Sermons upon the Book of Job

ye see what is the cause why we be not §20cast down with true humility: namely because we perceive not that God is our judge, and that it is he with whom we have to do. Then is there none other remedy than that which I have spoken of: that is to wit, that first of all we be as it were wakened out of our sins, for otherwise we will never think of them to be sorry for them. But for as much as it may fall out, that the devil shall as it were so bewitch us, that when we be constrained to perceive that all goeth not well with us, we shall become as amazed at it: we must come too the second §30point, to say: Alas poor creature, art thou able to scape the vengeance of thy God? When all the world hath magnified thee, yet shalt thou not miss to be condemned for the same. So it is that all creatures perceive thy shame, thou must be brought to shame before the little babes, and even unto the beasts: thou canst not shift thy hands of it. And what shall become of thee, when thou must be fain to come before the heavenly Judge? Thinkest thou that he hath not a dreadful judgement of damnation against thee, seeing that thou continuest so in naughtiness?§40 Thus see we the mean to waken our selves when our sins displease us not enough, and when we feel not so lively and earnest a sorriness for them as were requisite. Thus we see that we must reason with God and not with men. For we imagine our selves to have the better end of the staff so long as we abide here below, and we travel always to that end, according as our flesh and our nature is over much given that way. For if a man be rebuked, he bestirs him at him that spake to him, and saith, Hast thou to do with that? If thou look well upon §50thy self, thou shalt find more to be blamed at home: thou art too hasty upon me: thou seemest as though thou wouldest quarrel with me, it seemeth that thou wouldest deface me. Behold how we snap at men if they rebuke us: Yea and we will do as much to God, specially if there be no man to accuse us: for then we will not stick to seek still for such a starting hole. As how? When a man considereth himself, he perceiveth well that if God punish him, he dealeth rightly with him: but then will he start out too the examining of his neighbours,§60 [and he will say in himself,] is not such a one worse than I? or at least wise as bad as I?