Sermons upon the Book of Job

nevertheless, in the end ye shall find that I purpose nothing else but to heal the wounds, and to cure the diseases which I have sent. True it is that at the first blush, to our seeming, it is not meet that God should take pleasure, to wound men first, and then too heal them. Why rather doth he not let us alone in peace and prosperity? But I have already showed that the wounds which God maketh are as good as medicines to us. It is then a double grace which God granteth us here. The one is that when God scourgeth us, he procureth our welfare by drawing us to repentance and by purging us from our sins, specially from the sins that we know not of. For God is not contented too remedy the inconveniences that are already present: but he considereth also that there is much seed of sickness hidden within us. Therefore he layeth hold on us aforehand, he redresseth things amiss, and singular is the benefit that he doth unto us when he seemeth to come against us with naked sword, and pretendeth to be angry with us, and yet notwithstanding showeth himself a Physician how so ever the world go. Mark this for a special point. Then followeth the second grace which also is well showed unto us: that is to wit, that God bindeth up the wounds which he hath made, and healeth them. And this is it which I have alleged already out of Saint Paul, how he suffereth us not to be tempted above our power, but giveth a good issue to all our miseries. So then although corrections be profitable, yea and necessary for us, and that God is fain to provoke us by divers means to return unto him: yet notwithstanding he spareth us, and looketh not altogether what ⟨p. 107⟩our sins, require, but what we are able to bear. And here ye see why he sayeth that he will chastise us with a mans hand, that is too say he will not proceed according too his own mighty power. For what would become of us, if God should stretch out his arm against us? Alas, what creature were able to stand before him? Verily he needeth no more but to show one angry look, and behold all the world should perish. And though he do not so: yet let him but withdraw his spirit, and all must needs decay, as it is said in the hundred §10and fourth Psalm.

neuerthelesse, in the end ye shall finde that I purpose nothing els but to heale the woundes, and to cure the diseases which I haue sent. True it is that at the first blushe, to our seeming, it is not meete that God shuld take pleasure, to wounde men first, and then too heale them. VVhy rather doth hee not lette vs alone in peace and prosperitie? But I haue alreadye shewed that the woundes which God maketh are as good as medicines to vs. It is then a double grace whiche God graunteth vs heere. The one is that when God scourgeth vs, he procureth our welfare by drawing vs to repentance and by purging vs from our sinnes, specially from the sinnes that we know not of. For God is not contented too remedie the inconueniences that are alreadye present: but he considereth also that there is muche seede of sicknesse hidden within vs. Therefore he layeth holde on vs aforehande, he redresseth things amisse, and singular is the benefyte that he doth vnto vs when hee seemeth to come agaynste vs with naked sworde, and pretendeth to be angrie wyth vs, and yet notwithstanding sheweth himselfe a Phisition how so euer the world go. Marke this for a speciall poynte. Then followeth the seconde grace which also is well shewed vnto vs: that is to witte, that God bindeth vp the woundes which he hath made, and healeth them. And this is it whiche I haue alledged alreadye out of Sainct Paule, how hee suffereth vs not to be tempted aboue our power, but giueth a good issue to all our miseries. So then although corrections bee profitable, yea and necessarie for vs, and that God is fayne to prouoke vs by diuers meanes to returne vnto hym: yet notwithstanding hee spareth vs, and looketh not altogither what