Sermons upon the Book of Job

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: