Sermons upon the Book of Job

This therefore is as a preface as if he should in one word foreshow what he meant to say in this wise: God doth exceeding great and incomprehensible things, his doings are wonderful and without end. When we understand that Gods works are exceeding great and incomprehensible: shall we not be forced to lift up our minds, and to perceive that we must not disguise him, nor surmise any thing of him after our natural reason, but that we must mount up higher? It is certain that we be led thereunto whether we will or no. Thus then we see, what Eliphassis meaning is. When men look unto Godward, they be not touched with such a fear, nor with such an humility as were requisite. What is the reason? It is because they think not on his works. If Gods works come in discourse, every man thinks himself a competent Judge too speak his verdict upon them: yea and we will be bold enough (or rather overbold) too control them. For if God work not after our fashion, we will be full of grudging, and we will say, wherefore did he not this, and why went such a matter so? What is the cause of such overboldnesse, that men are so saucy with God, as to hold plea against him, and specially as to make themselves his Judges? It is because they have not considered how great and incomprehensible his works are. But if the works of God be incomprehensible: have we a measure that is great enough to declare what is in them? What is our wit? When we have stretched it out to the uttermost length and breadth that may be: is it able too comprehend the hundred part of Gods works, and of his determination which is so high as all of it is hidden from us? We must go out of our selves, if we mind but only to taste the wonderful and infinite wisdom that appeareth in Gods works. Now if we must mount above all our own wits, too get but a little taste of them: what shall become of us when we will enclose all, and when we will know all that is in them too the uttermost? I pray you, can we attain thereunto? We see then how men are worse than mad when they be so presumptuous as too desire to determine of Gods works which are incomprehensible. For true it is that we cannot gauge the bottom of Gods works, too comprehend the reason of them:

This therefore is as a preface as if he should in one worde foreshew what hee ment to say in this wise: God doth exceeding great and incomprehensible things, his doings are wonderfull and without ende. VVhen we vnderstand that Gods workes are exceeding great and incomprehensible: shall we not be forced to lift vp our mindes, and to perceyue that wee must not disguise him, nor surmize any thing of him after our naturall reason, but that we must mount vp higher? It is certaine that we be ledde thervnto whether we will or no. Thus then wee see, what Eliphassis meaning is. VVhen men looke vnto Godwarde, they be not touched with suche a feare, nor with such an humilitie as were requisite. VVhat is the reason? It is bycause they thinke not on his workes. If Gods workes come in discourse, euery man thinks himselfe a competent Iudge too speake his verdite vpon them: yea and wee will bee bolde ynough (or rather ouerbolde) too controll them. For if God woorke not after our fashion, wee will bee full of grudging, and wee will say, wherefore did hee not this, and why went such a matter so? VVhat is the cause of suche ouerboldnesse, that men are so saucie with God, as to holde plea agaynst him, and specially as to make themselues his Iudges? It is bycause they haue not considered how great and incomprehensible his workes are. But if the workes of God be incomprehensible: haue wee a measure that is great ynough to declare what is in them? VVhat is our witte? VVhen wee haue stretched it out to the vttermost length and breadth that may be: is it able too comprehende the hundreth part of Gods woorkes, and of his determination whiche is so highe as all of it is hidden from vs? VVe must go out of our selues, if wee minde but onely to taste the wonderfull and infinite wisedome that appeareth in Gods workes. Nowe if we must mount aboue all our owne wittes, too get but a little taste of them: what shall become of vs when wee will incloze all, and when wee will knowe all that is in them too the vttermost? I pray you, can wee attaine therevntoo? VVe see then how men are worse than mad when they be so presumptuous as too desyre to determine of Gods workes which are imcomprehensible. For true it is that we cannot gage the bottome of Gods workes, too comprehende the reason of them: