but it is so termed in respect of the honour which we owe him, for that he is our father and master: Do we fear God? Then is it certain that we desire nothing but to honour him and to be wholly his. Do we know him? That must be in such wise as he hath uttered himself▪ that is to wit, that he is our maker, our maintainer, and one that hath showed such fatherly goodness towards us, that we of duty ought to be as children towards him, if we will not be utterly unthankful. Also it behoveth us to acknowledge his dominion and superiority §30over us, to the end that every of us yielding him his due honour, may learn to please him in all respects. Thus you see, how that under this fearing of God, here is comprehended all religion: that is to wit, all the service & honour which the creatures owe unto their God. And surely it was a right excellent virtue in Job to fear God after that manner, considering how the whole world was turned aside from the right way. When we hear this, we perceive that although we live among the veriest naughty-packs in the whole world, we shall be utterly unexcusable,§40 if we be not given to the serving of God as we ought to be: And this is well to be marked, because many men are of opinion, that when they are among the thorns, God will hold them acquit and excused: and that if afterward they corrupt themselves, (or as the Proverb saith) hold with the Hare, and hunt with the Hound, (which is all one) God will pardon them. But contrariwise look upon Job, who is called a man that feared God. In what country? It was not in Jewry, it was not in the City of Jerusalem, it was not in the Temple: but it was in a defiled §50place, in the midst of such as were utterly perverted. Albeit then that he were among such people, yet had he such stay of himself, and lived in such wise, that he walked purely among his neighbours, notwithstanding that at that time all was full of cruelty, of outrage, of robbery, and of such other like enormities in that place. Whereupon we have to consider, that it shall turn so much too our greater shame, if we on our behalf have not a care to keep our selves pure in the service of God, and of our neighbours, seeing he giveth us such occasion as we have,§60 that is to wit, that Gods word is continually preached unto us, that we be exhorted unto it, and that he reformeth us when we have done amiss.
but it is so tearmed in respect of the honor whiche we owe him, for that hee is our father and maister: Do we feare God? Then is it certaine that we desire nothing but to honor him and to be wholly his. Do we know him? That must be in such wyse as he hath vttered himselfe▪ that is to wit, that he is our maker, our mainteyner, and one that hath shewed suche fatherly goodnes towards vs, that we of dutie ought to be as children towards him, if wee will not be vtterly vnthankfull. Also it behoueth vs to acknowledge his dominiō and superioritie §30ouer vs, to the ende that euery of vs yeelding him his due honour, may learne to please him in all respects. Thus you see, how that vnder this fearing of God, here is comprehēded al religion: that is to wit, all the seruice & honour which the creatures owe vnto their God. And surely it was a ryght excellente vertue in Iob to feare God after that manner, cōsidering how the whole world was turned asyde frō the right way. VVhen we heare this, wee perceiue that although wee liue among the veriest naugtypackes in the whole world, we shall be vtterly vnexcusable,§40 if we be not giuen to the seruing of God as we ought to be: And this is well to be marked, bycause many men are of opiniō, that when they are amōg the thornes, God will hold them acquit and excused: and that if afterward they corrupt themselues, (or as the Prouerbe saith) hold with the Hare, and hunt with the Hound, (whyche is all one) God will pardon them. But contrariwise loke vppon Iob, who is called a man that feared God. In what coū trey? It was not in Iewry, it was not in the Citie of Hierusalem, it was not in the Temple: but it was in a defyled §50place, in the middes of such as were vtterly peruerted. Albeit then that hee were among such people, yet had hee such stay of himselfe, and liued in such wise, that he walked purely among his neybours, notwithstanding that at that time all was full of crueltie, of outrage, of robberie, and of such other like enormities in that place. VVherevpon we haue to consider, that it shall turne so much too our greater shame, if we on our behalfe haue not a care to keepe our selues pure in the seruice of God, and of our neighbours, seing he giueth vs such occasion as we haue,§60 that is to witte, that Gods worde is continually preached vnto vs, that we be exhorted vnto it, and that he refourmeth vs when we haue done amisse.
