Sermons upon the Book of Job

And behold, the only way to be acquit at his hand, is for every man to con damn §20himself. But if we fall to sturdiness, God will punish us for such pride. It may be that at the first push he will not show us our confusion, but at the length we shall be so snarled in it, as we shall not wind our selves out again.

And behold, the only way to be acquit at his hand, is for euery man to cō demne §20himselfe. But if we fall to sturdinesse, God wil punish vs for such pride. It may be that at the first push hee wil not shew vs our confusion, but at the length we shal be so snarled in it, as wee shall not winde our selues out agayne.

Ye see then into what a maze God casteth all the presumptuous sort which undertake to stand against him, and enterprise the combat that is spoken of here. True it is, that God is so gracious to some, as that he daunteth them, and they at length do fall in array: but that must §30not be taken hold on, to say that he worketh continually all after one fashion. We shall see some that are full of pride, which trust in their own righteousness and would bind God unto them: well, God overmastreth them, and tameth them, he casteth them into utter confusion, and afterward plucketh them out again. We see that God worketh not always after one rate. Nevertheless it behoveth us always to understand what the scripture telleth us: namely that God will stretch out his hand against the proud, too destroy them. And behold §40how he proceedeth therein. I say the hypocrites are so puffed up with pride and presumptuousness, as they think verily that their virtues deserve to be received, yea and to have reward and recompense. Well, they stand in their own conceit for a time, and God letteth them alone there. On the other side Satan eggeth and enticeth them, and maketh them to set much more by themselves. They gaze at their own gay feathers like Peacocks, saying, I have done this and that, and they bear themselves in hand that God ought to hold himself contented with it.