Sermons upon the Book of Job

there is not that man which will not hold himself aloof, or that hath not his answers ready at his tongs end, or that setteth not some colour upon his misdoings. And though we be not altogether rebellious. yet notwithstanding there will be such a carelessness in us, that whatsoever men say to us, it is all one, and we are neither grieved nor moved at all our vices. What must we do the? We shall never learn true humility, until we be made to understand, that it is god to whom we must answer, that we be cited to appear at his throne to feel him our jugde, and moreover also that we cannot escape his hand, but that all our life must be known and examined there. When we be brought to this point that we must be fain to look unto God: we begin after a sort to rouse up our selves, so as we be no more so careless & drowsy as we were: there is no more of this loftiness and fond overweening, to sooth and flatter ourselves withal: we come to have some feeling and perceiving of our miseries: but above all, when Gods Majesty is set before our eyes, it is too make us feel how dreadful it is: and when his greatness is set afore us, it maketh us too tremble yet the more. We see it is no sporting matter, here is no sleeping for us, nor no bearing of our ⟨p. 93⟩selves in hand with this or that. Wherefore? for there is no more room for flatteries, when God, who is a consuming fire, appeareth, and maketh us to come near unto him, so as we perceive how it is he that maketh the mountains to melt, and is able to make clean riddance of all things. Therefore when we know this greatness of God, needs must we sink under it, and forget all pride. Thus much concerning the intent of Eliphas. But now must we consider this doctrine, to apply it to our selves. First of all, as oft as we feel not our selves sufficiently wakened §10to condemn our selves in our sins: let us use the order that is set down to us here: which is, to have an eye unto God. How is that? We may see some man that is sufficiently convinced of his sins, who notwithstanding goeth on still, and followeth his own swing: and if he be reproved, or else otherwise feel remorse in his own conscience, he passeth it over, and taketh no great grief for it, and why so? Because he hath not his eye upon God. Thus ye see what maketh us to continue in our sins:

there is not that man whiche will not holde himselfe aloofe, or that hath not his answers readie at his tongs end, or that setteth not some color vpō his misdoings. And though we be not altogither rebellious. yet notwithstāding there wil be such a carelesnesse in vs, that whatsoeuer mē sayto vs, it is al one, and wee are neyther greeued nor moued at all our vices. VVhat must we do the? VVe shal neuer lerne true humilitie, vntil we be made to vnderstand, that it is god to whō we must answere, that we be cited to appere at his throne to feele him our iugde, and moreouer also that we cannot escape his hande, but that all our life must be knowne and examined there. VVhen we be brought to this poynt that we must be faine to looke vnto God: we begin after a sort to rouze vp our selues, so as we be no more so carelesse & drousie as we were: there is no more of this loftinesse and fond ouerweening, to sooth and flatter ourselues withall: we come to haue some feeling and perceyuing of our miseries: but aboue all, when Gods Maiestie is set before oure eyes, it is too make vs feele howe dreadfull it is: and when his greatnesse is sette afore vs, it maketh vs too tremble yet the more. VVe see it is no sporting matter, heere is no sleeping for vs, nor no bearing of oure