Sermons upon the Book of Job

8 But I vvill reason with God and turn my talk unto God. 9 It is he that doth great works, yea even unsearchable works, and which doth wonderful deeds without end. 10 Which giveth rain upon the earth, which maketh the waters to gush down the streets:

8 But I vvill reason vvith God and turne my talke vnto God. 9 It is he that doth great vvorkes, yea euen vnsercheable vvoorkes, and vvhich doth vvonderfull deedes vvithout ende. 10 VVhich giueth raine vpon the earth, vvhich maketh the vvaters to gushe dovvne the streetes:

I Began heretofore to tell what is meant by this saying, That trouble cometh not §10out of the earth, nor misery out of the dust, but that man is borne to labour. For when we be troubled with any inconvenience, we gaze about us here and there, and search all corners of our wits, to find the cause of it out of our selves, and yet of all the while we perceive not that God scourgeth us for our sins, and that the fountain of all the adversities & mishaps that we endure here below, must be sought for in our own life. Then are we warned by this sentence, that when we hear speaking of §20the miseries of mans life, and that each one of us also feeleth his part and portion thereof: our wits must not wander abroad, nor fetch long windlasses atoneside or at other: but every man must enter into himself too search out his own sins, and so shall we find, that it is no marvel though we be beset round about with so many necessities, and our life subject to this so wretched state. Why so? For like as wood carieth that nature and property in it, that he receiveth fire and kindleth easily: so also standeth the case with us. For we have sin, which is as it were §30the wood and matter of all afflictions: whereupon cometh the wrath of God, & so must we needs be consumed. The sparkles therefore do fly aloft (saith Eliphas) and yet if there were not a secrete operation in the steel when it is stricken upon the stith, it is certain that no sparks would pass out. Even so it behoveth us to understand, that the fire of all our miseries is enclosed in our selves. And we shall have profited greatly if we bear away this lesson, For although every one of us confess, that God scourgeth us justly: yet do we not enter into this foresaid consideration,