Sermons upon the Book of Job

And furthermore, let us keep us within the compass of desiring to live and dye at God's pleasure, so as we may not be given too our own will, but so as we may make as a sacrifice of it in that behalf, that our living §60may not be too our selves but to God, so as we may say, Lord, I know mine own frailty. Nevertheless it is thy will too hold me in this world, and here I am, and good reason it is that I should tarry here: But whensoever it shall please thee to call me hence, I make no great account of my life, it is always at thy commandment, too dispose of it at thine own pleasure. Behold (I say) how we ought too deal in this case. And heerewithall, let us have our affections evermore quieted, yea even in such sort, as we may continually praise Gods name, assuring our selves, that both in life and death, he will always show himself a Father and Saviour towards us. But after that Job hath spoken so, he addeth: That such as are so distressed in their hearts, would be full glad and fain, if they might find their grave. Wherein he bewrayeth himself too speak through a brutish and unadvised affection, and that he keepeth neither measure nor modesty. For he confesseth that we come too naught there. So then we see how he is fallen, howbeit not with a deadly fall, but with a half fall, and God raiseth him up again afterward as we shall see. Yet nevertheless the case standeth so, as we must verily condemn this infirmity here in Job: that is to say, he was so dismayed with heaviness, as he could no more taste of God's goodness, thereby too gather never so little comfort too sustain himself by. But forasmuch as we see that this befell unto him: so much the more must we be earnest in praying unto God, that sorrow may not overmate us so, as we should be utterly overwhelmed by it. Therefore let us always be so underpropped and stayed up, as we may fight against sorrowfulness, and feel that it is good for us to live here according to God's will, and that although we have great griefs and troubles here, yet must we stand fully resolved upon this point, that it is good for us too continue here still in this world. And wherefore?

And furthermore, lette vs keepe vs within the compasse of desiring to lyue and dye at Goddes pleasure, so as wee maye not bee gyuen too oure owne wyll, but so as wee maye make as a sacrifyze of it in that behalfe, that our liuing §60maye not bee too our selues but to God, so as wee may saye, Lorde, I knowe myne owne frailtie. Neuerthelesse it is thy wyll too holde me in this world, and heere I am, and good reason it is that I shoulde tarrie heere: But whensoeuer it shall please thee to call me hence, I make no great accompt of my lyfe, it is alwayes at thy commaundemente, too dispose of it at thine owne pleasure. Beholde (I saye) howe wee ought too deale in thys case. And heerewithall, lette vs haue oure affections euermore quieted, yea euen in suche sorte, as wee maye continuallye prayse Gods name, assuring our selues, that both in life and deathe, hee will alwayes shewe hymselfe a Father and Sauioure towardes vs. But after that Iob hath spoken so, he addeth: That such as are so distressed in their heartes, would bee full gladde and fayne, if they myghte fynde theyr graue. VVherein hee bewrayeth himselfe too speake through a brutishe and vnaduised affection, and that hee keepeth neyther measure nor modestie. For hee confesseth that wee come too naught there. So then wee see howe hee is falne, howbeit not wyth a deadly fall, but with a halfe fall, and God rayseth hym vp agayne afterwarde as wee shall see. Yet neuerthelesse the case standeth so, as wee must verily condemne thys infirmitie heere in Iob: that is to saye, hee was so dismayed with heauinesse, as he could no more taste of Goddes goodnesse, thereby too gather neuer so little comforte too susteine hymselfe by. But forasmuche as wee see that thys befell vntoo hym: so much the more must we bee earnest in praying vntoo God, that sorow maye not ouermate vs so, as wee shoulde bee vtterly ouerwhelmed by it. Therefore lette vs alwayes be so vnderpropped and stayed vp, as wee may fight against sorrowfulnesse, and feele that it is good for vs to liue heere according to Goddes will, and that although wee haue great griefes and troubles heere, yet must wee stande fully resolued vppon thys poynte, that it is good for vs too continue here still in this worlde. And wherefore?