Sermons upon the Book of Job

Then had God need to utter a singular force of his holy Spirit to preserve rich men from corrupting of themselves. But if a man despise such a grace of God, doth he not lift up himself against God? Hereby then we be warned, not to con damn Riches in them selves, like also as we see how our Lord Jesus Christ hath showed us, by matching the poor and the rich together in the kingdom of heaven, when he speaketh of Lazarus in saint Luke. He sayeth there, that the Angels carried Lazarus: For albeit that he was an outcast among men, & a poor creature of whom no account was made, insomuch that he was forsaken of all men: yet nevertheless behold how the Angels carry his soul into Abraham's bosom. And what was this Abraham? A man rich both in cattle and in money, and in household, and in all other things saving houses and lands, for those were not lawful for him to have, because it behoved him to tarry Gods leisure, till he gave him the land of Canaan to inherit. True it is, that he purchased a burying place, but he had not any inheritance, notwithstanding that his movables were very great. Therefore when we see the soul of Lazarus carried by Angels into the bosom of Abraham, who is the father of the faithful: we perceive that God of his infinite grace and goodness calleth both rich and poor to salvation. And unto this purpose maketh that also which S. Paul saith: namely that God will have all men to be saved. For he speaketh of kings and princes, who of ordinary do misbehave themselves in their greatness, and can not find in their harts to stoop unto God: yea it seemeth to themselves that they be no mortal men: and yet God picketh out some of them to himself, & will not have all to be lost and to perish. Thus ye see what we have to mark. Yet for all this, the rich men must not flatter themselves, but rather know how they stand as it were upon ye, where they may soon slide, and that they be as it were among thorns, so as it behoveth them to look diligently to themselves for being pricked. Lo how each one of us ought to be touched with carefulness to commend our selves unto God, that we may walk according to his will. And upon this saying, That Job had seven sons, and three daughters, I note how it doth us too wit, that God had sent his blessing upon him, to make him prosper by all means.

Then had God neede to vtter a singular force of hys holie Spirite to preserue rich menne from corrupting of themselues. But if a man despyze suche a grace of God, doth hee not lyfte vp hymselfe agaynst God? Hereby then we be warned, not to cō demne Ryches in them selues, lyke also as we see howe our Lord Iesus Christe hath shewed vs, by matching the poore and the rich togither in the kingdome of heauen, when hee speaketh of Lazarus in sainct Luke. He sayeth there, that the Angells caried Lazarus: For albeit that hee was an outcast among men, & a poore creature of whome no account was made, in somuch that he was forsaken of all men: yet neuerthelesse behold how the Angells carie his soule into Abrahams bosome. And what was thys Abraham? A man rich both in cattell and in money, and in houshold, and in all other things sauing houses and lands, for those were not lawfull for him to haue, bycause it behoued him to tary Gods leysure, till he gaue him the land of Canaan to inherite. True it is, that he purchased a burying place, but he had not any inheritance, notwithstanding that his mouables were very greate. Therfore when we see the soule of Lazarus caried by Angels into the bosome of Abraham, who is the father of the faithfull: wee perceiue that God of his infinite grace and goodnesse calleth both riche and poore to saluation. And vnto this purpose maketh that also whiche S. Paule sayth: namely that God wil haue al men to be saued. For he speketh of kings and princes, who of ordinarie do missebehaue themselues in their greatnesse, and can not find in their harts to stoup vnto God: yea it seemeth to themselues that they be no mortall men: and yet God picketh out some of them to himselfe, & will not haue al to be lost and to perish. Thus ye see what we haue to marke. Yet for all this, the rich mē must not flatter themselues, but rather know howe they stand as it wer vpon yee, where they may soone slide, and that they be as it were among thornes, so as it behoueth them to looke diligētly to themselues for being pricked. Lo how eche one of vs ought to be touched with carefulnesse to cōmend our selues vnto God, that we may walke according to his will. And vpon this saying, That Iob had seuen sonnes, and three daughters, I note how it doth vs too wit, that God had sent his blissing vpon him, to make him prosper by all meanes.