Sermons upon the Book of Job

To the end that God may be glorified in us, too the end that our faith may be tried, to the end we should call upon him, and profess him to be always our father, notwithstanding that he scourge us, and to the end that by means thereof we may be prepared too the heavenly life. This taste of the said fatherly goodness, must always make us desirous to go unto God, and not suffer us too give bridle too any one outrageous and beastly affection, as we see that Job hath done here. And by the way he showeth, whence this heaviness came upon him, that had so wholly swallowed him up, and from whence also it proceedeth in those that are so dismayed as they can not admit any comfort to assuage their miseries. He sayeth, To the man whose way is hidden, and which God hath shut in, as if he had made the hedges round about it, that no man should enter into it. This is well worthy to be noted. For Job showeth wherein he failed: namely in not yielding himself enough to Gods providence. Yet notwithstanding, heerewithall he discovereth a disease whereunto all of us are subject. That is to wit, that we be desirous to know all that must befall us, and what our state shall be: and all this we would have declared to us: in so much that when we are in perplexity, so as we know not what shall become of us, and that the inconvenience pincheth us, and we see no ⟨p. 66⟩end of it: then are we at the point of utter despair. Lo here a mischief that is overcommon and ordinary. And we must mark it well, to the end we may seek the remedy on the contrary part. What then is the inclination of men? It is, that they could well find in their hearts to leap up too the clouds, too know what shall be the course of their whole life. And we see how they determine with themselves, I will do this and that. Solomon mocking at the overweening that is in m•n, sayeth that they determine upon their whole life: and whereas they §10can not move the tip of their tongue without God do guide it: yet determine they upon this and that. And what a mockery is it? They are not able to move the tip of their tongue, and yet they presume to say, Behold I will do this a ten years hence: according also as Saint James agreeth with Solomon, in scorning of the said presumptuousness which is in men.

To the ende that God may bee glorifyed in vs, too the ende that our fayth may bee tryed, to the ende wee should call vppon him, and professe him to be always our father, notwithstanding that he scourge vs, and to the end that by meanes thereof wee may bee prepared too the heauenly lyfe. Thys taste of the said fatherly goodnesse, must alwayes make vs desyrous to go vntoo God, and not suffer vs too gyue bridle too anye one outrageous and beastly affection, as we see that Iob hath done heere. And by the waye hee sheweth, whence thys heauinesse came vppon him, that had so wholly swallowed him vp, and from whence also it proceedeth in those that are so dismayde as they can not admit any comforte to assuage their myseries. He sayeth, To the man whose waye is hidden, and which God hath shut in, as if hee had made the hedges round about it, that no man should enter into it. This is well worthy to bee noted. For Iob sheweth wherein hee fayled: namely in not yelding himselfe inough to Gods prouidence. Yet notwithstanding, heerewithall he discouereth a disease wherevnto all of vs are subiect. That is to witte, that wee be desirous to knowe all that muste befall vs, and what our state shall be: and al this we would haue declared to vs: in so muche that when wee are in perplexitie, so as wee knowe not what shall become of vs, and that the inconuenience pincheth vs, and we see no