Sermons upon the Book of Job

and yet nevertheless there is not a man to be found in the whole world that loveth his wife in such measure, as nothing may be found fault with in his love, or that loveth his children with so pure and hearty love: but that there shall always be some medley of corruption. And why so? For seeing that God hath ordained, that the man shall love his wife, and that it is precisely said, Love your wives as your own bodies: shall their so doing be imputed to them for a fault? Can the good be turned into evil? Doubtless that cometh of our cursed nature: like as one grain of salt, or one drop of vinegar faileth not to mar a great deal of wine: Even so is it with men, for holding them selves in measure, they have not their affections so well ruled, as there may no fault be found in them, or not to be condemned in many respects. Then is it no strange case, that Job thought in himself, that his children might have offended God in the thing that of it self was good and commendable. Not for that he condemned the feasting of brethren together, specially sith their making of good cheer one with another, was to maintain themselves in mutual amity. That was not the thing that Job found fault with: But forasmuch as he was throughly acquainted with mans infirmity: he knew it was very hard to keep measure, so as no vice should be intermeddled with it by the way. And therefore he took good heed to himself, and sanctified his children But yet nevertheless we have further to note, that Job had well marked and borne away the thing, which experience showeth unto us: namely that in all feasts and banquets there is some disorder, wherethrough God is not so well honoured as he ought to be. First of all, in such meetings there will be always some superfluity of meats, and they that come thither, do for company sake eat and drink more than their ordinary. And hardly could a man think of the excess that is there: in so much that even the holiest men that fear God best, are overseen there. True it is that they play not the gluttons in stuffing of the paunch, nor in cramming themselves like swine, and much less will they be so drunken as to be out of their wits like beasts: no not so: but so much may be done, as they may somewhat pass measure. And how so? for we see that a man overshoots himself in that case ere he be aware.

and yet neuerthelesse there is not a mā to be found in the whole world that loueth his wife in suche measure, as nothing may be founde faulte with in his loue, or that loueth his children with so pure and heartie loue: but that there shall always bee some medlie of corruption. And why so? For seing that God hath ordeyned, that the man shall loue his wyfe, and that it is precisely sayd, Loue your wyues as youre owne bodies: shall their so doing be imputed to them for a faulte? Can the good be turned intoo euill? Doubtlesse that commeth of our cursed nature: lyke as one grayne of salt, or one droppe of vineger fayleth not to marre a great deale of wine: Euen so is it with men, for holding them selues in measure, they haue not their affections so well ruled, as there maye no fault bee found in them, or not to be condemned in many respects. Then is it no straunge cace, that Iob thought in himselfe, that hys children might haue offended God in the thing that of it selfe was good and commendable. Not for that he condemned the feasting of brethren togither, specially sith their making of good cheere one with another, was to mainteine themselues in mutuall amitie. That was not the thing that Iob founde fault with: But for asmuch as he was throughly acquainted with mans infirmitie: hee knewe it was very harde to keepe measure, so as no vice should be intermedled with it by the way. And therefore he tooke good heede to himselfe, and sanctifyed his children But yet neuerthelesse we haue further to note, that Iob had well marked and borne away the thing, which experience sheweth vnto vs: namely that in all feastes and banquets there is some disorder, wherethrough God is not so well honored as he ought to be. First of all, in suche meetings there will be alwayes some superfluitie of meates, and they that come thither, do for company sake eate and drinke more than their ordinarie. And hardly could a man thinke of the excesse that is there: in so much that euen the holiest men that feare God best, are ouerseene there. True it is that they play not the gluttons in stuffing of the paunch, nor in cramming themselues like swine, and much lesse will they be so drunken as to bee out of theyr wittes like beasts: no not so: but so much may be done, as they may somewhat passe measure. And how so? for we see that a man ouershootes himselfe in that case ere he be aware.