Sermons upon the Book of Job

much less then must they intend to bring God to the bent of their bow, or to task him of necessity to do this or that: but must with all lowliness refer themselves wholly in all things to his pleasure. And whereas I speak here of reward: I debate not whither reward be due unto us or no, for as now we stand not upon that matter. When we have done all that is possible to be done, God shall be never a whit in our debt. But when he promiseth us reward: I understand it to be of freegift, and that it is not for that we have deserved it, or for that we be worthy of it: but because that as he hath received us into his favour, so will he also allow of our works, yea, which he himself doth by his holy spirit. For as touching goodness there is none in us, and yet look what God hath given us, he accepteth it as if we brought it too him of our own. And when he receiveth our works so of his own mere goodness, it is too give us the better courage too serve him by having an eye too his promises, wherein he protesteth unto us, that our reward is great in heaven, yea and that he will bliss us in this world also, so as we shall not want any thing at all. Then may we cast our eyes hereupon, and comfort our selves: but heerewithall (as I have said) we must not reckon that God ⟨p. 73⟩should deal with us after our own device: but rather determine with our selves to refer the matter wholly unto him, and to submit ourselves wholly to his good will. Thus we see the doctrine that we have to gather of this text, which is very profitable for us. For it is a mark whereby to discern Hypocrites from Gods children. An Hypocrite may well magnify God with full mouth in time of prosperity. But if the world go against his desire, a man shall see that all is changed with him. And what is the cause of it? It is for that such manner of men bear no reverence to §10Godward, further forth than he applieth himself unto them. And what kind of reverence is that? If I be minded to serve mine own torn by one: very well, because I can draw profit out of him, I will make good countenance to him: but if he perceive it, he will shake me off like a villain, and he serves me but well. Now if mortal men can not bear such carlishnesse: what shall become of us when we come unto God?

much lesse then must they intend to bring God to the bente of their bowe, or to taske him of necessitie to doo thys or that: but must with all lowlinesse referre themselues wholy in all things to his pleasure. And whereas I speake here of reward: I debate not whither reward be due vnto vs or no, for as now we stand not vpon that matter. VVhen we haue done all that is possible to be done, God shall be neuer a whit in our debt. But when he promiseth vs reward: I vnderstand it to be of freegift, and that it is not for that we haue deserued it, or for that wee be worthy of it: but bycause that as he hath receyued vs into his fauour, so will he also allowe of our workes, yea, whiche hee hymselfe doth by his holy spirit. For as touching goodnesse there is none in vs, and yet looke what God hath giuen vs, he accepteth it as if wee brought it too hym of our owne. And when he receyueth our workes so of his owne mere goodnesse, it is too gyue vs the better courage too serue him by hauing an eye too hys promises, wherein he protesteth vntoo vs, that our rewarde is great in heauen, yea and that hee will blisse vs in thys world also, so as wee shall not want any thing at all. Then may wee cast our eyes heerevpon, and comfort our selues: but heerewithall (as I haue sayde) wee muste not recken that God