Sermons upon the Book of Job

Satan sees well enough that we give way to such manner of persons, and therefore he laboureth the more earnestly too serve his own §20turn by them against us. Yet must not this diminish the friendships that are good and godly: but the husband must pray God, that he suffer not his wife to be as a firebrand of hell, to kindle the fire of impatience, or of distrust in him, to provoke him to blaspheme. Also it behoveth the wife to pray God, that her husband may guide her as is convenient, and be always able to instruct her aright as her head and superior. And moreover when God hath given us friends and acquaintance, we must pray him that they may serve all to his honour, so as each of us may §30further other in the way of salvation, and not entice one another unto wickedness. Thus we see what we have to do in the first point: and consequently, let us advise our selves well, that every one of them, both wives and husbands, friends and kinsfolk, may help us to serve God, and that we our selves may aim always at that mark: specially when we see that God dwelleth in them, and that he useth them as his own hands to guide us withal. But if a friend, or a kinsman, or a wife go about to drive us to despair: then out of all peradventure we must renounce §40them all, for God must be preferred, and our friendship must begin at him, and level at him, as at their true mark. And this is it that we have to mark in this strain according also as Job showeth us by his own example, saying: Thou hast spoken like a foolish woman: verily we have received good at the hand of the Lord, and shall we not also receive evil? When as Job answereth, that his wife hath spoken foolishly: thereby we be admonished, that we ought to reprove such blasphemies sharply, forasmuch as they be spewed out by Satan. For if we see a sword drawn against §50us, or a foin cast at us to wound us unto death: what would we do in that behalf? would we suffer our selves to be slain without making countenance of any thing? No: but we would take heed to shift off the blow or to ward it, if we set any store by our life. Even so when Job saw himself so persecuted of his own wife, and that she went about not too work him some harm in his body only, but to send him to the deep pit of hell: he resisted her stoutly.

Satan sees well ynough that we gyue way to such manner of persons, and therefore he laboreth the more earnestly too serue hys owne