Yesterday I declared in effect what Job meant by this sentence, We have received good at the Lords hand, and why receive we not evil also? It serveth too show how men are toto unthankful, if they acknowledge not themselves so greatly bound unto God, for the number of benefits which they have received at his hand, as they ought not to refuse any manner of afflictions when he listeth too exercise them there with But there are that understand it §10otherwise, as though that by these words, We receive good at the Lords hand, Job hoped, that yet in time too come, God would be the same towards him again, that he had felt him to be heretofore. And so it seemeth too them, that Job meant to comfort his wife and himself by saying, This misery shall not continue for ever: although God punish us, he meaneth not to continue it too the uttermost: for in the end he will have pity upon those that are so distressed. But the natural meaning is that which I have set down already▪ that is to wit, that Job §20calling to remembrance the good that he had received at Gods hand, held him self so beholden unto him, as he thought him self bound to abide all adversities patiently. And hereupon we may gather a good and profitable doctrine: that is to wit, that as oft and as long as adversities oppress us, we must acknowledge, that God hath showed him self so good a father to us in so many sorts, as it becometh us not to think it strange if he chastise us at times, nor be provoked & moved to grudge against him for the same. And heerewithall it is certain §30that Job could not have been comforted, except he had applied Gods former benefits too the time to come. For if we consider but only how God hath been good to us in time past, and that we shall have no more: too what purpose were that? for we could not be patient, as hath been said already. We must be well assured of the goodness and love of God, and we must trust continually to his grace, not doubting at all but that he will proceed too love us still, notwithstanding that he deal roughly with us. Job then calleth to mind the benefits §40that he had received heretofore at Gods hand, in such wise as he maketh this conclusion: namely that God had not changed neither his purpose nor his nature, nor ceased to continue good and righteous, notwithstanding that he had afflicted him.
YEsterday I declared in effect what Iob meant by thys sentence, VVe haue receyued good at the Lordes hande, and why receyue wee not euill also? It serueth too shewe how men are toto vnthankfull, if they acknowledge not themselues so greatly bounde vnto God, for the number of benefites whych they haue receyued at his hand, as they ought not to refuse any maner of afflictions when he listeth too exercise them there with But there are that vnderstande it §10otherwise, as though that by these wordes, VVee receyue good at the Lordes hande, Iob hoped, that yet in time too come, God would be the same towardes him agayne, that he had felt him to be heretofore. And so it seemeth too them, that Iob meant to comfort his wife and himselfe by saying, Thys myserie shall not continue for euer: although God punish vs, he meaneth not to continue it too the vttermost: for in the end he will haue pitie vpon those that are so distressed. But the naturall meaning is that which I haue set downe already▪ that is to witte, that Iob §20calling to remembrance the good that hee had receyued at Gods hande, helde him selfe so beholden vnto hym, as he thought him selfe bounde to abide all aduersities paciently. And heerevpon wee may gather a good and profitable doctrine: that is to wit, that as oft and as long as aduersities oppresse vs, wee must acknowledge, that God hath shewed hym selfe so good a father to vs in so many sortes, as it becommeth vs not to thinke it straunge if hee chastize vs at times, nor be prouoked & moued to grudge against him for the same. And heerewithall it is certayne §30that Iob coulde not haue bene comforted, except hee had applyed Gods former benefites too the tyme to come. For if wee consider but onely howe God hath bene good to vs in tyme past, and that wee shall haue no more: too what purpose were that? for we could not be paciente, as hath bene sayde alreadye. VVe must bee well assured of the goodnesse and loue of God, and we must truste continually to hys grace, not doubting at all but that hee wil proceede too loue vs still, notwithstanding that he deale roughly with vs. Iob then calleth to minde the benefites §40that hee had receyued heeretofore at Gods hande, in suche wise as hee maketh this conclusion: namely that God had not changed nother his purpose nor his nature, nor ceassed to continue good and righteous, notwithstanding that he had afflicted hym.
