Sermons upon the Book of Job

Thus ye see why I said that the greatest benefit which we can have, is to be corrected §50at Gods hand, in so much that when we have cast our account too the full, we shall find that the corrections which he sendeth us, are more for our profit than the bread that we eat. For if we starve for hunger, God will have pity upon us in taking of us out of this world. But if we live still here below, and cease not to provoke the wrath of him that showeth himself so good and liberal a father towards us: see ye not too shameful an unthankfulness? I pray you, had it not bin better that we had bin borne dead, than that we should so prolong our life too §60our damnation? But if God prevent us and use chastisements as [preservative] medicines, and tarry not till the disease be too far overgrown: is it not a great benefit too us, and such a one as we ought to wish for? So then, as oft and so long as his corrections are hard and bitter too us, and that our flesh provoketh us to impatience and despair, let us learn to call this lesson to remembrance, that the man is happy whom God chastiseth, howbeit that our imagination will not say so: for contrarily we surmise that nothing is better, than to be spared and borne withal. But certainly although we know by experience, how it is not without cause that the holy Ghost hath uttered such a sentence: yet notwithstanding it is not meant thereby, that the corrections which we have to endure, are not evermore sour and painful in themselves, according as the Apostle sayeth: and God also will have us too feel the prickings that put us to pain. For if we feel no grief when God correcteth us, where is our obedientnesse? And furthermore, how shall we learn to be angry with our selves for our sins? How shall we be afraid of Gods judgements to be tamed aright? Then behoveth it us to be grieved with the adversity which God sendeth us. And although the adversity be turned to our benefit, and that God do thereby show that he loveth us: yet is it requisite that there be some pricking and painfulness in it, to the intent we may perceive the wrath of God, and be displeased with our selves for our sins. But yet here withal we must mount up higher, and when we have found how our nature is inclined to all evil:

Thus ye see why I sayd that the greatest benefyte which we can haue, is to be corrected §50at Gods hand, in so much that when we haue cast our account too the full, wee shall fynde that the corrections whiche hee sendeth vs, are more for our profite than the bread that we eate. For if we starue for hunger, God wyll haue pitie vpon vs in taking of vs out of this worlde. But if we liue still heere bylowe, and ceasse not to prouoke the wrath of him that sheweth himselfe so good and liberall a father towardes vs: see ye not too shamefull an vnthankfulnesse? I pray you, had it not bin better that we had bin borne dead, than that we shoulde so prolong our life too