Sermons upon the Book of Job

but God will put all good mens▪ enemies to shame. And he will not only show him self favourable too their persons: but if they be troubled or grieved, he will put himself betwixt them, and show that he hath them under his defence and protection. And here we see a sentence that is well worthy too be noted: that is to wit, that we be like trees that are taken up out of some one place to be planted again in another. I speak of the children of God. For the wicked may well be taken up by the roots also: but that shall be too continue without hope to be planted again, as we hear the threatening that is made by our Lord Jesus Christ when he saith, that every tree which bringeth not forth fruit shall be hewen down and made firewood. Lo here what horrible blows God giveth to the wicked. And why? for he seeth them to be utterly reprobate and given up to damnation: and therefore he must stub them up for ever. Also he saith likewise that every tree which is not planted by the heavenly father, shall be plucked up by the root. But we shall see many, who for a time will make fair countenance, and it will seem that they be even of those trees which God hath set in his garden, and in his own possession: for there are hypocrites mingled with the faithful. They would fain be of that sort that is most advanced in the Church. But what for that? they be not planted to have any good and sure root: and therefore in the end God must stub them up. As much is to be said of the vine, namely that our Lord Jesus Christ is the stock of the vine, and we the branches that were grafted therein. If we bring forth good fruit: the father manureth us, and we feel that he hath his hand always upon us, to make his graces available, and to multiply them. But if we bear evil fruit, or if we be altogether fruitless, so as God may make this complaint which he maketh by his Prophet, My vine, what have I done to thee that thou bearest me nothing but bitterness? I have looked for some sweetness at thy hand, & it seemeth that thou wouldest choke thy master: What shall I then do, but pluck thee up? this ought to make ⟨p. 162⟩our hair stand up upon our heads, for (as I said) we are as good as quite stubbed up.

but God will put all good mens▪ enemies to shame. And hee will not onely shewe him selfe fauourable too their persons: but if they bee troubled or greeued, hee will put himselfe betwixte them, and shewe that hee hathe them vnder his defence and protection. And heere wee see a sentence that is well woorthye too bee noted: that is to witte, that wee be like trees that are taken vp out of some one place to bee planted agayne in another. I speake of the children of God. For the wicked may well bee taken vppe by the rootes also: but that shall bee too continue without hope to bee planted agayne, as wee heare the threatning that is made by oure Lorde Iesus Christ when hee sayth, that euery tree which bringeth not foorth fruite shall bee hewen downe and made firewoode. Lo heere what horrible blowes God giueth to the wicked. And why? for hee seeth them to bee vtterlie reprobate and giuen vp to damnation: and therefore hee must stub them vp for euer. Also hee sayth likewise that euerie tree which is not planted by the heauenly father, shall be plucked vp by the roote. But wee shall see many, who for a time will make faire countenance, and it will seeme that they bee euen of those trees whiche God hath set in his garden, and in his own possession: for there are hipocrits mingled with the faithfull. They would faine be of that sort that is most aduaunced in the Church. But what for that? they be not planted to haue any good and sure roote: and therefore in the end God must stub them vp. As much is to bee sayde of the vine, namely that oure Lorde Iesus Christe is the stocke of the vine, and wee the braunches that were graffed therin. If we bring forth good fruite: the father manureth vs, and we feele that hee hath his hande alwayes vpon vs, to make his graces auailable, and to multiplie them. But if wee beare euill fruite, or if we be altogether fruitlesse, so as God may make this complaint which he maketh by his Prophet, My vine, what haue I done to thee that thou bearest me nothing but bitternesse? I haue looked for some sweetnesse at thy hand, & it seemeth that thou wouldest choke thy master: VVhat shall I then doe, but plucke thee vp? this ought to make