Sermons upon the Book of Job

Then must Gods children comfort themselves in this, that when God sendeth them any afflictions, they may well feel some such inward heaviness of minds as they shall not know which way too turn them, yea and so far overshoot themselves as to use words that are not to be excused: but yet for all this infirmity, the strength of God shall not cease too dwell still in them, and to hold them up in such sort, as they shall feel themselves too have always some good affection:§20 and that although their legs fail them, yet their hart shall hold his own still as the Proverb sayeth. Thus ye see what we have to mark in this sentence. But that we may the better understand wherein Job overshot himself, and how far: let us consider in what manner it is lawful for men to be weary of their life. There have been many Heathen men, which knowing the miseries of this earthly life, have said that the day of birth ought not too be a time of mirth and joy but rather of sorrow, for so much as when man cometh to it, he beginneth with weeping.§30 Behold a creature that is full of uncleanness, and as vile and miserable as is possible too be imagined. And moreover if we mark things well, it is a bottomless gulf of all miseries whereunto we be subject. So then, if we have an eye too the present state and condition of this life: we shall have cause to say, that we ought too lament when children are borne, and that we oguth rather to rejoice when men die, forasmuch as they be delivered from many evils. The Heathen men spake after that manner: Howbeit their understanding was not §40able to reach so far as God leadeth us by his word. For they sought no further in this present life, but too continue in it: howbeit, not altogether to eat and drink, but also to be in honour, to purchase themselves estimation, and to finish every man his own course. Herewithall we have the holy Scripture, which telleth us that God who hath put us here below, hath printed his own image in us, and therefore that we ought too consider the nobleness and worthiness which he hath given us above all Creatures. If there were no more but this, that §50God hath fashioned us after his own image and likeness, whereby he meaneth too have his glory shine in us: I pray you, had we not whereof too rejoice in our selves, and wherefore too magnify him?