Sermons upon the Book of Job

23 If the scourge kill out of hand, shall he laugh at the temptation of innocents? 24 The earth is given into the hand of the wicked, he covereth the faces of the Judges. If not: where is he, or who is he? 25 My days are passed more swiftly than a Post, insomuch that I have seen no good at all. 26 They be slipped away sooner than a swift ship, or than a flying Eagle. 27 If I say in my self, I vvill forget my complaint, I vvill appease my wrath, I vvill comfort me. 38 I am afray de of my miseries. For I know thou wilt not judge me innocent.

23 If the scourge kill out of hande, shall he laugh at the temptation of innocents? 24 The earth is giuen into the hande of the vvicked, hee couereth the faces of the Iudges. If not: vvhere is he, or vvho is he? 25 My dayes are passed more svviftly than a Post, insomuch that I haue seene no good at all. 26 They be slipt avvay sooner than a svvift ship, or than a flying Eagle. 27 If I say in my selfe, I vvill forgette my complaint, I vvill appease my vvrath, I vvill comfort mee. 38 I am afray de of my miseries. For I knovv thou vvilt not iudge me innocent.

That we may fare the better by this doctrine, we must call to remembrance what hath been said heretofore: namely §30how Jobs intent was too show that Gods justice appeareth not always unto men, nor is so known, as it can be said, that men may touch it with their finger: but rather that God worketh after such a strange fashion, as it seemeth unto us that there is neither reason nor indifferency in him, and that he maketh a hotchpotch of all things. But I have told you afore, that Gods Justice doth sometimes show it self, and that there are certain marks for us too discern it by. If God punish a wicked §40man, there is none of us, but he thinketh us all too have warning by such example, and we be compelled to glorify him, according as it is said in the hundred and seventh Psalm. If God deliver any one that calleth upon him, and hath walked in his fear: we will say, God is righteous. But he keepeth not all one rate too do continually so. For he hath his secrete judgements, which are incomprehensible too us, insomuch that we cannot but be abashed and amazed when God shall do things that seem too be quite against reason. Ye see