Sermons upon the Book of Job

But although we can not have the said uprightness without the fearing of God yet notwithstā ding, the serving of God, & the regarding of our neighbours are two several things, in likewise as god hath distinguished them in his law, at such time as it pleased him to have them written out in the two tables. Then let us bear in mind, that like as heretofore under the word uprightness, the holy Ghost meant to show after what manner Job lived among men: so also when he saith that Job feared God, he meaneth to set out the religion that was in him. And hereby we be warned, that if we will frame our life aright, we must first have an eye unto god, & then to our neighbours. I say we must have an eye unto god, to give our selves over unto him, & to yield him his due honour: and we must have an eye to our neighbours, to discharge our selves of our duty towards them, according to that we be commanded to help them, and to live in equity & uprightness: & finally (forasmuch as god hath knit us each to other) that every man study to employ his whole ability to the common commodity of all. Thus ye see how the case standeth with us in having of an eye both to ⟨p. 5⟩God & men, for the well ordering of our life: for he that looketh on himself, is sure that he hath nothing but vanity in him. For if a man were able to order his life in such wise, as he might seem faultless to the world; & yet notwithstā ding, god disliked him: what shall he gain by his overlabouring of himself to walk in such wise as all men might magnify him? As to godward he is nothing else but uncleanness: & needs must this sentence which is written in S. Luke be verified, namely that the thing which is most high & excellent before men, is abominable before God. Then let us §10bear in mind, that we can never order our life as we ought to do, except we have our eyes fastened upon God & our neighbour. Upon God? and wherefore? To the end we may know, that we be created to his glory, to serve him and to worship him. For although he have no need of us as our neighbours have, nor is either the better or the worse for our service: yet is it his will to have reasonable creatures which should know him, and in knowing him, yield him that which belongeth unto him. Furthermore, whereas he speaketh of the fear of God: we have to understand, that it is not §20a slavish fear (as men term it:)