Sermons upon the Book of Job

and afterward on the contrary part, he setteth down the cumbrance wherein they be when God maketh them to feel that he is righteous and confoundeth them. Then let us mark well that men are desirous to plead and dispute with God as we see, and yet notwithstanding, that when they be once entered into the challenge, they must needs be overthrown, and God will make them feel that they must be confounded spite of their teethe. This is a very needful thing. For I have showed already, that the foolish overweening wherewith men deceive themselves, proceedeth of this, namely that they regard not God, but make their discourses thus: yea verily, I am no worse than other men, and besides that, if I have vices, I have virtues also too recompense them withal. The cause then why men do so oversleep themselves, is for that they know not what Gods Majesty is, nor have any lively feeling of it, to submit themselves thereunto. Sith the case standeth so: let us mark well how it is said here, that men are desirous to stand pleading and disputing against God. And why is that? For we be so blind, as we can not see to our selves to say, How now? Behold▪ God is able to overwhelm us, and to thrust us down to the bottomless pit of hell, and yet shall we go set ourselves against him? But ⟨p. 168⟩we never think of that: and therefore it is no marvel though we be so blind. Howbeit let every man bethink himself well, and he shall find that that is the reason. If any man speak to us of pleading against God: nature it self teacheth us that we ought to abhor it: I say even the wickeddest of us. We see of these Scoffers that have neither conscience nor fear of God, and yet notwithstanding there remaineth some kind of feeling engraven in them by nature, so as they be abashed and ashamed when it is said to them, wilt thou plead against God?§10 Nevertheless even they also that seem to be good and discreet men, will sometimes fall into such manner of talk, so as there is not that man which playeth not the horse that is broken loose, in making protestation against God. We see that even the Prophets have been assailed with such temptations. True it is that they have resisted, as it behoved.

and afterward on the contrarie part, he setteth downe the comberance wherin they be when God maketh them to feele that he is rightuous and confoundeth them. Then lette vs marke well that men are desyrous to pleade and dispute with God as wee see, and yet notwithstanding, that when they be once entred into the chalendge, they must needs be ouerthrown, and God will make them feele that they must bee confounded spyte of their teethe. This is a verie needefull thing. For I haue shewed alreadie, that the foolishe ouerweening wherewith men deceyue themselues, proceedeth of this, namely that they regard not God, but make their discourses thus: yea verelye, I am no woorse than other men, and besides that, if I haue vices, I haue vertues also too recompence them withall. The cause then why men do so ouersleepe themselues, is for that they knowe not what Gods Maiestie is, nor haue any liuely feeling of it, to submit themselues therevnto. Sith the case standeth so: let vs marke well how it is said here, that men are desyrous to stande pleading and disputing againste God. And why is that? For we be so blind, as we can not see to our selues to say, How now? Behold God is able to ouerwhelme vs, and to thust vs downe to the bottomlesse pit of hell, and yet shall we go set ourselues against him? But