Sermons upon the Book of Job

Although men be enforced to confess that God is righteous, and that there is no fault to be found in him: Yet notwithstanding,§50 their passions are so outrageous, that if any of them be afflicted, a man shall hear those that are so smitten, not only grudge against God, but also blaspheme him with full mouth. And yet for all that, their torment is never the less: but it seemeth too them that they revenge them selves after a sort when they can so rail against him with whom they have to do. So much the more therefore behooveth it us to bethink us of Gods righteousness a great while aforehand, to the end that §60when he scourgeth us, we may always abide in the lowliness to know him as he is, that is to wit, that he is righteous and unblameable. Nevertheless the whole matter consisteth not only in confessing generally that God is righteous: for we have seen heretofore, how Baldad maintaining the said case that God is righteous, wrested it after an evil fashion, in staying upon this point, namely that God punisheth men according too their desert. But (as we have seen already) that rule holdeth not continually alike. God doth sometimes spare the wicked, and bear with them: and sometimes he chastiseth those whom he loveth, and handleth them much more rigorously than those that are utterly past amendment. Then, if we will deem that God chastiseth every man according too his deserts: what shall become ⟨p. 166⟩of it? when men covet to maintain his righteousness by that means they take a wrong way. Ye see then here is a fault: for when men will take upon them to measure Gods justice, and to say, he punisheth no man but for his sins, yea and look in what manner and quantity every one hath offended, thereafter must God pay him home in this world: then do they not take Gods justice as they ought to do. In this respect, Job treateth now much better of the manner of Gods justice and how it •s to be known, than Baldad hath done. That is to wit,§10 without having respect to one sin or other, but only taking men as they be from their mothers womb, yet notwithstanding the whole world must needs be condemned afore God: and it is apparent that although the afflictions seem rough, yet notwithstanding God can not be reproved.