Sermons upon the Book of Job

For they make no reckoning of prayers, nor of thanksgiving, nor of the acknowledging of their sins, nor of Gods benefits: but of pampering themselves after a beastly manner. But (as I have said) it behoveth us always too bliss God upon our birthdays. And why? for as much as God hath set us here in this world too be his children: he hath not put us forth as Oxen and dogs, but as reasonable creatures, that §60bear his Image.

For they make no reckening of prayers, nor of thankesgyuing, nor of the acknowledging of theyr sinnes, nor of Gods benefites: but of pampering themselues after a beastly manner. But (as I haue sayde) it behoueth vs alwayes too blisse God vpon our byrthdayes. And why? for as muche as God hath set vs heere in this worlde too bee his children: hee hath not put vs foorth as Oxen and dogges, but as reasonable creatures, that §60beare his Image.

And further, for as much as we be baptized in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, and that besides our creation, God hath also moreover printed his mark upon us for an advantage, too the intent we should be as his deer friends, and be received into his Church: therein we have cause too bliss God double. And so they that curse the day of their birth, by chafing at the miseries and afflictions that they endure, show well that they be unthankful, and that their own afflictions do too much overmaster them. Even so stood the case with Job. And therefore we have the more cause too pray unto God without ceasing, that he will vouchsafe too hold us back: and that if now and then he suffer us too let slip some wicked words, and that we be not so steadfast as were requisite: yet notwithstanding that though we be shaken, we may not fall, but recover our selves again, and learn too gather our wits better about us, too bridle our selves: and that when we see there hath been any frailty in us, we may condemn the fault, too the intent too return by and by again into the right way. Thus ye see what we have too mark here. But when it is said, Cursed be the night wherein word was brought, behold a manchild is conceived: it should seem that Job meant too spite God in so doing. For though we have cause (as I have erst said) too bliss God for creating us after his own Image and likeness: yet is our case such, as the men are preferred before the women in mankind, we know that God hath ordained man as the head, and given him the dignity and preeminence over the woman.