Sermons upon the Book of Job

But that they may walk according to their measure, assuring themselves that if God did not succour them every minute of an hour, they should be utterly undone. Thus ye see (I say) how Gods children must be fain to be beset round about with many afflictions in this world, if they purpose to be partakers of Gods kingdom hereafter. But we see little in this case. For rich men are commonly puffed up with stateliness, and so dazzled in their pomps and pleasures, as it is a very hard matter to make them humble. True it is that whensoever it pleaseth God, he can save the rich and great ones as well as the poorest and most despised. But that is by bridling them, and by laying such afflictions upon them, as they may be poor, I mean even in the midst of their riches, and that they may know how their state is miserable, and thereby be constrained to seek God, and too hang wholly upon him. Thus ye see in what plight God setteth us at the first. But afterward it is said that he plucketh us back from the sword, and that he delivereth us from the throat and from the hand of him that is overmighty. At a word, it is not Gods will that his faithful ones should be maintained by ordinary means, nor that they should always have armies in a readiness to revenge themselves when they be assailed by their enemies, nor that they should have great fortifications, nor that they should be strongly allied, and such other things: no, they shall be unprovided of all such gear as to the worldward: or else if they have them, it shall not be to bar their enemies from being to strong and to mighty for them, so as they should not be able to stand against them by that means. We see then that we must not be maintained by worldly means. But whensoever we be hemmed in by such as are mightier than we, which seek nothing else but to overwhelm us: if we be rescued from them, it is to the end we should know, how it is God that defē death us, and which preserveth us under his protection, & that we be as it were brooded under his wings in such sort as he suffereth not the wicked to work their malice upon us as they fain would, and as they be ready to do, were it not that they be letted from above. Thus ye see what we have to mark. And in deed we see a sufficient clear mirror of it in these days. For how goeth the world with us?

But that they may walke according to their measure, assuring themselues that if God did not succour them euerie minute of an houre, they shoulde bee vtterly vndone. Thus yee see (I say) how Gods children must bee fayne to bee beset rounde about with many afflictions in this world, if they purpose to be partakers of Gods kingdome hereafter. But we see little in this cace. For rich mē are commonly puffed vp with statelinesse, and so dazeled in their pompes and pleasures, as it is a verye harde matter to make them humble. True it is that whensoeuer it pleaseth God, hee can saue the ryche and great ones as well as the poorest and moste despyzed. But that is by brydling them, and by laying such afflictions vpon them, as they may bee poore, I meane euen in the midst of their ryches, and that they may know howe their state is miserable, and thereby be constreined to seeke God, and too hang wholly vpon him. Thus yee see in what plight God setteth vs at the first. But afterwarde it is sayde that hee plucketh vs backe from the sword, and that he deliuereth vs from the throte and from the hand of him that is ouermightie. At a woord, it is not Gods will that his faithfull ones should be mainteined by ordinarie meanes, nor that they should alwayes haue armies in a redinesse to reuenge themselues when they bee assayled by their enimies, nor that they shoulde haue great fortifications, nor that they should bee strongly alyed, and such other things: no, they shalbe vnprouided of all such geere as to the worldward: or else if they haue them, it shall not be to barre their enimies from beeing to strong and to mightie for them, so as they should not bee able to stande againste them by that meanes. VVee see then that wee must not bee mainteined by worldly meanes. But whensoeuer we bee hemmed in by such as are myghtier than wee, which seeke nothyng else but to ouerwhelme vs: if we be rescowed from them, it is to the end we should know, how it is God that defē deth vs, and which preserueth vs vnder his protection, & that wee bee as it were brooded vnder his wings in such sort as he suffereth not the wicked to worke their malice vpon vs as they fayne would, and as they be readie to do, were it not that they be letted from aboue. Thus yee see what we haue to marke. And in deede wee see a sufficient cleere mirrour of it in these dayes. For howe goeth the worlde with vs?