Sermons upon the Book of Job

And for this cause it was his will, that there should always be some men that should follow the things that he had showed to the ancient fathers. Such a one was Job, as the scripture telleth us, & as this present story showeth full well, who served God purely, and lived uprightly among men. It is said, that He was a sound man. This word Sound in the scripture is taken for a plainness, when there is no point of sayning, counterfeiting, or hypocrisy in a man, but that he showeth himself the same outwardly that he is inwardly, & specially when he hath no starting holes to shift himself from God, but layeth open his heart, and all his thoughts and affections, so as he desireth nothing but to consecrate and dedicate himself wholly unto God. The said word hath also been translated perfect, as well by the Greeks as by the Latins. But for as much as the word perfect, hath afterward been misconstrued: it is much better for us to use the word Sound. For many ignorant persons not knowing how the said perfection is too be taken, have thought thus: Behold here a man that is called perfect, and therefore it followeth, that it is possible for us to have perfection in ourselves, even during the time that we walk in this present life. But they deface the grace of God, whereof we have need continually. For even they that have lived most uprightly, must have recourse to Gods mercy: and except their sins be forgiven them, and that God uphold them, they must needs all perish. So then, although that they which have used the word perfect, have meant well: yet notwithstanding for as much as there have ben some that have wrested it too a contrary sense, (as I have said) let us keep still the word Sound. Then look upon Job, who is called Sound. And how so? It is because there was no hypocrisy nor dissimulation, nor any doubleness of heart in him. For when the scripture meaneth to set down the vice, that is contrary too this virtue of Soundness: it saith Hart and Hart, meaning thereby a double heart. Let us mark then, that first of all this title is attributed unto Job, to show that he had a pure & simple mind, that he bare not two faces in one hood, nor served God by halves, but laboured to give himself wholly unto him. True it is that as now we can not be so sound as to attain to the mark as were too be wished.

And for this cause it was his will, that there should always be some mē that should folow the things that he had shewed to the anciēt fathers. Such a one was Iob, as the scripture telleth vs, & as this presēt story sheweth ful wel, who serued God purely, and liued vprightly among men. It is said, that He was a sound man. This word Sound in the scripture is taken for a playnnesse, when there is no poynt of sayning, coūterfayting, or hypocrisie in a man, but that he sheweth himselfe the same outwardly that he is inwardly, & specially whē he hath no starting holes to shift himself from God, but layeth open his heart, and all his thoughts and affections, so as he desireth nothing but to consecrate and dedicate himselfe wholly vnto God. The sayde word hath also bene translated perfect, as well by the Greekes as by the Latines. But for as much as the worde perfecte, hath afterwarde bene misconstrued: it is much better for vs to vse the word Sound. For many ignorante persones not knowing howe the sayde perfection is too bee taken, haue thoughte thus: Beholde heere a man that is called perfect, and therefore it foloweth, that it is possible for vs to haue perfection in oureselues, euen during the tyme that we walke in thys present lyfe. But they deface the grace of God, whereof wee haue neede continually. For euen they that haue lyued moste vprightly, must haue recourse to Gods mercie: and except their sinnes be forgyuen them, and that God vphold them, they must needs al perish. So then, although that they whiche haue vsed the word perfect, haue ment well: yet notwithstanding for as muche as there haue ben some that haue wrested it too a contrary sense, (as I haue sayd) lette vs keepe still the word Sound. Then looke vpō Iob, who is called Sound. And how so? It is bicause there was no hypocrisie nor dissimulation, nor any doublenesse of heart in him. For when the scripture meaneth to sette down the vice, that is contrary too this vertue of Soūdnesse: it sayth Hart and Hart, meaning thereby a double heart. Let vs marke then, that fyrst of al this title is attributed vnto Iob, to shew that he had a pure & simple mind, that he bare not two faces in one whood, nor serued God by halues, but laboured to giue himselfe wholly vnto him. True it is that as nowe we can not be so sounde as to attayne to the marke as were too be wished.