Sermons upon the Book of Job

and God putteth a bar in his way, in such sort as he is held short in every mischief that he steppeth forth unto, and can do nothing further than Gods good pleasure licenceth him. Thus ye see what we have to mark. And herewithall we have to observe further, that Gods judgments are of such a sort, as he executeth them both upon good and bad. True it is that if we will follow our own opinion: we might wonder how it should come to pass, that God giveth such authority and preeminence unto Satan, as to be able to lead us amiss. This will be a very strange thing to our own imagination. But what then? Seeing that the Scripture telleth us so, it behoveth us to humble our selves, and to wait till the day come that we may better conceive Gods secretes which are incomprehensible to us at this day, & therefore we must learn to magnify them, and to honour Gods judgements, having them in reverence and admiration, until they may be better known unto us. For we have too small a capacity to know them throughly as now. Therefore we must walk in humility, contenting our selves to know but in part, until full knowledge be disclosed unto us at the latter day. But how soever the case stand, we must not be ignorant in that which the Scripture showeth us: that is to wit, that god serveth his own turn by Satan, in such wise as Satan is always ready to seduce men when they have deserved it: and specially when they refuse to obey the truth, then must they needs be carried away unto lies. As concerning the faithful God doth now & then leave them also unto Satan, so as they be seduced by him, like as Job was not exempted from that inconvenience in the end. And also we see what is said of David in the holy stories. For whereof came it that he numbered the people? The text reporteth how it was the Devil that stirred up all the mischief, when David numbered so the people of God. David then ⟨p. 25⟩being one of Gods children, was notwithstanding sometimes delivered into the power of Satan, to be beguiled by him. Now when we see this, we have good cause too pray unto God, and to come shroud our selves under the shadow of his wings, and there to hide us. For if such things befell unto David, what shall become of us? Herewithall let us also mark, that when God giveth Satan such sway over the faithful: it is but for a little while.

and God putteth a barre in his way, in suche sort as he is hild short in euery mischiefe that he steppeth forthe vnto, and can do nothing further than Gods good pleasure licēceth him. Thus ye see what we haue to mark. And herewithall wee haue to obserue further, that Gods iudgments are of suche a sort, as he executeth them bothe vpon good and bad. True it is that if we will folowe our owne opinion: we myght wonder how it should come to passe, that God gyueth suche authoritie and preeminence vnto Satan, as to be able to leade vs amisse. This will be a very straunge thing to our owne imagination. But what then? Seing that the Scripture telleth vs so, it behoueth vs to humble our selues, and to wayte till the day come that we may better conceyue Gods secretes which are incomprehēsible to vs at this day, & therfore we must learne to magnifie them, and to honour Gods iudgements, hauing them in reuerence and admiratiō, vntill they may be better knowen vnto vs. For wee haue too small a capacitie to know them throughly as now. Therefore we must walke in humilitie, cōtenting our selues to know but in part, vntill full knowledge be disclosed vnto vs at the latter daye. But how soeuer the cace stand, we must not be ignorāt in that which the Scripture sheweth vs: that is to wit, that god serueth his own turne by Satan, in such wise as Satan is alwayes readie to seduce men when they haue deserued it: and specially when they refuze to obey the truth, then must they needes be caried away vnto lyes. As cōcerning the faithfull God doth now & then leaue them also vnto Satan, so as they be seduced by him, like as Iob was not exempted from that inconuenience in the ende. And also we see what is said of Dauid in the holy stories. For wherof came it that he numbered the people? The text reporteth how it was the Diuell that stirred vp all the mischief, when Dauid numbered so the people of God. Dauid thē