Sermons upon the Book of Job

It is a good likelihood at the first blush that God meant to relieve his servant Job, when he sent men unto him that pretended to have pity upon his miseries, and were skilful and wise to comfort him, as we well shall see by their discourses anon after, how §50they were exquisite persons. And so a man might suppose, that God would henceforth stretch out his hand unto Job, to deliver him from the miseries that he had sent him. But we see that this visitation of his friends, was to increase his misery, and to plunge him even into the bottom of endless waves. Whereby we be admonished, that if at any time we be in hope to be drawn out of our afflictions: we must not think it strange though the matter fall not out as we have conceived. For we see how Job was disappointed of his hope which he had when §60he saw his friends, and how they became as Devils too torment him more than he had been tormented afore. Yet notwithstanding, their mind was not to do so, neither came they to mock Job: they brought no malicious purpose nor wicked intent with them: but they had a right and hearty good will and love towards him. For it is said that their meaning was to have compassion on him, that is to say, to take to themselves some part of his misery, so far as was possible for them to bear such a grief, as if they had been joined and knit together in his person. Lo to what end they came, and yet notwithstanding, we see how Job had his affliction more grievously increased by it. Then let us take warning by such example, that although we be well minded towards our neighbours, and be desirous to comfort them in their miseries: yet God must guide us, or else our said good intent will nothing avail us. Therefore when we see our neighbours in any danger or necessity: truly we ought to beseech God to give us the grace to have compassion of them and to succour them: but yet that is not all. And wherefore? Because we have not the spirit of wisdom: in so much that we go clean awke, and yet we bear our selves in hand, that we do the best in the world, when it shall be but too drive a poor man to despair, which felt too much of his misery before. We see how there be many zealous persons, which are very earnest and desirous too show themselves charitable towards those whom they are able to help: but what for that?

It is a good likelyhood at the firste blush that God meant to releeue his seruant Iob, when he sente men vntoo him that pretended to haue pitie vppon his miseries, and were skilfull and wise to comforte hym, as we well shall see by their discourses anon after, howe