Sermons upon the Book of Job

And hath not such a one deserved as great punishment as I? Thus we see how we labour always too justify our own case by fleeing from God. And therefore it behoveth us to mark well this lesson, that we must not reason with men, that is to say, we must not stay there: for we shall gain nothing by doing so: but we must rather call home our wits, and advisedly say: Alas I see well that my God scourgeth me, and therefore it behoveth me to be heedful to consider his hand, and thereupon to prepare my self to humility, as I have said already. Furthermore whereas I said, that we shall be the better touched by thinking upon God: my meaning is, that we must know God to be such a one as he is. For so long as men bear themselves in hand with this or that, they disguise God by their false imaginations, bending him as it were some reed, and dallying with him as with a little babe. Yea (which worse is) there is greater liberty used with God, than with a little babe. And where of proceedeth that outrage, but of that we consider not his greatness? Therefore we must not so surmise of God, as to presume to disguise him, and to make him such a one as our fancy and lust can away with: but we must know him to be such a one as he showeth himself to be [by his word,] and we must also conceive him after such a sort as he uttereth himself by his works. When we have well bethought us of this: it is certain that our prattling will be well stinted: we will be no more so pert and so rash as to come and plead against him, or to bear our selves in hand that he tormenteth us without cause, and that we have not deserved it. Such manner self flatterings must be thrust down, all hypocrisy must be done away, and we must be abashed and dismayed at the said greatness of the majesty which we shall have conceived in our God. Thus then we see a second point which is well worthy to be noted: which is, that we ought to know God truly and not feignedly. And here we see why Saint Paul sayeth, that men vanished away in their own imagination: namely because they transformed God.

And hath not suche a one deserued as greate punishment as I? Thus wee see howe wee labour alwayes too iustifie oure own cace by fleeing from God. And therfore it behoueth vs to marke wel this lesson, that we must not reason with men, that is to say, we must not stay there: for wee shall gaine nothing by doing so: but we must rather call home our wits, and aduisedly say: Alas I see well that my God scourgeth mee, and therefore it behoueth me to be heedfull to consider his hande, and therevpon to prepare my selfe to humilitie, as I hauesayde alreadie. Furthermore whereas I sayde, that we shall bee the better touched by thinking vpon God: my meaning is, that we must know God to bee suche a one as he is. For so long as men beare themselues in hande with this or that, they disguise God by their false imaginations, bending him as it were some reede, and dalying with him as with a little babe. Yea (which worse is) there is greater libertie vsed with God, than with a little babe. And where of proceedeth that outrage, but of that we consider not his greatnesse? Therefore we must not so surmyze of God, as to presume to disguise him, and to make him suche a one as our fansie and lust can away with: but we must know him to bee such a one as he sheweth himselfe to be [by his worde,] and we must also conceiue him after suche a sort as hee vttereth himselfe by his workes. VVhen we haue well bethought vs of this: it is certaine that our prattling will be well stinted: wee will bee no more so pert and so rash as to come and pleade agaynst him, or to beare our selues in hande that hee tormenteth vs without cause, and that wee haue not deserued it. Such maner self flatterings must be thrust downe, all hypocrisie must be done away, and we must be abashed and dismayd at the said greatnesse of the maiestie which we shal haue conceyued in our God. Thus then we see a seconde poynt which is well worthie to bee noted: which is, that we ought to knowe God truly and not faynedly. And here we see why Saint Paule sayeth, that men vanished away in their own imagination: namely bicause they transformed God.