Sermons upon the Book of Job

it will seem to us, that we have good cause to complain of him. How so? If God punish wicked folk, it is well done, yea and in so doing we can not gainsay him. But if a man walk in uprightness and simplicity, why doth God deliver him into Satan's hand? If a man say, O he doth but permit or suffer him only: If Satan were so at his own liberty (considering how outrageous he is) and that we also were left up too the pray, should we not of necessity be overwhelmed at the first push? But contrariwise, we see how it is Gods purpose to have the patience of his servant made known by it. And although he have other reasons which are hid from us for a time, yea even all our life long: yet must we hold our selves short, and confess, that all that he doth is good, yea though we perceive not too what end he doeth it. So then, albeit that we see not neither the Devils about us, nor yet the Angels: yet must we assure our selves, that God sendeth both the one and the other: verily too maintain us on the one side, and too trouble us ⟨p. 39⟩on the other. And so it standeth us always on hand too know, that God hath just cause to chastise us, and that if he overwhelm us a hundred times a day, we be well worthy of it: and yet that as I have said already, God hath not always a respect unto that, when he afflicteth us: but that now and then it is his will that Satan should torment us so, to the intent that we might obtain victory against him, and that our victory should be so much the more honourable, as his assailing of us hath ben more terrible. Also his meaning is to exercise us by practise,§10 to the intent we may stand in awe, and not take occasion to advance our selves, nor to oversleep our selves in vain selftrust and presumption, as we have been wont to do. God then wakeneth us in such wise, as we perceive, that if we were not uphold by him, it would be too our sorrow, specially if we were not relieved, in so much that it would be our chance too fall and too stumble down at every blow: and therefore that it is requisite that God should put his hand under us, or else our falls would be deadly. Therefore it is Gods will §20that we should feel it.

it will seeme to vs, that we haue good cause to complayne of him. How so? If God punishe wicked folke, it is well done, yea and in so doing we can not gaynesay him. But if a man walke in vprightnesse and simplicitie, why dothe God delyuer him into Sathans hande? If a man saye, O hee dothe but permitte or suffer him onely: If Sathan were so at hys owne libertie (consydering howe outrageous hee is) and that wee also were lefte vppe too the praye, shoulde wee not of necessitie bee ouerwhelmed at the first pushe? But contrarywyse, wee see howe it is Gods purpose to haue the pacience of his seruaunt made knowne by it. And althoughe hee haue other reasons whiche are hidde from vs for a tyme, yea euen all oure lyfe long: yet muste wee holde oure selues short, and confesse, that all that he doth is good, yea though wee perceyue not too what ende hee doeth it. So then, albeit that wee see not neyther the Dyuels about vs, nor yet the Angels: yet must we assure our selues, that God sendeth both the one and the other: verily too maintayne vs on the one syde, and too trouble vs