Sermons upon the Book of Job

And therefore in presuming so far, we step beyond our bounds: and why so? For God telleth us that we may peradventure suffer many adversities: but he will help us continually. Now then, in the mean while we shall fight, yea & be assailed on all sides. And therefore those that pass their bounds in such wise, shall be punished for their overhardinesse, as I have said already. At a word, the faithful may ever be in doubt, and yet never cease to be in quiet. How so? For when we consider the changes and turmoilings of this world: we must needs be afraid and careful, and every of us must prepare himself to receive blows, when it shall please God to smite him. But yet herewithall ⟨p. 68⟩we know, that in our falling we can not light otherwise than upon our feet, because we be held up by the hand of God: nor be utterly oppressed, because he relieveth us. We see then how we can not be vexed with overgreat unquietness, and yet we may be sore grieved in our heaviness, not to withdraw our selves from God, and to make no account of calling upon him, but to have our recourse unto him. To be short, there is great diversity between the carelessness whereunto we be inclined by nature, according to the disposition of our §10flesh, and the assuredness that we have by resting our selves upon Gods promises. For when we have the said fleshly presumptuousness, it is like a certain drunkenness, which maketh us blockish, so as we have no regard of God nor of his help, making our reckoning that all shall go well with us though he never look to us, nor think upon us. But if we rest upon Gods word: we will call upon him, and we will look about us on all sides, and consider that our life is a thing of nothing, that our state is wretched, that death menaceth us on all §20sides, and that we be hemmed in with infinite miseries. Hereupon we pray unto God, and make our moan unto him: and yet nevertheless, if it please him too punish us, we are ready to receive his stripes with all meekness: Lo how we ought to deal. But there is yet more: which is, that the faithful man must enter into himself, acknowledge his sins, and consider that he giveth continually new occasion why God should justly punish him.

And therfore in presuming so far, we step beyond our boundes: and why so? For God telleth vs that we may peraduenture suffer many aduersities: but he will help vs cōtinually. Now then, in the meane while we shal fight, yea & be assayled on al sides. And therfore those that passe their boundes in such wise, shal be punished for their ouerhardinesse, as I haue said already. At a word, the faithfull may euer be in doubt, and yet neuer ceasse to bee in quiet. How so? For when we consider the chaunges and turmoylings of this world: we must needes be afraid and carefull, and euery of vs must prepare himself to receyue blowes, whē it shal please God to smite him. But yet herewithall