Sermons upon the Book of Job

for we may plead fair, and tell a long tale, whereas there shall be a thousand points that God will not once vouchsafe to open his lips §60to reply unto. And that is very true: For all the colour that we shall pretend to justify our selves, may well bear some countenance afore men, because they see not so clearly as were requisite: but when we come unto God, all of it vanisheth away to nothing. Let us not think then that God is amazed at our long and great babbling: for when we shall have cast our scum, and when it shall come to the point of excusing our selves, and to give credit to our virtues: peradventure it will seem that God ought to yield unto us, Yea: but in the mean while he doth nothing but laugh and mock at all the vain brags that men can allege: For all is nothing worth. Thus ye see a good and holy sentence: which is, that if we allege a thousand articles, God will not answer so much as one of them. What is the reason? It is because it is neither here nor there in his sight. It may well be made account of before men: But what for that? God will not be moved with it awhit. Nevertheless the natural meaof this place is, that when we be come unto God (that is to wit in way of encountering against him) we shall be so con bred, as we shall not be able to answer one only article of a thousand that he shall allege against us. Surely we be so hasty, that we will needs fight with God, before we can draw our sword as they say. And we see it is so. I pray you will we not more strain courtesy to adventure upon a mortal man or upon a creature that is nothing, than upon the living God? If we intend to make defiance to any man, we will forecast thus: Is he able to make his part good? how may we compass our intent? This may turn us to trouble or displeasure. When we shall enter into dealings against men, we will make many discourses: but if we be minded to rush against God, we will step to it bluntly. We see then hereby what rage, (yea even devilish rage) there is in men to match themselves so against God. But when we come to the push, we shall find by experience what it is to jostle against him, and that it is no dallying with such a Prince. Thus ye see what Job showeth here. For first he setteth down mens boldness at it may be perceived:

for wee may pleade faire, and tell a long tale, whereas ther shall be a thousand pointes that God will not once voutsafe to open his lips §60to reply vnto. And that is verie true: For all the coloure that we shall pretend to iustifie our selues, may wel beare some countenaunce afore men, bycause they see not so cleerely as were requisite: but when we come vnto God, all of it vanisheth away to nothing. Let vs not thinke then that God is amazed at oure long and great babbling: for when we shal haue cast our skum, and whē it shal come to the point of excusing our selues, and to giue credit to our vertues: peraduenture it will seeme that God oughte to yeelde vnto vs, Yea: but in the meane whyle he doth nothing but laughe and mocke at all the vayne bragges that menne can alledge: For all is nothing worth. Thus yee see a good and holie sentence: whiche is, that if wee alledge a thousand articles, God wil not answere so much as one of them. VVhat is the reason? It is bycause it is nother heere nor there in his sighte. It may well be made account of before men: But what for that? God will not bee moued with it awhit. Neuerthelesse the naturall meaof this place is, that when we be come vnto God (that is to wit in way of incountering against him) we shall be so cō bred, as we shal not be able to answer one only article of a thousand that he shal alledge against vs. Surely wee be so hastie, that we will needes fight with God, before we can draw our sword as they say. And we see it is so. I pray you wil we not more streine curtesie to aduenture vpō a mortall man or vpon a creature that is nothing, than vpon the liuing God? If wee intend to make defiance to any man, we will forecast thus: Is he able to make his parte good? howe may we compasse our intent? This may turne vs to trouble or displeasure. VVhen wee shall enter into dealings against men, wee will make many discourses: but if wee bee mynded to rush against God, wee will step to it bluntly. VVee see then heereby what rage, (yea euen diuelishe rage) there is in men to matche themselues so against God. But when we come to the push, we shall fynd by experience what it is to iustle againste him, and that it is no dalying with such a Prince. Thus yee see what Iob sheweth here. For first hee setteth downe mennes boldnesse at it may be perceyued: