Sermons upon the Book of Job

And for proof hereof, God punisheth such as have offended. And who is he that is able too plead against him that he doth not well? moreover his meaning is too inure his faithful ones too patience, too mortify their fleshly affections, and to teach them lowliness. What say we too these things? can we condemn them? It is very certain that we can not. Take me even the wickeddest men that live, and demand of them whither it be lawful for God to chastise mens sins and transgressions, or whither it belong unto him to humble §30those that are his, too exercise the obedientnesse of their faith, and to tame them, to the end they may learn to renounce the world. And they shall be fain to glorify God spite of their teethe. Seeing then that God leveleth at that mark: it followeth that all his works are just and rightful, notwithstanding that men do cavil against them. True it is that the wicked cease not to grunt and bark against God though they cannot byte him: but yet must it needs come to pass (as David sayeth in the one and fiftieth Psalm) that is too wit, that God shall be justified §40[or found righteous] in judging. It is not without cause that David speaketh so. For he knew, how there is so overgreat at boldness and naughtiness in men, that they desire nothing more than to lift up themselves against God, and to caste forth words at all adventure. David therefore perceiving such malapertness and frowardness in the world, sayeth: Very well, true it is that the creatures pass their bounds so far and with such excess, that God must needs be blasphemed and put too reproach, and his creatures become as his judges.§50 But yet for all that, he shall be found clear. When men have grudged their fill against him: in the end and at the knitting up, his righteousness will appear spite of their teeth. Then let us not marvel though there be murmuring against the doctrine: for it must needs be so, and the holy ghost hath prophesied so beforehand, as we see: but let us walk on in singleness of mind, and hold our selves contented with that which God declareth to us concerning himself. Thus we see how we ought to practise the said lesson. And therewithal let us hold fast the comfort §60that is given us here, and let us fence our selves with it: that is to wit:

And for proofe hereof, God punisheth such as haue offended. And who is hee that is able too pleade against him that hee doth not well? moreouer his meaning is too inure his faythfull ones too pacience, too mortifye their fleshly affections, and to teache them lowlinesse. VVhat say wee too these thinges? can wee condemne them? It is very certayne that we can not. Take me euen the wickeddest men that liue, and demaund of them whither it bee lawfull for God to chastize mennes sinnes and transgressions, or whither it belong vnto him to humble