Sermons upon the Book of Job

Wherefore ye see a threatening, whereby God purposeth to repress the over boldness and maliciousness of men, minding to hold them short, to the intent they may live together in all good love and upright dealing, so as no man may labour to hinder his neighbour: like as on the contrary side, we hear also the promise which is given us in these words: he that soweth blessedness shall reap the same. Saint Paul speaketh this of Almsdeeds. He sayeth that if we sow upon our neighbours, that which God giveth unto us, we shall gather it again: in so much that we shall have abundance of his gracious gifts and blessings, and God shall shed out his riches upon us, and show himself gracious and liberal towards us when we be in necessity. This promise then serveth to give the faithful a good mind too deal frankly with their neighbours and to succour them. Now see we the true use of this lesson: which is, that we must keep our selves well from practicing any annoyance or deceit. And why so? So little shall we be able to advance our selves by these wicked practises or other unlawful means: that God shall put us to confusion in the end. We see then how we ought to repress all our wicked lusts, that we may deal uprightly and reasonably with our neighbours. On the other side, for as ⟨p. 75⟩much as all noisomeness and extortion displease God, let us be well ware to behave our selves uprightly: that is to say, let us labour to do well, so as every one of us may not only abstain from all misdealing, but also consider that if God have given us any ability, we must profit one another, and communicate mutually altogether. And hereunto let us also gather together the sentences of holy Scripture which tend to the same end. Cursed be thou that robbest, for thou shalt be robbed when thy turn comes about. And afterward. Look what measure men §10make the same shall be given them again. When we hear all these sayings, let us understand that God doth evermore turn all the mischief that wicked men had devised, upon themselves. The Scripture speaking of the wicked person, sayeth: he shall fall into the pit that he hath digged. And afterward, judgement without mercy shall he have which is merciless and unpitiful.

VVherfore ye see a threatning, whereby God purposeth to represse the ouer boldenesse and maliciousnesse of men, minding to holde them short, to the intent they may liue togiether in all good loue and vpright dealing, so as no man may labour to hinder his neighbour: like as on the contrarie side, we heare also the promisse which is giuen vs in these wordes: he that soweth blissednesse shall reape the same. Sainct Paule speaketh this of Almesdeedes. Hee sayeth that if wee sowe vpon oure neighboures, that which God gyueth vnto vs, we shall gatheir it againe: in so much that wee shall haue abundance of his gracious giftes and blissinges, and God shall shead out his riches vpon vs, and shewe himselfe gracious and liberall towardes vs when we bee in necessitie. This promisse then serueth to giue the faithfuil a good mynde too deale frankly with their neighbours and to succour them. Nowe see we the true vse of this lesson: which is, that wee must keepe oure selues well from practyzing anye anoyance or deceyte. And why so? So little shall wee bee able to aduaunce our selues by these wicked practyzes or other vnlawfull meanes: that God shall put vs to confusion in the ende. VVee see then howe wee ought to represse all our wicked lustes, that wee maye deale vprightly and reasonably with our neighboures. On the other side, for as