Sermons upon the Book of Job

neither must they outrage, as those do which are full of pride and rebelliousness: but rather let us think thus: Lord, I see my self to be a wretched creature, I know not where too become, I wot not what to do, except thou receive me to mercy, and show thy self so pitiful towards me, as to relieve me of my misery, which I can no longer bear: Thus we see that the children of God must bear their §60adversities patiently, although God chastise them roughly for a time. And it is to be seen, that although Job had continually minded the same lesson: yet was he not sufficiently armed to withstand temptations: for he saith here, Why do the God give light to such as are of troubled minds He remembered not that God had just cause to keep men in the midst of many miseries, and that although their state be wretched here below, yet is God righteous still: and that albeit he punish us, and keep us occupied many ways, yet it becometh not us to hold plea with him, under colour that he holdeth us here against our will, and that we be shut up in prison, while we be in this life: neither must we conceive any displeasure for all that. Job did not sufficiently consider this. Now if such a person as Job was, happened to overshoot himself, and to kick against God, for want of having the said regard that I have spoken of: much more must we set our minds upon the said two points: that is to wit, that we bear in remembrance, that God never forsaketh us, and therefore that we may not be oversorowfull when God sendeth us any adversities, because we be sure that his chastising of us is after such a sort, as therewithal he relieveth our grief, at leastwise if it be not long of our selves, and of our own unthankfulness: And secondly, that when we be distressed that we can no more: God calleth and allureth us friendly unto him, yea I say, he provoketh us to resort unto prayer as often as we be as it were utterly stripped out of all that we have. Lo here the true remedy: which is to call upon our good God to have pity upon us, and not to suffer us to be so dismayed as to say, I wot not what to do, and it is to no purpose to go unto God.

neither muste they outrage, as those do whiche are full of pryde and rebelliousnesse: but rather let vs thinke thus: Lorde, I see my selfe to bee a wretched creature, I knowe not where too become, I woote not what to doo, except thou receyue me to mercy, and shewe thy selfe so pitifull towardes mee, as to releeue me of my miserie, which I can no longer beare: Thus wee see that the children of God muste beare their