Sermons upon the Book of Job

but he confesseth himself too have been tempted, and too have been provoked too say, Go too, if God were a man as I am, that I might be bold to answer him, that we might go to law together, and that some body might take upon him too be umpire betwixt us: then would I speak freely, and not be afraid. If God would give me leave to hold plea with him, and suffer a judge to be set over us both: then could I talk boldly against him. Behold here a right dangerous temptation: And (as I said afore) if Job had concluded thereupon in himself: it had been a cursed blasphemy. Therefore he showeth that he was tossed with that temptation, howbeit that he withstood it all the while. And it may happen that we also shall be in such troubles at times. For unto mans understanding it is a very strange thing, that when we shall have kept Gods law, (that is to say, if it were possible to be done) yet we shall not be discharged before him. Men have always some what too reply in this case: and at least they will lament their state & make their moan, saying: is it possible that God should deal so rigorously with us, as that our fulfilling of his law should be nothing worth? Men then have a case which they themselves shall think too be very worthy of favour, and so shall it seem too be too the worldewarde. But when we be egged after that sort, we must hold our selves in awe, & learn to know that Gods rightfulness (the which we cannot comprehend as now) is hidden from us, to the intent we should honour it. For we have two ways to magnify God. The one is according to the manner of his manifesting of himself unto us. Ye see how God doth in his law show himself a judge too condemn us: and in his Gospel he showeth himself a father to acquit us. That is to say, when he commandeth us to do the thing that is good and righteous, and therewithal threateneth us that if we have failed in any thing, we must be accursed: when God showeth himself after that manner: we have wherefore to glorify him, and too acknowledge that he is righteous howsoever the case stand. For if we perish yet have we no cause to grudge at it. Again, if God call us too himself, offering us his grace in our Lord Jesus Christ, and showing that he desireth nothing but to be at one with us:

but hee confesseth himselfe too haue beene tempted, and too haue beene prouoked too say, Go too, if God were a man as I am, that I might bee bolde to answere him, that we might go to lawe togither, and that some body might take vpon him too bee vmper betwixt vs: then woulde I speake freely, and not bee afrayde. If God woulde gyue me leaue to holde plea with him, and suffer a iudge to be set ouer vs both: then coulde I talke boldly against him. Beholde here a right daungerous temptation: And (as I sayde afore) if Iob had concluded therevpon in himselfe: it had beene a cursed blasphemie. Therefore he sheweth that he was tossed with that temptation, howbeit that he withstood it all the while. And it may happen that we also shall bee in such troubles at times. For vnto mans vnderstanding it is a verie straunge thing, that when wee shall haue kept Gods lawe, (that is to say, if it were possible to bee doone) yet wee shall not bee discharged before him. Men haue alwayes some what too replie in this cace: and at least they will lament their state & make their moane, saying: is it possible that God shoulde deale so rygorously with vs, as that oure fulfilling of his lawe shoulde bee nothing woorth? Men then haue a cace whiche they themselues shall thinke too bee verie worthie of fauour, and so shall it seeme too bee too the worldewarde. But when wee bee egged after that sort, wee muste holde our selues in awe, & learne to know that Gods rightfulnesse (the which wee cannot comprehende as nowe) is hidden from vs, to the intent we shoulde honor it. For wee haue two wayes to magnifie God. The one is according to the maner of his manifesting of himselfe vntoo vs. Yee see howe God dooth in his lawe shewe himselfe a iudge too condemne vs: and in his Gospell hee sheweth himselfe a father to acquit vs. That is to say, when he commaundeth vs to do the thing that is good and rightuous, and therewithall threatneth vs that if we haue fayled in any thing, wee muste be accursed: when God sheweth himselfe after that maner: wee haue wherefore to glorifie him, and too acknowledge that hee is rightuous howesoeuer the cace stande. For if wee perishe yet haue wee no cause to grudge at it. Agayne, if God call vs too himselfe, offering vs his grace in oure Lorde Iesus Christ, and shewing that hee desireth nothing but to be at one with vs: