Sermons upon the Book of Job

But yet nevertheless it is too our great profit, that we should hope that he will plant us again. And why? For by that mean we give room to his mercy. And on the contrary, we withstand Gods grace so as he vouchsafeth not too set us up again, when he sees that his scourging of us makes us to think our selves utterly forlorn, and past recovery of any freshness again. It is all one as if we should cut off Gods hand, too say that he planteth us not again. True it is that his power shall not be lessened through our unbelief: but we be not worthy to feel and to enjoy so great a benefit. Ye see then whereto we must come: that is to wit, every of us must dispose him self to be plucked up by the root: that is too say, if God smite us in part, and afterward it please him to smite us in the whole, both in our persons, and in our wives, and in our children, and in our honour, and in all that ever we have, in such wise as we become (as ye would say) wretched darkness, so as we have not so much as one spark of life: Yet nevertheless we must abide it quietly. Behold a thing that surmounteth all worldly power. I confess, and there is no doubt, but men enforce themselves thereunto of their own accord. But we must desire God to work in us, to the intent he may in such wise dispose of our life, as we may be ready both to live and dye at his pleasure. Therefore we must pray him to give us such manner of strength: & then no doubt but the thing that is written here shall be fulfilled. For God meant not to disappoint us of our hope, when he likened us to trees that are planted, and afterward taken up, and in the end planted again in a better place. Howbeit it is true that we shall not always be planted again, as in respect of this world. It may well be that we shall continue plucked up, yea and that it shall seem, that God hath even cast us away. And if we will judge by our state, we may say, farewell my good days, for if God were minded to have pity upon me, he would not have lingered and driven off so long time: for so much as I see he letteth me rot here in my misery, it is a token that we will never set me up again. ⟨p. 164⟩Lo what we may say. Nevertheless, let us call to mind, that God meaneth to try our faith by holding us in the hope of the heavenly life, which is hidden from us as now.

But yet neuerthelesse it is too our great profite, that wee should hope that hee will plant vs agayne. And why? For by that meane we giue roome to his mercie. And on the contrarie, we withstande Gods grace so as hee voutsafeth not too set vs vp againe, when hee sees that his scourging of vs makes vs to thinke oure selues vtterlie forlorne, and past recouerie of anye freshenesse agayne. It is all one as if wee should cut off Gods hande, too say that hee planteth vs not agayne. True it is that his power shall not bee lessened throughe our vnbeleefe: but we be not worthy to feele and to enioy so great a benefite. Ye see then whereto we must come: that is to witte, euery of vs must dispose him selfe to bee plucked vp by the roote: that is too say, if God smyte vs in parte, and afterward it please him to smite vs in the whole, both in our persons, and in our wiues, and in our children, and in our honoure, and in all that euer we haue, in such wise as we become (as yee would say) wretched darknesse, so as wee haue not so much as one sparke of life: Yet neuerthelesse wee must abyde it quietly. Beholde a thing that surmounteth all worldly power. I confesse, and there is no doubt, but menne inforce themselues therevnto of their owne accorde. But wee must desire God to worke in vs, to the intent hee maye in such wise dispose of oure life, as we may be ready both to liue and dye at his pleasure. Therefore we must pray him to giue vs such manner of strength: & then no doubt but the thing that is written here shall bee fulfilled. For God meant not to disappoint vs of our hope, when he likened vs to trees that are planted, and afterward taken vp, and in the ende planted again in a better place. Howbeit it is true that wee shall not alwayes be planted againe, as in respect of this worlde. It may well bee that wee shall continue plucked vp, yea and that it shal seeme, that God hath euen cast vs away. And if we will iudge by our state, we may say, farewell my good dayes, for if God were mynded to haue pitie vpon mee, hee woulde not haue lingered and dryuen off so long time: for so much as I see hee letteth me rotte here in my miserie, it is a token that we will neuer set me vp agayne.