Sermons upon the Book of Job

let us confess ourselves too have need that God should use some sharp punishment to purge us withal, as we see physicians do, who now and then put some kind of poison in their medicines, after as they see the maladies to be great & deep-rooted. The Physician seeth well enough how it is too the weakening of a poor man and too the unstrengethening of his veins and sinews: and specially when no gentler means will serve than letting of blood, it is even as much as too draw the substance out of a mans body, and yet must •e needs use such violent means, too remedy such a malady: Even so is God fain to work with us, howbeit that the same be an extraordinary manner with him. For when we say we be happy to be chastised at Gods hand: it must lead us unto lowliness, seeing that God cannot procure our salvation, but by showing himself to be against us. Is it not to be said justly, that there is a marvellous corruptness in men, sith God cannot be their Saviour and father but by handling them roughly? For his nature is too show himself gracious and gentle to all his creatures. And he followeth the order which he would keep as in respect of himself: he doth nothing else […] spread out his goodness upon us, in such wise as we should be replenished with his grace to be wholly ravish[…] thereat. But now, if he handle us gently according to h[…]own nature and inclination: we are undone. And therefore he is fain as it were to alter his mind: that is to say, to show himself otherwise towards us than he would be. And what is the cause thereof? Our unrecoverable naughtiness. And therefore we have good cause here too be confounded with shame, when we see that he is •ayne (as ye would say) to disguise himself, if he intend that we should not perish. Thus much as touching this ⟨p. 106⟩sentence. Howbeit forasmuch as we cannot well apply this doctrine to our use, without the adding of that which followeth: let us join them both together. It is said, Refuse not the correction of the Almighty: for be that hath made the wound, bindeth it up, and layeth convenient plasters to it, and when he hath sent the malady, he healeth it. Here we are exhorted, not to refuse Gods corrections. And the cause thereof is added byandby: that is to wit, because God will give it a good issue.

let vs confesse ourselues too haue neede that God should vse some sharpe punishment to purge vs withall, as we see phisicions do, who now and then put some kind of poyson in their medicines, after as they see the maladies to be great & deeperooted. The Phisicion seeth well ynough how it is too the weakening of a poore man and too the vnstrengethening of his veynes and sinewes: and specially when no gentler meanes wyll serue than letting of bloud, it is euen as muche as too drawe the substance out of a mannes bodye, and yet must e needes vse such violent meanes, too remedie such a maladie: Euen so is God fayne to worke with vs, howbeit that the same bee an extraordinarie maner with him. For when wee say wee bee happie to bee chastised at Gods hande: it must leade vs vnto lowlinesse, seeing that God cannot procure oure saluation, but by shewing himselfe to bee against vs. Is it not to be sayd iustly, that there is a maruellous corruptnesse in men, sith God cannot be their Sauioure and father but by handling them roughly? For his nature is too shewe himselfe gracious and gentle to all his creatures. And he followeth the order which he would keepe as in respect of himselfe: he doth nothing else spred out his goodnesse vpon vs, in such wise as we should be replenished with his grace to be wholly rauishe thereat. But now, if he handle vs gently according to howne nature and inclination: we are vndone. And therefore he is faine as it were to alter his mind: that is to say, to shew himselfe otherwise towardes vs than hee would be. And what is the cause thereof? Our vnrecouerable naughtinesse. And therefore wee haue good cause heere too bee confounded with shame, when we see that hee is ayne (as yee would say) to disguise himselfe, if hee intende that we shoulde not perishe. Thus muche as touching thys