Sermons upon the Book of Job

For as touching those that follow the right way, although they go on forward limping: yet are they so lame, that they drag their legs and their wings after them. The case then standeth so with us, so long as we be wrapped in this mortal body, that until such time as God have quit• discharged us of all the miseries whereunto we be subject: there shall never be any perfect soundness in us, as I have said afore. But yet for all that, it behoveth us nevertheless to come to the said plainness, and too give over all counterfaytnesse and leasing. And further, let us note, that the true holiness beginneth within us, insomuch that if we show all the fairest countenances in the world before men, and that our life be so well guided that every man shall commend us: yet if we have not this plainness and soundness before God, all is right nought. For it behoveth that the fountain be first pure, and afterward that the streams that run out of it be pure also. Otherwise the water may well be clear: ⟨p. 4⟩and yet nevertheless be bitter, or else have some other filthy corruption in it. Therefore it behoveth us to begin always with this text, That God will be served in spirit, and in truth: for he is a spirit, and he regardeth the truth of the heart, as it is said in the fifth of Jeremiah. Then ought we to learn first and foremost, to frame our hearts to the obeying of God. For after that Job hath been reported to have ben sound, it is also said of him that He was upright. This uprightness is meant of the life that he led, which is as it were the fruit of the said root which the holy ghost §10had planted afore. Job then had an upright and sound hart. For his life was simple, that is to say, he walked and lived among his neighbours, without hurting of any person, without doing any wrong or trouble to any body, without setting of his mind to any guile or naughtiness, and without seeking his own profit by the hinderance of other folks. We see now what this uprightness importeth, which is added in this place. And hereby we be admonished, to have an agreeableness between our heart and our outward senses. True it is (as I have said afore) that we may well §20withhold our selves from ill-doing, & that we may well have a fair show before men:

For as touching those that follow the right way, although they goe on forward limping: yet are they so lame, that they dragge their legges and their wings after them. The case then standeth so with vs, so long as we be wrapped in this mortall bodie, that vntill suche time as God haue quit discharged vs of all the miseries wherevnto wee be subiect: there shall neuer be any perfect soundnesse in vs, as I haue said afore. But yet for all that, it behoueth vs neuerthelesse to come to the said playnnesse, and too gyue ouer all counterfaytnesse and leasing. And further, lette vs note, that the true holynesse beginneth within vs, in somuch that if we shewe all the fayrest countenances in the world before men, and that our lyfe bee so well guyded that euery man shall commend vs: yet if we haue not thys playnnesse and soundnesse before God, all is right nought. For it behoueth that the fountayne bee fyrste pure, and afterwarde that the streames that runne out of it bee pure also. Otherwise the water may well bee cleere: