Sermons upon the Book of Job

But there is no way too hold us in obedience unto God, and too make us too §60walk on in simplicity and soundness, but by acknowledging GOD too be our buckler, and that he will provide well enough for all mischiefs that are prepared against us. True it is that we ought to defend our selves: yea verily so far forth as God giveth leave: that is to wit, so we steppe not aside from the uprightness which he commandeth, and that how so ever the case standeth, we use not any guile, nor practise any thing that is unlawful for us to do. When we proceed after this manner: let us assure our selves that God will well enough find means, to dispatch all the enterprises of such as think to catch us as it were in a pitfall by their craftiness. God then will provide in such wise, as he knoweth to be profitable for us. And furthermore there is nothing spoken here, which we find not daily by experience. For if the children of God be at any time deceived: they know that if God held them not under his protection, to save them from the snares and gins of such as seek nothing but to wind about them, they should be overtaken at every blow, not only in some small things, but also in all their whole life: we see this well enough. So then, seeing we have such a proof of this doctrine, we ought to be the better confirmed thereby. As how? When any man hath an eye to him self: we have skill enough to say, that there is nothing but naughtiness in the world, so as a man can not tell whom he may trust. On which side so ever a man turneth himself, he is in danger to be deceived: we be come to such a confusion, as there is no faith nor trustiness, neither in kinsfolk, nor in friends. Well then, sith that every man maketh such complaint, if we be not beguiled, let us mark well how it is God that defendeth us. For it is likely that we should be beguiled at every blow: and what would become of us then, if God should not remedy it? Therefore let every man acknowledge that he is preserved by the hand of God, and that it is not without cause that God hath avouched it to be his office, to make the devises of the wicked to vanish away, to the end they should not execute their attempts. True it is that although God giveth the wicked men strength too execute their devices:

But there is no waye too holde vs in obedience vnto God, and too make vs too §60walke on in simplicitie and soundnesse, but by acknowledging GOD too bee oure buckler, and that hee will prouide well inough for all mischeeues that are prepared against vs. True it is that wee ought to defende oure selues: yea verily so farre sorth as God giueth leaue: that is to witte, so wee steppe not aside from the vprightnesse which hee commaundeth, and that howe so euer the case standeth, wee vse not any guile, nor practize anye thing that is vnlawfull for vs to doe. VVhen wee proceede after this manner: lette vs assure oure selues that God will well inough finde meanes, to dispatche all the enterprises of suche as thinke to catche vs as it were in a pitfall by their craftinesse. God then will prouide in suche wise, as he knoweth to bee profitable for vs. And furthemore there is nothing spoken heere, which wee finde not daily by experience. For if the children of God bee at anye time deceyued: they knowe that if God hilde them not vnder his protection, to saue them from the snares and ginnes of suche as seeke nothing but to wynde aboute them, they should bee ouertaken at euery blowe, not only in some small things, but also in all their whole life: we see this well inough. So then, seeing wee haue suche a proofe of this doctrine, we ought to be the better confirmed thereby. As howe? VVhen any man hath an eye to him selfe: wee haue skill inough to say, that there is nothing but naughtinesse in the worlde, so as a man can not tell whome he may trust. On whiche side so euer a man turneth himselfe, hee is in daunger to be deceiued: we be come to such a confusion, as there is no faithe nor trustinesse, nother in kinsfolke, nor in friendes. VVell then, sith that euerye man maketh suche complaint, if wee bee not beguiled, let vs marke well how it is God that defendeth vs. For it is likely that wee should bee beguiled at euerie blowe: and what would become of vs then, if God should not remedie it? Therefore let euery man acknowledge that he is preserued by the hand of God, and that it is not without cause that God hath auouched it to be his office, to make the deuises of the wicked to vanish away, to the ende they should not execute their attemptes. True it is that although God giueth the wicked men strength too execute their deuices: