Sermons upon the Book of Job

So then, we perceive that God preserveth not his servants §20as one that meaneth to make them Cockneys: but as he that mindeth to take them out of their graves, and to maintain them after a wonderful fashion, to the intent they may know how it is he to whom it belongeth to have dominion over death, and to give life. And therefore we have a warrant, that the issues of death are in Gods hand. Behold here a notable promise. When David intendeth to show us how it is God that guideth us: he saith that the issues or outgoings of death belong unto him. And why is that? He meaneth that we be as it §30were thrown headlong into death at every blow, and that we can not set forth one steppe, but it shall seem that we are utterly undone. But God hath the issues of death in his hand sayeth he. So then let us mark well these sentences, that we may be throughly fenced when the devil shall come to blow in our ear, And who art thou? Seest thou not how thou hast no succour from above? the righteous perish not. To bar Satan of his purpose, let us have these answers ready. It is true that the righteous perish not, neither am I perished. But thou art as good as a §40dead man: [saith the Dieul] and my God [let us say] is he that hath the issues of death in his hand. And that is it which David meaneth in an other text, saying: Though I were in the shadow of death, thy sheephook ô Lord shall guide me, because I always put my trust in thee: if thou be my protector, I shall be exempted from all evil. Thus ye see how we ought to practise this lesson. And here it ensueth, That such as sow extortion, or labour extortion, and such as sow encumbrance, shall gather the same. Which thing is confirmed by a similitude. For Eliphas sayeth that §50the roaring of the Lyons is stinted, that their teeth are broken, and that their whelps are destitute of pray. Whereby he meaneth, that such as have been full of cruelty and extortion, shall be daunted by the hand of God. But somewhat afore, he had said. That the wicked had perished at the blast of God, and by the breath of his mouth. As touching the former sentence where he said, that such as labour for iniquity and sow trouble or encumbrance &c. I say it is a similitude taken of the tillers of the earth.

So then, wee perceiue that God preserueth not his seruauntes