Sermons upon the Book of Job

he called him his protector, his buckler,§60 and his fortress: he bragged of his calling upon him, and of his resorting to him for refuge: and too be short, it seemed that God should never have forsaken him▪ and now a man may see how he hath esteemed him. All the miseries that David endured, were not so hard to digest, ne wounded him so deadly, as these reproaches that men offered him. And verily Satan seeth how he holdeth us as it were by the throat, when he hath once won this point at our hands. For he standeth not scanning whether he may prick us and wound us in the arm, or in the leg: but he cometh right to the heart, and to the throat of us when he hath once done so much, that wicked folk fall a mocking of us, as though we had trusted to God in vain, and were disappointed of the hope that were waited for at his hand. We see then that our faith goeth too utter wreck, if we give place to any such temptation. And look what befell unto David, the same was accomplished in our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore it behoveth us who are his members, too be fashioned like unto him, and that the same likeness be fulfilled in our persons, and that we put our selves in a readiness to resist when we endure adversities, and when wicked persons come too sting us by scoffing at our faith, of purpose to cast us into such despair; as our hearts might misgive us that God is against us, and that we be cut short of the trust that we reposed in him, when we find not the succour that we looked for at his hand. Let us arm ourselves against such▪ temptation, that we quail not under it. True it is (as I have erst said) that it is a right hard temptation to overcome: but we see what is written here of Job. Is not he that uphold him, strong enough too help us also, that we may not quail? Nevertheless we have here an example, how that after Satan hath tormented us and that we have been visited both in body and goods and in all things else: to knit up the matter withal, we must be fain to be mocked, and to have our faith assaulted. And this cannot be done, but the name of God must be blasphemed: and therefore we must needs be grieved and sorry at the heart, when that happeneth.

he called him his protector, his buckler,§60 and his fortresse: he bragged of his calling vpon hym, and of his resorting to him for refuge: and too bee shorte, it seemed that God shoulde neuer haue forsaken hym and now a man may see howe hee hath esteemed him. All the miseries that Dauid endured, were not so hard to disgest, ne wounded him so deadly, as these reproches that men offered hym. And verely Satan seeth how he holdeth vs as it were by the throte, when hee hath once wonne thys poynte at oure handes. For hee standeth not skanning whether hee may pricke vs and wounde vs in the arme, or in the legge: but hee commeth righte to the hearte, and to the throate of vs when hee hathe once doone so muche, that wicked folke fall a mocking of vs, as thoughe wee hadde trusted to God in vayne, and were disappointed of the hope that were wayted for at hys hande. VVe see then that our faythe goeth too vtter wrecke, if wee gyue place to any suche temptation. And looke what befell vntoo Dauid, the same was accomplished in oure Lord Iesus Chryste. Therefore it behoueth vs who are hys members, too bee fashioned lyke vnto hym, and that the same likenesse be fulfilled in our persons, and that we put our selues in a readinesse to resist when we indure aduersities, and when wicked persons come too sting vs by scoffing at our faith, of purpose to cast vs intoo such despayre; as our hartes myght misgyue vs that God is agaynste vs, and that we be cut short of the trust that wee reposed in him, when we finde not the succoure that wee looked for at his hande. Let vs arme ourselues agaynste suche temptation, that we quayle not vnder it. True it is (as I haue erst sayde) that it is a right harde temptation to ouercome: but we see what is written heere of Iob. Is not he that vphild him, strong ynough too helpe vs also, that we may not quayle? Neuerthelesse we haue heere an example, how that after Satan hath tormented vs and that wee haue bene visited bothe in body and goodes and in all things els: to knit vp the matter withall, wee muste bee fayne to bee mocked, and to haue our fayth assaulted. And thys cannot bee done, but the name of God must bee blasphemed: and therefore wee muste needes bee grieued and sorie at the heart, when that happeneth.