Sermons upon the Book of Job

there is no handsomeness nor good fashion [in their dealing▪] When they come to a poor creature that is already afflicted, they bring him a new torment. And whereof cometh that? Even of the want of discretion and skill. Therefore God must be fain to work in this case: and (as I have said) if we will succour one another in our necessity: when God shall have given us this affection, then let us pray him too give us also the mean and right use of it out of hand, that we may give that which is good and profitable, and that we may have skill to handle folk according as shall be convenient and agreeable to their nature: so as if the person be plunged in excess of anguish, the comfort that we bring him may be so well applied to his use, as he may feel some relief by it. We must pray God to give us this virtue: (for it is not to be found in us.) And afterward if God have given us wisdom, he must also put a loving kindness in us, that we be not too rigorous towards those of whose well doing we may have cause to be past hope, but rather be inclined to a pitiful affection, that is to say, be mildly minded to hope well of their well doing, according as it is said that charity hopeth all things. And thus ye see what we have to mark. Furthermore when we compare these men with our selves: we find for a certainty, that God hath need to govern us in that case. Why so? For these are none of the common and ordinary sort of men (as I have declared already) they be no dullards: but they be great personages, and well advised in all points, accordingly as they show themselves too be. And yet nevertheless we see how they proceed in such wise, as there is no let in them, but that Job might have been dinged down unto hell. And what is the cause of it? God meant to show us how there is neither wisdom nor discretion in the mind of man, nor any rule or measure in him, except that he himself give it. Let us ⟨p. 49⟩be sure then, that unless we have that, we shall not be able too comfort such as are afflicted. For if Jobs friends which were so excellent men, did so overshoot themselves: it is a much more likelihood that we shall miss if God supply not our want and give wherewith too behave our selves as is meet for us. Thus we see what we have to remember.

there is no handsomnesse nor good fashion [in their dealing▪] VVhen they come to a poore creature that is already afflicted, they bring hym a new torment. And whereof commeth that? Euen of the want of discretion and skill. Therfore God must be fayne to worke in thys cace: and (as I haue sayd) if wee will succoure one another in our necessitie: when God shall haue giuen vs this affection, then let vs pray hym too gyue vs also the meane and right vse of it out of hand, that we may gyue that which is good and profitable, and that we may haue skill to handle folke according as shal be conuenient and agreable to their nature: so as if the person be plunged in excesse of anguish, the comfort that we bring him may bee so well applyed to hys vse, as hee may feele some reliefe by it. VVee must pray God to giue vs thys vertue: (for it is not to be founde in vs.) And afterward if God haue giuen vs wisdome, hee must also put a louing kindnesse in vs, that wee bee not too rigorous towardes those of whose well doing we may haue cause to be past hope, but rather be inclined to a pitifull affection, that is to say, be mildly minded to hope well of their well doing, according as it is sayde that charitie hopeth all things. And thus ye see what we haue to marke. Furthermore when wee compare these men with our selues: we find for a certaintie, that God hath neede to gouerne vs in that cace. VVhy so? For these are none of the common and ordinarie sort of men (as I haue declared already) they be no dullardes: but they bee greate personages, and well aduised in all poynts, accordingly as they shewe themselues too bee. And yet neuerthelesse we see how they proceede in suche wise, as there is no let in them, but that Iob myght haue bene dinged downe vnto hell. And what is the cause of it? God ment to shewe vs how there is nother wisedome nor discretion in the mind of man, nor any rule or measure in hym, excepte that hee hymselfe gyue it. Let vs