Sermons upon the Book of Job

let us be think us of our birth, and let us consider our selves, both what we be, and whence we come. For men abuse the fatherly care that God hath of them in providing them the things which they have need of. True it is, that we ought to have this lesson well imprinted in our heart: namely, that God will not have us too want any thing, nor hath put us in this world without minding to nourish us there. But yet must we always acknowledge that the same cometh from elsewhere than [from our selves] and that we may not think we have the things in our own right, which we hold of the free goodness of our God. If a man should find me of his own free cost, and say unto me, come daily too me, thou shalt have thus much wine, and thus much bread, and I will entertain thee, how beit that I will not bind my self too thee, but give thee it freely: If I would hereupon hold plea against him, to bind him at whose hand I ought to beg every day, and at whose hand I receive all my substance: or if I make a rent of that which he giveth me of his free liberality, should it not be a very heinous unthankfulness? ⟨p. 34⟩I should deserve to be spitted in the face. And therefore much more are we bound to receive Gods benefits with all modesty, assuring our selves that he oweth us not any thing, and that in as much as we be poor, it becometh us to repair unto him too beg at his endless liberality every day. So then, when soever we be driven to any necessity, let us have recourse back (as I have said) and examine, from whence came I▪ Even out of my mothers womb, stark naked, and a poor and wretched creature: I was not able too help my self, nor §10too rid me of the poverty wherein I was, so as I must needs have perished altogether, if I had not ben succoured by others: so it pleased God to foster me, and to entertain me even too this hour, and too give me of his gracious benefits without number. And therefore if it please him now to scourge me, it is good reason I should bear all patiently, seeing it cometh from his hand. Thus ye see what we have too mark upon that which Job showeth us, in saying, Naked I came out of my mothers womb, and naked I shall return again too my §20grave.

let vs be thinke vs of oure byrthe, and let vs consyder our selues, bothe what wee bee, and whence wee come. For men abuse the fatherly care that God hathe of them in prouiding them the thinges whiche they haue neede of. True it is, that we ought to haue this lesson wel imprinted in oure hearte: namely, that God wyll not haue vs too wante anye thing, nor hathe put vs in this worlde wythout mynding to nourishe vs there. But yet muste wee alwayes acknowledge that the same commeth from elsewhere than [from our selues] and that we may not thinke wee haue the thinges in our owne right, which wee holde of the free goodnesse of our God. If a man should fynde mee of his owne free coste, and say vnto mee, come dayly too mee, thou shalte haue thus muche wyne, and thus much breade, and I will intertaine thee, how beit that I will not bynde my selfe too thee, but gyue thee it freely: If I woulde herevpon holde plea against him, to bynde him at whose hande I ought to begge euery daye, and at whose hande I receyue all my substaunce: or if I make a rente of that whiche hee gyueth mee of hys free lyberalitie, shoulde it not bee a verye heynous vnthankefulnesse?