Sermons upon the Book of Job

And therefore let them that are advanced too high estate, beware that they walk in the fear of God, and in carefulness. Moreover, such as are base and despised, have enough wherewith too comfort themselves (as I have said) in that they have this promise, that it belongeth too God too give help to such as are in distress. Lo what we have to mark. And although this be not done always apparently to the eye: yet notwithstanding such as are sorrowful at the heart aright, (that is to say, which are so caste down as they flee unto God, and seek no relief but at his hand) shall feel the operation of his doctrine, And certes all of us in general do find by experience, that God lifteth up them that are despised: for what are we by nature? In what plight doth God find us when he adopteth us to be his children: are we not plunged in all filthiness and infection? And not only so: but also he is fain to draw us out of the gulf of Hell. By reason whereof it may well be said, that doubtless of nature we be cursed caitiffs, we bring nothing with us but the image of death, there is nothing in us but sin. and specially (as it is said in Ezekiel) we be like a child that is newly come out of the womb of his mother, yea even of a mother that is full of corruption, insomuch as besides the other miseries wherein he is ⟨p. 98⟩wrapped, he hath also all manner of filthiness, gore blood, and all manner of uncleanness, as the Prophet speaketh there. We see then what our state is till God have made us clean. And so seeing that every one of us already knoweth in him self, and in his own behalf, how God hath exalted us, calling us to the hope of the kingdom of heaven and of eternal life, yea and that he hath plucked us even out of the bottomless pit of death, and cleansed us from our so stinking filthiness: have we not cause too hope for the like hereafter? And therefore §10above all things, when we be in such distress, as we can bear no more: let us then put up our suit unto him, that it may please him too succour us, and too have pity of us. We see then how God regardeth such as be as it were the outcasts of the world, too the end too succour them. For it followeth immediately, that he breaketh the determinations of the wicked, too the end that their hands should not accomplish any of their enterprises.

And therefore let them that are aduaunced too hyghe estate, beware that they walke in the feare of God, and in carefulnesse. Moreouer, suche as are bace and despyzed, haue inough wherewith too comforte themselues (as I haue sayde) in that they haue this promise, that it belongeth too God too giue helpe to suche as are in distresse. Lo what wee haue to marke. And although this bee not done alwayes apparantly to the eye: yet notwithstanding suche as are sorrowfull at the heart aright, (that is to saye, whiche are so caste downe as they flee vnto God, and seeke no reliefe but at his hande) shall feele the operation of his doctrine, And certesse all of vs in generall doe finde by experience, that God lifteth vp them that are despyzed: for what are wee by nature? In what plight dothe God finde vs when hee adopteth vs to bee his children: are wee not plunged in all filthynesse and infection? And not onely so: but also he is fayne to drawe vs out of the gulfe of Hell. By reason whereof it may well bee sayde, that doubtlesse of nature wee bee cursed caytifes, we bring nothing with vs but the image of deathe, there is nothing in vs but sinne. and specially (as it is sayde in Ezechiell) wee bee lyke a chylde that is newely come out of the wombe of his mother, yea euen of a mother that is full of corruption, insomuche as besides the other myseries wherein hee is