Sermons upon the Book of Job

I Have declared heretofore, that when we be heavy and sorrowful, the only remembrance of Gods benefits must cheer us, or at leastwise assuage our miseries and griefs: so as if any adversity pinch me, and I bethink me of the great §40number of benefits that God hath done for me, the same must assuage my sorrow. And sith the case standeth so, no afflictions ought to make us forget the knowledge which we have of Gods benefits and graces: and yet notwithstanding it cometh so to pass. Whereof we see example in Job, who is the true mirror of patience. For what soever miseries he endured: yet ought he to have acknowledged it for a great good fortune, that he was sent as a reasonable creature into the world, that he had borne §50the image of God, and that he had been cherished and maintained unto mans age, to the intent he might know God to be his father. Behold here such benefits as are inestimable: and yet is Job so far of from commending them, that he wisheth he had never tasted them. We see then how sore temptations trouble us, and that in stead of taking some comfort and assuagement of our sorrows by Gods benefits, we turn the same into a corzie insomuch as we could find in our harts that God §60had never done us any good, nor that we had never known him. Not that Job was utterly of his mind: but because words escaped his mouth without advisement, by force of the misery that he endured. This then is no encouragement for us to consent unto wicked intents: but we must bridle our selves in such wise, that if such fancies come in our head, we may drive them a great way of from us. And certain it is, that here is a great and sinful infirmity worthy to be condemned. For we see the example that is showed us in the two and twentieth Psalm in the person of David, and specially in the person of our Lord Jesus Christ. David is there as a man destitute of help, to whom God showeth himself to be contrary, in so much that he seemeth to be utterly shaken of, and therefore he crieth out, My God, my God, why haste thou forsaken me? And this is spoken in the person of Jesus Christ, as of the head of all the faithful. But yet nevertheless, after he hath thus made his moan, he addeth:

I Haue declared heretofore, that when we bee heauy and sorowfull, the onely remembrance of Gods benefites muste cheere vs, or at leastwise asswage our miseries and griefes: so as if any aduersitie pinch me, and I bethinke me of the great