Sermons upon the Book of Job

we can not but judge as the Scripture telleth us. But if we §60will judge at the first dash without further knowing of the party, than only by that we see him scourged: and thereupon say he is cursed: Behold, this is a rash and overpresumptuous judgement, and such a one as God findeth fault withal. Therefore we must have a stay of our selves, and proceed with such mildness and advisedness, as I have showed heretofore. But after that Eliphas hath spoken so, he addeth that such manner of men, (that is to wit,) as practised deceit and violence to oppress their neighbours, and have put their wicked practices in execution) shall be destroyed by the blast of God, and by the breath of his mouth. Whereby he showeth, that although men cease to do their duties, yet God ceaseth not to do his in punishing such as are so given too outrage, cruelty and annoyance. And that is a thing very true and well worthy too be throughly marked by us. And wherefore? what thing is it that hardeneth the wicked, and which causeth them too go through with their ungraciousness? Because they bear themselves in hand, that no man dare open his lips against them, that men will stand in fear of them if they behave themselves like wild beasts, that every man should stand in such awe of them as all the world should quake at their only look, and that when they have pilled and polled all that ever they can, no man can once speak against them, because they have wherewith to curry favour with such as may annoy them, according as we see how those that have used such wicked practises, have always bribes at hand to stop their mouths of them that may punish them. For as much therefore as the wicked which give them selves to such misdealing, hope to scape all punishment at mans hand: it is said, that they shall be destroyed by the blast of God: that is to say, that although men omit their duty, so as there is no justice executed, and that they which have the using of the sword, hold their peace and play the dumb Idols, so as there is no man too maintain right and reason, but wickedness is borne out: Yet will not God be idle in Heaven. Then let us bear in mind, that if the whole world sooth us up in our naughtiness:

wee can not but iudge as the Scripture telleth vs. But if wee §60wyll iudge at the firste dashe withoute further knowing of the partie, than onely by that wee see him scourged: and therevpon saye he is cursed: Beholde, this is a rashe and ouerpresumptuous iudgement, and such a one as God findeth faulte withall. Therefore wee must haue a staye of our selues, and proceede with suche myldenesse and aduisednesse, as I haue shewed heeretofore. But after that Eliphas hath spoken so, he addeth that such maner of men, (that is to wit,) as practysed deceit and violence to oppresse their neighbours, and haue put their wicked practizes in execution) shall bee destroyed by the blaste of God, and by the breath of his mouth. VVherby he sheweth, that althoughe men ceasse to do their duties, yet God ceasseth not to doe his in punishing suche as are so gyuen too outrage, crueltie and anoyance. And that is a thing verye true and well worthye too bee throughly marked by vs. And wherefore? what thing is it that hardeneth the wicked, and which causeth them too goe through with theyr vngraciousnesse? Bycause they beare themselues in hande, that no manne dare open his lippes againste them, that men will stande in feare of them if they behaue themselues like wilde beastes, that euery man shoulde stande in such awe of them as all the world should quake at their onely looke, and that when they haue pilled and polled all that euer they can, no man can once speake against them, bycause they haue wherewith to currie fauour with suche as may anoy them, according as wee see howe those that haue vsed suche wycked practyzes, haue alwayes brybes at hande to stop their mouthes of them that maye punishe them. For as muche therefore as the wicked which gyue them selues to suche misdealing, hope to scape all punishment at mans hande: it is sayde, that they shall bee destroyed by the blaste of God: that is to saye, that although men omitte their duetie, so as there is no iustice executed, and that they whiche haue the vsing of the swoorde, holde their peace and playe the dumbe Idolles, so as there is no man too mainteine right and reason, but wyckednesse is borne out: Yet will not God be ydle in Heauen. Then lette vs beare in mynde, that if the whole worlde sooth vs vppe in our naughtinesse: