Sermons upon the Book of Job

that is to say, it is patience perforce and against our will, as a mule chawing upon his bit. True it is that such as are of that sort, would fain make themselves constant, they would in no wise bow, and they say, see the wicked fortune, but what though, we must for all that be constant. Here ye see what the patience of the unbelievers is. Although they be renowned in the world for courageous and stout fellows: yet cease they not to lift up themselves against God, and to find fault with him: and to be short, every of them will needs clear himself. I know not (say they) why this is happened too me, but if it be for that fortune is against me, or for that God is idle and hath no mind of things, or rather else for that mans state is such. And so in the mean while, such manner of men cease not too have their hearts full of venom. But God will have us patient after another manner, that is to wit, he will have us ready too endure all things, assuring our selves that good and evil proceed from the hand of him. He will have us too abide his chastisement, desiring nothing but too be governed by him, and renouncing all our own affections. And though it seem troublesome too us, he will have us fight against our own wicked lusts, and too resist them in such wise, as he alone may continue our master: for it is not possible that we should have that pacientnesse so frank and free in us, if we take not occasion too comfort our selves in God. And how will that be? It behoveth us too be well assured, that when God scourgeth us, he purposeth not our destruction, but rather procureth our welfare. For as for him that imagineth and deemeth God too be bent against him: he can not but fall into some grief and anguish of mind, yea and even into some frenzy to play the savage beast, and to lift up him self against God. Can we love God when we persuade ⟨p. 29⟩our selves that he seeketh nothing but to undo us, and to destroy us? So then it is very necessary for us to be fully resolved, that when God punisheth us, it is not a token that he hateth us, nor that he holdeth us for his enemies: but rather that he by that mean procureth our salvation.

that is to say, it is pacience perforce and against oure will, as a mule chawing vpon hys bit. True it is that suche as are of that sort, woulde faine make themselues constant, they woulde in no wise bowe, and they say, see the wicked fortune, but what thoughe, wee must for all that be constant. Here ye see what the pacience of the vnbeleeuers is. Although they bee renowmed in the worlde for courageous and stout fellowes: yet ceasse they not to lift vp themselues agaynst God, and to finde fault with him: and to bee short, euery of them wyll needes cleare himselfe. I know not (say they) why this is happened too me, but if it bee for that fortune is agaynst me, or for that God is idle and hath no minde of things, or rather else for that mans state is suche. And so in the meane while, suche manner of men ceasse not too haue their hearts full of venim. But God will haue vs pacient after another manner, that is to wit, hee will haue vs readye too endure all thinges, assuring oure selues that good and euill proceede from the hande of him. Hee wyll haue vs too abyde his chastizemente, desyring nothing but too be gouerned by hym, and renouncyng all oure owne affections. And thoughe it seeme troublesome too vs, hee wyll haue vs fyghte agaynste oure owne wicked lustes, and too resyste them in suche wyse, as hee alone maye continue oure maister: for it is not possible that we should haue that pacientnesse so franke and free in vs, if wee take not occasion too comfort oure selues in God. And howe wyll that bee? It behoueth vs too bee well assured, that when God scourgeth vs, hee purposeth not oure destruction, but rather procureth oure welfare. For as for hym that imagineth and deemeth God too bee bente agaynste hym: hee can not but fall intoo some griefe and anguishe of mynde, yea and euen into some frenzie to play the sauage beast, and to lift vp him selfe agaynst God. Can wee loue God when wee persuade