Sermons upon the Book of Job

but it is as if a man should shred off divers of the boughs of a tree, when he sees there is too many of them. And well may a man cut off the one half of a tree, and yet shall it continue still how so ever the world go, and afterward sprout out new branches. Even so is it with us, when God useth some mean corrections, and falleth not too §50extreme rigour. But if God list to try us to the uttermost, (as it may come to pass that we shall be brought even to the grave, and to our seeming there shall not be left one only spark of life more,) so that the faithful are in a peck of troubles when the hand of God lifteth up it self against them: and they look about them here and there, and find no way to get out of their afflictions: but the mischief pursueth them, and it seemeth that God is full bent never to give them any release more: when the afflictions are so great and excessive, (ye see what is §60meant by plucking up or by stubbing up) what is to be done then? As oft as God chastiseth us after what manner so ever it be, let us not be astonied though the correction seem grievous to us in respect of our own nature. And why so? For our desire is to continue still, and that our state should not be diminished. Thus ye see what we covet. But if God cut off any branch from us, there must needs be some gainstriving and some gainsaying: yea verily in our natural understanding. But yet nevertheless, let us look that we take heart, when the affliction grieveth us, and let us enter into the account that is set down here. Ye see it is true that if a man cut off any part of a tree, he abateth the beauty of it for one year after: but yet it is certain that when a good labourer, that will further his own profit, and play the good husband, shreddeth a tree, he meaneth not to make it to impair, but that the tree should thrive the better. Then sith the case standeth so: let us put ourselves into Gods hand, and pray him too dispose of us: for he knoweth how he may make us to bear fruit. Therefore let us suffer him to cut and shred off some boughs from us, and let us fight against this native grief, and against the sorrowfulness that we conceive at the first brunt.

but it is as if a man shoulde shred off diuers of the boughes of a tree, when hee sees there is too many of them. And well maye a man cut off the one halfe of a tree, and yet shall it continue still howe so euer the worlde goe, and afterwarde sproute out newe braunches. Euen so is it with vs, when God vseth some meane corrections, and falleth not too