Sermons upon the Book of Job

Again ye see some tree that is well planted, and yet notwithstanding the master of the garden will take it up, not of purpose to destroy it altogether, for the tree is good of it self, and well rooted: but because it is not in convenient place, and therefore the master takes it up to plant it again elsewhere. Now if a man set it in a larger place, where it shall have no impeachment, and where it may find good battling and §50moisture: ought the tree to complain of it▪ Is the state of it impaired? No: but it is rather a cheeridg of it. Not that trees have any understanding to be glad of it: but because the case is here, too show that the tree is not appayred at all, when it is so removed from one place too another. But this similitude must be applied too those whom God plucketh not up for a doe. He taketh them up for a time, but he preserveth the root, to the intent that being new planted again, they may spring a new and bring forth fruit. This is done daily at such times §60as God chastiseth us, yea even with such roughness, as it may well seem at the first, that he will utterly overwhelm us, so as there is no more hope for us: but anon after, he giveth us the grace to return unto him. This is as if a rich man that hath great possessions, should dig up a tree in his garden, and set it in a field where it might burnish better. The Sun cherisheth it, and the ground where it is planted is fitter for it to take deeper root, so as the tree waxeth big, and is able too gather greater strength. After the same sort worketh God with those that are his. And therefore if we be scourged by his hand, yea even so hardly, as it seemeth to be as it were a kind of death: yet must we not be quite out of heart for it, because we know that God can well set us in good state again, so as we shall flourish, and he will set us in prosperity as before. Ye see what is declared here in effect. And for a conclusion Baldad addeth, That God will not take a wicked man by the band too favour him, nor forsake the good men, but will rather fill their mouth with laughter. True it is that here he speaketh of Job. And in his person he meaneth to do us to wit, that all such as return unto God, shall find him gracious and favourable toward them. In fine he saith, The tent of the wicked shall not be able too stand:

Againe yee see some tree that is well planted, and yet notwithstandnig the mayster of the garden will take it vp, not of purpose to destroy it altogither, for the tree is good of it selfe, and well rooted: but bycause it is not in conuenient place, and therefore the master takes it vp to plant it againe elsewhere. Nowe if a man set it in a larger place, where it shall haue no impeachment, and where it maye fynde good batling and