Sermons upon the Book of Job

which is, that although we seem to be well minded to hear God, yet are we not of capacity to receive that which he telleth us, except our flesh be tamed. For there is an inward pride in us which puffeth §20us up after such a sort, that we know not what is good & convenient for us, until such time as God hath stricken us down. Thus we see wherefore God never appeared unto men, but he gave them some feeling of fear, namely to the end they should not like too well of themselves, nor stand too much upon their own reputation, nor trust too much to their own strength. Now then we perceive whereunto the long description that Eliphas maketh here, is referred. But he saith it is a secrete matter, & whereof he had had but small intelligence. True it is that §20at the first blush it may seem a trifling, when he calleth it a secrete, that God should at leastwise be as righteous as men, or (as he concludeth in the end) that men have not regarded to be so righteous as he. Every man confesseth this in words: and not so much as the very heathen have ever gainsaid it. What mystery then or what Secrete is there in this matter? Let us assure our selves it is more than necessary: for although men agree in this point, that there is none righteous but only God, and that we be full of infirmities in comparison of him: yet notwithstanding §40we acknowledge it not sufficiently, neither is it sufficiently imprinted in us: for were we fully and throughly persuaded of Gods righteousness, and of our own naughtiness: it is certain that we should not doubt as we commonly do, there should no grudgings be heard in our mouths, there should be no gainsaying nor replying in our hearts, we should be altogether quiet, and when so ever it should please God too put us too shame, we could confess he had good right so to do. But now the case standeth so, as ye shall see §50men kick against God as soon as he toucheth them: nay, if he spare their sins and do but warn them of them, they will not come to any true knowledgement of them. And so a man may perceive hereby, that all men are puffed up with presumptuousness, and know not what Gods righteousness is, that they might humble themselves under it.

which is, that although wee seeme to be well minded to heare God, yet are we not of capacitie to receiue that which hee telleth vs, except our fleshe be tamed. For there is an inwarde pryde in vs which puffeth