Sermons upon the Book of Job

11. And three of Jobs friends having heard of all the adversities that had happened unto him, that is to wit, Eliphas the Themanite, Baldad the Suhite, and Zophar the Maamathite, came from the place where they dwelt: for they agreed to come to have compassion of him, and to comfort him. 12. And when they lift up their eyes a far off, they knew him not, and then they lifted up their voice and wept and rent their clothes, and cast dust upon their heads toward heaven. 13. And satedowneby him upon the ground by the space of seven days and seven nights, in such wise as none of them spake one word, for they saw that his grief was greatly increased.

11. And three of Iobs friendes hauing heard of all the aduersities that had happened vnto him, that is to vvitte, Eliphas the Themanite, Baldad the Suhite, and Zophar the Maamathite, came from the place vvhere they dvvelt: for they agreed to come to haue compassiō of him, and to comfort hym. 12. And vvhen they lift vp their eyes a farre off, they knevv him not, and then they lifted vp theyr voyce and vvept and rent their clothes, and cast dust vpon their heads tovvarde heauen. 13. And satedovvneby him vpon the ground by the space of seuen dayes and seuen nightes, in suche vviseas none of them spake one vvorde, for they savve that his greefe vvas greatly encreased.

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