Sermons upon the Book of Job

yet notwithstanding there will be some frailness mingled with it, in so much that our grief shall carry us away as it were some hideous tempest in us, so as we shall not be able to rule our selves in all points as it were requisite. And hereby we be warned to walk in fear, and to stand continually upon our guard, beseeching God to succour and relieve such weakness as he knoweth to be in us. Furthermore, if at any time we be so assaulted to pass our bonds & to make complaints: Let ut pray §40God to arm us, that we may well achieve such a combat. And howsoever the world go, let us practise the lesson that I have spoken of: which is, to set before our eyes the benefits of God which we have received in times paste, to the intent they may so comfort us, as our sorrow we do not overmate us too oppress us altogether, but that we may keep still some taste of Gods goodness, too the end we may hope still for mercy at his hand, notwithstanding that we have no likelihood at all of it, and that it seemeth we be utterly §50shut out from him. Thus ye see what we have too mark in this strain. And herewithall we see, that when men are once fallen unto wickedness, there is no ho[…]with them. It was already too much too have said, why was not the door of my mothers womb shut up? why was I borne into this world? But he addeth further, why did the knees receive me? why did I suck the teat? Herein we see that Job considereth not Gods benefits to his own profit, albeit that he have felt §60them in great number, but rather rejecteth them altogether: and this is to make an ill beginning. Therefore we must take good heed too our selves: and so soon as our Lord maketh us to know any good that we have received at his hand, it must so touch us to the quick, that we may not be so churlish and froward as too turn good into evil. For if we once begin to forget Gods gifts, or to turn them contrary too that we ought: it is certain that the same inconvenience and vice will follow us to the uttermost, as we see here by the example of Job. When God openeth our mothers womb to let us out into the world, he giveth us certain women to take us up, according as we see it is very needful, considering that the poor humane creature cometh forth in as great necessity as any thing can be.

yet notwithstāding there will be some frailenesse mingled with it, in so much that our griefe shall carie vs away as it were some hideous tempest in vs, so as wee shall not be able to rule our selues in all poynts as it were requisite. And hereby we be warned to walke in feare, and to stande continually vpon our garde, beseeching God to succour and releeue suche weakenesse as hee knoweth to be in vs. Furthermore, if at any tyme wee be so assaulted to passe our bondes & to make complaintes: Let vt praye