Sermons upon the Book of Job

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.§50 But anon after when they have taken pleasure in themselves, and in all their virtues: if God call them to account, and prove to their faces, that in that which they esteemed as virtue was nothing but vice, yea and stark filthiness and abomination before him: then are their combs cut, and good right they should be so: insomuch that when they have beguiled not only the world, but also themselves, by trusting in things that have a gay show and countenance outwardly: the thing must always be manifested which is spoken in Saint Luke, namely that the thing §60which is excellent and highly esteemed among men, is abominable before God. Then let us beware that we presume not so far as to fight against God, and to go to law with him to justify ourselves.

Yee see then intoo what a maze God casteth all the presumptuous sort which vndertake to stand against him, and enterprise the combate that is spoken of heere. True it is, that God is so gracious to some, as that hee daunteth them, and they at length do fall in aray: but that muste