Sermons upon the Book of Job

what have we else to do, but to wait with patience, specially seeing we be sure that God can well tell how to hold their hand fast tied, and that when they have sought all §20the corners of their wits, and prowled about the whole earth, yea and mounted above the clouds, God will not suffer them to put any thing in execution, and furthermore that he is well able to make those men dullards, which take themselves to be very politic and wise men: I say he will make them so dull, as that even the little children shall laugh at their beastliness, according as we see in very deed. For if we mark how Gods truth is encountered now adays by these clawbacks and by all the Popes upholders, we shall see them so besotted, as it were §30not likely that men could come to such doltishness. Specially if a man mark those which ween themselves to be cunningest: it should seem that they be confederate with us, and that we have given them wages to mock Antichrist their master: they would fain pleasure him, and they disgrace him more and more. And for proof hereof, if a man read their books, he will say they speak in favour of us: and for my part I know it to be so. Whereof cometh this then? no doubt but God accomplisheth that thing in them which is spoken here, and I know it §40manifestly. So then seeing that God showeth in very deed, how the thing which he hath spoken here is not in vain: Let us learn to stay ourselves upon him, not doubting but he is able to overthrow all the practises and devises of such as take themselves to be the cunningest, and that he will make them to grope about them at high noon, as if they were blindfolded in the dark. And he sayeth expressly, That God overtaketh the wise in their wiliness. When Eliphas useth this word wise: he doth it after the manner of men, who glorify themselves in that behalf. Wisdom §50is the singular gift of God, and a good and commendable thing: and in good sooth from whence cometh it but from the holy Ghost, who is the fountain and wellspring thereof according also as the holy scripture showeth us? And we our selves also do know it to be so, if we be not to to unthankful. Seeing then that wisdom is so excellent a thing, can it be condemned? It is certain that all the wittiness and wiliness which we see in the wicked and in the enemies of God, deserveth not to be called wisdom. But what?