Sermons upon the Book of Job

True it is that in these days we have no such visions as they had in times past. But it behoveth us to know, that whereas §60God gave such signs to the ancient Fathers, they must serve for us also at this day. And therefore when we read the holy Scripture, or come to a Sermon: we must be touched with the Majesty of God, to yield him reverence, so as we defile not his holy truth by esteeming it as if a man should tell us some merry conceited tale, but rather think thus: Seeing that our maker speaketh unto us it behoveth all knees to bow before him, and all men ought to quake at that which he saith. Lo what we have to mark in this sentence. And moreover we know, that God in publishing his law, showed tokens to affray all such as he meant to teach at that time: and thereupon the people said: Let us not come near the mountain, for we shall all die if God speak unto us. Thus ye see how it was Gods will to authorize his law in such wise, as the people were utterly dismayed by reason of the great number of miracles that he showed. And was this done for their sakes only which were of that time? No, but God meant to give us also knowledge of his power which is permanent unto the worlds end. The Gospel hath had yet greater proof of majesty. So then, there is nothing that either can or ought to hinder us from receiving of the Gospel, except our own unthankfulness and ungraciousness put out our eyes. Although we can not see all the wonders that God hath showed: yet must we hold ourselves contented in that God teacheth us by his word, without any longing for new visions, as many wandering spirits do, which would that the Angels should come down from heaven, and bring them some new revelations. But herein they do God great wrong, for that they content not themselves in that God hath showed himself so familiarly unto us. For seeing that we have the holy Scripture, it is certain that we can not want any thing. And above all things, in this brightness of the Gospel we have a perfection of wisdom, as Saint Paul showeth. Sith the case standeth so: they that are tickled with a fond desire to have some visions, do well bewray that they never knew what the holy Scripture is.

True it is that in these dayes we haue no such visions as they had in times past. But it behoueth vs to knowe, that whereas §60God gaue such signes to the auncient Fathers, they must serue for vs also at this day. And therefore when we reade the holie Scripture, or come to a Sermon: wee must bee touched with the Maiestie of God, to yeelde him reuerence, so as wee defile not his holie truth by esteeming it as if a man should tell vs some merie conceyted tale, but rather thinke thus: Seeing that our maker speaketh vnto vs it behoueth all knees to bowe before him, and all men ought to quake at that which he sayth. Lo what we haue to mark in this sentēce. And moreouer we know, that God in publishing his lawe, shewed tokens to affray all such as he ment to teach at that time: and therevpon the people sayd: Let vs not come neere the mountaine, for we shall al die if God speak vnto vs. Thus ye see how it was Gods will to authorize his lawe in such wise, as the people were vtterly dismaid by reason of the great number of miracles that he shewed. And was this done for their sakes onely which were of that time? No, but God ment to giue vs also knowledge of his power whiche is permanent vnto the worlds ende. The Gospel hath had yet greater proofe of maiestie. So then, ther is nothing that either can or ought to hinder vs frō receiuing of the Gospel, except our own vnthankfulnesse and vngraciousnesse put out oure eyes. Although wee can not see all the wonders that God hath shewed: yet must we hold ourselues cōtented in that God teacheth vs by his worde, wythout any longing for newe visions, as many wandring spirites doe, whiche woulde that the Angels shoulde come downe from heauen, and bring them some newe reuelations. But heerein they doe God great wrong, for that they content not themselues in that God hath shewed himselfe so familiarly vnto vs. For seeing that we haue the holy Scripture, it is certaine that wee can not wante any thing. And aboue all thinges, in this brightnesse of the Gospell wee haue a perfection of wisdome, as Sainct Paule sheweth. Syth the cace standeth so: they that are tickled with a fonde desire to haue some visions, doe well bewraye that they neuer knewe what the holy Scripture is.