Sermons upon the Book of Job

considering how he doth it seven days after he had showed himself so patient. He seemeth too be become quite another man §50than he was before. But all our strength vanisheth away in the turning of a hand, if God continue not in aiding of us. And here we see wherefore a man is likened too a shadow. It is not only because our life is so frail and flightfull, but also because we are unconstant, so as there is no hold of us, but we be fickle minded, looking sometimes so stately as it should seem we had the courage of a Lyon, and by and by becoming as faint hearted as a woman, so as there is neither reason nor stomach in us: and so far off are we from §60having the valiantness to encounter against temptations, that we cannot abide so much as to hear that any man should rebuke us Then let us mark well the suddenness of the change that befalleth unto men, that we may look the better about us: and when we have called upon God in the morning, let us do the like all day long: and too be short, let us think upon God continually without turning our selves aside after any manner wise. Thus we see how we must always be careful: thus we see how we must always continue in prayer and supplication. And now let us come too that which is set down in the Text. Howe Job cursed the day of his birth. Some there have been, that would excuse Job altogether, as though he had been carried away in his adversity, howbeit without blaspheming of God. Other some imagine that he hath forgotten the pacientnesse which he had had heretofore, and that he is altogether enraged, so as he hath no more mind too glorify God, but is carried away by his own passions, and speaketh as a man out of his wits. Heretofore he blamed his wife of folly: and now he showeth himself a double fool in cursing the day wherein he was borne. But it is certain that Job is not come too such extremity: for it is always his purpose too obey God, as we shall see. Nevertheless, there is a mixture in him: that is to wit, in his fighting he faileth not to be wounded, he ceaseth not too receive blows, he staggereth, he steppeth awry. So then, let us mark this mixture: that is to wit, that Job hath not so sound a perfection as he had afore.

considering howe hee dooth it seuen dayes after hee had shewed himselfe so pacient. Hee seemeth too bee become quyte another man §50than hee was before. But all our strength vanisheth away in the turning of a hande, if God continue not in ayding of vs. And here wee see wherefore a man is lykened too a shadowe. It is not onely bycause our lyfe is so frayle and flightfull, but also bycause wee are vnconstant, so as there is no holde of vs, but wee bee fickle mynded, looking sometymes so stately as it should seeme wee had the courage of a Lyon, and by and by becomming as faint harted as a woman, so as there is neyther reason nor stomacke in vs: and so farre off are wee from