Sermons upon the Book of Job

Furthermore, besides our eating and drinking in this world, we have also record that God is our Father. For too what purpose is it that the earth bringeth forth her foison? even too nourish us withal. It happeneth not by fortune, but it is God that hath so ordained it. And wherefore? because he would show himself a father towards us.§60 We see then that the helps which are too maintain us here below, are all of them avouchments and proofs of the fatherly love of our God. Ought not we to make account of such a benefit, yea, or can we make so great account of it as it deserveth? But it is yet more, that God will exercise us here below in the hope of the heavenly life, that he giveth us some taste of it, that he calleth us, and that he will be served, and honoured of us, to the end we should know that we are his, and that he hath entertained us too be of his household and family. Then if all things be well considered, have we not good cause to magnify the grace that he bestoweth upon us, when he sendeth us into the world to enjoy here this present life? Yet nevertheless it is true also, that we have cause too sigh and sob, forasmuch as we be in a bottomless pit of all miseries, so long as we be here. But what for that? we must mark from whence the same proceedeth. The Paynims knew no further, than that the state of men is miserable: but we must consider wherefore God hath made us subject to so many inconveniences: namely because of Sin. For we must have recourse too the first creation of man, and consider that God was no niggard of his goods, but hath poured them out bountifully, as he that is the fountain of all liberality. Then hath he showed himself more than liberal towards mankind in the person of Adam. But we were bereft of those blessings, and it was requisite that God should cut off his benefits which he had given us, forsomuch as our father Adam through his own unthankfulness was turned away unto wickedness. So then, sith we say that all the miseries of this present life are the fruits of our sins we have occasion too sigh: not for that we be so miserable, or for that our state is so hard and troublesome:

Furthermore, besides our eating and drinking in this worlde, wee haue also recorde that God is our Father. For too what purpose is it that the earth bringeth foorth hir foyzon? euen too nourish vs withall. It happeneth not by fortune, but it is God that hath so ordeyned it. And wherefore? bycause hee woulde shewe himselfe a father towardes vs.§60