Sermons upon the Book of Job

Behold here an inestimable comfort for the faithful when they be oppressed and tormented wrongfully: which is, too know that those which so persecute them, are cursed of God. And furthermore let us understand on the contrary part also, that our afflictions are blessed: that is to say, that although the world esteem us as wretches, so as we be a gazing stock, and have our fleeces eaten from our backs, ⟨p. 89⟩yea and be also troubled and tormented: yet for all this, God ceaseth not to dispose things in such wise, as the evil is too usward turned into good, and all this their dealing shall further our welfare. Behold how the children of God ought too cheer up themselves in the mids of their sorrows. And here we see why it is said in the Psalm, that God will cut asunder the cords of the wicked, which draw the plough upon the back of his Church: namely to the intent that good men should not stretch out their hands to do evil, as commonly §10we think that things shall continue always in that broil, and that there shall never be any better end of them: & thereupon we be tempted to give over our selves unto evil, and when any man goeth about to do us wrong, it is the next way to set us in a chafe against him. We see then that such as be desirous to walk in the fear of God and in singleness, are in danger too stretch out their hands unto evil, that is to say, to give themselves to the following of the wicked. But God showeth that he will cut asunder the cords of them that torment us so, and §20that they shall have no more ability to annoy us hereafter. Mark this for a special point. And furthermore when we see that such as scorn God too the full, and are given over to all lewdness, are not restrained of their full scope, but take the benefit of the time, so as Lady Fortune (as they term it) seemeth to laugh upon them: Let us not cease to curse them, that is to say, let us patiently wait what the end of them shall be, and assure our seluer that all their prosperity shall turn too their confusion, to the intent that we should not envy them for it.§30 And finally let us learn too apply all this to our use, as I have said. Therefore if God suffer us to endure much in this world too humble us withal, so as one of us is smitten with sickness, an other with poverty, and every man beareth his own cross: