Sermons upon the Book of Job

But it seemeth that Job gave bridle too his heaviness, which were a fault to be condemned. For we know that men are wont to be but too excessive and inordinate in their passions. For though they restrain and repress themselves as much as they can: yet cease they not to pass measure: and there is nothing more hard, than to moderate §30a mans self in such wise, as we may keep rule and compass: we see that men cannot make merry, except they be over merry. Sorrow and heaviness is a passion yet far more heady, carrying men away with far greater force than gladness doth. And therefore we have cause to stand upon our guard, as oftentimes and as long as God shall send us any adversity. For it is the thing wherein we are wont to overshoot our selves most. And here it is said, that Job rent his garment. It seemeth he meant to prick himself forward to be more sorrowful §40than he was: for the man that beholdeth himself so defaced, is astonished at himself. And afterward when he came to his ear: a man might say he had as it were sought helps to sharpen and increase his grief, and that it was as much as to strike the spurs into his own sides. And this (as I have said) may seem worthy to be condemned. But first we must understand, that the scripture purposeth here to express, that the sorrow of this holy man was so great and so vehement, as he was not able to stay himself from using the ordinary fashions, yea even to §50the tearing of his garments, to show that he felt such anguish as had wounded him even too the bottom of his hart. This is it that the scripture meant to express. But by the way, although men ought to stand upon their guard that they be not swallowed up of sorrow when they be afflicted: yet notwithstanding, when God sendeth us adversity, it is meet that we should think upon it. For the common fashion of putting away all grief is stark naught: and yet for all that we see how men have fallen into it: insomuch that when they have meant to have patience,§60 they have quenched the consideration of their mishaps, thrust them far off, and chased them quite away: and to be short, have laboured to be so brutish, as they might not know nor discern any thing at all.

But it seemeth that Iob gaue brydle too his heauinesse, which were a fault to be condemned. For we know that men are wont to be but too excessiue and inordinate in their passions. For though they restreine and represse thēselues as much as they can: yet ceasse they not to passe measure: and there is nothing more hard, than to moderate