Sermons upon the Book of Job

And so have we nothing here in the example of Job, but to mark that which I have touched already. But here is also that which I have spoken of afore, namely that Jobs temptations were divers in an other respect. For the robbers had carried away his goods and cattle, lightning from heaven had burnt up a great part of them, and a great tempest of wind had overthrown the house where his children were, and they were slain under it. Although his enemies had come and carried away his cattle, and that in the end they had broken into his house, & upon his children: all this had not bin so hard and strange a matter as when it is said, that the lightning fell from heaven, & that a mighty boisterous wind had killed his children. For in that case Job was provoked too say, what a thing is this? Men are against me, and God hath made himself mine enemy. For from whence cometh this lightning of the air? From whence come these hideous winds. It is said that the winds are Gods messengers to execute his commandments as though they were Heralds It is said, that the fire of heaven is as it were a sign of his presence. Job therefore might have concluded thus: I see how God warreth against me on the one side, and men on the other, and there is neither heaven nor earth with me, but all is against me. Alas, whither may I go? Hereupon he might have bin altogether plunged in despair. We see then, that when the temptations are so divers, we be much more troubled. And experience also showeth, so as every man may feel it in him self. For if we be tormented but after one sort, yea though the same be even too the uttermost, yet do we still conceive some hope. But when one man persecuteth us on the one side, and an other riseth up against us on another side, and the number of our enemies increaseth, so as we be laid at on all sides, & it seemeth that god is against us too, then can we no longer hold out, and we quite quail (as they say) like poor souls that be past all hope. Now when we see that this befell unto Job: let us mark it well that we may take profit by it: assuring our selves that God will also throughly try our say the and constancy by divers temptations. ⟨p. 30⟩When men trouble us or do us any harm:

And so haue wee nothing here in the example of Iob, but to marke that which I haue touched alreadie. But here is also that whiche I haue spoken of afore, namely that Iobs temptations were diuers in an other respect. For the robbers had caryed away his goodes and cattell, lightning from heauen had burnt vp a greate part of them, and a greate tempest of wynde had ouerthrowen the house where hys children were, and they were slayne vnder it. Although his enemies had come and caryed away his cattel, and that in the end they had broken into his house, & vpon his children: all this had not bin so hard and strange a matter as when it is sayd, that the lightning fel from heauen, & that a mightie boystous wind had killed his childrē. For in that cace Iob was prouoked too say, what a thing is this? Men are agaynst mee, and God hath made himselfe mine enemie. For from whence commeth this lightning of the ayre? From whence come these hideous windes. It is sayd that the windes are Gods messengers to execute his commaundements as though they were Heraulds It is sayd, that the fire of heauen is as it were a signe of his presence. Iob therfore might haue concluded thus: I see how God warreth against me on the one side, and men on the other, and there is neyther heauen nor earth with me, but all is agaynst mee. Alas, whither may I goe? Herevpon hee might haue bin altogither plunged in dispayre. VVee see then, that when the temptations are so diuers, we be much more troubled. And experience also sheweth, so as euery man may feele it in him selfe. For if we be tormented but after one sort, yea though the same bee euen too the vttermoste, yet doo wee still conceyue some hope. But when one man persecuteth vs on the one syde, and an other ryseth vp agaynst vs on another syde, and the nūber of our enemies encreaseth, so as we be layd at on all sides, & it seemeth that god is against vs too, then can we no lō ger holde out, and we quite quayle (as they say) like poore soules that be past all hope. Nowe when we see that this befell vnto Iob: let vs marke it well that we may take profit by it: assuring our selues that God wyll also throughly trye our say the and constancie by diuers temptations.