which haue bin done before we were borne should be as it were present with vs by storyes, and by that which is left vs in them.