Sermons upon the Book of Job

And here ye see why the law is called the message of death: namely because that if we have no more but the doctrine that is contained in the law, we shall be utterly over whelmed afore God, and we shall be caste away without any remedy. Then if God indict us but according to the form of the law, he shall discover filthiness enough in us. But Job steppeth yet further: that is to wit, that although we had the said pureness according to the law, that is to say, although we had performed all that ever God commandeth there, which is impossible for men to do: yet can we not stand before him. But let us put the case, that Job were as an Angel, and that he were able to go through to Godward according too the righteousness of the law: yet should he always find himself behind hand in respect of the secrete rightfulness that is in God. For it is said that the very Angels are not able too stand afore him, if he listed to enter into reckoning with them. Job therefore in this sentence meaneth, that even when he shall be as pure as pure may be, (I mean according too the righteousness of the law) all shall be but dung and filth when it cometh afore God. And behold here a lesson which ought to make all flesh to stoop, when we shall have weighed well the things that are contained therein. True it is that the ordinary doctrine of the holy Scripture is, that when men look upon themselves too see whether they have fulfilled Gods law or no: there shall they find themselves all condemned. Behold (I say) whereunto the holy Scripture bringeth us back. And wherefore? For we know what pride and hypocrisy are in us. We be so proud that we will not stoop to God except we be compelled. Then if our Lord press us with his secrete rightfulness, whereof mention is made here, what a thing will that be? But we play the horses that are broken loose, and we set up our horns too dose against God as we see the unbelievers do, who blaspheme him with full mouth: and although they be convicted, so as their own conscience reproveth them, and they know not what too say for themselves: yet notwithstanding, their mouth is still open too rail at God, too grudge against him, and too spite him at their pleasure.

And heere yee see why the lawe is called the message of death: namely bicause that if we haue no more but the doctrine that is conteyned in the lawe, wee shall bee vtterly ouer whelmed afore God, and wee shall bee caste away without any remedie. Then if God indite vs but according to the forme of the lawe, he shall discouer filthinesse ynoughe in vs. But Iob steppeth yet further: that is to wit, that although we had the sayde purenesse according to the lawe, that is to say, althoughe wee had perfourmed all that euer God commaundeth there, which is impossible for men to doo: yet can wee not stande before him. But let vs put the cace, that Iob were as an Angell, and that hee were able to go through to Godwarde according too the rightuousnesse of the lawe: yet shoulde hee alwayes finde himselfe behinde hande in respect of the secrete rightfulnesse that is in God. For it is sayde that the verie Angelles are not able too stande afore him, if hee listed to enter into reckening with them. Iob therefore in this sentence meeneth, that euen when hee shall bee as pure as pure may bee, (I meene according too the rightuousnesse of the lawe) all shall be but dung and filth when it commeth afore God. And behold heere a lesson which ought to make all flesh to stoupe, when we shall haue weyed well the things that are conteyned therein. True it is that the ordinarie doctrine of the holye Scripture is, that when men looke vppon themselues too see whether they haue fulfilled Gods lawe or no: there shall they finde themselues all condemned. Beholde (I say) wherevnto the holy Scripiure bringeth vs backe. And wherefore? For wee know what pride and hypocrisie are in vs. VVee bee so proude that we will not stoupe to God except we be compelled. Then if oure Lorde presse vs with his secrete rightfulnesse, whereof mention is made heere, what a thing will that bee? But wee play the horses that are broken looce, and wee set vp our hornes too dosse agaynst God as wee see the vnbeleeuers doo, who blaspheme him with full mouthe: and althoughe they bee conuicted, so as theyr owne conscience reprooueth them, and they knowe not what too say for themselues: yet notwithstanding, their mouthe is still open too rayle at God, too grudge against him, and too spite him at theyr pleasure.