Sermons upon the Book of Job

he humbleth himself to us, and as it were transformeth himself, to the end that we should know that which is good and convenient for us: Seeing that God cometh so unto us: I pray you, ought not we to be confounded with shame if we be slow to hear him? And hereby we see what a villainy it is of them that would bereave poor idiots of all doctrine. For they say that the holy Scripture is overhard for a man to bite upon. True it is, that in respect that there is nothing else but darkness in us, the scripture will be very hard for us: but yet there withal, a man must consider how God hath promised to enlighten the little ones and the lowly. And in deed we see, how he hath proceeded. For to what purpose is it set out unto us here so homely and after the manner of men? God showeth us how his meaning is, not only to instruct the great Clerks, and such as are very subtle and well exercised in schools: but also to apply him self unto us that are of the rudest & unskillfullest sort, that can be. Seeing God proceedeth so on his part: what an unthankfulness is it for men to draw backward, and to shroud themselves under this shadow & colour of saying that it is impossible for them to understand the meaning of the holy Scripture? For we see how God hath applied himself unto us. By the way we have to gather chiefly, how it is the mind of the holy Ghost, to show what Satan's office is, what his nature is, and where about he busieth and applieth himself altogether: which is (as I have said) to hunt after his pray without ceasing, like a roaring lion. And S. Peter useth the said similitude purposely, to waken us, that we might stand upon our guard night and day, and call upon God to defend us against all the assaults of our enemy, and against all that he can practise against us. True it is that we see not Satan, ne perceive not by eyesight what he prepareth and practiseth to our destruction: & therefore have we so much the more cause to be afraid of his guiles and policies. Lo here the cause why S. Paul sayeth, that our fighting is not against flesh and blood. For hereby he meaneth, that if we had to deal with visible enemies, we might well escape their hands by some shift or other, and we might find the mean to ⟨p. 19⟩resist them.

he humbleth himself to vs, and as it were transformeth himselfe, to the end that we shoulde know that which is good and conuenient for vs: Seeing that God cōmeth so vnto vs: I pray you, ought not we to be confounded with shame if we be slowe to heare him? And hereby we see what a villanie it is of thē that would bereue poore ideotes of all doctrine. For they say that the holie Scripture is ouerhard for a mā to bite vpon. True it is, that in respect that there is nothing else but darknesse in vs, the scripture will be very hard for vs: but yet there withall, a man must consider how God hath promised to enlighten the little ones and the lowly. And in deede we see, how he hath proceeded. For to what purpose is it set out vnto vs here so homely and after the maner of men? God sheweth vs howe his meaning is, not onely to instruct the greate Clerkes, and suche as are very suttle and well exercised in schooles: but also to apply him self vnto vs that are of the rudest & vnskilfullest sort, that can be. Seing God proceedeth so on his part: what an vnthankefulnesse is it for men to drawe backewarde, and to shrowd themselues vnder this shadow & colour of saying that it is impossible for them to vnderstande the meaning of the holie Scripture? For we see how God hath applied himself vnto vs. By the way wee haue to gather chiefely, how it is the minde of the holy Ghost, to shewe what Satans office is, what his nature is, and where aboute he busieth and applyeth himselfe altogither: which is (as I haue sayd) to hunt after his pray without ceassing, like a roring lyon. And S. Peter vseth the sayd similitude purposely, to waken vs, that we might stande vpon our garde night and day, and call vpon God to defende vs agaynste all the assaultes of our enemie, and agaynst all that he can practize against vs. True it is that we see not Satan, ne perceyue not by eyesight what hee prepareth and practizeth to our destruction: & therfore haue we so much the more cause to be afrayde of his guiles and pollicies. Lo here the cause why S. Paule sayeth, that our fighting is not against fleashe and bloud. For hereby he meaneth, that if we had to deale with visible enemies, wee myght well escape their handes by some shift or other, and we might finde the meane to