Sermons upon the Book of Job

So long as we can call upon God, assuring our selves that he is our saviour, & that we may press unto him: so long doth faith bear sway, and thereby we be persuaded that God hath not forsaken us. But yet in the mean while, we cease not to have this overheady passion, wherein our flesh findeth it self as it were in a gulf, so as it hath no light in respect of natural understanding, nor in respect of aught that we can see: insomuch that when we have debated the matter throughly, we can conclude none otherwise but that God is against us, that God is our enemy, or at the least that God hath set us in that plight as a pray given up unto Satan, so as there is no more hope nor mean of recovery. Ye see then too what plunge God putteth us, howbeit but only in respect of our fleshly understanding, according too our own reason, & for aught that we can see by nature. But God giveth us as it were a spark of brightness, and he giveth us some feeling of faith, howbeit that we neither know it nor can discern it. And here ye see why S. Paul sayeth, that the sighs and groanings which God stirreth up in us too make us pray unto him, are unutterable: that is to say, they cannot be expressed. Behold a faithful man that prayeth unto God, he sigheth and groaneth, and after what manner? Behold (sayeth S. Paul) when the faithful person maketh supplication unto God, he knoweth not what he doeth: it is a thing that outreacheth his mind & all his thoughts, not that we become like brute beasts in praying unto God: not that we be void of understanding: S. Paul meaneth not so: but his intent is to say, that God worketh after a strange fashion when we be so overcombered with our own passions, as we wot not what too say, nor see not any likelihood that he will be favourable and merciful to us. Now then when we be in such a peck of troubles, although our insight be so dim as we cannot perceive that, God will supply our infirmities: yet nevertheless let us tarry his leisure till he work in us, yea even by some mean that is unknown too us and too high for us to attain unto. Lo how Job pretendeth that he believed not that God had regarded him, nor heard him, although he answered him.

So long as we cā call vpon God, assuring our selues that he is our sauiour, & that we may preace vnto him: so long doth faith beare sway, and thereby wee bee perswaded that God hath not forsaken vs. But yet in the meane while, we ceasse not to haue this ouerheady passion, wherein our flesh findeth it selfe as it were in a gulse, so as it hath no light in respect of naturall vnderstanding, nor in respect of aught that wee can see: insomuche that when wee haue debated the matter throughly, wee can conclude none otherwise but that God is agaynst vs, that God is our enemie, or at the least that God hath set vs in that plight as a pray gyuen vp vnto Sathan, so as there is no more hope nor meane of recouerie. Yee see then too what plundge God putteth vs, howbeit but only in respect of our fleshly vnderstanding, according too our owne reason, & for aught that wee can see by nature. But God giueth vs as it were a sparke of brightnesse, and hee giueth vs some feeling of fayth, howbeit that wee neither know it nor can discerne it. And here yee see why S. Paule sayeth, that the sighes and gronings whiche God stirreth vp in vs too make vs pray vnto him, are vnutterable: that is to say, they cānot be expressed. Beholde a faythfull man that prayeth vnto God, he sigheth and groneth, and after what maner? Beholde (sayeth S. Paule) when the faithfull person maketh supplication vnto God, he knoweth not what he doeth: it is a thing that outreacheth his mind & al his thoughts, not that wee become like brute beastes in praying vntoo God: not that wee bee voyde of vnderstanding: S. Paule meeneth not so: but his intent is to say, that God worketh after a straunge fashion when wee bee so ouercombered with our owne passions, as wee wote not what too say, nor see not any likelyhood that he will bee fauorable and mercifull to vs. Now then when we be in such a pecke of troubles, although our insight be so dimme as we cannot perceyue that, God will supplie our infirmities: yet neuerthelesse let vs tarie his leysure till he woorke in vs, yea euen by some meane that is vnknowne too vs and too high for vs to attaine vnto. Lo howe Iob pretendeth that hee beleeued not that God had regarded him, nor heard him, although he answered him.