Sermons upon the Book of Job

And to be short, we must be quiet to hear all that God will have said, to the end that the same may be rightly understood of us. We see then what we have to gather upon this sentence. And now let us come to the doctrine that Eliphas handleth here. Shall man be rightuouser than God? and shall man be more righteous than his maker? Behold he findeth no steadfastness (or truth) in his servants, he hath judged that there is folly (or vanity) in his Angels. And how shall they do then which dwell in houses of Clay? In the first place here Eliphas setteth down the sentence, and as it were the Theme that he groundeth himself upon: that is to with, that it is an unreasonableness in men, to desire to glorify themselves in comparison of their maker. Must not men needs be destitute of wit and reason, when they will so glorify them selves in comparing themselves with God? Lo here his Theme or ground. And for as much as men can not easily abide to have their own authority condemned: behold here the reason which he addeth too confirm his doctrine, which is, that if God should examine his Angels, he should find fault in them, and he should not find them steadfast: but they should perceive themselves to be vain and weak creatures. Now if the Angels be such: what shall become of men, which dwell in houses of Clay? For what is our body? what foundation hath it? what firmness so ever seemeth to be in it: there needs but one little shower of rain too wash it quite away. Then sith the case standeth so: let us now assure our selves, that we can not stand in Gods presence, if we come thither presuming to bring any righteousness of our own, considering that the very Angels are not able too do that. Thus we see in effect what is said unto us here. But we have too consider what is meant by the mention that is made here of Angels. Some imagining it too be against reason that God should not find his Angels throughly righteous: have concluded, that it is not meant here concerning those Angels that continued in their obedience to God, but of those that are fallen and become renegades. For the Devils were once Gods Angels, But they kept not the state wherein God had created them, but fell an horrible fall, in so much that they are fain to be the mirrors of damnation.

And to be short, wee must bee quiet to heare all that God will haue sayde, to the ende that the same may be rightly vnderstoode of vs. VVee see then what wee haue to gather vpon this sentence. And nowe let vs come to the doctrine that Eliphas handleth heere. Shall man be rightuouser than God? and shall man be more rightuous than his maker? Beholde hee findeth no stedfastnesse (or truth) in his seruantes, hee hath iudged that there is follie (or vanitie) in his Angelles. And howe shall they doe then which dwell in houses of Claye? In the first place heere Eliphas setteth downe the sentence, and as it were the Theme that hee groundeth himselfe vpon: that is to with, that it is an vnreasonablenesse in men, to desire to glorifie themselues in comparison of their maker. Must not men needes be destitute of wit and reason, when they will so gloryfie them selues in comparing themselues with God? Lo heere his Theme or grounde. And for as much as men can not easily abyde to haue their owne authoritie condemned: behold here the reason which hee addeth too confirme his doctrine, which is, that if God shoulde examine his Angels, hee should finde fault in them, and hee should not finde them stedfast: but they should perceiue themselues to be vaine and weake creatures. Nowe if the Angels be such: what shall become of men, which dwell in houses of Claye? For what is our bodie? what foundation hath it? what firmenesse so euer seemeth to bee in it: there needes but one little shoure of raine too washe it quite away. Then sith the case standeth so: let vs now assure our selues, that wee can not stande in Gods presence, if wee come thither presuming to bring any rightuousnesse of our owne, considering that the verye Angels are not able too doe that. Thus we see in effect what is sayde vnto vs heere. But we haue too consider what is meant by the mention that is made here of Angels. Some imagining it too bee agaynst reason that God should not finde his Angelles throughly rightuous: haue concluded, that it is not ment here concerning those Angelles that continued in their obedience to God, but of those that are falne and become renegates. For the Diuels were once Gods Angels, But they kept not the state wherein God had created them, but fell an horrible fall, in so much that they are fayne to be the mirrours of damnation.