Sermons upon the Book of Job

and sith we find our selves assailed of so many enemies, it behoveth us so much the more to know what great need we have of Gods help, and that when we be under his protection, we are sure, that neither Satan nor all the wicked men in the world, can bring that thing about which they have enterprised against us. Let us mark then how the devil is painted out lively unto us, and that when the holy ghost sayeth, that he ceaseth not to keep his courses and circuits about the earth, it standeth us on hand to keep always sure watch, and to be evermore awake of purpose to pray unto God, and too have our recourse unto him, and also to arm our selves more and more with faith, that we may enter into the field of battle to fight courageously, until such time as God grant us to enjoy the victory that he hath promised us. And whereas it is said here of Job, that God questioned with Satan about him specially: it is a token (as I have declared already) that even in those days he had very few fellows that served God ⟨p. 40⟩purely. And here we see why it is precisely said, that he withdrew himself from evil. For all was full of corruption, and it was nothing else but an overflowing of iniquity. If there had been good store of righteous men in the world, and that Job had had many like himself, that had given themselves to serve God as he did: God had not spoken of that one man alone: but here it is said expressly of Job, He hath not his match or his like. By this then we be warned, not to mar our selves when we be among wicked persons: and that though we see §10the whole world set upon mischief, and turned upside down, we must not take example thereat, to suffer our selves to be carried away, but keep us still in right obedience under the guidance of God, beseeching him to strengthen us with his holy spirit, that our heels be not tripped up by the stumbling blocks which we see, and which the Devil casteth afore us to thrust us out of our way. Seeing then that Job lived after that sort in all soundness, notwithstanding that all the corruptions of the world were rife at that time (for all was corrupted:) Let us mark, that §20although things be never so far out of order, we must not give our selves liberty to do evil:

and syth we fynd our selues assayled of so many enemies, it behoueth vs so much the more to knowe what great neede wee haue of Gods helpe, and that when we be vnder his protection, wee are sure, that neyther Sathau nor all the wicked menne in the worlde, can bring that thing aboute whiche they haue enterprised agaynst vs. Let vs marke then howe the diuell is painted out liuely vnto vs, and that when the holie ghost sayeth, that hee ceasseth not to keepe his courses and circuites about the earth, it standeth vs on hande to keepe always sure watch, and to be euermore awake of purpose to pray vnto God, and too haue our recourse vnto him, and also to arme our selues more and more with faith, that we may enter into the fielde of battell to fyght couragiously, vntill suche time as God graunte vs to enioye the victorie that he hath promised vs. And whereas it is sayde heere of Iob, that God questioned with Sathan about him specially: it is a token (as I haue declared alreadie) that euen in those dayes hee had very fewe fellowes that serued God