Sermons upon the Book of Job

When we endure any hunger, thirst, cold, or heat, we say that every one of these is an adversity. Why so? for we would fain have our own appetites and desires. And in good soothe this manner of speaking (to say that the mishaps which God sendeth upon us are adversities, that is to say things against us) is not without reason. Nevertheless we must understand the end of them: namely that Gods scourging of us is because of our sins And therefore let us not be beguiled by flattering of our selves. Furthermore I have already told you, not only that it is requisite for us to consider, that Gods scourging of us is because he hateth sin, and that his summoning of us before him, is to make us feel him to be our judge: but also that he had need to reach out his arms unto us, and to show us that he is ready to be at one with us when so ever we shall come to him with true repentance. So then we perceive, that they whom God chastiseth are happy, notwithstanding that we shun adversity as much as we possibly can. Also we shall never consent to this doctrine to receive it with our hart: until faith have made us to behold the goodness that God useth towards his servants, when he draweth them back to himself. And that we may the better comprehend this, let us mark what becometh of men when God leaveth them to themselves, and maketh no countenance of cleansing them from their sins. Look upon a man that is given too all evil: as for example, let us take a despiser of God: if God let him alone and seem not to chastise him, ye shall see such a one harden himself, and the Devil shall carry him still further and further: and therefore it were much better for him, that he had bin chastised sooner. And so, the greatest mishap that can light upon us, is when God suffereth us to welter in our own wickedness: for them must ⟨p. 105⟩we needs rot away in it in the end. Verily it were greatly to be desired, that men would come unto God of their own accord without spurring, and that they would cleave unto him without any warning given them of their faults, and without any rebuking of them: this (I say) were a thing greatly to be wished, yea and moreover, that there were no fault in us, and that we were as Angels, desiring nothing but to yield obedience to our maker, and to honour and love him as our father.

VVhen wee indure any hunger, thirste, colde, or heate, wee say that euery one of these is an aduersitie. VVhy so? for wee would fayne haue oure owne appetites and desires. And in good soothe this maner of speaking (to say that the mishapes which God sendeth vpon vs are aduersities, that is to say things againste vs) is not without reason. Neuerthelesse we must vnderstande the ende of them: namely that Gods scourging of vs is bycause of our sinnes And therefore let vs not bee beguyled by flattering of our selues. Furthermore I haue alreadie tolde you, not onely that it is requisite for vs to consider, that Gods scourging of vs is bycause hee hateth sinne, and that his summoning of vs before him, is to make vs feele him to be our iudge: but also that he had need to reach out his armes vnto vs, and to shew vs that he is redy to be at one with vs when so euer wee shall come to him with true repentance. So then wee perceyue, that they whome God chastyzeth are happie, notwithstanding that we shunne aduersitie as much as we possibly can. Also we shall neuer consent to this doctrine to receyue it with our hart: vntill fayth haue made vs to behold the goodnesse that God vseth towardes his seruantes, when he draweth them backe to himselfe. And that we may the better comprehende this, lette vs marke what becommeth of men when God leaueth them to themselues, and maketh no countenance of clenzing them from their sinnes. Looke vppon a man that is gyuen too all euill: as for example, lette vs take a despyzer of God: if God lette him alone and seeme not to chastyze him, yee shall see suche a one harden himselfe, and the Dyuell shall carye him still further and further: and therefore it were much better for him, that he had bin chastized sooner. And so, the greatest mishap that can light vpon vs, is when God suffereth vs to welter in our owne wickednesse: for thē must