Sermons upon the Book of Job

then behold, the desert is builded up. Behold it is made as a new world. Such manner of men mean as it were to stomach against God. For they purpose too reform the world and the order that God hath set in it, they will have it seen that nothing shall let them [of their purpose.] And whereas God hath set bars before them to say, you must go no further: they leap quite over them. Lo what vaingloriousness §60is in many men: and this is the thing that Job meant too betoken here. Also (as I said) his words are far out of square: but howsoever the case standeth, a man may yet gather some good lesson of them. Moreover when he addeth, That the servant is set free from his master, and that the poor and the rich are all one: it is to show us, that men must not glory in their present greatness, according as saint Paul speaketh of principalities, wherein he speaketh as David doth. For thus he sayeth in the Psalm: I have said, ye are Gods. Which is as much to say, that Princes, and such as are in authority, are Gods lieutenants, and have preeminence above the rest of the world, as though God had privileged them. But what for that? yet are ye mortal men, and shall dye as men, and so assure your selves. Thus we see that they which are advanced to high estate, ought not to dazzle mens eyes, but rather acknowledge their own frail state, and that forasmuch as the world and the shape thereof passeth away: their riches, their credit, and their honour shall come to nought. Therefore let them not besot them selves. But let them continually think upon death, and let those that have servants and subjects under them, think thus with themselves: we must come to account, we have one in heaven who is master of us all, as saint Paul sayeth: there will be no accepting of persons, there shall be no more bondage or mastership for men too allege before God. True it is that the earthly policy, and also the state of Magistrates is ordained of God. But all this concerneth the world and worldly things, which shall take an end. And therefore must these things be transitory also. Then let us all take heed that we hold our selves in lowliness and modesty, and that we attempt not any thing which God hath not given us liberty to do. But now let us return to the matter that we began withal:

then beholde, the desert is buylded vp. Beholde it is made as a new worlde. Suche maner of men meene as it were to stomake agaynste God. For they purpose too reforme the worlde and the order that God hath set in it, they wyll haue it seene that nothing shall let them [of theyr purpose.] And whereas God hath sette barres before them to say, you muste go no further: they leape quite ouer them. Lo what vainegloriousnesse