Sermons upon the Book of Job

Seeing it is so, that this man is a despiser of God, and leadeth a loose life: it can not be but he must come too an evil end. And why so? Not for that we know it already, nor for that the mishap ⟨p. 90⟩showeth it self, because God hath said it▪ and that must suffice us. Moreover, let us learn to say it as it is contained here. For Eliphas meaneth not that he hard other men report, behold such a man shall be cursed, or he shall be unhappy: but he saith he trusted in God that it should be so. And although he saw things confused in the world: yet notwithstanding, he was fully persuaded that none were blessed but the children of God, and such as honoured him, and leaned altogether too his goodness, yea and that although they were persecuted, and mocked,§10 and rejected, and made a laughingstock, so as it should seem they were stark dolts because they had not the jollity of this world: yet for all that, they ceased not too be accepted and allowed of at Gods hand, notwithstanding that the world deemed the contrary. Behold what we have too remember in this sentence. But if ever any time required too practise this lesson: these days require it. For the world is full of the contempt of of God. Verily a man shall see wiliness enough, and that folks wits are sharp and subtle enough in these §20days: but a man shall see few or none that regard God, the number of these is very small: nay rather, men walk so rashly and headily, as ye would say there were no religion at all: all the world seeth it. Also we see that iniquity reigneth extremely, even in such wise as the most part of men are become shameless, and are no more ashamed to do evil. We see things thus confused, and yet, which are they whom we esteem to be most in Gods favour? Even the worst, and such as are furthest out of square, conditionally that they be subtle and sharp witted too §30bring their matters well about: for if they be full of wiles, and shifts, then behold they be wise and discrete men. But although the wicked be had in such estimation, and every man make much of them: yet let us hold them accursed, because God is at odds with them, and cannot show them any favour. And herewithall let us curse the evil men, yea and let us do it out of hand. That is too say, let us not tarry till God lift up his hand and work by some manifest means: