Sermons upon the Book of Job

ye see yet a greater cause too glorify him in his righteousness, forasmuch as he hath pulled us out of hell, and reached us his hand. Ye see then by this, how we must glorify God in double wise, when he uttereth himself unto us by his word. As much is too be said of his work. When God beareth with us by his mercy, let us understand that he could thunder down upon us, and that it is of his special favour that he doth it not. Again when he chastiseth us for our offences, of purpose to draw us to repentance: see ye not how he ministereth as many causes too sing his praises unto him? Yes verily. And so inasmuch as God showeth himself too be both good, and righteous, and wise, as well by his word as by his works: we have wherefore to glorify him. But have we done so? we must mount yet higher: that is to wit, we must glorify God though he ⟨image 131⟩hide himself from us, and show not himself too us, neither by his righteousness, nor by his goodness, nor by any other thing which might cause us too say that the said glory were due unto him. As for example. When the scripture speaketh too us of his election, that he chooseth whom he liketh, and casteth away the residue: and that he disposeth of mankind at his own pleasure: and likewise when he scourgeth the good, and seaveth them oppressed, and we see that all things are confounded in this world: in these cases God hideth §10himself, that is to say, he showeth not himself to us after such a fashion, as our reason may be able to take hold of his rightfulness, goodness, power, and wisdom, and yet must we yield him his due glory. Thus ye see what we have to mark upon this strain. And in so doing we may well correct and beat back the temptation whereof Job speaketh here. He sayeth, Let God go to law with me, & give me leave to plead against him: and I will do it boldly. Alas, and how shall we be able to bring our matters to pass? As I have touched afore, Job meant too §20express here, that he was tempted to repine against God in that wise: but he resisted that encounter. And even so must we do. How is that? Because that (as I have said already) although God should give us the said liberty of pleading against him: yet should we be confounded: but Job did ill remember that:

ye see yet a greater cause too glorifie him in his rightuousnesse, forasmuche as hee hath pulled vs oute of hell, and reached vs his hande. Yee see then by this, howe wee muste glorifie God in double wise, when hee vttereth himselfe vntoo vs by his woorde. As muche is too be sayde of his woorke. VVhen God beareth with vs by hys mercie, let vs vnderstand that he coulde thunder downe vpon vs, and that it is of his speciall fauour that hee doth it not. Againe when he chastizeth vs for our offences, of purpose to drawe vs to repentance: see yee not howe he ministreth as many causes too sing his prayses vnto him? Yes verelye. And so inasmuche as God sheweth himselfe too bee both good, and rightuous, and wyse, as well by his woorde as by his workes: wee haue wherefore to glorifie him. But haue wee done so? wee must mount yet higher: that is to wit, we muste glorifie God though hee