Sermons upon the Book of Job

and that because his root is continually soaked, the tree doth never wither nor dry away, but continueth still in his freshness. And why? It is too show that God never suffereth good men too perish. For his grace floweth always upon them, to maintain them too the end, yea and too maintain them without end. For we be watered, not only to be maintained here for a certain time: but for too come too everlasting life. Ye see then that such as yield themselves wholly unto God, are as a tree planted by a Rivers side, so as they flourish for ever. But this is yet better expressed in the seventeenth of Jeremiah: because the Prophet compriseth both the parts there. Cursed (sayeth he) is the man that trusteth in man, and setteth flesh to be his hope or strength. He shall be as grass or as the heath that shooteth up a little among the sand in the wilderness. Well, it is true that there shall be some freshness in it, howbeit the same shall be scorched incontinent by means of heat, insomuch that such a shrub shall be burnt up by and by of the Sun. Even so standeth the case with all such as are fresh and green, and put not their trust in God, but either trust in themselves, or else have their eyes upon creatures. But happy is the man that trusteth in God: for whatsoever heat of the Sun he have, though he seem to be burnt up: yet shall he be so watered, and God will give him such nourishment, as he shall not decay. And although that the Prophet Jeremiah, by setting down these two comparisons too give light the one too the other, do sufficiently express that which is said here: yet notwithstanding there is yet more in this Text. For here Baldad hath chosen a kind of herb that cannot be nourished without water. In the Psalm it is said, that the wicked shall be like the Grass that groweth upon the house tops: we see that some weeds grow well upon house tops: But the good herbs shall be trampled under foot. Men will walk upon a meadow ground: nevertheless when the time of the year cometh, ye see that the herbs of the meadows do grow and flourish. And although the meadow be mowen, yet doth the grass spring, and become fresh again. But what cometh of the weeds upon a house top? Can they stand a man in any stead? No:

and that bycause his roote is continually soked, the tree dooth neuer wither nor drie away, but continueth still in his freshnesse. And why? It is too shewe that God neuer suffereth good menne too perishe. For his grace floweth alwayes vpon them, to mainteyne them too the ende, yea and too mainteyne them without ende. For wee bee watered, not onely to bee mainteyned heere for a certayne time: but for too come too euerlasting life. Yee see then that suche as yeelde themselues wholly vntoo God, are as a tree planted by a Ryuers side, so as they florish for euer. But this is yet better expressed in the seuententh of Ieremie: bycause the Prophet compryzeth both the partes there. Cursed (sayeth hee) is the man that trusteth in man, and setteth flesh to bee his hope or strength. He shall bee as grasse or as the heath that shooteth vp a little among the sande in the wildernesse. VVell, it is true that there shall bee some freshnesse in it, howbeit the same shall be scorched incontinent by meanes of heate, insomuch that suche a shrubbe shall bee burnt vp by and by of the Sunne. Euen so standeth the cace with all suche as are freshe and greene, and put not their trust in God, but eyther trust in themselues, or else haue their eies vppon creatures. But happie is the man that trusteth in God: for whatsoeuer heat of the Sunne hee haue, though hee seeme to bee burnt vppe: yet shall hee bee so watred, and God will giue him suche nourishment, as hee shall not decay. And although that the Prophete Ieremie, by setting downe these two comparisons too giue light the one too the other, doo sufficiently expresse that whiche is sayde heere: yet notwithstanding there is yet more in this Text. For here Baldad hath chozen a kinde of hearbe that cannot bee nourished without water. In the Psalme it is sayde, that the wicked shall bee like the Grasse that groweth vppon the house toppes: we see that some weedes growe well vpon house toppes: But the good hearbes shall bee trampled vnder foote. Men will walke vpon a medow ground: neuerthelesse when the time of the yeare commeth, yee see that the hearbes of the meddowes doo growe and florish. And although the medowe bee mowen, yet doth the grasse spring, and become freshe againe. But what commeth of the weedes vppon a house toppe? Can they stande a man in any steade? No: