Sermons upon the Book of Job

it is much more likely that they will show what is in other men, whither they have faith and obedientnesse in their hearts or no, and whither they be hypocrites, or whither they serve him in truth. Here ye see what we have to mark in this strain, and experience showeth us, that it is so. For we see a great number, who when God sendeth them all things at their pleasure, do speak as sweet as sugar, as they say: and ye would marvel to hear how that good God shall be praised: specially §10when they find their dishes full furnished, so as nothing is wanting, ô how well it liketh them to confess that God is good. But if he begin to handle them any thing roughly, that things fall not out to their contentation, they take it sore to heart. If God proceed and pluck their feathers from them: then fall they yet to further outrage of murmuring, yea and they belch out blasphemies against him: and albeit that they utter them▪ not with their mouth, yet is their heart full of poison within, so as they chafe upon the bit, and repine §20at God for handling them otherwise than they like of. Ye see then that in time of prosperity there are enow that will bliss God: but that is but hypocrisy, I speak of such only as mean not to do it in deed. For they be the worst which sooth themselves in such wise as they perceive not their own vices. Sith the case standeth so, let us mark that Satan hath in this point had an eye to the diseases wherewith men are attainted. And so we see with what an enemy we have to do: he lieth in wait for us, & prieth about us on all sides, to spy where he may have any §30entrance to wound us. Therefore let us bear well in mind, that when we shall have praised God, and served him in time of prosperity: that is not all that we have to do: but we must put our selves in a readiness, that when soever it shall please God to scourge us, to exercise us with manifold miseries and inconveniences, we not withstanding must bridle our selves, & have the lowliness to submit our selves unto him, and to receive all his chastisements patiently & quietly. If we be not come to this trial, that is to say, if we be not patient when God scourgeth us:§40 all the service that we do unto him will be no great matter. True it is that God will well accept those that be his, even in the time of their prosperity: