Sermons upon the Book of Job

I pray you ought we not to have good hold of our selves, notwithstanding that we be tempted to use craft and subtlety, and therewithal have wit enough to bring our matters about? As for example, it may oftentimes happen, that God putteth good men into our hands, whom we may beguile and lead about by the nose as the proverb saith: very well, when such occasions are offered, we ought to have good stay, considering how God sayeth, If ye use deceit and guile, you make not war against men, [but against me.] True it is that you may easily beguile a silly soul: but [in very deed] your levelling is at me, therefore I will step before you, and show you how it is mine office to dash and disappoint all the ungracious practices that wicked folk take in hand. So then brag as much as you list of your own wisdom, for I will put you to confusion, and every man shall laugh you to scorn. And wherefore? Because your enterprises are against me, and ye bear your selves in hand that ye be able to compass all things by your policies and wiles: but you shall find how there is no wisdom but in me. furthermore above all, when the case standeth upon walking ⟨p. 101⟩before God: let us look that we rid and cleanse ourselves from all hypocrisy: for the worst wiliness in the whole world, is when men would beguile God not that they say they will do it, nor that they use any such language, but so it is that they have it printed in their hart. And it is not without cause that the Prophet Isaiah sayeth. Woe be to you that dig caves under the earth, as who should say ye could hide your selves in them: from whom? even from God himself. And this is overrife now adays. What is to be seen in all the world? for §10first of all what is it that men do think concerning God? There is not that man which thinketh not himself subtle enough to scape out of his hand. And this is the very cause why the wicked and the despisers of God do run at riot, and bear themselves in hand how it is but a beastliness for us to be afraid of the judgement to come. When they see us stand upon the same, that is to wit, when they see us exhort the people too fear the wrath and vengeance of God, and [show them] how it may be prepared for us, they make a mock at it, saying: O §20see how these fellows turmoil themselves in vain:

I pray you ought we not to haue good hold of our selues, notwithstanding that wee bee tempted to vse crafte and suttletie, and therewithall haue witte inough to bring our matters about? As for example, it maye oftentimes happen, that God putteth good men into our handes, whome wee may beguile and leade about by the noze as the prouerb sayth: verie well, when such occasions are offered, wee ought to haue good stay, considering howe God sayeth, If yee vse deceyte and guyle, you make not warre againste men, [but against mee.] True it is that you maye easily beguyle a sillie soule: but [in verie deede] your leueling is at me, therefore I will step before you, and shewe you how it is mine office to dash and disappoint al the vngracious practizes that wicked folke take in hand. So then brag as much as you list of your owne wisdome, for I will put you to confusion, and euerye man shall laugh you to skorne. And wherefore? Bycause your enterpryses are against me, and yee beare your selues in hande that ye bee able to compasse all things by your policies and wiles: but you shall fynde howe there is no wisedome but in mee. furthermore aboue all, when the case standeth vpon walking