Sermons upon the Book of Job

And here we see also why Saint Paul sayeth, that the man must go with the head bare, because he is the glory of God: and the woman the glory of the man. True it is that the Image of GOD is printed alike in them both: but yet is the woman inferior too the man, and we must go by those degrees which God hath set in the order of nature. So then, it is reason that God should be glorified both in males and females: howbeit that he must chiefly be glorified at the birth of a manchild: and yet clean contrariwise Job sayeth: Cursed be the night wherein it was reported that a manchild was borne. And why did he so? For it had not become him too have thought well of all these things, according as God had disposed the days? Yes: but Job turneth all to the contrary. And here we see that which I have touched: namely that he so wanzeth away in his own passions, as he forgetteth Gods graciousness, whereof he had spoken afore, For he had said: very well, seeing we have received benefit at Gods hand, why should we not also receive evil? For we be bound too be subject unto him. Job should have borne these things well in mind. Howbeit for as much as it is an excellenter matter too have a manchild borne, than too have a woman child: he sayeth: cursed be the night wherein he was conceived. But (as I have said afore) all this is too teach us too pray God too arm us, and too give us strength and power too withstand temptations, considering that he which is a pattern of patience, was so carried away. And therefore if at any time we be encumbered ⟨p. 55⟩with any excess, so as our flesh provoketh us in such wise as we have not so quiet a mind too obey God as were too be desired: let not that cause us too be out of heart, sith we see that the same thing hath befallen unto Job. Then behoveth it us too humble our selves, acknowledging our own frailty, and in the mean while too be of a good courage, until God have given us the full victory. Furthermore we have too mark also, that such as have children, ought so too rejoice in the having of menchildren, as they reject §10not their daughters, as we see some vainglorious fools do, who think that God doth them great wrong, if he send them not menchildren. And for what purpose?

And heere wee see also why Sainct Paule sayeth, that the man muste goe with the heade bare, bicause hee is the glorie of God: and the woman the glorie of the man. True it is that the Image of GOD is printed alyke in them bothe: but yet is the woman inferiour too the man, and wee muste goe by those degrees whiche God hathe sette in the order of nature. So then, it is reason that God shoulde bee gloryfied bothe in males and females: howebeeit that hee muste chiefly bee gloryfied at the byrthe of a manchilde: and yet cleane contrarywise Iob sayeth: Curssed bee the night wherein it was reported that a manchilde was borne. And why did hee so? For it had not become him too haue thoughte well of all these thinges, according as God had disposed the dayes? Yes: but Iob turneth all to the contrarie. And heere wee see that whiche I haue touched: namely that hee so wanzeth awaye in his owne passions, as hee forgetteth Gods graciousnesse, whereof hee had spoken afore, For he had sayde: very well, seeing we haue receiued benefite at Gods hande, why shoulde wee not also receyue euill? For wee bee bounde too bee subiect vntoo him. Iob shoulde haue borne these thinges well in minde. Howbeeit for as muche as it is an excellenter matter too haue a manchilde borne, than too haue a womanchilde: hee sayeth: cursed bee the night wherein hee was conceyued. But (as I haue sayde afore) all this is too teache vs too praye God too arme vs, and too giue vs strength and power too withstande temptations, considering that hee which is a patterne of pacience, was so carried away. And therefore if at any time wee bee incombred