Even so is faith smouldered after such a sort, as it showeth not one spark, until God kindle us again, & chase away the darkness where with we were possessed and overwhelmed. And after that Job hath uttered this sentence, he addeth: Behold be hath smitten me down with a whirlwind, and wounded me without cause. When Job sayeth that God had stricken him down with a whirlwind,§30 it is to signify that it is no wonder though he imagine that God is so sore against him that he cannot by his natural reason hope for any favour at his hand. Do ye think it strange (saith he) that I should say, I cannot suppose that God doth hear me, when he shall have answered me? for I have an eye to this present affliction, wherewith I am so wholly possessed, as nothing may assuage my grief. This is it that I have touched already, namely that the wounds which God maketh, when he showeth himself as our enemy, & when he citeth us to judgement, & we see nothing §40but an angry countenance: are very sensible. Therefore when we come to that point, it is certain that we be so overwhelmed with sorrow, as nothing may comfort us nor give us pacientnesse. Now we see what Jobs meaning is: that is to wit, that for that present time, Gods wrath & the feeling that he had thereof bereft him of all mean of comforting himself, and of all harkning to the declaration that could be made to him to comfort him withal. But we must always bear in mind what hath bin declared heretofore, that is to wit, that God never showeth himself so angry §50towards his own, but that he maketh them to feel his goodness in some wise or other, howbeit not so as they always perceive it. And it is a thing not easy to comprehend, that this should be so. Nevertheless it behoveth us to wait for it, if we will be Gods children: but yet we shall have much ado to perceive it but by practise. Some poor man being assaulted with these temptations [shall perchance I say,] how is it? doth God regard me? No: for behold pine away, & I call upon him, and yet I find no comfort, and therefore it is a sign that he hath shaken me off. Afterward §60his sins come to his remembrance, & the Devil stirreth up store of such stuff as are horrible. Thus ye see a poor creature that is utterly overwhelmed. When this is past, then cometh God to make all whole again, the conscience that was so tormented afore, becometh quiet:
Euen so is faith smouldred after such a sort, as it sheweth not one sparke, vntill God kindle vs againe, & chace away the darknesse where with wee were possessed and ouerwhelmed. And after that Iob hath vttered this sentence, he addeth: Beholde be hath smitten me downe with a whirlwinde, and wounded me without cause. VVhen Iob sayeth that God had strickē him downe with a whirlwind,§30 it is to signifie that it is no wōder though he imagin that God is so sore agaynst him that he cānot by his natural reason hope for any fauour at his hād. Do ye thinke it straunge (sayth he) that I should say, I cannot suppose that God doth heare me, when he shal haue answered me? for I haue an eye to this present affliction, wherewith I am so wholly possessed, as nothing may assuage my grief. This is it that I haue touched already, namely that the woundes which God maketh, when he sheweth himself as our enemie, & whē he cyteth vs to iudgement, & we see nothing §40but an angry coūtenance: are very sensible. Therfore whē we come to that poynt, it is certaine that we bee so ouerwhelmed with sorrow, as nothing may cōfort vs nor giue vs pacientnesse. Now we see what Iobs meening is: that is to wit, that for that present time, Gods wrath & the feeling that he had therof bereft him of al mean of cōforting himselfe, and of all harkning to the declaration that could be made to him to comfort him withall. But we must alwayes beare in minde what hath bin declared heretofore, that is to wit, that God neuer sheweth himselfe so angrie §50towardes his owne, but that he maketh them to feele hys goodnesse in some wise or other, howbeeit not so as they alwayes perceiue it. And it is a thing not easie to comprehend, that this should be so. Neuerthelesse it behoueth vs to wayt for it, if we wil be Gods children: but yet we shall haue much ado to perceiue it but by practise. Some poore mā being assaulted with these tēptations [shall perchanc I say,] how is it? doth God regard me? No: for beholde pine away, & I cal vpon him, and yet I find no cōfort, and therfore it is a signe that he hath shaken me off. Afterward §60his sinnes come to his remembrance, & the Diuel stirreth vp store of such stuffe as are horrible. Thus ye see a poore creature that is vtterly ouerwhelmed. VVhen this is past, then cōmeth God to make al whole again, the conscience that was so tormented afore, becōmeth quiet:
