Sermons upon the Book of Job

yet notwithstanding they joy still all the while in the glory of God, and are not separated from him. And therefore whereas it is said in this text, that they appeared, it is not meant, that when God sendeth them forth they be separated from his Majesty and deprived of the heavenly life during the time that they are in their voyage: but forasmuch as we be rude & gross, the Scripture meant to liken God to earthly Princes, to the end that by a more homely & familiar manner, we might know how the Angels do not any thing of their own proper moving, but that it is God which commandeth them, who hath all dominion over them, and they come to yield him account, and nothing is hid from him, in so much as the Angels have not any proper or peculiar authority in themselves: and that although they be called Powers, Principalities, and Virtues, it is not for that God hath resigned his own office unto them, it is not for that he hath despoiled himself of his own power, it is not for that he himself abideth idle in heaven: but it is for that the Angels are instruments of his power, to the end it should be spread out overall. We see then what we have to gather of this text: that is to wit, that God worketh in such wise by mean of his Angels in the governing of worldly matters, that all of them come to account afore him, in such sort as nothing can escape him. And furthermore whereas it is said, That Satan also came among the Angels: it is not for that he wound himself in thither, as some have understood it that he crowded himself into the company to make himself a good page: But contrariwise, the holy Ghost meant to do us to understand, that not only the Angels of Heaven which obey God willingly, and are wholly inclined, & given that way, do yield account unto him, but also the Devils of hell which are enemies and rebels to him to the uttermost of their power, which labour to subvert his Majesty, and practise to confound all things: so as they be forced (spite of their teeth) to be subject unto God and to yield him account of all their doings, and can not do any thing without his permission and leave. ⟨p. 17⟩Thus ye see in what wise Satan appeared among the Angels. But yet by the way, the manner of their dealing is divers. For when the Angels guide us, and do the thing that God hath commanded:

yet notwithstanding they ioy still all the whyle in the glory of God, and are not separated from him. And therefore wheras it is sayd in this text, that they appeared, it is not ment, that when God sendeth them forth they bee separated from his Maiestie and depriued of the heauenly life during the time that they are in their voyage: but for asmuch as we be rude & grosse, the Scripture ment to likē God to earthly Princes, to the end that by a more homely & familiar maner, we might know how the Angels do not any thing of their owne proper mouing, but that it is God which cōmaūdeth them, who hath all dominion ouer thē, and they come to yeelde him account, and nothing is hid frō him, in so much as the Angels haue not any proper or peculiar authoritie in themselues: and that although they be called Powers, Principalities, and Vertues, it is not for that God hath resigned his own office vnto them, it is not for that he hath despoyled himself of his own power, it is not for that he himself abideth ydle in heauen: but it is for that the Angels are instruments of his power, to the end it should be spread out ouerall. VVe see then what we haue to gather of this text: that is to wit, that God worketh in suche wise by meane of his Angels in the gouerning of worldly matters, that all of thē come to accoūt afore him, in such sort as nothing can escape him. And furthermore whereas it is sayd, That Satan also came among the Angels: it is not for that he wound himselfe in thither, as some haue vnderstood it that he crowded himself into the cōpanie to make himselfe a good page: But contrariwise, the holy Ghostment to do vs to vnderstand, that not only the Angels of Heauen which obey God willingly, and are wholy inclyned, & giuen that way, do yeelde account vnto him, but also the Diuels of hell which are enimies and rebels to him to the vttermost of their power, which laboure to subuert his Maiestie, and practize to confound all things: so as they be forced (spite of their teeth) to bee subiect vnto God and to yeelde him account of all their doings, and can not doe any thing without his permission and leaue.