Sermons upon the Book of Job

Seeing then that God offereth us remedy in such wise, whereby too relieve all our feebleness: let us not doubt, but that as he hath uphold his servant Job, so will he §50work in us also at this day. For his meaning is nothing else than to seal, up his promises which are common to all men, and too give us assurance and experience of them in the person of one man, to the end we should not doubt but he will be as good as his word. Therefore let us not allege this excuse. Lo I am a man. For why? Was not Job a man? was not Abraham a man? was not David so to? And whereof came it that they resisted temptations? O, yes. But they were aided. And is not God at this day the same he was then? is he changed since that time?§60 Is it his mind too aid but a three or four? When he said, I will be your fortress and bulwark, and I will stick to you in all your needs, meant he it but to Job, to Abraham, and to David? meant he it not to his whole Church? So then, unless we will charge God with untruth, we must boldly conclude, that like as he assisted Job, so will he also assist us. But what? when we be destitute of the grace of Gods holy spirit: that proceedeth of our own naughtiness, by cause we regard not the good turn that he is ready to do us when he giveth us his promises: and that although he prevent us, seeking nothing but to utter his power in maintaining us: yet notwithstanding, we shut the gate against him. And so we well perceive too what intent this story is written us, that is to wit (as I have said already) that we might know how God afflicteth those that are his: and there withal understand, that he forgetteth not too succour them at their need, and that according to the greatness of their necessity, the remedy is always ready in due season. Furthermore we have here a godly record, that afflictions are not always signs that God hareth us. If we have not this belief, it is impossible that we should be patient in adversity. For it is not for naught that Saint Paul saith, we ought too have comfort through patience. If a man comfort not himself in God, though he show never so great and invincible courage, yet is not the same to be called patience. For he is not patient as he ought to be. It is but the patience of a lombard as we say in the proverb:

Seeing then that God offereth vs remedie in suche wise, whereby too relieue all our feeblenesse: let vs not doubt, but that as he hath vphild his seruant Iob, so wil he §50