Sermons upon the Book of Job

there is nothing that carieth him away but his own zealousness, which is so fervent in him, as he passeth for nothing but the welfare of the people that was committed unto him. For what a matter was it when he heard the sentence of condemnation, that God would destroy all the children of Abraham? If this offspring that God hath chosen to himself be so rooted out, the covenant of God must also needs be abolished: Lord, then rather let me be razed out of thy book, than too say that all this people §50here shall perish. Moses then was seized with so great an anguish, that he forgot himself: he had no more regard of himself: neither considered he that those whom God hath chosen must of necessity be preserved even too the end. This was gone from him for a little while: and thus we see why he desired to be wiped out of the book of life. As much is to be said of Saint Paul. I would wish (sayeth he) to be cursed for my brethren's sake. Howe so? Saint Paul knew himself too be a member of our Lord Jesus Christ,§60 and was sure that he was an instrument purposely chosen too glorify him: and would he now repeal the said grace? would he break off the course of Gods determination when as he knew well that it is unchangeable? No, as he himself declareth anon after. Then was there some contrariety in him. Yea, but no inconvenience came of that. For as I said, his zeal which is good and holy, drave him and inflamed him in such sort, as he had no respect of his own welfare for the present time, but was desirous that God should fulfil his promise in the offspring of Abraham, to the intent that his name might not be blasphemed. Now we see by example, that good affections do sometimes as it were steppe aside out of the way in Gods children, and make them to forget that which is known and certain unto them. And sith the case standeth so, we must not think it strange though Job were so hardly distressed that he was forced to speak like a harebrayne, so as he maketh all men alike and equal when they be dead: and it should seem by his saying that men perish, and that there is none other life after this. His dealing thus, is not for that he had not well conceived an other opinion in his mind and engraved in his heart: but he speaketh as a man that raveth in a trance.

there is nothing that caryeth him away but his owne zealousnesse, which is so feruent in him, as hee passeth sor nothing but the welfare of the people that was committed vnto him. For what a matter was it when hee hearde the sentence of condemnation, that God woulde destroy all the children of Abraham? If this offpriug that God hath chozen to himselfe bee so rooted out, the couenant of God muste also needes bee abolyshed: Lorde, then rather lette me bee razed out of thy booke, than too say that al this people