Sermons upon the Book of Job

And too bring this too pass, they are fain to grant me a free will, and Gods election must be overthrown §60and brought too naught. For to say that God chooseth whom he listeth, and calleth them to salvation through his own free goodness, and that he forsaketh the residue: they think it very strange to be spoken, because they can not comprehend the reason of it. And here ye see why these rogues that counterfeit to be great clerks, overturn the foundations of our faith to prove Gods righteousness even after their own fancy. And why is that? By cause they can not mount so high as too know that God is righteous in comparison of men, whatsoever they be. True it is that it standeth us in hand to beware of another extremity which is faulty. For we shall see some of as slanderous conversation as may be: who if they perceive their lewdness to be discovered [fall by and by to saying] As for me, I am an honest man, (yea to the worldward) I confess every man is a sinner to Godward: and so will he shroud himself under the common cloak. Look upon a whorehunter that hath haunted the stews half a score years: Look upon a blasphemer that ceaseth not to rail at God and to spite him: Look upon a villain that despiseth God and all religion. Look upon an unthrift or an unconscionable person that seeketh nought else but to be catching without faithfulness or honest dealing: and such dogs will say it is true that they be sinners before God, for no man is righteous. They go no further with their faults but so, which are so hideous as may be, but shroud themselves under the cloak of natural infirmity, saying that there is no man that can be equal with God. They think they have done very much in yielding such a confession. But I have showed already that it behooveth us to have both these two points. The one is, that we must acknowledge god to be righteous in respect of the whole world, and that men must not plead nor dispute with him, whosoever they be, or what so ever they be able to allege: but must be abashed both great and small. Lo here one special point. The other is, that each man should have an eye particularly to himself, and that every man should be sorry for his faults, and abhor them, and condemn them:

And too bring this too passe, they are fayne to graunt me a free will, and Gods election must be ouerthrowne §60and brought too naught. For to saye that God choseth whome hee listeth, and calleth them to saluation through his owne free goodnesse, and that hee forsaketh the residue: they thinke it verie straunge to bee spoken, bycause they can not comprehende the reason of it. And heere yee see why these rogues that counterfaite to bee great clearkes, ouerturne the foundacions of our fayth to proue Gods rightuousnesse euen after their owne fansie. And why is that? By cause they can not mount so hygh as too knowe that God is rightuous in comparison of men, whatsoeuer they be. True it is that it stādeth vs in hād to beware of another extremitie which is faultie. For we shal see some of as slaunderous conuersation as may be: who if they perceiue their leudnesse to be discouered [fall by and by to saying] As for me, I am an honest man, (yea to the worldward) I confesse euery man is a sinner to Godward: and so will he shroude himselfe vnder the common cloake. Looke vpon a whorehunter that hathe haunted the stewes halfe a score yeares: Looke vpon a blasphemer that ceasseth not to rayle at God and to spyte hym: Looke vpon a villaine that despiseth God and all religion. Looke vpon an vnthrifte or an vnconscionable person that seeketh nought else but to be catching withoute faithfulnesse or honest dealing: and such dogges will say it is true that they be sinners before God, for no manne is righteous. They goe no further with their faultes but so, which are so hideous as maye bee, but shrowde themselues vnder the cloake of naturall infirmitie, saying that there is no manne that can bee equall with God. They thinke they haue doone verie muche in yeelding suche a confession. But I haue shewed alreadie that it behooueth vs to haue both these two points. The one is, that we must acknowledge god to be rightuous in respect of the whole worlde, and that men muste not pleade nor dispute wyth him, whosoeuer they be, or what so euer they be able to alledge: but must bee abashed both great and small. Lo here one speciall poynt. The other is, that ech man should haue an eye particularly to himselfe, and that euery man should be sorie for his faults, and abhorre them, and condemne them: