Sermons upon the Book of Job

I came naked out of my mothers womb, and it hath bin Gods pleasure to enrich me for a time, so §60as I have had great herds of cattle, a great household, and a goodly sort of children, and to be short, I was gloriously decked with the benefits and blessings which God had bestowed upon me. But now it is his will that I shall go hence stark naked: it is he hath enriched me with all these things, & now he taketh them away again, to the intent I should return into my first state, and dispose my self to creep forthwith into my grave. And this sentence is well worthy too be marked. For Job could not make a better proof of his patience, than in determining too be stark naked, sith it was Gods good pleasure that he should be so. True it is that men have fair excuses, as that they can not force nature, but that (spite of their teethe) they must be fain to return naked too their graves. And even the Paynims have said, that there is not any thing but death, which showeth how small a thing man is. Why so? For we have a gulf of covetousness in us, so as we could find in our hearts to swallow up the whole earth. If a man have plenty of riches, of Vineyards, of Meadows and possessions: that sufficeth him not, God must be fain too create new worlds for us, if he mind too satisfy us. And yet be we once dead, we must have no more ground than our own length, wherein too rot and consume away to nothing. So then, death showeth what we be, and what is our nature: and yet nevertheless ye shall see many strive against that necessity. They make them gorgeous Tombs, and they will have triumphant funerals. It should seem that such men could find in their hearts to resist God: but they can not attain to their purpose. And truly such is the general state of man. But as for us, it becometh us too suffer patiently the loss of our goods and riches, when so ever we be bereft of them: I say, it becometh us too suffer God too strip us out of all, even to our bare and naked skin, and to prepare our selves to return to our grave in the same state. Behold (I say) wherein we may prove our selves too be patient. And this is it that Job meant in this sentence. Also as oft and as long as we want the goods of this world, or endure hunger and cold, or be nipped with any adversity, and have no relief:

I came naked out of my mothers womb, and it hath bin Gods pleasure to enrich me for a tyme, so §60as I haue had great heards of cattell, a great houshold, and a goodly sort of chyldren, and to be short, I was gloriously decked with the benefits and blessings which God had bestowed vpon me. But now it is his wil that I shal go hence starke naked: it is he hath enriched me with al these thinges, & now he taketh thē away again, to the intent I should returne into my fyrst state, and dispose my selfe to creepe foorthwith into my graue. And this sentence is well worthy too bee marked. For Iob coulde not make a better proofe of his pacience, than in determining too bee starke naked, syth it was Gods good pleasure that hee shoulde bee so. True it is that men haue fayre excuses, as that they can not force nature, but that (spyte of their teethe) they muste bee fayne to returne naked too theyr graues. And euen the Paynims haue sayde, that there is not any thing but deathe, whiche sheweth howe small a thyng man is. VVhy so? For wee haue a gulfe of couetousnesse in vs, so as wee coulde finde in our heartes to swallowe vppe the whole earth. If a man haue plentie of ryches, of Vyneyardes, of Meddowes and possessions: that suffyseth him not, God muste bee fayne too create newe worldes for vs, if hee mynde too satisfye vs. And yet bee wee once deade, wee muste haue no more ground than oure owne lengthe, wherein too rotte and consume awaye to nothing. So then, death sheweth what wee bee, and what is oure nature: and yet neuerthelesse yee shall see many striue against that necessitie. They make them gorgeous Tombes, and they will haue triumphant funerals. It should seeme that suche men coulde finde in their heartes to resist God: but they can not attayne to theyr purpose. And truely suche is the generall state of man. But as for vs, it becommeth vs too suffer paciently the losse of our goodes and ryches, when so euer wee bee berefte of them: I say, it becommeth vs too suffer God too strippe vs out of all, euen to oure bare and naked skynne, and to prepare oure selues to returne to oure graue in the same state. Beholde (I saye) wherein wee maye proue oure selues too bee pacient. And this is it that Iob ment in this sentence. Also as ofte and as long as wee wante the goodes of this worlde, or indure hunger and colde, or bee nipped with anye aduersitie, and haue no reliefe: