and that was because his mind was bewrapped in such anguish as he wist not what he said. Now if so perfect a man as he, (who is set forth to us as a mirror of patience) was so encumbered: what will become of us? So much more then behooveth it us §30to mark well what is said here: that is to wit, that if God utter himself to us, we must glorify him for so doing: and if he hide himself, we must reverence his secretes, which are incomprehensible to us: and so must every way have our mouth shut, and not say, If I might reason the matter, I should prevail in the case. But we shall sometimes see in the scripture, how God saith, Come on, let us plead together, according as it is said in the Prophet Isaiah: Behold, I am contented that there be a judge betwixt us, to see whither of our cases is best. To §40what end sayeth God so? It is to stop the mouths of wicked folk, who were full of rancour against him, and thought themselves to have gotten the goal, if men had allowed them. Yea (sayeth the Lord) to the end ye allege that I use a tyrannical power against you, and that ye be oppressed without cause or reason: Come on your ways, I am contented to be mustered in the rank among men, and to be taken as a creature: I will forgo mine own right, and the sovereign dominion and majesty that are in me. I am contented that for this present §50case, ye shall have no regard to none of all that gear: & yet for all this, ye shall be condemned nevertheless. Ye see how God is well contented to enter into account with us: but when he speaketh so, it is against the despisers which spite him, and are utterly rebellious against him. And as for those, he shall find enough in them too condemn them. Among which sort doth Job put himself? Among them that have bin desirous to serve God, and have walked under the obedience of his law? Yea verily: howbeit he deceiveth himself very much. For §60there is no man so perfect in whom God findeth not much faultiness, even by the self same rule that he giveth us in his law. But by the way we have another point to mark: which is, that Job showeth us, how the sins which he had committed, were not the cause that God handleth him so roughly: & this is a true point. For Job was not so gross headed, but he knew well enough he should be found faulty before God, if his life were examined by the law.
and that was bicause his mind was bewrapped in such anguish as he wist not what hee sayd. Now if so perfect a man as he, (who is set forth to vs as a mirrour of pacience) was so incumbred: what will become of vs? So much more then behooueth it vs §30to marke well what is sayde here: that is to witte, that if God vtter himselfe to vs, we must glorifie him for so doing: and if he hide himselfe, wee muste reuerence his secretes, whiche are incomprehensible to vs: and so muste euery way haue our mouth shut, and not say, If I might reason the matter, I should preuayle in the cace. But wee shall somtimes see in the scripture, how God sayth, Come on, let vs pleade togither, according as it is sayde in the Prophet Esay: Beholde, I am contented that there bee a iudge betwixt vs, to see whither of our caces is beste. To §40what ende sayeth God so? It is to stoppe the mouthes of wicked folke, who were full of rancour agaynste him, and thought themselues to haue gotten the gole, if men had allowed them. Yea (sayeth the Lorde) to the ende yee alledge that I vse a tyrannicall power agaynst you, and that yee bee oppressed withoute cause or reason: Come on your wayes, I am contented to be mustered in the ranke among men, and to bee taken as a creature: I will forgo mine owne right, and the souereine dominion and maiestie that are in mee. I am contented that for this present §50cace, ye shall haue no regard to none of all that geere: & yet for all this, yee shall bee condemned neuerthelesse. Ye see how God is well contented to enter into account with vs: but when he speaketh so, it is agaynste the despizers which spite him, and are vtterly rebellious agaynste him. And as for those, he shall finde ynough in them too condemne them. Among which sort dooth Iob put himselfe? Among them that haue bin desirous to serue God, and haue walked vnder the obedience of his lawe? Yea verely: howbeit hee deceyueth himselfe very much. For §60there is no man so perfect in whome God findeth not muche faultinesse, euen by the selfe same rule that he gyueth vs in his law. But by the way we haue another poynt to marke: which is, that Iob sheweth vs, howe the sinnes which hee had committed, were not the cause that God handleth him so roughly: & this is a true poynt. For Iob was not so grosse headed, but hee knewe well ynough hee should be found faulty before God, if his life were examined by the lawe.
