For so long as God letteth us alone at our ease, every man believeth what he listeth himself, and we take our selves to be petty gods. But as soon as God turneth his hand, and beateth us with his §20rods: ye shall see us so amazed, as we wot not where to become: we think it not possible for us ever to scape out of our miseries, we look on the one side and on the other, and we see no end at all of them: we be as it were so shut up in them, that we cannot take hold of the goodness and mighty power of God to succour us. And this is the very affection that Job showeth us here, which is an overcommon disease, as we find well enough by experience. For there is not any thing that troubleth and tormenteth us so much, as when we see our selves shut §30up, and know not what will be the end of our miseries, nor what shall become of us, in so much as being assailed on all sides, we conclude with our selves, that we can never get away without utter oppression and overthrow. Have we this said disease? Then let us resort to the remedy. For if the disease be not cured, we must needs fall into the said excessive passion, whereof mention is made here: namely that we shall wish for death, as men in despair, and shall have no assuagement of our miseries, but only to desire God to overwhelm us out of hand. But §40the convenient remedy of this disease is, to refer our selves to Gods providence, that he may see brightly for us, and that sith we be blind, and in darkness, our God may guide us as he knoweth is good for us, and lead us forth in all our enterprises. Behold also whereunto the holy scripture bringeth us back. Jeremiah saith, O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in his own power, neither is it in man to walk and direct his own steppes. This is as much to say, as a man taketh too much upon him, when he purposeth to dispose of his own life. Let §50us understand then, that it is Gods will to humble us, in as much as he shutteth our eyes, so as we see not what must become of us, and we know not too day what we have to do tomorrow, but God entertaineth us by the day like journeymen (as men term them) after the manner of a hireling, who being waged for a day, wotteth not who shall set him a work the next morrow. Behold how God will have us to live, to the end we should learn to depend wholly upon him, saying.
For so long as God letteth vs alone at our ease, euery man beleeueth what hee listeth himselfe, and we take our selues to bee petigoddes. But assoone as God turneth his hand, and beateth vs with his §20roddes: ye shall see vs so amazed, as we wote not where to become: we thinke it not possible for vs euer to scape out of our miseries, we looke on the one side and on the other, and we see no end at all of them: we bee as it were so shet vp in them, that wee cannot take hold of the goodnesse and mightie power of God to succoure vs. And this is the very affection that Iob sheweth vs heere, which is an ouercommon disease, as wee fynd well ynough by experience. For there is not any thing that troubleth and tormenteth vs so much, as when wee see our selues shut §30vp, and know not what will be the ende of our miseries, nor what shall become of vs, in so much as being assayled on all sides, we conclude with our selues, that we can neuer get away without vtter oppression and ouerthrowe. Haue we this sayd disease? Then let vs resort to the remedie. For if the disease be not cured, wee must needes fall into the said excessiue passion, whereof mention is made heere: namely that wee shall wish for death, as men in despaire, and shall haue no assuagement of our miseries, but only to desire God to ouerwhelme vs out of hande. But §40the conueniente remedie of this disease is, to referre our selues to Gods prouidence, that hee may see brightly for vs, and that sith we bee blynd, and in darknesse, our God may guyde vs as he knoweth is good for vs, and leade vs foorth in all our enterprises. Behold also wherevnto the holy scripture bringeth vs backe. Ieremie sayth, O Lorde, I knowe that the way of man is not in his owne power, neither is it in man to walke and direct his owne steppes. This is as much to say, as a man taketh too muche vppon him, when he purposeth to dispose of his owne lyfe. Let §50vs vnderstand then, that it is Gods will to humble vs, in as much as he shutteth our eyes, so as wee see not what must become of vs, and we know not too day what wee haue to do tomorow, but God entertayneth vs by the day lyke iourneymen (as men terme them) after the maner of a hyreling, who being waged for a daye, woteth not who shall set him a worke the next morowe. Behold how God will haue vs to liue, to the ende we should learne to depend wholly vpon him, saying.
