Sermons upon the Book of Job

And now let us apply the same to our selves. I have told you already, that we have not any more the sacrificing which was before the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. But when the case concerneth praying unto God: (according as the principal service which he demandeth at our hands, is that we should call upon him, that we should profess him, that our whole welfare should depend upon him, that we should give him thanks for his benefits, and that we should enforce ourselves to be holy both in body & soul: even so, (to the end that all the whole may be consecrated to his honour,) we must also serve our neighbours turns with the things that he hath given us, assuring our selves that our being in this world, is to the end that we should be partakers one with another, in such wise as no man ought to be given to himself, but all of us ought to profit the members wherewith God hath knit and united us together. Seeing it is so, let every man have an eye to himself. True it is that to pray unto God is a thing common to all men. Nevertheless it behoveth each one of us to prick forward himself, according to the knowledge which he hath. When a man is better taught than others: it is certain that he ought to be so much the more earnest and fervent in praying unto God, and also to have a greater ⟨p. 14⟩care of himself. Thus ye see how we ought to consider what our ability and measure is. And afterward when it cometh to the offering of our selves unto God: it behoveth us to have an eye to that which he hath endued us withal, for according as every of us hath received, so shall he be the more blameworthy if he glorify not God. So then, whensoever God giveth more abundance of his spirit unto us, than to other men: we must look well to it, that we make our neighbours part takers with us: that such as have wisdom, give counsel unto others: & that §10such as have abundance, succour such as have need of it. Lo here how we ought to frame our selves unto that which is spoken here of Job: namely that he offered sacrifices according to the number of his children. As for the residue, whereas it is said that Job offered sacrifice for his children: it is to show us, that such as have charge of others, must be watchful, and that when any fault happeneth, they must hold themselves blameworthy before God for the same.

And now let vs apply the same to our selues. I haue told you already, that wee haue not any more the sacrifizing which was before the comming of our Lorde Iesus Christ. But when the cace concerneth praying vnto God: (according as the principall seruice which hee demaundeth at our handes, is that we shoulde call vpon him, that we should professe him, that our whole welfare should depend vpō him, that we should giue him thankes for his benefites, and that we should inforce ourselues to be holy both in body & soule: euen so, (to the end that all the whole may be consecrated to his honour,) we must also serue our neighbours turnes with the things that he hath giuen vs, assuring our selues that our being in this world, is to the end that we shoulde be partakers one with another, in such wise as no mā ought to be giuen to himselfe, but all of vs ought to profite the members wherewith God hath knit and vnited vs togither. Seeing it is so, let euery man haue an eye to himselfe. True it is that to pray vnto God is a thing common to all men. Neuerthelesse it behoueth eche one of vs to pricke forward himselfe, according to the knowledge which hee hath. VVhen a man is better taught than others: it is certayne that he ought to be so much the more earnest and feruent in praying vnto God, and also to haue a greater