Sermons upon the Book of Job

yet shall our case be never the better for all that, neither shall we have gained any thing by being so flattered in our vices at mens hands: for we must come to our account before the heavenly judge. Behold here a special point which we have to mark. And therefore l•t non blyndfolde his own eyes too give over himself too naughtiness, when he seeth [he may say,] Well, if I pluck this thing to my self, no man dare speak against me. Yea: but we hear how it is said here, that if men give us liberty too do evil, is God idle in the mean while? will he bolster the evil? hath he not told us that like as he is near too such as call upon him: so also he beholdeth and marketh with his eyes, all the wicked and all those that do men violence and extortion? Then seeing the case is so: let it provoke us too walk in fear, assuring our selves that we must yield our account before our judge, and that we shall have gained nothing by the favour of men. Thus we see what we have to mark. But it is a sentence of great weight when it is said, that the wicked perish by the blast of God and by the breath of his mouth. For herein it is signified unto us, and God needeth not too make any great preparation, or too arm ⟨p. 76⟩himself when he intendeth to repress such as are stubborn, or which devour all things, or which give themselves to guilefulness to deceive their neighbours, and specially which are full of cruelty and extortion to devour the whole world. God then needeth not to levy great powers of men to strengthen himself withal: he needeth not to seek means here and there how to overthrow them: let him but only blow upon them, and behold all is dispatched. Now therefore we see that this manner of speaking, (wherein it is said that the wicked perish at the §10blast of God and at the breath of his mouth) importeth very much: like as Isaiah also speaking of men generally, setteth us down this self same blast, to show us how brittle our state is, and therefore that we have need to be maintained by God, or else we shall be in hazard of perishing every minute of an hour: and furthermore to make us to understand that although the wicked have their full scope in this world, that they triumph, and that they be both stout and strong, so as they seem invincible:

yet shall oure cace bee neuer the better for all that, neyther shall wee haue gayned anye thing by beeyng so flattered in oure vyces at mens handes: for wee must come to our account before the heauenly iudge. Beholde heere a speciall poynt which wee haue to marke. And therefore lt non blyndfolde his owne eyes too giue ouer himselfe too naughtinesse, when hee seeth [hee may saye,] VVell, if I plucke this thing to my selfe, no man dare speake against mee. Yea: but wee heare howe it is sayde heere, that if men giue vs libertie too doe euill, is God ydle in the meane whyle? will hee bolster the euill? hath hee not tolde vs that lyke as hee is neare too suche as call vpon him: so also hee beholdeth and marketh with his eyes, all the wicked and all those that doo men violence and extorcion? Then seeing the case is so: let it prouoke vs too walke in feare, assuring our selues that wee must yeelde our account before our iudge, and that wee shall haue gayned nothing by the fauour of men. Thus we see what we haue to marke. But it is a sentence of great weyght when it is sayde, that the wicked perishe by the blaste of God and by the breath of his mouth. For herein it is signifyed vnto vs, and God needeth not too make any great preparation, or too arme