Sermons upon the Book of Job

and that hereupon we should also consider the vengeance and punishments which God sendeth upon sins, to the end we should learn to fare the better thereby. If we be beaten with his rods, let every of us say, it is good right, I have well deserved it. If God teach us at other mens cost, so as he chastiseth other men before our eyes: let the same touch us, and let us apply such examples to our own instruction, to the intent to prevent the matter, that God be not compelled to fall upon us because we have not profited by the chastisements which he hath showed us in the person of others. Thus ye see the two points which we have to mark and to put in ure. Now let us come to the laying forth of that which is said here by Job. I know for a truth (saith he) that man shall not be justified with God. So it is set down: but this word with importeth as much as to Godward. And it is a doctrine of great weight if a man know it well. What is the cause that men justify themselves so boldly, that is to say, that they presume so much of themselves, that they set so much store by themselves, and that they be so full of pride? What else is the cause of it, but only their staying here below, that every man compareth himself with his neighbour? Ye see then whereunto we run. ⟨p. 167⟩And ye see also why Saint Paul sendeth us to the great judge, saying that every man shall bear his own burden. As if he had said, my friends, men beguile themselves when they make such comparisons as these: What? I see other men live no better than my self, and if I have faults in me, so have other men in them too. Ye see then what is the cause that men condemn not themselves as they ought to do, but rather sooth themselves in justifying their own case. But here it is expressly said that man shall not be justified with God. What §10must we then do? as oft as any man speaketh to us of our sins and layeth them afore us, let us learn to know that we must not hold our eyes here below, but look up to the judgement seat of our Lord Jesus Christ, where we have our account to make: we must know the incomprehensible majesty of God.

and that heerevpon we should also consider the vengeance and punishmentes whiche God sendeth vpon sinnes, to the ende we should learne to fare the better thereby. If we be beaten with his roddes, let euerie of vs saye, it is good right, I haue well deserued it. If God teach vs at other mens coste, so as hee chastizeth other men before our eyes: let the same touch vs, and let vs applie such examples to our owne instruction, to the intent to preuent the matter, that God bee not compelled to fall vpon vs bycause wee haue not profyted by the chastizementes which hee hath shewed vs in the person of others. Thus yee see the two poyntes which wee haue to marke and to put in vre. Now let vs come to the laying forth of that which is sayd here by Iob. I know for a truth (saith he) that man shall not be iustifyed with God. So it is set downe: but this word with importeth as much as to Godward. And it is a doctrin of great weight if a man know it wel. VVhat is the cause that men iustifye themselues so boldly, that is to say, that they presume so muche of themselues, that they set so much store by themselues, and that they bee so full of pryde? VVhat else is the cause of it, but only their staying here belowe, that euery man compareth himselfe with his neyghbour? Yee see then wherevnto we runne.