Sermons upon the Book of Job

And here we see how that (as Saint Paul saith) our victory consisteth in taking hold of this love of God in Jesus Christ, so as we be throughly persuaded, that God hath adopted us to be his children: for if we have that principle, we shall not be dismayed with any affliction. Why so? for §10sith that God loveth us, we shall never be confounded: and so little shall our afflictions hinder our welfare, that they shall turn to our furtherance, and God will work in such wise, that our salvation shall be advanced by the means thereof. So then, seeing that Job who was beloved of God, and was one of the excellentest men that ever were in the world, hath bin so grievously afflicted: Let us assure our selves, that if God do now and then suffer us too abide over hard and painful adversities, yet ceaseth he not to keep us still under his protection, and to love us,§20 and of very love to provide for us the things that are good and profitable. But we must come too that which is set down here, that is to wit, that God punished Job, not only in his goods, but also in his children. This is to be marked well. For sometimes he that showeth himself stout in some one kind of temptation, will by and by be quailed in some other. As for example: There may be some man which in such wise despiseth the goods of this world, that if he have bin very rich, and afterward be sore impoverished: ye shall not see him shrink, but continue still in good quiet,§30 and he will say: well, I have bin rich, but it was Gods will to chastise me: I am bereft of all my goods and substance, God be praised for it. A man would think that this man is so constant, as it should seem he hath no feeling of his adversity. Behold the great virtue of him. Yea but if he be assailed on the other side, so as there happeneth some new temptation to him: ye shall see him so encumbered, as he hath no means too comfort himself. Then is it not enough for us too be patient against some one kind of adversity, but we must withstand all troubles.

And here we see how that (as Sainct Paule sayth) our victorie consisteth in taking holde of this loue of God in Iesus Christ, so as we be throughly persuaded, that God hath adopted vs to be his children: for if we haue that principle, we shall not be dismayd with any affliction. VVhy so? for §10sith that God loueth vs, we shall neuer bee confounded: and so little shall our afflictions hinder our welfare, that they shal turne to our furtherance, and God will worke in such wise, that our saluation shall be aduanced by the meanes therof. So then, seeing that Iob who was beloued of God, and was one of the excellentest men that euer were in the worlde, hath bin so grieuously afflicted: Let vs assure our selues, that if God do now and then suffer vs too abyde ouer hard and painfull aduersities, yet ceasseth hee not to keepe vs still vnder his protection, and to loue vs,