Sermons upon the Book of Job

It were greatly too our behoof. So then let us mark well, that although it seem that our life can not continue without the ordinary means which God hath allotted to it: yet notwithstanding he is able to send us means wherethrough we shall escape, and he can give us them to day or too morrow. True it is that a thing shall not seem easy unto us: nevertheless it is enough that God can provide for it, yea and that he will §50set it in such order as we shall have cause to magnify his infinite power and wisdom, for working in such manner as is to us incomprehensible. Ye see (I say) how it standeth us in hand to practise this sentence: that every of us, when he findeth himself in such perplexities, may say, Alas what must become of me? I see my goods are minished, I see I am shut out from such means as I had. And how? my trade is diminished of this or that. Well, God hath cut it off: but yet must I needs say, that that which he hath cut off, was superfluous to me, it behooveth me to §60profit my self thereby, I saw not that it behooved me to pray unto God, and now he showeth me that it is so: for we must always conclude, that it is not without cause, that he so cutteth off the things which he knoweth to be superfluous in us. But in the mean while, let us prepare our selves to be plucked up, for that is the chief point. There are many that can away with mean afflictions: and if God diminish them, they show themselves constant, in so much as a man shall see there was no outrageous vain glory in them, they had no overvnruly covetousness in them, they take that which is left, and hold themselves contented with it, thanking God and keeping them selves quiet. But if they be pinched somewhat more near the quick, specially so as it seem that God is minded too make clean riddance of them: then shall ye find them utterly out of their wits. And why? Because they are not prepared as they ought to be, to endure the battle that is spoken of here: that is too wit, to be utterly plucked up. Then is it not enough for us to suffer God to cut off the boughs and to shred off the branches and twigs which he knoweth to be superfluous in us, but also to pluck us up by the roots. For he hath that authority over us, and we shall gain nothing by resisting him.

It were greatly too oure behoofe. So then lette vs marke well, that althoughe it seeme that oure life can not continue without the ordinarie means which God hath allotted to it: yet notwithstanding he is able to send vs meanes wherethrough wee shall escape, and hee can giue vs them to day or too morrowe. True it is that a thing shall not seeme easie vnto vs: neuerthelesse it is ynough that God can prouide for it, yea and that hee will