Sermons of Master Iohn Caluin, vpon the booke of Iob. Translated out of French by Arthur Golding

The .liiij. Sermon, which is the second vpon the .xiiij. Chapter.

5 Are not his dayes limited? is not the number of his moneths in thee? Hast not thou made an or∣dinance vvhich hee shall not passe?

6 Turne thee avvaye from him, and lette him bee at reste, tyll his desired day come, as the daye of a hireling.

7 For there is hope in a tree that is cut dovvne, that it shall spring agayne, and that his impes vvill grovve vp agayne.

8 Although his roote bee vvaxed olde, and that his body bee seared and deade.

9 Yet vvill hee spring agayne by force of vvater, and then vvill hee spred foorth as a plant.

10 But if a man fayle, so as hee dye, he commeth no more.

11 Like as if the vvaters shoulde shrinke out of the Sea, and that a riuer should passe avvay.

12 Euen so men rise not agayne, till there be no more any heauen: they thinke not of it, nother doe they rise agayne out of their sleepe.

YEsterday wee sawe the request that Iob made by reason of the ficklenesse of mans life. The sum whereof was, that for asmuch as man is so fraile and flightfull [ 40] a creature, it seemeth not reasonable that God should pursue him with such rigour, & vtter his force so against him. And (as we haue seene afore) he declareth that the life is not so short, but it is much more miserable, & men are as it were in cōtinual torments in it. But now he addeth further, that God hath the life of man in his hande, & hath limited it a tearme whiche cannot bee passed. If a man lyued but for a fewe dayes, and that God hath not ordeined it: yet might a mā say, well, God is displeased and therfore he cannot abyde [ 50] that a little tyme shoulde passe withoute punishing them that haue doone amisse. But seeyng hee hath foreordey∣ned that wee shoulde liue, and all at his pleasure and de∣termination, and seeing he hath poynted the laste instante of our life and will haue vs to come to the same: seeyng it is so (saith Iob) that he cannot indure that a man should finishe his course, and come to his dayes ende as dooth a hireling: why doth hee not handle me more gently? And seeyng wee bee so troubled with vnquietnesse in this pre∣sente lyfe, it may well be sayde that we be like a labourer [ 60] that is hyred by the daye. Looke vppon a labouring man see hee toyles himselfe too earne a peece of money: but when his dayes woorke is at an ende, hee taketh his reste, hee hath his wages. Euen so is it with vs, all oure lyfe long: bycause it is subiecte too so manye miseries, wee are in hope that when that is paste, wee shall bee quyte discharged. For if Deathe bee once come, it is as wee had made an ende of oure taske, we haue cause to be gladde bycause wee come too reste. Thus yee see what Iobs meaning is. But heerewithall wee muste also beare continually in minde what hath bene sayde: namely that heere hee declareth his owne passions, which we muste not allowe of, for so muche as God condemneth them. And wherefore are they wrytten? Firste to the ende that we myght see that euē the perfectest sort, (although they bee neuer so pacient fayle not too haue greate hardinesse in fyghting agaynste the passions of theyr fleshe, when God layeth his hande vpon them. VVe must not thinke that Iob and suche other lyke were made of steele, or senslesse folke. Althoughe there were a singular stoute∣nesse in them, & that they indeuored themselues to obey God: yet was it not withoute touche of breste, for they were fayne too feeele maruaylous stings in theyr fleshe. And althoughe they outstoode the temptations and gat the vpper hande of them, yet had they stormes and were tossed too and fro in the meane season. And this is tolde

vs to the end we should stand the more vpon our garde, and pray God too strengthen vs, assuring our selues that although wee had neuer so good a desire to honoure him yet should wee be vanquished by and by, were it not that he holdeth vs vp by his hand and giueth vs strength from aboue to fight valiantly with stedfastnesse. Besides this, we be admonished also not to be out of hart, though wee seeme at the poynt to quayle, nor to bee discouraged for all that. For the excellentest men that euer were, haue alwayes bin so effeebled for a tyme: howbeit, God hath [ 10] stood to them in such wise as they haue gotten the vpper hande in all their battelles. And God will giue suche vi∣ctorie also, if we call vpon him, and bee not so foolishe as to sooth our selues in our owne vices. Finally let vs cōsi∣der to what vse wee ought to applie that whiche is sayde heere: namely that God hath bounded the tyme of mans lyfe. Very well. Is it to the ende wee might say hee ought too leaue vs as he found vs? and that he should get him away from vs? as Iob sayde yesterday that it seemed vnreaso∣nable that God shoulde open his eyes vpon so wretched [ 20] creatures, and that hee ought to let men alone there by∣cause they bee not worthy too bee matched with him, for what strength is there in them? No. But lette vs marke what a fayre hande we shoulde make if God shoulde get him away from vs: I meane, if he shoulde not guyde vs to redresse vs when wee do amisse. If wee liue but one daye without Gods visitation we fall asleepe in our sinnes: & much more if hee spare vs a long time: according as wee see that when men are in prosperitie, they know not that there is a God which is a iudge ouer them: they cannot [ 30] find in their harts to be hild vnder any yoke or to be bri∣dled: a man cannot by any meanes bring them to reason. Seeing it is so: how rebellious wold we be if God should let vs alone all the time of our life? How woulde we play the horses that are broken looce? There wold be no way to make vs to knowe our selues, that wee might returne vnto God. Therefore it behoueth vs to pray him too pi∣tie vs, and so to tame all the lustes of our flesh, as we may bee teachable and obedient towardes him. So then let vs marke well that it was an excessiue passion in Iob too al∣ledge [ 40] that it were meete and conuenient for God to let men alone as they are, bicause their life is shorte and brit∣tle, and bicause that hee himselfe hathe assigned it a de∣terminate terme. Agayne it is verie requisite that God should watch ouer vs and looke narrowly to vs, bycause it lyeth not in vs to guyde oure owne steppes. And if wee were not in his protection, I pray you what wold become of vs? For it is pitifull to see with how many deathes wee be beseeged. Had not God neede then to haue a fatherly care of oure life? So whereas Iob desireth God to with∣drawe [ 50] himselfe from him, let vs pray him to draw neerer vs, and that in two sortes. The first is, that inasmuch as it is for our behoofe to be in his custodie to be mainteyned by him: bicause we liue not but in him, nor are susteyned but by his power: it may please him to make vs feele his presence, and to know that he is newre at hande to vs, too aide vs and succoure vs. And furthermore (whiche is the second point) that it may also please him to bee neere at hande with vs to chastize vs when hee seeth vs too farre out of square. True it is that wee ought to pray him too [ 60] vse such gentlenesse towardes vs, as we may not be pres∣sed more than we bee able to beare. But yet therewithall we haue also to desire him to lifte vp his hande when hee seeth that wee haue neede of any correction. For if hee shoulde let vs alone, it were ynough to rocke vs asleepe and to make vs very blocks. Thus much concerning that poynt. But aboue all we ought to wey well that which is sayde heere, namely, That the life of a man is determined by God, that bee hath the account of oure monethes in his handes, and that he hath sette an ordinance whiche cannot bee passed. Heerevpon wee haue cause to take greate comforte, for that our life is in Gods hande. Beholde heere what is the cause that men are so fearefull as they dare not stirre one finger but with trembling, and it seemeth too them that this thing or that thing may befall them: namely for that they knowe not that God hath them in his keeping, and that it belongeth to him as well to take them out of this world as he hath created them. For were wee throughly perswaded of that, it is certaine that we should go on our pace, & not be so tormented as we be: So much the more then ought wee to make accounte of the doctrine that is conteyned heere: that is to witte that God hath limited our dayes. Howbeit it is true that we must keepe a meane in this behalfe. For although wee ought to warrant oure selues seeing our life is in Gods hande: yet must wee not be rash to cast our selues geerishly into any daunger: but wee muste walke aduisedly according as God commaun∣deth vs. There are some fantasticall persones, who hea∣ring that the dayes of a man are numbered, and that wee can nother lengthen nor shorten our lyfe, bycause it is in Gods hand and at his good pleasure: will by and by say, very well, then if I do all that comes in my heade, it is all one: he that is borne to be hanged, shall neuer be drow∣ned, as the prouerb sayes among the Papists. Yea & when the vnthrifts that are among vs are disposed to dally with God: they vse the same: and woulde God it were not so common as it is, but in deede it is too common, and men know well ynough of whome I speake. So thē ye see how these despisers of God take occasion to say that wee may shut oure eyes and passe throughe fire and water, bycause God hath limited our dayes. Yea but it is not to that in∣tent, that the scripture speaketh so. It saieth that God ha∣uing put vs into this world knoweth how long he ought to holde vs there and that we bee in his hande, and that it behooueth vs to departe hence whensoeuer it shall please him according also as it is sayde in the nintenth Psalme. And wherfore is it told vs? to the intent we shold learne to put our selues into Gods hand and to say: VVell Lord seeing it is so that thou disposest of vs at thy good plea∣sure: giue vs the grace to lyue and dye according to thy good will, that we may not couet to liue longer than shall please thee, and also that oure lyfe may not seeme ouer∣long to vs when thou listest to hold vs heere, and that in the meane time we may serue thee by spending the time well whiche thou hast giuen vs, the rather for that it is so short. And agayne, heerevpon, Lorde, seeing thou holdest our life in thy hande, and yet will not haue vs too knowe what the terme of it is, but haste reserued it too thyne owne knowledge: graūt vs the grace to walke in feare & warely. Thou haste giuen vs meanes too mainteyne this present life, thou hast gyuen vs meate and drinke. Gyue vs the grace to vse them soberly and with all temperance.

Moreouer thou haste gyuen vs remedyes: If wee bee diseased, thou wylte not haue vs too wante any thing. And therefore gyue vs the grace that wee maye not de∣sire too tarrie in this flightfull lyfe, but onely too serue and honoure thee. So Lorde let vs walke in all poyntes as thou commaundest vs, according too that whiche is sayde in the one and nintyeth Psalme, that God wyll sende his Angelles too garde vs that wee may not stum∣ble nor make a false steppe when wee walke our wayes, that is too say, that wee may not playe the stray coltes, [ 10] nor skurrie heere and there as these vnthriftes do, who wyll not by any meanes submitte themselues vnto God. Therefore whensoeuer wee abyde in the waye that hee sheweth vs: then are wee garded by him and his Angels. This doone, wee muste also conceyue a good and holie hardynesse when God wyll haue vs too enter intoo anye daunger. As howe? VVee see at this this daye what the state of the poore Christians is: that is to witte, that they bee as sheepe in the wolues mouthes. Nowe if we should go aboute too excuse oure selues from seruing of God, [ 20] and forbeare too confesse oure fayth bycause it cannot bee doone withoute ieopardie of oure lyfe: suppose yee that God will accept so fonde an excuse? No. And why? For he hath our life in his hande: let vs trust in him that hee will keepe vs as hee is good and faithfull: if it please him that wee shall continue, it shall not bee withoute his will, and then will hee giue vs strength and power. Thus yee see how we must applye that to our vse which is spo∣ken heere. Otherwise, it will betide vs as wee see it hath done too many others, who shrinke away and gyue ouer [ 30] the seruice of God bycause they shunne the crosse. And why is that? Their vnbeleefe is the grounde thereof, by∣cause they knowe not, or at leastwise are not throughlye perswaded that God hath appoynted their tearme, and that they cannot prolong it, do what they can. For if wee were fully resolued of that poynt, it is certayne that wee shoulde bee the bolder to spende our selues when it stan∣deth vppon the honouring of God and the performance of oure dutie, according as becommeth euerye man in his degree. I say we should haue another manner of con∣stancie [ 40] and stoutnesse than wee haue. True it is that this must not make vs rash, in such wise as we should go seeke daungers of our owne heades and withoute aduice. But whensoeuer neede shall require, wee shall not sticke too go vnto death, forsomuch as we know that men (whatso∣euer they attēpt or practize against vs) are able to do no∣thing. So then seeing that this doctrine is greatly for our profite, lette vs determine too beare it well in minde, and therevpon conclude, (according also as oure Lorde Iesus Christ telleth vs) that the very heares of our heads [ 50] are numbered, and that God holdeth vs in suche wise in his custodie, as wee neede not to feare that any thing can happen vnto vs without his good pleasure. True it is that Satan assayeth all the meanes hee can: and on the other side wee see that men make full reckning to turne all vp∣side downe, and it should seeme they woulde confounde heauen and earth togither. Yea but when they haue done theyr vttermost, they are not able to take away our lyfe except God gyue them leaue and bee willing therewith. And howe can we withstand them? So then, let vs looke [ 60] only what God commaundeth vs, let vs looke what our calling and dutie beareth to doo, and let euery man im∣ploy himselfe faythfully, assuring our selues that we shall finish our course, yea euen bycause we be in the hande of God. Thus ye see what we haue to marke vpon this sen∣tence. Now after that Iob hath sayde so, hee addeth: That there is hope in a tree: when a tree is cut, he may spring agayne, and specially if hee haue nourishmēt of water, hee may forishe a freshe. But there is not the like hope of a man: when he is once dead, he is past recouery (saieth he) and therefore God ought to haue pitie of so po••re a creature. Heere at the firste blushe it may seeme straunge, that Iob cutteth off all hope from a man when hee is once deade. For it seemeth that heere is no remembrance of the euerlasting life, as thoughe mens soules dyed with their bodies. But let vs note firste of all, that when Iob speaketh of men, hee speaketh in his passi∣ons and torments (as we haue seene already) and therfore he hath no further respect but to this present life, accor∣ding as when we bee pressed with any miserie, our minde runnes vpon nothing but that. If it bee summertime and we be ouerwhot, we thinke that hard frost were the plea∣santest & holsomest thing that could bee. And why? By∣cause we be forepossessed with the passion that greeueth and tormenteth vs. So then forasmuch as Gods hand was so sore vpon Iob, he had none other regard but to get out of his presente peynes: and as for the hope of the lyfe to come, hee minded it not at all. And heere it is to be seene what men are when they be troubled after that sort with aduersitie, if God doe not releeue them and strengthen them. True it is that Iob cānot be charged to haue cōclu∣ded that God doth vtterly roote out men, whē he taketh them out of the world: Iob (I say) made no such finall cō∣clusion. But yet for all that we muste note that he was so dazeled with his passions, that as thē he remembred not that man continueth still in God after his death, & hath there a secret life, & that the same life hath a good seede, so as we shall be fully restored to a perfectiō, from which we be farre off as nowe: that is to witte, in his heauenly glory, and glorious immortalitie. Iob thē had not that re∣memberance with him, to settle himselfe therevpon, but was dazeled in his passions for a time. And therefore wee muste looke to our selues, that we be the warer, as I saide afore. Euen so is it in the rest of these wordes. Certainly Iob knew well that God doth men a singular good turne when he visiteth them. And if a man had asked him why? Is it not a great honor that God doth to vs, in that wher∣as we be but stinking carkasses, yet he voutsafeth to caste his eye vpon vs, & to chastize vs when we haue done a∣misse, as the father doth his child? He wolde haue answe∣red, Yes. But yet for all this, he was not able to conceyue it at the first brunt, that hee might haue resisted his owne passions, but was fayne to bee tormented and too indure greate distresse. So muche the more then ought wee too receyue this aduertyzemente: Alas Lord, our lyfe is but short and brittle, there is nothing but filthinesse and cor∣ruption in vs, and yet for all that, thou forgettest vs not. Deserue wee that thou shouldest regarde vs? Are wee worthy that thou shouldest visit vs? Alas, no Lorde. For the very Angelles of Heauen are not woorthie of that and how then shoulde we bee worthie, who are but rot∣tennesse and stinche? But what for that? Thou of thyne infinite goodnesse arte willing to be friendly and familiar

with vs, and thou beholdest vs with pitie. And when wee haue doone amisse: in steade of tying vs therevnto, thou still pullest vs backe to thee, and as••aiest all meanes too bring vs too repentance. And Lorde what a good∣nesse is that? Lo howe wee ought to speake. The same also is to bee sayde in this presente sentence, that wee maye fare the better by it. For sithe that men haue no strength in themselues, nor can spring and shoote forth braunches newe agayne as trees doo whiche haue some roote in the earth: but doo rotte away quite and cleane: [ 10] let vs acknowledge the good that God doeth vs in that it pleaseth him too preserue oure life after the common order of nature, and also keepeth it hydden alofte too bee manifested agayne in tyme conuenient. Therefore lette vs acknowledge the same too bee an inestimable priuiledge. But for the better vnderstanding of this les∣son, lette vs marke firste that although men bee immor∣tall, yet they haue it not of theyr owne strength. For it is not withoute cause that Sainct Paule yeeldeth the ti∣tle of immortalitie and euerlastingnesse peculiarlie vn∣to [ 20] God. And what shall wee saye of the Angelles then? VVhat shall wee saye of men? Are they mortall as the brute beastes? It is certaine that we feele well how God breatheth power into oure soules. Yee see then that wee haue this spirituall life from else where and as it were do borrowe it. But that is not all. For although our soules come not to nought, ne rotte away as our bodies do: yet notwithstāding when they be alienated from God they be in a farre more horrible death, than if they were vtter∣ly returned to nothing. Our state were better if we were [ 30] vtterly foredone than to beeseparated from God and to feele him to bee against vs. Then muste God be faine to giue vs another life, which is, that hee knit vs to himselfe by the grace of his holy Spirite, so as hee may lyue and reigne in vs. If we haue this once: it is the chiefe benefite wherein wee can ioy. But in the meane while God wor∣keth after a straunge fashion and vnknowen too mannes reason. For let vs consider what the state of the faithfull is during their life in this world. They are not only set in like state with the vnbeleuers, but are made muche more [ 40] poore and miserable. For if a man looke vpon the chil∣dren of God, he shall finde that they bee afflicted, so as it seemeth that they ought to bee cut off from mankind as though they were not worthy to lyue vppon the earthe. Thus ye see after what sort God suffreth his to be dealte withall. VVhat is to be done then? Let vs come backe to that which Sainct Paule saith to the Colossians, that is to witte, that we be deade, and that our life lyeth hid in our Lorde Iesus Christe, and God will shewe it in due time. And by this we see a goodly similitude in that which Iob [ 50] setteth downe. For he saieth that the trees fade at the cō∣ming of winter, there appeereth no more greenenesse in them, and it seemeth that all is dead when the leaues are falne off, and the trees themselues frostebitten: and yet for all that, life ceasseth not to lye hid both in the rootes, and in the heart of them. VVee see that when the spring time is come, all shootes foorth againe, and the liuelines that was vnseene for a time sheweth it selfe anewe. Nowe if God shew vs this in the trees: will he not vtter a grea∣ter operation towards vs that are so excellent creatures? [ 60] Soothly when Sainct Paule speaketh of the resurrection, he reproueth men for their beastlinesse, bicause they cō∣sider not how God doth shewe vs as it were naturall fi∣gures of the resurrection, by the growing of the corne v∣pon the earth. Looke vpon the corne that is in the barn, it is drye, it is cast into the grounde, and there it rotteth. VVe see it springeth vp againe, and for one graine there commeth vp twentie, or thirtie, or ten. Seeing then that God reneweth the graines bothe of wheate and of other corne, yea and that euen by rotting: what will hee do to men? VVill he not vtter a farre greater woorke in them? Now then, are not we senslesse and brutish, when we per∣ceyue not after what manner God worketh to confirme vs in the hope of the life that hee hathe promised vs? As much is to be thought of that which he sayeth here now. For when wee see the trees (whiche in winter time were deade, or at leastwise seemed deade) become freshe and greene againe in the spring time: we must be cōfirmed in that which God declareth vnto vs, namely that although our life be hidden, and we be heere as it were in the sha∣dow of death, yet should not that hinder vs to lifte vp our heades continuallye, and looke for the resurrection that hee hath promised vs. Yea and euen nowe although wee seeme deade, yet haue wee Gods spirite dwelling in vs, which is a sufficient warrant of oure life. And whensoe∣uer it shall please God too take vs out of this worlde, al∣though our bodies rotte away: yet notwithstanding, see∣yng hee hath printed the seale of his holy spirite in oure soules: thinke we that they shall perish when as he is the protector of them? So then, the frayltie that is in mans lyfe ought too stirre vs vp the more too magnifie Gods goodnesse towardes vs. If God wrought after an other order, that is too witte, if when hee bringeth vs lacke to himselfe by fayth, hee shoulde place vs heere as it were in a little Paradise, so as we shoulde be like the Angelles, and his power should shew it selfe in vs, and we be voyde of all these infirmities which wee see, and our lyfe might not bee like a shadowe that vanisheth away, nor wee bee walled in with so many miseries, but God shoulde dwel in the middes of vs & reigne peasably in vs: Verely these gracious gistes were so well worthy to bee highly estee∣med: But yet shoulde wee in the meane while mistake them, we should not know from whence they come, wee should be caryed away into a vaingloriousnesse. As nowe when God humbleth vs so manie wayes, if wee looke vpon our present state, wee see nothing but death. And yet neuerthelesse on the other parte hee sheweth vs and maketh vs too perceyue it bothe by experience and by faith, that we be aliue, yea verely in him, as of whose lyfe we be parttakers, and hee maketh vs to see as it were in a glasse the sayde immortalitie whiche we wayte for. See∣ing then that God after hee hath humbled vs, bringeth vs too the hope that I spake of: haue wee not the more cause to make much of his goodnesse to vswarde, and to say? Alas Lord that thy spirite should dwell heere in our bodies which are but wormes: and as for our soules there is nothing but wickednesse in them: and yet notwith∣standing, thou O Lorde hast chosen both our bodies and oure soules to bee the temples of thy maiestie, thou haste dedicated them to that vse. Lorde howe greatly are wee in thy dette? How much are we boūd vnto thee? Againe, although this body heere doo go too decay, yet are wee

sure that they shall bee restored once againe, and that in sted of this transitory lodging, wee haue a dwelling place prepared for vs in Heauen, and therefore it ought not to greeue vs to droope away by little and little tyll wee bee quite and cleane dispatched. Seeing wee haue that, ought we not to be stirred the more to praise God? So then wee see howe wee may applie that thing to oure instruction, which Iob turneth here to an euill vse in going about too expresse the pangs that he felt, & whereagainst he fought. And furthermore when wee speake of our owne state, let [ 10] vs marke well that on the one side we must cōsider what wee our selues are, & on the other side what God is able to doo, & what his power is I haue saide already that it is very requisite that men should know thēselues and looke into themselues. And why? I haue told you that also alre∣dy: that is to wit, bycause we neede no pricking forwarde to vainegloriousnesse. For how frayle so euer we bee, yet it is to be seene that the most parte of vs ruffile it out, and runne riot, and forget the miseries that ought too brydle them. VVee see this with our eyes, and euery one of vs [ 20] shoulde bee infected with that vice, if God prouided not for it. Therefore wee cannot forbeare the considering what our miserie and feeblenes are, and that oure lyfe is as wretched as any thing can be. VVhē we know this, we shall haue good cause too mislike of oure selues, and too call vpon God and too praye him too haue pitie vpon vs. And also therewithall we muste consider what his power is. And why? For if we measure that which wee hope for, by that whiche wee see, what will become of it? VVhat shall become of the resurrection? VVhat shall become of [ 30] the euerlasting saluation that is promised vs? VVhat shal become of his heauenly glory? For is it likely, that when our bodyes are rotten, they shall bee parttakers of Gods glory? Or that we, who see oure selues to bee so frayle as now, muste be companions with the Angels in Paradise? or specially that wee shall bee matched with the sonne of God? VVee knowe that all maiestie and all soueraintie bothe in heauen and earth are gyuen vnto him. [Is it likely] that we should resemble him? or that wee shoulde be members of his body to be partakers of al that whiche [ 40] is gyuen vntoo him? Can this enter intoo mans reason? VVhat is to bee done then? Lette vs acknowledge that whiche Sainct Paule sayeth to the Philippians, that God will rayse vs vp by his power, whereby he made al things. See whether Sainct Paule sendeth vs when hee intendeth too strengthen vs in the hope of the resurrection. As if he should say, My friends, let vs not looke at that whiche is possible in oure imagination, for God wyll not haue men to rest there. But let vs enter into a higher conside∣ration, whiche is that God disposeth all things, yea euen [ 50] aboue our vnderstanding, insomuch that whē wee thinke vpon his works, we be astonished, and not without cause. For he worketh wōderously: insomuch that we through that power of his (sayeth he) whereby he made all things, are transformed into the glory of our Lorde Iesus Christ. And although our bodyes be nowe weake, and subiect to so many necessities: yet shall they be taken into the hea∣uenly glory. Thus yee see the two things which wee haue to consider: namely too humble oure selues on the one side: and on the other too haue a certayne and infallible [ 60] hope of that whiche surmounteth our capacitie, and can∣not be conceyued of vs in case as we bee. But heerewith∣all let vs gather that whiche Iob meeneth heere. For in∣asmuch as man cannot receyue of himselfe, nor is renued as trees are, but is as if a riuer shoulde drye vp, or as if the waters should shrinke out of the sea: therfore woulde hee that we should not be plaged at Gods hand, so long as we be in this world. Yea but it is cleane contrarie. For if that men so destitute as they bee, cannot for all that holde themselues from pride and excesse and from starting out of their bounds: what would they do if they had no cor∣rection, as I saide afore? So much the more then had God neede to abate mens pride and presumption whiche can∣not easily correct it selfe. Forasmuche then as men do so lifte vp themselues againste God, and euery man forget himselfe, yea and is puffed vp when hee hath rest & case: we had neede to be chastized, and to haue newe correcti∣ons day by day. Yea verely. For if God should let vs rūne out the race of our life withoute making vs too feele his roddes, & not quicken vs vp when we haue done amisse: Alas he shoulde neuer come in time. VVhereto tende the corrections that God sendeth vs nowadayes, but too call vs to repentance? Now if God should tarry till wee were deade, the gate would be shut, there would be no tyme of returning vnto him. Behold (sayeth Sainct Paule) the ac∣ceptable dayes & the dayes of saluation are while wee bee in our way. Then if God should see men go astray & rūne here & there, & letthē go on till they were falne downe & tūbled headlong into the pit which they coulde neuer get out of: what a thing were that. Therefore it behoueth vs to reason contrary too that whiche Iob did: that is to wit, that seeing our life is short, & not in so good cace as a tree (let vs put the cace it were so) bicause that whē we be departed out of the world, it seemeth that all is perished: therfore it is good that God should chastize vs as long as we liue. And to what end? To call vs to repentance: for after deathe there shall bee no more time. And as for the reste, lette vs not doubt (as I haue touched afore) but Iob was of opinion, that it is good for men too bee visited of Gods hād although they shunne it. But there are skoffers whiche alledge Iobs example for a shrowding sheete, say∣ing: Beholde, the holy men haue forgotten the hope of the resurruction, they chafed against God, & cōplayned that God pressed them ouersore, in somuche that they had no leysure too subdue their imperfections: and why then shall not the lyke bee lawfull for vs? But (as I haue declared already) although wee bee pacient in bearing of Gods chastyzementes, and in induring them quietlye as wee ought to do: yet fayle we not to be moued, to haue oure fleshe too shewe it selfe somewhat rebellious in vs. Therefore wee cannot come vntoo God too serue him, but wee shall bee assayled and pricked on all sides. But what for that? VVee muste styll fighte, according as the Apostle sayeth, that wee shall get no victorye but by fyghting. And the cheefe battell that wee haue to fighte, is agaynste oure selues, and agaynste oure owne vices, and that is the thing wherein wee muste imploye oure whole force.

So then lette vs marke, that whereas Iob speaketh heere of the lyfe of man, as a persone withoute regarde of the resurrection to come: hee rested not wholly vpon that poynte, (for hee had well foreseene what that was)

but meant to expresse the passion that he felt, to the end that euery of vs should bethinke himselfe, and not be ca∣ryed away when such temptations befall vs. Moreouer if Iob were weakened after that sort: let vs assure our sel∣ues that we shall be weakened much more. Howbeit, God whiche assisted him, will do the like for vs also. For his power is as inuincible to maynteyne vs at this daye, as it was then. Hee calleth vs too him at this daye euen of his owne goodnesse, which is not abated that he shoulde not make vs to feele it as well as he made his seruants of old [ 10] time to fele it. And therfore when we see all things so cō∣founded nowadayes in the world, as we wote not what to say nor where to become: let vs runne to our good God, casting our eyes vpon oure Lorde Iesus Christ, who will deliuer vs from all miseries & from all the troubles that are at this day in this world. VVell then: do we feele our selues feeble & weake? Let vs looke vpon our Lord Ie∣sus Christ, who is the power of God his father. Do we see our selues as good as already dead? The fountaine of lyfe is come vnto vs forsomuch as God hath sent vs his only [ 20] sonne. And to what end Euen to draw vs out of the dun∣geons of death, and to assure vs that beeing vnited vnto him, we cā neuer be set beside the saluatiō that is prepared for vs. Ye see thē that if we haue our eye settled vpon our Lord Iesus Christ, we shall not fayle to thinke our selues safe as wel in the midds of death, as of the troubles of this worlde, bicause that by the meanes of him we be sure we shall come to the heauenly glory wherinto he is entered before vs, when we haue finished the course whiche wee haue to runne, which now is subiect to so many miseries.

But let vs fall downe before the presence of our good God with acknowledgement of our faultes, praying him to make vs perceyue them better than we haue done, and yet notwithstanding after such a sort, as we may not be∣come as folke forlorne, but returne too the remedie, de∣siring him to bee pitifull to vs, and to shewe himselfe the same towardes vs, which he hath bin towardes his in all times: and furthermore, that seeing it hath pleased him too bee at one with vs in the persone of our Lorde Iesus Christ, and that our Lorde Iesus Christ hath giuen in his owne selfe vs so good a gage of his loue, speciallye by the death and passion whiche he indured [for our sakes] hee suffer vs not to forget or too despize so greate a be∣nefite, but rather that wee may put oure whole truste in him, and by that meanes be stirred vp to call vppon oure good God in all oure necessities and miseries. That it may please him to graunte this grace not onely too vs but also to all people. &c.