Sermons upon the Book of Job

And here is no matter for us too judge of after our own understanding as some overweening persons do, who will needs be wise in making God and all his whole world subject to their own fancy. These are beasts, yea and as beetle-headed beasts as any can be. They have neither knowledge nor wit: and yet to purchase them selves estimation, they say, they see no reason why God should be the doer of all things: for then should he be the author of sin. Do they not then control the holy ghost for speaking so? for we must needs yield to that. And when a man hath debated the matter throughly to and fro, he must needs come too the said conclusion, namely that we comprehend not the greatness and height of Gods doings, further than it pleaseth him to give us some taste of them, at leastwise according to our capacity: which is oversmall. None knoweth Gods works but himself alone: they are a bottomless deep (as the scripture saith) and we have no means to attain to them, in so much that all they which will search them shall be confounded, except they go too it with all reverence and lowliness. Therefore it belongeth only unto God to give us knowledge what, how, and wherefore he doth: and therewithal it behoveth us to content our selves with that which the scripture telleth us. And although it seem strange unto us, and we be not able to comprehend it by our capacity and reason: yet must we confess that God is righteous. And forasmuch as we attain it not: let us tarry the coming ⟨p. 37⟩of the latter day, at which time we shall know no more by piecemeal, nor as it were in dimness (as Saint Paul saith) but we shall then behold the things face to face which are showed us now as it were in a glass. Thus then we see an excellent Text too show us how God guideth and governeth the whole world by his Providence. But we have further too note, too what purpose the Holy Ghost telleth us, that GOD doth all, and that nothing can come too pass without his consent. It is to the end that we might despise Satan §10and all wicked men, when we see them practise and invent never so many things: because we are sure they are not able to bring their enterprises about. See then how God meaneth to assure us of his protection, and too show us how Satan is so far off from being master of himself too accomplish the thing that he would:

And heere is no matter for vs too iudge of after our owne vnderstanding as some ouerweening persons doe, who will needes be wyse in making God and all his whole worlde subiect to their owne fansie. These are beastes, yea and as beetleheaded beastes as any can bee. They haue neither knowledge nor wit: and yet to purchase them selues estimation, they saye, they see no reason why God should be the doer of all things: for then should he be the authour of sin. Do they not then controll the holy ghost for speaking so? for we must needs yeld to that. And when a man hath debated the matter throughly to and fro, hee must needes come too the sayde conclusion, namely that we comprehende not the greatnesse and heigth of Gods dooings, further than it pleaseth him to gyue vs some tast of them, at leastwyse according to oure capacitie: whiche is ouersmall. None knoweth Gods workes but himselfe alone: they are a bottomelesse depe (as the scripture saith) and we haue no means to attain to them, in so muche that all they which will search them shalbe confounded, except they goe too it with all reuerence and lowlynesse. Therefore it belongeth onely vnto God to giue vs knowledge what, howe, and wherfore he doth: and therewithal it behoueth vs to content our selues with that which the scripture telleth vs. And although it seeme straunge vnto vs, and we be not able to comprehende it by oure capacitie and reason: yet must we confesse that God is ryghtuous. And forasmuch as wee attaine it not: let vs tary the comming