Sermons upon the Book of Job

look where was nothing but darkness before, there doeth he now shine, there showeth he a sweet & amiable countenance after the manner of fair weather. That is to wit, though the party were in such temptations for a time, did God suffer his faith to perish and to be utterly defeated? No, it is impossible, for faith is an uncorruptible seed in our souls. Howbeit (as I have said already) as in respect of mans whole natural wit and reason, we must needs be as blind, until God show us his favour. And it behoveth us to mark well these words when Job saith, that God smiteth him with a whirlwind: for his intent is too utter an extraordinary manner of dealing. It is not as though God laid upon me with a cudgel, or as though he had given me a stripe with a sword: But he hath affrighted me (sayeth he) as if he had cast down some thunderbolt or some whirlwind upon me. The blows that we receive here below, are not always so deadly: but if thunder light upon us from heaven, we be but dead men. Job therefore meaneth, that the wounds which he hath received are as if he were sunken into the bottomless deeps. And why? For (sayeth he) lightning and whirlwind are fallen upon me from heaven. And this is worth the noting. For it is one of Satan's policies to drive us to despair, by bearing us in hand that God handleth us with unaccustomed rigour: for Satan will tell us in our ear, what meanest thou? It is true that God chastiseth sinners, and afterward pitieth them: God visiteth his own whom he loveth: but that is after a fatherly manner, and he always moderateth his rigour. But as for thee, doth he handle thee so? He thundereth against thee, and how canst thou persuade thy self then, that he will show thee mercy? It is impossible. Now then when the Devil bears us in hand that God useth an accustomed rigour against us: he maketh us to conclude, that we shall thenceforth have no more recourse unto him, nor must not trust any more that ever he will receive us to favour. So much the more then behoveth it us to mark this text wherein Job saith that he was smitten with a whirlwind. Now if he have passed that way, and yet for all that we see that God did succour him nevertheless: Let us wait for the like in our selves. And furthermore let us mark well how Job speaketh here according to his affliction: he was not senseless.

loke where was nothing but darkenesse before, there doeth he nowe shine, there sheweth he a swete & amiable coūtenance after the maner of fayre weather. That is to wit, though the partie were in such temptations for a time, did God suffer his fayth to perish and to be vtterly disfeated? No, it is impossible, for fayth is an vncorruptible seede in oure soules. Howbeeit (as I haue sayd alreadie) as in respect of mans whole naturall wit and reason, we must needes be as blind, vntill God shew vs his fauor. And it behoueth vs to marke wel these wordes when Iob sayth, that God smyteth him with a whirlewind: for his intent is too vtter an extraordinarie maner of dealing. It is not as though God layd vpon me with a cudgell, or as though he had giuen mee a stripe with a swoorde: But he hath afrighted me (sayeth he) as if hee had cast downe some thunderbolte or some whirlwinde vpon mee. The blowes that wee receyue heere bylowe, are not alwayes so deadly: but if thunder light vpon vs from heauen, wee bee but deade men. Iob therfore meeneth, that the wounds which he hath receiued are as if he were sunken into the bottōlesse deepes. And why? For (sayeth he) lightning and whirlwinde are falne vpon me frō heauen. And this is worth the noting. For it is one of Satans policies to driue vs to despayre, by bearing vs in hand that God hādleth vs with vnaccustomed rigour: for Satan will tell vs in our eare, what meenest thou? It is true that God chastizeth sinners, and afterwarde pitieth them: God visiteth his owne whom he loueth: but that is after a fatherly maner, and he alwayes moderateth his rigour. But as for thee, doth he hādle thee so? He thundreth agaynst thee, and howe canst thou perswade thy selfe then, that he will shewe thee mercie? It is impossible. Now then when the Diuell beares vs in hand that God vseth an accustomed rigour agaynst vs: he maketh vs to conclude, that wee shall thenceforth haue no more recourse vntoo him, nor must not trust any more that euer he will receyue vs to fauour. So much the more then behoueth it vs to marke this text wherein Iob sayth that he was smitten with a whirlewinde. Nowe if he haue passed that way, and yet for all that wee see that God did succour him neuerthelesse: Let vs wayte for the like in our selues. And furthermore let vs marke well how Iob speaketh heere according to his affliction: hee was not senselesse.