Sermons upon the Book of Job

and that when they have done so, they be diligent to see good order kept when it is once appointed, so as they shut not their eyes to make countenance of not perceiving the misorder a whit when a fault is committed, but always have medicines preservative at hand: That the Ministers of Gods word tarry not till all be marred, and till the Devil have gotten his full scope: but that as soon as they perceive any breach, and that things follow not on in good array, they endeavour to remedy it with all speed possible, to the end that things go not to havoc as they be commonly wont to do. And now it followeth that Job said: It may be that my Children have sinned: and that they have blessed God: for so it is word for word. But the word Bliss is sometimes taken to Curse: as when it is said, that Naboth had Blessed God and the King, that is to say, had Cursed them. And we shall see such examples again hereafter, and then will I declare more at large, after what manner this word is put in two contrary significations. But before we come to that, let us mark how it is reported here in the text, that Job said: It may be that my children have sinned. Here we see that Job waited not that God should send him some message to threaten him for the sins of his children: ⟨p. 15⟩but prevented the matter & was careful of it without any mans warning, saying: It may be that my children have done amiss. And this is a point which we ought to mark well. For now adays there are very few that can abide to be admonished and to be told of their faults, although their faults be notorious in all respects: yet (if it be possible) they will find some shift or other to excuse and hide themselves, in so much that if a man will rebuke them that do amiss, he must prepare himself to sustain mortal war at their hand, so as he shall be as a deadly foe to them §10for procuring their welfare. But if men cannot abide to be rebuked when they do amiss: how will they of themselves and of their own good will, blame themselves as worthy to be reproved, and say: It is possible that I have committed such a fault, either I or mine? But we see here how Job thought always in himself, It is possible that my children have sinned. And so the holy Ghost hath showed us what our duty is:

and that when they haue done so, they be diligent to see good order kept whē it is once appointed, so as they shut not their eyes to make countenance of not perceyuing the misorder a whit when a faulte is committed, but alwayes haue medicines preseruatiue at hande: That the Ministers of Gods word tarie not tyll all be marred, and till the Diuell haue gotten his full scope: but that assoone as they perceyue any breach, and that things folow not on in good aray, they indeuour to remedy it with all speede possible, to the end that things go not to hauocke as they be cōmonly wont to do. And now it foloweth that Iob sayd: It may bee that my Children haue sinned: and that they haue blissed God: for so it is worde for worde. But the worde Blisse is sometimes taken to Curse: as when it is sayde, that Naboth had Blissed God and the King, that is to say, had Cursed them. And we shall see suche examples againe hereafter, and thē will I declare more at large, after what maner this word is put in two contrarie significations. But before wee come to that, let vs mark how it is reported here in the text, that Iob sayde: It may be that my children haue sinned. Heere we see that Iob wayted not that God shoulde sende him some message to threaten him for the sinnes of his children: