Sermons upon the Book of Job

it seemeth to us that God doth us wrong, if he avenge us not incontinently, so as we would have even heaven to bend it self against our enemies to revenge the injury that they have done us: and we consider not a whit how it is God that trieth us in that wise, and that he knoweth what is profitable and expedient for us better than we our selves. By the way, a man might demand here, how it happened that fire came down from heaven too burn up Jobs cattle. For the devil hath not the lightning and §10tempests in his power: we grant him no such sovereignty, as to have dominion in the air to raise whirlwinds and tempests at his pleasure. The answer hereunto is easy: howbeit that this matter shall be handled more fully in the next sermon. Nevertheless, let us mark, that although the winds be Gods heralds to execute his will, and that the lightning have like nature: yet the Devil worketh by them, when God useth his service, as hath bin declared heretofore. Then let us think it not strange, that God should give the devil such a liberty, as to be able to raise up lightnings, whirlwinds and tempests. For he is §20not able to do it as often and as much as he himself listeth: but God serveth his own turn by him, as it pleaseth himself. Thus ye see the question assoiled, so as ye need not to marvel that the devil hath raised up such a tempest and rage of foul weather, as too beat down a house, or that he hath stirred up the lightning of heaven, that is too wit, so far forth as God permitted him, specially seeing God directed him too exercise the faith and patience of his servant. And heerewithall on the other side we have also too mark, that §30Jobs patience was so much the more virtuous and commendable, in that he fell from such height, and in that he seemed too be so well fenced: and yet notwithstanding ceased not too bliss God even when he was utterly forlorn. This (I say) is worthy of singular commendation: for we know that such as are in prosperity forget themselves. I say, not only that the worldlings and such as think not at all upon God, but also that the faithful which have walked in the fear of God all their life long, yea and even they that §40keep still in the same mind, are overseen when they have all things at will, so as they forget themselves, and know not themselves any more.