Sermons upon the Book of Job

Every man ought to look to himself, there is not that man which can not skill to complain, and which maketh not his moans, or at least wise which though he utter it not with his mouth, doth not keep it locked up in sorrow, [so as he sayeth in him self,] Alas, such an inconvenience is befallen me, I am the worse for that God hath diminished me so much. We can skill well enough to bethink us of all these things, and the Devil also will not miss too put them in our heads, that we might be grieved and tormented, yea §10even too fret and fume against God. What is too be done then? Behold here the mean too beat back such temptations: that is to wit, too consider that if God work after such a manner towards his: all shall turn to their welfare, they shall make their profit even with advantage, of that which seemed too tend too their destruction. And here ye see why even that kind of temptation is set before us, which at the first blush seemed most strange and grisly: that is, when mention is made of plucking up by the root. For then ye see the tree §20is dead, it is quite and clean dispatched. For wherein consisteth the life of the tree? In the root. Then after that the earth is taken away from it, there is no more life in it. So is it with us: for if God take from us that which belongeth to the present life: ye see we be plucked up by the root, there is no more hope of us. And why? For we imagine that our life consisteth in the having of goods, and in the having wherewith to sustain and cherish our selves. And yet we do not as the trees. For a tree is contented with the having of so much room as his root is §30able to occupy. But a man hath an insatiable lust: we be gulfs, in so much that we think the whole world is not enough to find us. For such as have both fields, and houses, and vineyards, and other heritages, are afraid still that they should want earth. They that have money in their purse, are afraid and in doubt, yea and are continually martyred with fear, lest GOD should disappoint them of their pray, and abate their portion. Seeing that then our desires are reached out so far off: we are not only as the root of a tree, but also §40without stint or measure. And for proof hereof, are we so sober as to hold ourselves there where the holy ghost calleth us?

Euery man ought to looke to himselfe, there is not that man whiche can not skill to complayne, and whiche maketh not his moanes, or at least wyse whiche though hee vtter it not with his mouth, dothe not keepe it locked vp in sorrowe, [so as hee sayeth in him selfe,] Alas, suche an inconuenience is befalne mee, I am the worse for that God hath diminished mee so much. VVee can skill well ynoughe to bethinke vs of all these things, and the Diuell also will not misse too put them in oure heades, that wee myghte bee greeued and tormented, yea