Sermons upon the Book of Job

For when the unfaithful scorn us as rejected of God, they blame him of untruth as though he had beguiled us▪ and therefore it must needs grieve us and torment us. But how soever the world go, let us not faint for all that: but let us call too remembrance what hath happened unto Job and unto David, and what Jesus Christ hath showed us, to the end we may not think it strange if we be fashioned like unto his image. For here we see upon what condition God hath grafted us into the body of his son, so as he is the general patron of all the faithful, as Saint Paul declareth in the .viij. too the Romans. But let us now consider what is imported in the said temptation, which Jobs wife bringeth, saying: Dost thou yet hold still thy singleness? As if she had said, what gainest thou by serving God? For thine intent in serving him, hath been to be supported by him, that he should have liked well of thee, and that he should have showed by his doings that he is thy father: and thou seest how he is an enemy to thee, and persecuteth thee. So then thy soundness booteth thee nothing at all. Lo here what her conclusion is: As concerning that which followeth, namely Bliss God and ⟨p. 44⟩dye: it is expounded in divers manners. For we have seen how this word Bliss, is sometimes taken to Curse. And that custom, (that is to say, that manner of speaking) serveth to teach us to detest blasphemy against God, as a thing that ought not to be named. Then are we done to understand that to grudge against God, or to spite him, or too cast forth any words that may sound to his dishonour, is so detestable a thing, as we must even shudder and quake at it: according as we see that when Saint Paul speaketh against whoredom and other villainous looseness,§10 and against gluttony and robbery: let them not (saith he) be once named among you. And therefore some expound this sentence thus: Bliss the Lord, that is to say, provoke God to anger, and then thou dyest for it: revenge thy self on him once ere thou dye: for thou seest well enough that he hath deceived thee.

For when the vnfaythfull skorne vs as reiected of God, they blame him of vntruthe as thoughe hee had beguyled vs▪ and therefore it muste needes greeue vs and torment vs. But how soeuer the worlde goe, let vs not faynte for all that: but let vs call too remembrance what hathe happened vntoo Iob and vntoo Dauid, and what Iesus Chryste hath shewed vs, to the ende wee may not thinke it straunge if wee bee fashioned like vnto his image. For heere wee see vpon what condition God hath greffed vs into the body of his sonne, so as he is the generall patrone of all the faythfull, as Saincte Paule declareth in the .viij. too the Romanes. But let vs nowe consider what is imported in the sayde temptation, which Iobs wyfe bringeth, saying: Dost thou yet hold still thy singlenesse? As if she had said, what gaynest thou by seruing God? For thyne intent in seruing him, hath bene to bee supported by him, that hee shoulde haue lyked well of thee, and that hee shoulde haue shewed by his dooyngs that hee is thy father: and thou seest howe hee is an enemie to thee, and persecuteth thee. So then thy soundnesse booteth thee nothing at all. Lo heere what hir conclusion is: As concerning that whyche followeth, namely Blisse God and