Sermons upon the Book of Job

12 But one thing hath been brought to me in secret whereof mine ear hath heard a little. 13 Among the thoughts of night-visions when men are a sleep, 14 Fearfulness and trembling came upon me, and made my bones afraid. 15 The wind whisked here and there, and made the hair of my body to stare. 16 There stood one, and I knew not his face: there was an Image before mine eyes, and I heard a voice in silence. 17 Is man more righteous than God? Is man more pure than his maker? 18 Behold, he findeth no steadfastness in his servants, And he hath put vanity in his Angels: 19 Howe much more [then in] them that dwell in houses of Clay, whose foundation is dust, which are consumed and destroyed by the mouth?

12 But one thing hath bene brought to me in secret vvhereof myne eare hath heard a little. 13 Among the thoughts of night-visions vvhen men are a sleepe, 14 Fearefulnesse and trembling came vpon me, and made my bones afrayde. 15 The vvynde vvhisked here and there, and made the haire of my bodie to stare. 16 There stoode one, and I knevve not his face: there vvas an Image before myne eyes, and I heard a voyce in silence. 17 Is man more rightuous than God? Is man more pure than his maker? 18 Beholde, he findeth no stedfastnesse in his seruants, And he hath put vanitie in his Angels: 19 Hovve much more [then in] them that dvvell in houses of Clay, vvhose foundation is duste, vvhich are consumed and destroyed by the mouth?

After that Eliphas hath showed his reason, that Job had not served God faithfully, and with a pure heart, at least wise §30not of any affection that he had to do so: here he addeth Gods authority, to show that Job neither can nor ought by any means to reply, that he should not be condemned of God by good right. Some men think that Eliphas boasteth here of the having of some revelation, which he nevertheless had not. But if all be well considered: there is no doubt, but that his pretending that God had revealed such a matter unto him, is a matter of certainty. For we must hold this for a principle, that these general sentences §40which he allegeth are good, but yet ill-applied. And we must not think it strange, that God should inspire him after that manner. For nowadays we be taught after an other fashion than were the fathers of that age. God speaketh unto us. But how? It is in such wise, as that the Prophets are the instruments of the holy Ghost, and we have the Gospel wherein God showeth himself familiarly. Then let us look upon the manner of speaking which God useth nowadays in his Church: which is, that he hath disclosed his whole will unto us in his holy Scriptures.