Sermons upon the Book of Job

it were enough to comfort them, even when they be overladen with despair, and to make them think: May not God punish us justly? for we be bound to bear patiently the adversity that he sendeth, and nature teacheth us so to do, forasmuch as he bestoweth so many benefits upon us, according as Job hath showed heretofore. We see then how this only one consideration ought to assuage our sorrows, according as it is to be seen, that if men §20put sugar or honey into a medicine that is over bitter, it will allay it in such sort, as the patient may the better take it, whereas otherwise it would go near to choke him. But there is yet a further matter in this: namely, that God showeth us the use of his chastisements which he sendeth us: which is not that he meaneth to destroy us so oft as he scourgeth us: but that it is for our profit and welfare: and he promiseth us, that if we be faithful, he will not suffer us to be racked out of measure, but will support us. So then, if we be afflicted, there is no reason §30why we should take pitch against God, as though we found nothing but rigour at his hand. For we be so comforted in our afflictions, as if our unthankfulness letted us not, we might rejoice and say, Blessed be the name of God, although he send us not all our own desires. Thus much for the first point. And now herewithall we must mark also the second article, which I have touched already: which […] that although we have nothing but distress, although we be held as it were upon the rack, and that we have nothing at all to comfort us:§40 yet must we not be hasty to take pitch against God, but we must rather call upon him, according as it is said: let him that is sorrowful pray. Saint James showeth us the mean which we ought to hold. If we be merry (sayeth he) let us sing: not after the manner of the world (which ruffleth it, and royetteth it, without acknowledging that his goods come of God) but in rendering praise to God for our gladness. And if we be in sorrow and heaviness, let us pray unto God, beseeching him to pity us, and to abate his rigour. Thus we §50see, that when the faithful are at their wits end, so as they can no further go, yet must they not rush against God, and find fault with him:

it were ynough to comfort them, euen when they bee ouerloden with dispayre, and to make them thinke: May not God punishe vs iustly? for wee bee bounde to beare paciently the aduersitie that hee sendeth, and nature teacheth vs so to do, forasmuch as hee bestoweth so many benefites vpō vs, according as Iob hath shewed heeretofore. VVee see then howe this onely one consideration ought to asswage our sorrowes, according as it is to bee seene, that if men