Sermons upon the Book of Job

But what for that? Every man can play the Doctor in teaching other men that, which is contained here, & yet in the mean while there is never a good scholar of us all in this behalf. For there is not any man which showeth by his doings, that ever he knew what it is to be consumed from Morning to Evening: that is to wit, that all his lustiness is but feebleness, and that there is no steadfastness in us, to hold our selves in one continual state: but that we always hast toward death, & death towards us, so as we must needs come thither at legnth. Verily if we had no more but this single doctrine alone: It would stand us in no stead, but to make us storm & torment our selves: like as when the Paynims knew that our life was so flightfull, they concluded thereupon, that it was best never to be borne, and that the sooner we dyed the better it was for us. Lo how the Paynims rejected the grace of God, because they knew not the honour that he doth us, when he sendeth us into this world, even to show himself a father towards us. For inasmuch as we be reasonable creatures, & have the image of God printed in our nature, we have a record that he holdeth us here as his children. And to despise such a grace, and to say, it had been better for us never to have been created: is it not apparent blasphemy? So then it is not enough for us to know, that so long as we be in this world, we be consumed every minute of an hour. But we must come to the second point: that is to wit, that when we have well beheld how brittle our life is: we must also mark how we be repaired again by Gods grace: & specially how we be sustained & upheld by the same: according also as these two points are matched together in the hundred and fourth Psalm. For it is said there, that as soon as God withdraweth his spirit and working, all goeth to decay. Yea: but the Prophet addeth also, that if God spread forth his power, all is renewed in this world, and all things take their liveliness of him. We see then what we have to mark: that is to wit, that when we know our selves to be less than nothing, and that we be so subject unto death, as we must run thither (as ye would say) spite of our teeth: we must understand also: that in this so great weakness, God holdeth us by the hand, so as we be uphold by his power, and strengthened by his grate.

But what for that? Euery man can playe the Doctor in teaching other men that, which is conteyned here, & yet in the meane while there is neuer a good scholler of vs all in this behalfe. For there is not any man whiche sheweth by his dooings, that euer he knew what it is to be consumed from Morning to Euening: that is to wit, that all his lustinesse is but seeblenesse, and that there is no stedfastnesse in vs, to holde our selues in one cōtinuall state: but that we alwaies hast toward death, & death towards vs, so as we must needes come thither at legnth. Verily if we had no more but this single doctrine alone: It would stand vs in no steade, but to make vs storme & torment our selues: like as whē the Paynims knew that our life was so flightfull, they cōcluded thervpon, that it was best neuer to be borne, and that the sooner wee dyed the better it was for vs. Lo how the Paynims reiected the grace of God, bicause they knewe not the honour that he doth vs, when he sendeth vs into this worlde, euen to shewe himselfe a father towards vs. For in asmuch as wee be reasonable creatures, & haue the image of God printed in oure natur, wee haue a record that he holdeth vs here as his childrē. And to despise such a grace, and to say, it had bene better for vs neuer to haue bene created: is it not apparant blasphemie? So then it is not ynough for vs to know, that so long as we bee in this world, wee bee consumed euery minute of an houre. But wee must come to the seconde poynt: that is to wit, that when we haue well behild how brittle our life is: we muste also marke how wee bee repayred agayne by Gods grace: & specially how we be susteyned & vphilde by the same: according also as these two poynts are matched togither in the hundreth and fourth Psalme. For it is sayde there, that as soone as God withdraweth his spirite and woorking, all goeth to decay. Yea: but the Prophete addeth also, that if God spredde foorth his power, all is renewed in this worlde, and all things take their liuelinesse of him. VVee see then what we haue to marke: that is to wit, that when wee know our selues to bee lesse than nothing, and that we be so subiect vnto death, as wee muste runne thither (as ye would say) spite of our teeth: we must vnderstād also: that in this so greate weaknesse, God holdeth vs by the hand, so as we be vphild by his power, and strengthned by his grate.