Sermons upon the Book of Job

Serve they not both too show that when God warneth us of our sins he would have us to be sorry for them, and that every of us should hate himself seeing himself to be such a one? Again, whereto serve the promises also which he addeth, but too make us too come straight unto him, praying him to perform them in us, and that we may not doubt, but that he is ready too succour us whensoever he seeth us driven too necessity? Ye see then that the thing which we have too do, is not only to acknowledge our faults, but also to come unto God that he may amend them by his goodness and by the grace of his holy spirit. And Job saith, that he will cry unto God, saying: Condemn me not, but show me wherefore thou pleadest. Here Job speaketh still as a man troubled in his wits. For he is very loth that God should proceed with him by the said secrete and hidden rightfulness whereof I treated yesterday: but he would have God to examine him after his ordinary manner. I said afore, that God hath given us a sure rule in his law: and that if we be entreated according to our offences, we behold Gods righteousness which is set forth there, and our indictment is given us and laid afore us in writing, insomuch that we see there the Articles that are proved against us, yea and so well proved, as they suffice to cast us. Therefore when men are scourged at Gods hand for their sins: then see they in the law, not only their sentence of condemnation, but also all their whole indictment. There the matters are so laid forth from point to point, as they be fain to cast their heads into their bosoms. Howbeit forsomuch as God scourgeth not Job after the ordinary manner, but had granted Satan leave too trouble him: Therefore Job saith, Condemn me not till thou hast first commenced thine action against me. And this is said, because Gods secret justice is very strange for us to know: for our wits cannot attain thereunto. And why so? For we are always desirous to know the reason why God worketh so: we would have him accountable to us. And when God scourgeth us, and letteth us not know wherefore: thereupon we are amazed, and we are angry at it. How so? Is not God righteous? Then must not all that he doth needs be ruled by reason and uprightness? Yes, but I see it not to be so, but rather the flat contrary.

Serue they not both too shewe that when God warneth vs of our sinnes hee would haue vs to bee sorie for them, and that euerie of vs should hate himselfe seeing himselfe to bee such a one? Againe, wherto serue the promises also which hee addeth, but too make vs too come streyte vntoo him, praying him to performe them in vs, and that wee may not doubt, but that he is readye too succour vs whensoeuer hee seeth vs dryuen too necessitie? Yee see then that the thing which we haue too doo, is not onely to acknowledge our faultes, but also to come vnto God that he may amende them by his goodnesse and by the grace of his holy spirite. And Iob sayth, that hee will crie vnto God, saying: Condemne mee not, but shew mee wherefore thou pleadest. Heere Iob speaketh still as a man troubled in his wittes. For he is very loth that God should proceede with him by the sayde secrete and hidden rightfulnesse whereof I treated yesterday: but he woulde haue God to examine him after his ordinarie manner. I sayde afore, that God hath giuen vs a sure rule in his lawe: and that if we be intreated according to our offences, we beholde Gods rightuousnesse which is set foorth there, and our inditement is giuen vs and layd afore vs in writing, insomuch that we see there the Articles that are proued against vs, yea and so well proued, as they suffize to cast vs. Therfore when men are scourged at Gods hande for their sinnes: then see they in the law, not onely their sentence of condemnation, but also all their whole inditement. There the matters are so layde foorth from poynt to poynt, as they be fayne to cast their heades intoo their bosomes. Howbeit forsomuch as God scourgeth not Iob after the ordinarie manner, but had graunted Satan leaue too trouble him: Therefore Iob sayth, Condemne me not till thou hast first commenced thyne action against me. And this is sayde, bycause Gods secret iustice is very straunge for vs to knowe: for our wits cannot attaine therevnto. And why so? For we are alwayes desirous to knowe the reason why God worketh so: we would haue him accountable to vs. And whē God scourgeth vs, and letteth vs not know wherfore: therevpon we are amazed, and we are angrie at it. How so? Is not God rightuous? Then must not all that he doth needes be ruled by reason and vprightnesse? Yes, but I see it not to be so, but rather the flat contrary.