Sermons upon the Book of Job

that Satan and all the wicked folk in the world may lift up themselves against us: but yet for all that, they must pass under the hand of God, and execute his will. And that shall be perforce, spite of their teethe: but yet it shall be so, because God hath sovereign preeminence over all the world, and as well the devil as the wicked sort are subject to him, and can do nothing without his consent. And here we see, why it is said again, that Satan appeared among the children of God before him. For (as I have declared heretofore) Satan meant not too disguise himself thorough hypocrisy, that he might intermeddle himself among the Angels. But he is fain too appear before God, to yield an account of his doings. Not that the thing is do one in some place certain: but the Scripture speaketh so, too apply it self too our rudeness, because we conceive not how all things are present afore God, and that he is of such a power and preeminence, as nothing is hid from him. When this is uttered unto us, we must acknowledge that the Scripture applieth it self to our reason, and that it teacheth us by such mean as is most convenient for us, and most agreeable to our understanding. God therefore is likened here to a Prince that holdeth his Assizes or court, whereunto all men must come before him, and there be judged. And thus ye see why it is said, that upon a certain day the Devil made his appearance with the Angels. Let us mark then, that like as God sendeth his Angels to guide us, & to be ministers of our welfare, so that they be as it were his hands, and the instruments of his power to maintain us: so also on the contrary part, he sendeth the Devil to vex and torment us. And he knoweth to what end he doth it. True it is that at the first we may well be astonished, when we see not the cause why God doth this or that. But whereby shall our faith be approved and tried, if it be not by glorifying God, and that whereas we be at our wits end, yet nevertheless we conclude, that all that ever proceedeth from God, is rightful and just, & that there is nothing but steadfastness in all his ways? If we be not thus minded, how shall our faith be allowed? And surely this present story is a goodly instruction for us in that behalf. For unless we consider wherefore God intended to persecute his servant Job:

that Sathan and all the wicked folke in the worlde may lifte vp themselues against vs: but yet for all that, they must passe vnder the hand of God, and execute his will. And that shall bee perforce, spyte of their teethe: but yet it shall be so, bycause God hath soueraine preeminence ouer all the world, and as well the diuel as the wicked sort are subiecte to him, and can do nothing without his consent. And here we see, why it is sayd againe, that Sathan appeared among the children of God before hym. For (as I haue declared heeretofore) Sathan ment not too disguyze himselfe thorough hypocrisie, that hee myghte intermeddle himselfe among the Angels. But hee is fayne too appeare before God, to yeelde an accompt of his doings. Not that the thing is do one in some place certayne: but the Scripture speaketh so, too applye it selfe too oure rudenesse, bycause wee conceiue not howe all thinges are presente afore God, and that hee is of suche a power and preeminence, as nothing is hidde from him. VVhen this is vttered vnto vs, we must acknowledge that the Scripture applyeth it selfe to oure reason, and that it teacheth vs by such meane as is most conuenient for vs, and moste agreeable to our vnderstanding. God therefore is lykened heere to a Prince that holdeth his Assyses or court, whervnto all men muste come before him, and there bee iudged. And thus yee see why it is sayde, that vpon a certayne daye the Dyuell made hys apparance with the Angelles. Lette vs marke then, that lyke as God sendeth his Angels to guyde vs, & to be ministers of our welfare, so that they bee as it were his handes, and the instrumentes of his power to maynteine vs: so also on the contrarie part, he sendeth the Diuell to vexe and torment vs. And he knoweth to what ende hee doth it. True it is that at the first we may well bee astonished, when we see not the cause why God doth this or that. But whereby shall our faith be approued and tryed, if it be not by glorifying God, and that whereas we be at our wits end, yet neuerthelesse we conclude, that all that euer proceedeth from God, is rightfull and iust, & that there is nothing but stedfastnesse in all his wayes? If we be not thus mynded, howe shall our fayth be allowed? And surely this presente storie is a goodly instruction for vs in that behalfe. For vnlesse wee consider wherefore God intended to persecute his seruant Iob: