Sermons upon the Book of Job

And truly so soon as he giveth us any inkling of it, we must needs be utterly dismayed. And undoubtedly it is not for men to seek strength in themselves to withstand such encounters, but they must be fain to borrow it at Gods hand. According then as God dismayeth us when he showeth us any sign of his vengeance: so on the contrary part, he raiseth us out of our graves, yea even §30from the bottom of hell, and finally lifteth us up above the clouds of the air, when he maketh us taste of his goodness even by means of his promises. Lo how we borrow strength of God too fight against our temptations. But yet nevertheless, Job showeth us here, that the faithfullest, the patientest, and those too whom god giveth more of his spirit than he doth to other men, shall not for all that be exempted from this present temptation: that is to wit, that they shall not know where to become in the midst of their distresses, when God presseth §40upon them If he hear them, they will think they be still shaken off, and that God is not minded to pity them. If these temptations should last still, it is certain that we should not miss but blaspheme God. When faith were once quenched, we should needs go astray: & we should be harried away with a hellish rage. Howbeit when God woundeth the faithful after that sort, he by and by abateth the smart of the stripes, & healeth them. And (which more is) we should be overthrown and flung down to hell with the turning of a hand, if God gave us not some §50taste of his goodness in such distresses. Had Job held himself fast to this conclusion, that God intended not to hear him: he had been undone, and there had been no more remedy with him. Let us mark then, that he was not possessed nor oppressed with such a despair as he uttereth here, but that God made him to feel his goodness in some sort. We see this yet much better in the person of our Lord Jesus Christ. He saith, Why hast thou forsaken me? And in deed he is there in extremity, as the party that beareth the burden of all the sins of the world.§60 Therefore it was requisite that for a while Jesus Christ should feel himself as it were forsaken of God his father. But yet nevertheless he had a comfort to the contrary as he showed by saying, My God, my God.

And truly so soone as he giueth vs any incling of it, wee must needes bee vtterly dismayde. And vndoubtedly it is not for men to seeke strength in themselues to withstand such incounters, but they must be faine to borrowe it at Gods hand. According then as God dismayeth vs when he sheweth vs any signe of his vengeance: so on the contrarie part, he rayseth vs out of our graues, yea euen