Sermons upon the Book of Job

True it is that all men will easily say how it is God that hath given them all that they possess: but what for that? They challenge all too them selves and vaunt them selves as it were in spite of him. And what is that? I pray you is it any better than flat mockery? Yea verily it is too gross an hypocrisy when after we have protested to hold all things of God, yet notwithstanding we mean nothing less, than that he should have the disposition of them, or that he should change any thing, but we would have him let us alone and set us at free liberty, as if we were separated from him and exempted from his jurisdiction. This is as much as if a man should say, O, I am well contented to acknowledge such a one for my prince: I will do mine homage and allegiance unto him: howbeit so as he enter not into my house, so as he come not too demand any thing at my hand, so as he trouble me not. The world could not bear with such a villainy: and yet nevertheless we see how men dally with God. And what is it that we mean by this confession, that we hold all of him, and in the mean ⟨p. 35⟩while will not abide that he should touch any thing? We see then how the world doth openly play mock holiday with God: and yet that it becometh us always to follow that which is showed us here: that is to wit, that forasmuch as God hath given us that which we possess, he may call it back again and withdraw it from us when he will. But yet that which is added byandby after (namely that the name of God should be blessed) importeth more. For herein Job submitteth him self in such wise unto God, that he confesseth him to be good and just, notwithstanding §10that he be scourged so roughly at his hand. I have said that this importeth more: because that every man may grant all power and sovereignty unto God, and he may say, well, seeing he hath given, he may also take. But in the mean while he will not acknowledge that God dealeth justly and by good reason: for there are many who when they be scourged, do blame God of cruelty, or of overgreat roughness, so as they can not reserve unto him this right of his to withdraw that thing which he hath given them, nor consider (as I have said afore,) that §20they possess their goods with condition, that they may be stripped out of them to day, or to morrow.

True it is that all men will easily saye how it is God that hath gyuen them all that they possesse: but what for that? They chalendge all too them selues and vaunte them selues as it were in spyte of him. And what is that? I praye you is it anye better than flatte mockerie? Yea verelye it is too grosse an hypocrisie when after wee haue protested to hold all things of God, yet notwithstanding wee meane nothing lesse, than that hee shoulde haue the disposition of them, or that hee shoulde chaunge anye thing, but wee woulde haue him let vs alone and set vs at free libertie, as if we were separated from him and exempted from his iurisdiction. This is as muche as if a manne should say, O, I am well contented to acknowledge suche a one for my prince: I wil doe mine homage and alegeance vnto him: howbeit so as he enter not into my house, so as hee come not too demaunde anye thing at my hande, so as hee trouble mee not. The worlde coulde not beare with such a vilanie: and yet neuerthelesse we see howe men dallye with God. And what is it that wee meane by this confession, that wee holde all of him, and in the meane