Sermons upon the Book of Job

Even so doth God We see then how it was convenient that Job should be set forth unto us as a pattern, and that God should plague him to the uttermost, too the intent that when we compare our selves with him, every one of us may be ashamed, seeing we be not able to suffer any affliction, be it never so light or mean: for we be so tender as it is pity to see it. If God send us any adversity, we never consider wherein he spareth us: but our mind is upon our present grief, and we will not be comforted by taking hold of Gods goodness, in that he holdeth us up. As how? If a man be sick, he taketh such an inward conceit of his disease, that he thinketh upon none other thing, neither considereth he the matter thus: God hath given me here many means too ease me withal, I am succoured in my distress, men have a care of me, I am served and tended (as one man hath his wife, an other his children, and an other his servants too tend him) and therefore I see that God doth not punish me out of measure: I say he hath remedies in a readiness for him: either he hath of his own store, or else he shall be relieved by some other. We never think upon any of these things: but the grief doth possess us in such sort, as we be still chawing on the bit too torment and rack our selves, yea & even to be angry with God. And this is as villainous an unthankfulness as the other is: for when any inconvenience troubleth us, we must ever think with our selves: Alas, if my good God pity me not, what shall become of me? I should not only endure this grief, but also far greater, which I have deserved, and God will find means enow too punish me more: for it is said that he hath his rods laid up in his coffers, and that when it pleaseth him too bring them forth ⟨p. 28⟩against us we must be fain to feel other manner of stripes at his hand than we have done yet. If we mind such things, it is certain that in the middest of the greatest miseries and troubles that we can have in this world, we shall be comforted, and feel some assuagement of our griefs. But we do nothing at all in that behalf, insomuch that this lesson is written in vain.

Euen so dooth God VVee see then howe it was conuenient that Iob shoulde be set foorth vnto vs as a patterne, and that God shoulde plague him to the vttermost, too the intent that when we compare our selues with him, euery one of vs may bee ashamed, seeing we be not able to suffer any affliction, be it neuer so light or meane: for we be so tender as it is pitie to see it. If God sende vs any aduersitie, wee neuer consider wherein he spareth vs: but our minde is vpon our present griefe, and we will not bee comforted by taking holde of Gods goodnesse, in that he holdeth vs vp. As howe? If a man be sicke, hee taketh suche an inwarde conceyte of hys disease, that hee thinketh vpon none other thing, neyther considereth he the matter thus: God hath giuen me here many meanes too ease mee withall, I am succoured in my distresse, men haue a care of mee, I am serued and tended (as one man hath his wife, an other his children, and an other his seruantes too tende him) and therefore I see that God doth not punishe mee out of measure: I say hee hath remedies in a readinesse for him: either he hath of his own store, or else he shal be releued by some other. VVe neuer thinke vpon any of these things: but the griefe doth possesse vs in such sort, as we be still chawing on the bitte too torment and rack our selues, yea & euen to be angry with God. And this is as villanous an vnthankfulnesse as the other is: for when any inconuenience troubleth vs, wee must euer thinke with our selues: Alas, if my good God pitie me not, what shall become of me? I should not only endure this griefe, but also farre greater, which I haue deserued, and God will finde meanes ynowe too punish me more: for it is sayd that he hath his rods layd vp in his cofers, and that when it pleaseth him too bring them foorth