Sermons upon the Book of Job

let us look up unto God, who showeth himself a father towards us, and hath witnessed unto us that we be his children, in so much as he hath a care of these our poor bodies here, and will have his love extend even unto them, notwithstanding that they be but rottenness. Therefore when we see that God doth so nourish and sustain us, we may be the merrier and the better assured of his goodness and fatherly love towards us. And hereby we see why S. Paul sayeth, that whither we drink or whither we eat, we must do it altogether in the name of God. There are many which suppose that there should be no thinking upon God when men come to eating and drinking: whereas in very deed we should therefore think so much the more of God. Seeing that God giveth such virtue unto bread by his word, that we be sustained by it, will he not have us to acknowledge his presence, and how he hath his hand stretched out over us? So then it is rather a cause that we should think the more upon God. For we see that our eating and drinking are sanctified by yielding all honour to his name. And therefore when it cometh to saying of grace, let us acknowledge that some fault may have escaped us: and then will God surely forgive us all our misdoing, if so be that we repair unto him. Thus you see the cause why it is said here precisely, that when Jobs children had made an end of feasting each other by turns, Job commanded them to sanctify themselves, and afterward offered a solemn sacrifice for each one of them, saying: It may be that my children have sinned, and that they have not blessed God. But we will speak of this whole matter in the end. We see then that Job was none of that sort, which after they have made niceness for a while, do finally conclude to set all at random. But he goeth to the remedy: that is to say, that God will bear with us in our infirmities. Albeit (sayeth he) that my children have not done their duty in all points: yet am I sure that God will have pity both upon them and upon me. And therefore let us ask him forgiveness. But yet for all this, Job forbade not his children to use their accustomed feasting: And wherefore? for the thing of it self was good, as I have said afore. If Job had said, I see here a lewd matter: truly he had not made sacrifice:

let vs looke vp vnto God, who sheweth himselfe a father towardes vs, and hath witnessed vnto vs that wee be his children, in so much as hee hath a care of these our poore bodies here, and will haue his loue extēd euen vnto them, notwithstanding that they bee but rottennesse. Therefore when we see that God doth so nourish and susteyne vs, we may be the meryer and the better assured of his goodnesse and fatherly loue towardes vs. And hereby we see why S. Paule sayeth, that whither wee drinke or whither wee eate, wee muste doo it altogither in the name of God. There are many which suppose that there should bee no thinking vpon God when men come to eating aud drinking: whereas in very deede we should therefore thinke so muche the more of God. Seeing that God giueth such vertue vnto breade by his woorde, that we be susteyned by it, will he not haue vs to acknowledge his presence, and how he hath his hand stretched out ouer vs? So then it is rather a cause that wee should thinke the more vpon God. For we see that our eating and drinking are sanctified by yelding all honor to his name. And therfore when it commeth to saying of grace, let vs acknowledge that some fault may haue escaped vs: and then will God surely forgiue vs all our misdoing, if so bee that wee repayre vnto him. Thus you see the cause why it is sayde here precysely, that when Iobs children had made an ende of feasting eche other by turnes, Iob commaunded them to sanctifie themselues, and afterwarde offered a solemne sacrifize for eche one of them, saying: It may bee that my children haue sinned, and that they haue not blissed God. But wee will speake of this whole matter in the ende. VVee see then that Iob was none of that sorte, which after they haue made nycenesse for a while, doo finally conclude to set all at randon. But hee goeth to the remedie: that is to say, that God will beare with vs in our infirmities. Albeit (sayeth he) that my children haue not done their dutie in all pointes: yet am I sure that God will haue pitie bothe vpon them and vpon me. And therefore let vs aske him forgiuenesse. But yet for all this, Iob forbade not his children to vse their accustomed feasting: And wherefore? for the thing of it selfe was good, as I haue sayde afore. If Iob had sayde, I see here a leawd matter: truly he had not made sacrifize: