Sermons upon the Book of Job

THE BETTER TO PROFIT ourselves by that which is contained in this present book, first and foremost it behoveth us to understand the sum of it. For the story here written, showeth us how we be in Gods hand, and that it lieth in him to determine of our life, and to dispose of the same according to his good pleasure, and that it is our duty to submit ourselves unto him with all humbleness and obedience:§20 and that it is good reason, that we should be wholly his, both too live and dye: and specially that when it pleaseth him to lay his hand upon us, although we perceive not for what cause he doth it, yet we should glorify him continually, acknowledging him to be just and upright, and not too grudge against him, nor to fall striving with him, assuring ourselves that we shall always be vanquished in pleading against him. So then, the thing that we have briefly to bear in mind in this story, is, that God hath such a sovereignty over his creatures, as he may dispose of them at his §30pleasure: and that when he showeth any rigour which we think strange at the first blush, yet notwithstanding we must hold our peace, and not grudge, but rather confess that he is righteous, and wait till he show us wherefore he chastiseth us. And here withal we have to behold the patientnesse of the man that is set here before our eyes, according as S. James exhorteth us. For when God showeth us that we ought to bear all the miseries that he shall send upon us: we can well afford to confess that it is our duty so to do: but yet there withal we allege our own §40frailty, and we bear ourselves in hand, that that ought to serve for our excuse. Wherefore it is good for us to have such examples, as show unto us how there have bin other men as frail as we, who nevertheless have resisted temptations, and continued steadfastly in obedience unto God, although he have scourged them even with extremity. Thus have we here an excellent mirror. Moreover, we have to consider not only the patience of Job, but also the issue of it, as Saint James saith. For had Job continued in misery: albeit that he had had more than Angelical §50strength in himself, yet had that been no happy issue. But when we see he was not disappointed of his hope, and that he found grace, because he humbled himself before God:

THE BETTER TO PROFIT ourselues by that which is contained in this present booke, firste and formost it behoueth vs to vnderstande the summe of it. For the storie here writtē, sheweth vs how we be in Gods hand, and that it lieth in him to determine of our life, and to dispose of the same according to his good pleasure, and that it is our dutie to submit ourselues vnto him with al humblenesse and obedience: