And that is the thing which Job confesseth, and verily he is the more provoked hereunto▪ by the temptations of those that galled him, as though he had gone about to make his part good against god. And that which he addeth immediately after, containeth a more certain declaration of it. For he sayeth, If I wash my self in water, so as I make my self throughly clean, God shall caste me into the mire, I shall be plunged in filthiness, insomuch that mine own apparel shall defile me. That is too say, when I shall have cleansed my self well, the same cleanness of mine which at this present beareth a goodly show, shall be but dung and filth afore God. Here Job continueth still in his matter, to show that when we have well examined our life, it shall be found that our fearing of God and our obeying of him proceeded [wholly] of the grace that he gave us, and yet that the same doing of ours, is nothing. For we must always bear in mind, that Gods Majesty is hidden from us, and that in the same Majesty there is a certain rightfulness which we ⟨p. 188⟩comprehend not. True it is that God hath well given us a pattern and image of rightfulness in his law, howbeit, that is but according to our capacity. But it behoveth us to know, that our reason is so gross, as it cannot mount so high, as to conceive perfectly what is in God. So then the very righteousness which is contained in Gods law, is a righteousness that is bounded within the measure of mans capacity. We do rightly call it perfect righteousness, and so may we name it: yea and the Scripture termeth it perfect righteousness: how ebeit but in §10respect of us, that is too say in respect of creatures. I mean not in respect of us as we be sinners, and as we be all cursed in Adam: but in respect of us as we be Gods creatures: yea and (to take away all difficulty) even in respect of the Angels. This righteousness then is such a righteousness, as Angels and men ought too yield unto God, by obeying him and pleasing him, yea even in as much as they be his creatures.
And that is the thing whiche Iob confesseth, and verely hee is the more prouoked herevnto▪ by the temptations of those that galled him, as though hee had gone about to make his part good against god. And that which he addeth immediatly after, conteyneth a more certayne declaration of it. For hee sayeth, If I washe my selfe in water, so as I make my selfe throughly cleane, God shall caste mee into the myre, I shall bee plunged in filthinesse, insomuch that mine owne apparell shall defile mee. That is too say, when I shall haue clensed my selfe well, the same cleanenesse of mine whiche at this present beareth a goodly shewe, shall bee but dung and filth asore God. Heere Iob continueth still in his matter, to shewe that when wee haue well examined our lyfe, it shall bee founde that oure fearing of God and our obeying of him proceeded [wholly] of the grace that hee gaue vs, and yet that the same dooyng of ours, is nothing. For we muste alwayes beare in minde, that Gods Maiestie is hydden from vs, and that in the same Maiestie there is a certaine rightfulnesse which we ⟨p. 188⟩comprehend not. True it is that God hath well giuen vs a paterne and image of rightfulnesse in his lawe, howbeit, that is but according to our capacitie. But it behoueth vs to know, that our reason is so grosse, as it cannot mount so high, as to conceyue perfectly what is in God. So then the verye rightuousnesse whiche is conteyned in Gods lawe, is a rightuousnesse that is bounded within the measure of mans capacitie. VVee doo rightlye call it perfect rightuousnesse, and so may we name it: yea and the Scripture tearmeth it perfect rightuousnesse: how ebeit but in §10respect of vs, that is too saye in respect of creatures. I meene not in respect of vs as wee bee sinners, and as wee be all cursed in Adam: but in respect of vs as we be Gods creatures: yea and (to take away all difficultie) euen in respect of the Angelles. This rightuousnesse then is such a rightuousnesse, as Angelles and men ought too yeelde vntoo God, by obeying him and pleasing him, yea euen in as much as they bee his creatures.
