Sermons upon the Book of Job

For as much as they boast of it, and are taken §60to be so to the worldwarde: Eliphas useth the same word, according also as it is overcommon to say, behold yonder goes a wise man. And what is meant by this wise man? In effect a very devilish creature. For if a man will be taken for a wise man: he must have no loyalty, no faithfulness, no upright dealing, no conscience in him: he must be able to mock the whole world, he must be able to advance himself, he must have many fair colours to beguile and deceive men withal. O this is a man full of wisdom: and yet in the mean while he shall have nothing in him but fraud and naughtiness, he shall have nothing in him but hypocrisy and dissimulation. And if a man be minded to walk in simplicity and uprightness, and meaneth not to do any man wrong: tush he shall be counted a dolt and an idiot, yea and although he have wit enough in him, and that even the wicked men themselves are enforced to confess it, in so much as they are fain to say, ye see how such as man is wise enough if he listed to put forth himself: but he is to careless and passeth for nothing but to welter in his own ease without putting of himself in hazard. Behold how the world judgeth of him. And why so? Because that such a one giveth not himself to craftiness and snatching as other men do. So then, forsomuch as the world hath this word wisdom in his mouth and unhaloweth it, (for it is a holy thing howbeit falsely abused): ye see why Eliphas sayeth, very well, let us put the case that these wiles were wisdom in deed, as they be termed, and as they be commonly taken to be, howbeit that they are not so, but I will grant them that title: yet notwithstanding God knoweth well enough how to disappoint them in their own naughtiness. For here it is showed, that the said wisdom whereof the wicked vaunt them selves, is not worthy of so honourable a title. And wherefore? for when all is said, it is but wiliness. Thus ye see what we have to mark in this text. But now must we receive warning to be lowly, when we see God put himself here as principal party against all such as practise any evil against their neighbours, and seek to wind about them by subtlety. When we see how God setteth himself against them in that behalf, and showeth himself, to be the adversary party:

For as muche as they boaste of it, and are taken §60to bee so to the worldwarde: Eliphas vseth the same worde, according also as it is ouercommon to say, behold yonder goes a wyse man. And what is ment by this wyse man? In effect a very diuelish creature. For if a man will bee taken for a wyse man: hee must haue no loyaltie, no faythfulnesse, no vpright dealing, no conscience in him: hee must bee able to mocke the whole world, he must be able to aduaunce himselfe, hee must haue many fayre colours to beguile and deceiue men withall. O this is a man full of wisdome: and yet in the meane while he shall haue nothing in him but fraude and naughtinesse, hee shall haue nothing in him but hypocrysie and dissimulation. And if a man bee mynded to walke in simplicitie and vprightnesse, and meneth not to do any man wrong: tush he shall be counted a dolt and an idiot, yea and although hee haue witte ynough in him, and that euen the wicked men themselues are inforced to confesse it, in so much as they are faine to say, yee see how such as man is wise ynough if he listed to put foorth himselfe: but he is to carelesse and passeth for nothing but to welter in his owne ease without putting of himselfe in hazard. Behold howe the world iudgeth of him. And why so? Bycause that suche a one giueth not himselfe to craftinesse and snatching as other men do. So then, forsomuch as the world hath this worde wisdome in his mouth and vnhaloweth it, (for it is a holie thing howbeit fasly abused): yee see why Eliphas sayeth, verie well, let vs put the cace that these wyles were wisdome in deed, as they be termed, and as they be commonly taken to bee, howbeeit that they are not so, but I wyll graunt them that title: yet notwythstanding God knoweth well ynough howe to disappoint them in their owne naughtinesse. For here it is shewed, that the sayd wisdome whereof the wicked vaunte them selues, is not worthye of so honorable a title. And wherfore? for when al is said, it is but wylinesse. Thus yee see what we haue to marke in this text. But nowe must we receiue warning to belowly, when we see God put himselfe heere as principall partie against all such as practyze any euill against their neybours, and seeke to winde about them by suttletie. VVhen wee see how God setteth himself against them in that behalfe, and sheweth himselfe, to bee the aduersarie partie: