Sermons upon the Book of Job

yet he is well able to prevent all their practices, and too overthrow them everyone: for (as he saith anon after) he overtaketh the wise in their own wiliness. Sometimes God blindeth them that ween them selves too be very subtle and cunning, so as he maketh them to be naked. Lo here one way which he hath to save those that are his. But albeit that he let the wicked men run upon the bridle, albeit that they have many devises, and albeit that it seem impossible that we should by any means escape their hands: yet notwithstanding even when GOD shall have given them such liberty, a man shall see in the end, that all this gear shall vanish away, and that when they be even at the point too set all their practices abroach, and too say, we see what we have too do, ye see how we must proceed: even then all their devises shall wash away. Therefore when they shall have set all things in a readiness, and when they shall have concluded upon their matters, so as there is no likelihood but their devises shall come too effect: God will mock them, and a man would wonder too see how all things shall fall out clean contrary too ⟨p. 99⟩that which they imagined. True it is that we shall not perceive how this is done: and that is, to the intent we should know how God worketh after a wonderful fashion, and therefore that his gracious goodness must needs appear the better thereby towards us. So then let us mark well what is said here in effect: namely that God suffereth the wicked to have store of wiles and subtle devises, so as it may seem that they shall utterly overthrow the whole Church: or else that if they go about to oppress some one man, or two, or three, it is likely §10that they can not by any means be resisted. What is to be done in this case? We must flee to our God to say, well Lord, it is true we see our enemies have store of guiles: if the matter come to encountering with them by subtle shifts and policies, we shall be far overmatched, and utterly undone. But what for that? Now cometh thy turn to dash all their devises, and to make them flee away in the air, so as they may not have any power in their hand to put them in execution. Behold how we must have recourse unto God, and stick to §20the promises which he hath made us here.

yet hee is well able to preuent all their practizes, and too ouerthrowe them euerychone: for (as hee sayth anone after) hee ouertaketh the wyse in their owne wylynesse. Sometimes God blyndeth them that weene them selues too bee verye suttle and cunning, so as hee maketh them to bee naked. Lo heere one waye whiche hee hath to saue those that are his. But albeit that hee let the wicked men runne vpon the brydle, albeit that they haue manye deuises, and albeit that it seeme impossible that wee should by any meanes escape their handes: yet notwythstanding euen when GOD shall haue gyuen them suche libertie, a manne shall see in the ende, that all this geere shall vanishe awaye, and that when they bee euen at the pointe too set all their practizes abroche, and too saye, wee see what wee haue too doe, yee see howe wee muste proceede: euen then all their deuises shall washe away. Therefore when they shall haue set all thinges in a readinesse, and when they shall haue concluded vppon their matters, so as there is no likelyhoode but their deuises shall come too effecte: God will mocke them, and a man woulde wonder too see howe all thinges shall fall out cleane contrarie too