Sermons upon the Book of Job

But when▪ it is said here, that God removeth the mountains and they feel it not at all: it serveth too show that like as he hath once settled the earth and builded it as it were upon very deep foundations: If it please him he can change all in such wise, as the mountains shall be turned into valleys. Job then reciteth not a thing already come to pass, in some certain time or place: but showeth how it is a thing that God can do, according as it is said in another text, when it pleaseth him, the mountains melt away before him as wax doeth at the heat of the Sun. And so this serveth to do us to understand that ⟨p. 174⟩he can do it so often as he listeth. Ye see then what we have to mark chiefly. This done, we must compare them with our own frailness. For what are we in comparison of a mountain? how great firmness is in it? All the artillery in the world can do nothing to it: and as for us, there needeth but one little finger to overthrow us. Now if Gods look be so terrible and dreadful, that heaven and earth shake at it, (as the scripture sayeth:) shall a mortal man be able to stand before him? When we shall have known our own §10frailty, and throughly digested Gods mighty power, we shall have done very much. Howbeit forasmuch as we think very seldom of it, let us hardly learn all our life long, and let us study this lesson, and let us always be scholars. Now after that Job hath spoken so, he addeth that God passeth before him, and be seeth him not: and that he goeth too and fro, and he perceiveth him not: wherein he doeth us too wit, that although God utter himself unto us, yet shall he be invisible. How is it that God uttereth or showeth himself unto us? By his works,§20 and not in his substance: for in his substance we shall never see him. Nevertheless we know him after such a a sort, as we be constrained too see that his hand hath passed that way. Thus ye see the record which he yieldeth us of his presence. God then passeth before us, that is to say, he maketh us to perceive his power which spreadeth itself in such wise through all the whole world, as it is hard at hand with us: and yet notwithstanding he is invisible, that is too say, although the said uttering and showing of himself be according to nature:

But when▪ it is sayde heere, that God remoueth the mountaynes and they feele it not at all: it serueth too shewe that like as hee hathe once settled the earth and builded it as it were vpon very deepe foundacions: If it please him he can chaunge all in such wise, as the mountaynes shall be turned intoo valleyes. Iob then recyteth not a thing already come to passe, in some certayne tyme or place: but sheweth how it is a thing that God can doo, according as it is sayde in another text, when it pleaseth him, the mountaynes melt away before him as waxe doeth at the heate of the Sunne. And so this serueth to do vs to vnderstande that