iudgement by the lawe and by the things that are sayd and conteyned there So then let Gods seat be set vp by hauing hys worde before our eyes and let vs consider throughly whether wee haue walked as hee commaundeth and whether wee haue not swarued from his worde and if wee haue done amisse let vs learne to condemne our selues And furthermore if hee graunt vs the grace too obey him although there be many vices in vs yet notwithstanding so that our cheef marke haue bin to obey him let it content vs to bee allowed of him though the worlde condemne vs and let it not greeue vs that the world chargeth vs with slanders so that God reache vs his hande and accept vs and shewe that he liketh well of our life VVhē we be at this point let the dogges barke at vs so long as they cannot byte vs and although we seeme by the report of our enimies to bee the wickeddest men in the worlde yet let vs beare all things paciently This is the thing that we haue to marke in this text And so wee see that there are two poynts to note The one is that we must not giue our selues to ambition and vanitie to seeke our own praise before men to exempt our selues from Gods iudgement but contrariwise it behoueth vs too feele howe terrible Gods wrath is and to examin wel our own consciences to the end we be not faultie before him VVhen we haue obteyned this that is to say when God hath graunted vs the grace too walke vprightly so as we be sure that he alloweth vs let vs beare the slaunders and false accusations of the worlde paciently and tary till God shewe our soundnesse openly and make it to shyne as the breake of the daye according as he hath promised too do And that is the seconde poynt Yet notwithstanding as touching that Iob sayeth that he will beare the booke that shall bee made agaynst him as a crowne that is to say the proces wherby he shall be charged after that sort with his faults It is not ment that it is alwayes an honour vntoo vs afore men too haue a good cace And surely it is vnpossible to finde a better case than Sainct Paules was and that he had serued God faythfully in his office and yet notwithstanding he fayled not to bee charged and accused falsly And what doth hee For asmuch as hee seeth that men are blinde and ignorant and iudge wrongfully he appealeth to the day of god I appeale sayeth he to the day of the Lorde Ye see that saint Paule is constreyned too vse such remedie according as oftentimes it commeth to passe that we bee defaced and that the worlde holdeth vs for wicked so as we be disgraced bycause the wicked are so shamelesse that all is one with them to speake euill of men by hooke or by crooke But yet in the meane while wee shall not ceasse to go still with our heades vpright And why For we may appeale vnto God for our warrant as wee see the Prophtes doo VVhen Ieremie sayeth Lorde if I be a deceyuer thou hast deceyued mee It is bycause it was layd to his charge that he did nothing but beguile the people VVell sayeth he if it be as you say then hath God deceyued mee VVhen he speaketh after that maner hee meeneth not that there is any deceyt or guile in God but he doth boldly represse all the slaunders that were layde vpon him saying Arme your selues agaynst God for I knowe that he will maynteyne my quarell And Esay reporting that hee was reiected of men and as greatly reproched and despised as could be sayth yet will the Lord answere for me So then whensoeuer wee bee defaced and oppressed by men and blamed by the whole world yet shal we not fayle to haue a crowne of glorie if wee haue recorde before god And that is the cause why Iob sayeth that hee will ouerthrowe all the slaunders that shall bee layde agaynst him No no sayeth he I will not come as an offender that is condemned already in himself before that informations be put in agaynst him for hee is conuicted in his owne conscience of the misdeede that hee hath done but I will come as a Prince And vndoubtedly the children of God are the iudges of their iudges whē they be wrongfully oppressed by men It is certaine that they dare more boldly appeare referring thēselues wholly vnto God and resting in him than those dare which condemne them through malice violence and tirannie VVhereas the enimies of the truth do now adayes condemne the faithfull to be burned and in doing therof do sit vnder their clothes of Estate do we not think that gallowes is more honorable wherō a martyr shall be tormented or a stake that is set vp for a childe of God to be turned at Yes For that surmounteth all the thrones of the world Kings Princes together with all their iudges must needes through their wickednesse vnhallowe the seats that are hallowed and dedicated vnto god And forasmuch as they sit in them they must needs be full of filthinesse and infectiō bycause they followe not the wil of him which hath set them there and so they make those places shamefull and detestable whiche notwithstanding of theirselues are honorable Contrariwise although a stake or a Gibbet be a lothsomething to the worldward yet notwithstanding it is certayne that when a Martyr and a childe of God bringeth a good conscience thither and suffereth there in a good quarrell he sanctifieth the same which was after a sorte cursed So thē it is not for nought that Iob sayth that if god wil be so gratious to him as to aunswere him that is to saye to giue him leaue to mayntayne his Innocency and to heare him declare his life he will come with a lofty countenāce like a prince and not drooping like an offendour and he will boldly receyue all the bookes that can be written against him taking them as an ornament croune or garland This is it also which ought to comfort vs namely our walking in vprightnesse before God and our indeuering to serue and honour him For thē if the world be vnthankfull and men do vs wrong and degrade vs it maketh no matter so we can protest before God that our case is good and also that we be able to shewe that it is so when we be drawne before men For it is a shamefull thing to say God is my witnesse when the rest of our doings are not aunswerable to it according as many men call God to record rashly and yet it is knowne to be clean cōtrarie But if we will be allowed of God we must so deale as the world may beare witnesse of our vprightnesse whē it commeth to the hearing and we must haue our mouth open to declare how the matter goeth and to disproue the slaunders that shall be layde against vs Furthermore whē we haue this that is to say whē we
thing of the promisse that God maketh vs But now let vs come too Bildads saying that the memoriall of the wicked shall perish Let vs marke that his so saying is a curse peculiarly belongyng to the despizers of God according to that which I haue touched alreadie For they bee drunken in their foolish ambitiō so as they beare themselues in hand that their name shall neuer fade in the worlde but men shall haue it in remembrance for euer But we see how it goeth cleane contrarie with them For what is the cause that they turmoyle themselues after that sorte It is too haue men to talke of them VVell then are the despyzers of God desirous to make themselues renowmed in the mouths of men God will turne it quite and cleane to the contrarie For if their remembrance continue it shall be in reproche and men shall not speake of them but in skorne and mockage And as for them that haue bene caried away with this sayd vaine desire do we not see that God hath buried them so as menne coulde no more tell what was become of them VVhereas it seemed that they should be talked of while the worlde indured and whereas they themselues surmized that euery of them should become greatest for although they sawe many go before them yet did euery of them thinke with himselfe I shall be chiefest yet hath God buried them as I sayde afore and if men speake of them after what maner is it Euery man is made priuie too their naughtinesse and shame And doth not this come of the sayd curse of God Therfore lette vs marke that Bildad hath expressed here the chiefe thing that those kinde of men seeke whiche are giuen to the worlde And that ought to bee well marked For if God make our name to perish too the worldward what loze wee by it what harme haue wee by it For wee knowe our names are written in the booke of lyfe Be glad sayeth our Lorde Iesus Christ too his Disciples for your names are written in Gods registers too your euerlasting saluation Is not this ynough to content vs VVee be not like these fooles that haue none other immortalitie than to make themselues to be spoken of For that were ouergreat fondnesse But wee know that God hath written our names in his booke and ingroced the recorde with his owne hande that is too say in his owne euerlasting determination for Gods hande is the vnchaungeable ordinance that hee hath appoynted and afterward ratified the whole with the bloud of our Lord Iesus Christ finally sealed it by the working of his holy spirite Seing then that wee haue our memoriall there among the Angels of heauen and among the Patriarkes Prophets and Apostles haue wee not cause too be concontented And so albeit that our remembrance be razed out of the worlde yet shall wee looze nothing by it But wee see that God maketh the memoriall of his seruants to be blissed as I sayd afore notwithstanding that they be despyzed for a time and counted in the world to be dirt and dung as Saint Paule speaketh for he likeneth them to guttes full of filthinesse that are cast away Thus then the faythfull are exercized for a time yea they are vnder the curse of men as though they bare al the sinnes of the worlde but in the end God maketh their rightuousnesse to shine foorth as the breake of the day and they are had in blessed remembrāce VVe see that Abraham in his time was despized and shaken off VVhat may a man thinke of Iacob and yet we see that their memoriall is blissed Euerie man ranne vpon Dauid they cursed him they spited him he became as a worme of the ground he was made a skorne and mockingstocke to the veriest rascalles and euery man did as it were lothe him and yet notwithstanding we see that his remembrance is blissed yea euen in Gods Churche For as for the vnbeleeuers a man must not seeke to haue any renowme or remembrance among them bicause they bee wretched blinde soules that cannot iudge nor are able too discerne betweene white and blacke Thus ye see what we haue to marke in this sentence And consequently heere is added That they shall bee cast out of light into darkenesse that they shall bee driuen out of the worlde that they shall haue neyther children nor Graundchildren-among the people and that they shall haue no ouerliuer or heyre in the lande where they dwell Heere Bildad confirmeth the matter that hee had treated of which is that if God make the wicked to prosper that is not alwayes And that is verie true For what happinesse is there in their state seing that all their laughter muste be turned into sorow So then let vs assure our selues that the present light of the wicked serues but to leade them into the way of darknesse VVhen we heare this if wee be in darknesse that is to say in aduersitie according also as the worde importeth so as we wote not on which side to turne vs bycause we be besette with so many miseries round aboute as wee see no way out of them well let vs for our parte assure our selues that the same darknesse be it neuer so great shall be a pathe to leade vs to Gods light For hee hath wonderfull meanes to leade his children too saluation yea euen when he seemeth fully minded to destroy thē Are we then as it were vndone Let vs assure our selues that by that meanes God draweth vs to saluation Are wee in thicke darknesse let vs assure our selues that he can well bring vs to light Thus yee see what wee haue to gather vpon this text Contrariwise do wee see the wicked puffed vp with their nobilitie and make great braueries and spread out their wings VVell it is true that they are in greate brightnesse but lette vs tarie till God performe that whiche is sayde heere that is too witte till hee bring darkenesse vppon them Thus as wee see heere is a verie profitable thing for vs to knowe whiche is that although God make the wicked to prosper for a tyme their cace is neuer the better for it for alwayes the ende muste bee looked vnto And contrarywise thoughe the poore faythfull ones bee distressed heere so as they wote not where to become their state is neuer the worse for all that And why Let vs looke vpon the ende whiche is that by this darkenesse God meeneth too bring them light Againe whereas it is sayde that the wicked shall haue neyther children nor ofspring nor leaue any heires in their dwellings that is according to the curse of the lawe For it is sayde that issue is a blissing of god And although our Lorde would that all the benefites of this life should be dedicated vnto him and that men should acknowledge him to bee the authour of them and yeelde him prayse for them yet notwithstanding he auoucheth it to be a speciall benefite when he giueth men issue Now
gluttonie according as there be some countries that are specially giuen thervnto some their ambitiouse pompe some their vaine vvorldlinesse some their snatching and extortion as vvel pryuate as publike othersome their crueltie and insatiable desire too shed mannes blud in spight of all lavves and to the confusion of all ciuill order among men They shall say I haue this little vvord of Sainct Peters to vvey vvhich ought to astonish thē more than all the thunderclappes that euer rattled in the aire that is to vvit that if chastizemēt begin at the house of God at those vvhich are the true Christians vvhat shall the end of these be vvhich rebell against Gods Gospell if the rightuouse do hardly scape vvhere shal the vvicked and sinfull appeare Behold the thing that all the good seruants of God and all faithfull preachers of the Gospel do brotherly pray for at this day as men haue done hertofore Behold the thing that al the little flocks of the reformed churches dispersed heere there do pray for behold the thing that euen Iesus Christ as yee vvould saye in his ovvn person prayeth for is that they may by him be reconcyled to God receiue his grace in such vvise as it may not be in vaine And it is to be hoped that God of his great mercie vvil yet notvvithstanding bring many of that sort too such chaunge as he vvill make them true and earnest follovvers of the Gospell as he hath done oft heretofore Notvvithstanding if any or many of thē being so intreated for Iesus Christs sake do harden themselues let suche vnderst and that they shall not scape Gods hand at the last day and it may be that they shall feele it yet sooner too their greate confusion For it is he vvhose preheminence none others is in controuersie at this day and vvhich shall of a truthe get the vpper hand of all his enimies early or late vvhatsoeuer betyde He is vvilling to haue pitie vpon his creatures and by vvord he giueth comfort and patience to all such as are pinched but specially he comforteth those that are already vnder his banner graunting them to haue peace in him although they haue none in the vvorld Amen At Geneua the first day of Iune 1563. ¶ A TABLE AND GATHERING TOGE ther of such places of the Scripture as are expounded and aptly applyed by the Author in these his Sermons The first number signifieth the Chapter of the booke of the Byble the second the verse of the sayd Chapter or being but one number it signifieth the verse of the Chapter nexte before the thirde by A or B the first or second Columne of the leafe the fourth the lyne of the Columne Genesis 1. 2. THE earth was without forme and voyde and darkenesse was vpon the deep 740. b. 19. 3. 4. GOD sayde let there bee light and there was light and God seperated the light from the darknes 212. 6. 37. 710. b. 28. 14. God sayd let there be lightes in the firmament of heauē◠to seperate the day from the night and let them be for signes and for seasons and for dayes years 775. b. 2. 16. GOD then made two great lightes the greater light to rule the day and the lesse light to rule the night 172. a. 6. Subdue the earth and haue dominion ouer the fishes of the sea ouer the soules of he auen and ouer euery beast that moueth 110. b. 18. 28. Haue rule ouer the fishe of the sea and ouer the foule of the heauen and ouer euery beast that mooueth vpon the earth 781. a. 15. 31. Al things that God had made were good 300. b. 14. 2. 1. The heauens and the earth were finished and all the hoste of them 172. a. 56. 17. As touching the tree of know leadge of good and euill thou shalt not eate of it 571. a. 25. 20. God foūd not amōg the beasts of the fielde an helper meete for Adam 55 b. 6. 24. The man and the vvoman shal be one fleesh 363. b. 35. 3. 5. Ye shal be as Gods knowing good and euill 526. a. 16. 6. Eue seeing that the tree was pleasaunt and good for meat she did eat 571. a. 22. 577. a 46. 7. Adam and Eue after they had transgressed couered themselues with leaues 572. b 23. 601 a 36. 12. The woman vvhich thou gauest to bee vvith mee hath deceiued me 422. a 60. 601. b 26. 4. 4. The lord had respect to Abell and to his offering 12. a 33. 7. If thou dost not well sinne lyeth at the dore 650. b 15. 8 Cayne slew Abell 351. b 20. 13. My punnishment is greatter then I can beare 113. b 58. 601. a 61. 689. b 10. 5. 22. Henoch walked vvith God 410. a 16. 6. 3. My spiritte shall not alway striue with man. 398. a 54. 5. God saw that the wickednesse of man vvas great in the earth 336. a 43. 6. God repented that hee hadde made man in the earth and was sorie in his hart 198. a 23. 7. God sayde I will destroy from the earth the man that I haue made for it repenteth me that I haue made them 336. a 43. 9. Noath vvas a iust and vpright man in his time 205. a 38. 7. 11. In the time of the flood all the fountains of the great deep were broken vp and the windovvs of heauen vvere open 761. b 42. 23. All the substance that was vppon the earth was destroyed 442. b 35. 8. 20. Noath built an alter c. and offered burnt offering 12. b 40. 13. The earth could not containe Abraham and Lot that they might dvvell together for their substaunce was great 7. b 28. 820. a 60. 16. God sayd to Abraham that he vvould make his seede as the dust of the earth 351 b 22. 14. 18. Melchizedech vvas a priest of the most high God. 3. a 23. 15. 1. God is the revvard of Abraham 413. a 45. 5. The seed of Abraham shall be multiplied like the Starres of heauen 351. b 23. 12. VVhen the sunne went down there fell an heauy sleep vpon Abraham and loe a very fearefull darkenesse fell vpon him 77. b 59. 15. Thou shalt be buried in a good old age 407. b 28. 17. 1 VValke before me and be thou vpright 224. b 18. 18. 19. Abraham will commaūde his sonnes and housholde after him that they keep the way of the Lord 302. a 45. 20. The cry of Sodom and Gomorha is great and is come vp vnto me 686. b 18. 23. 25. VVilt thou destroy the righteous vvith the wicked 180. b 31. 450. a 60. 671. a 16. 35. 19. 24. God caused to rayne vppon Sodom and Gomorha brimston and fire 442. b 32. 23. 1. Sara liued an hundred and seauen and twenty years 820. a 61. 24. 35. The Lorde hath blessed Abraham wonderfully vvith sheep and Bieues and siluer and gold and men seruauntes and maydseruants and Camels and Asses 7. b 28. and
causeth him to say that when he hath punished them in their owne persons the same rigoure must bee faine too extend euen vnto their posteritie yea and that euen after their deceasse he will not ceasse to shewe how sore he hated and abhorred them by punishing their ofspring Sith it is sayd so needes ought the wicked to be terribly afraid yea thoughe they were harder than stone Howe nowe may they say Howe great will Gods vengeance bee vpon vs seeing that euen our children shall bee wrapped in it and that the fragmentes thereof shall flye to our posteritie euen after our death If oure issue muste perishe through our fault howe great and terrible shall our own destruction be Thus then yee see why our Lorde doth expresly threaten the wicked to punish them euen in their children It is to the ende that we should be touched neerer the quicke with feare seeing that men are so dull and hardharted of their owne nature But let vs come now too that which was touched in the beginning that is too witte that Gods iustice may bee seene howe be it not alwayes VVe see then that the children of the wicked doe soone melte away and if they haue goodes those wanze away too and when they seeme too haue wherewith too feede yea and too fat themselues throughly men are abashed to see howe sodainly it wasteth away and no man can tell howe but that it is seene to be so So then if wee looke wisely vpon Gods iudgementes wee may well see by experience that it is not for nought that the Scripture sayth that God will punishe the wicked in their ofspring Looke vpon a man that shall haue endured great vnquietnesse and paynes all his lyfe long too gather goodes In deede hee heapeth vp a greate hoorde and it shall seeme that his riches shall neuer fayle in his successoures and yet all is consumed to lesse than nothing To whome or too what cause may suche chaunge bee imputed Let vs conclude that God putteth too his hande VVherefore let vs not bee blynded when oure Lorde worketh after that fashion but let vs learne to take warning by examples that we be not caried away with couetousnesse ne imagine that mannes welfare consisteth in much gathering but rather let vs make account onely of Gods blissing as of the thing that nourisheth vs and will continue to nourishe our children also If God reach out his hand to feede vs it is ynough for vs let vs praye him to continue it still and that in such wise as wee may perceiue him to be a louing father and assure our selues that he will not fayle our children after our deceasse But for as much as the wicked doe take so great payne to enriche themselues the riches that they heape vp shall be an occasion to cast their chlidren into deeper destruction than their fathers And when they thinke them selues to haue done maruellously well in gathering much they doe but twine the halters that shall draw their children to destruction For had they made them too learne but some simple handicrafte that they might haue walked conscionably the same would haue beene a good heritage to them But when they leaue them possessions they become so blinde with them that they giue themselues to al naughtinesse and so their riches muste needes bee an occasion to make them abhorred both of God and man For God can not beare their pryde And men also are prouoked against them bycause that vpon trust of their riches they take vpon them to doe euerie man wrong and anoyance God therefore is forced to bende himselfe against them Againe if they bee accustomed too deyntie fare and drunkennesse they can not get oute of it and that is a cause to make them giue them selues ouer to all euill in the ende Nowe looke as the wickednesse increaseth and augmenteth so also must Gods vengeance growe hoter and riper Then let vs marke well that when wee see such chaunges and that the goodes whiche are wickedly gotten by the fathers are scattered and wasted awaye in the handes of their children thereby God sheweth vs that his denouncing of suche threates is not in vayne Marke that for one poynte But yet therewithall let vs marke also as I began to say alreadie that that is not cōtinuall For diuers times God taketh awaye the goodes of the godly and of their children so as they bee quyte stripped And why doth he so Euen for some reason that is secrete to himselfe and vnknowne to vs Neuerthelesse we knowe that the same is for their welfare For by that meane hee intendeth to inure them too pacience or too take awaye the occasion of falling asleepe heere bylowe or else to bee shorte hee mindeth as it were too minister some purgation to them or to let them bloud bicause hee seeth well that the abundance which they possesse would bee as a noy some superfluitie to them VVhen a surgion letteth a man bloud it seemeth to bee to his hurt and in verie deed it is the selfesame way whereby a theefe murthereth a man but yet the letting of him bloude by the Phisition is for the curing of his disease and for a good cause Euen so it happeneth oftentimes that God bereeueth the rightuous men of the goodes and substaunce which hee hath giuen them or else that hee impouerisheth their children and his so doing is not too the ende that wee shoulde take it for any punishment but cleane contrariwise it is as I haue sayde a purgation that hee vseth towardes his children and thereby also he draweth them backe from being intangled in these worldly goods least the same might be an occasion to bring them and all their ofspring to destruction Ye see that the execution of Gods iudgements where of we haue spoken heretofore is not continuall and therefore we can not make a general rule of it without exception But let vs come backe to that whiche wee haue spoken of so often alreadie and which shall bee declared in the nexte Chapter following which is that Gods iudgementes are not alwayes visible so as wee might poynte them out to say God dealeth alwayes after this manner So then when so euer God punisheth any man be it in his own person or in his ofspring let vs looke well vpon such examples that we may profit our selues by them And if he winke at others and punish them not at the first let vs tarie paciently till the day of the Lorde appeere For so long as we be in this world we bee as it were in the night by reason that thinges are so darke But at the comming of our Lorde Iesus Christe all bookes and registers shall be layd open and nothing shall be hidden any more and therefore let vs tarie paciently for that daye Furthermore if God scourage vs yea euen in suche wise as wee may suppose that hee hateth vs and persecuteth vs as a mortall enemie yet let vs not therefore ceasse to humble
respecte I vtterly despize and defie the whole world Let me haue a strong partie to put in accusation against mee yea and let him make a great booke of it It shall not greeue me to carry it vpon my shoulder For it shall be no heauy burthen to mee but rather it shall be a crowne to me and an ornamēt to deck me withall Now we see in effect what Iob ment to say namely that he had bin no such mā as he was reputed and taken to be according as wee see how his freends cōdemned him for a reprobate bycause he indured so greate torments and it seemed vntoo them that God ment to vtter his vengeance to the intent that Iob should be a mirrour of wicked men whom God doth vtterly destroy Iob therfore protesteth that he is no such man and therewithall desireth no more but to haue audience Before whom not before men onely but that God should answere him that is to say that God shoulde make his rightuousnesse to be knowne and then woulde hee mainteyne that his suffering was not for his sinnes namely if the thing might bee throughly considered and that God would pronounce sentence as by way of ordinarie proces and not by prerogatiue of his high and secrete power so as men might not knowe why he worketh after that maner And wee haue seene heretofore that it is not without cause that Iob should make that wish And why For diuerse times God chasticeth vs according too the threatnings that are set downe in his lawe that is to wit that when wee bee punished it is by reason of our sinnes and that is the most ordinarie maner Ye see that god suffered not our misdeedes vnpunished and after he had giuen vs a rule whereby to liue well he added threatnings saying If ye breake my commaundements I will punishe you with warre pestilence and famin with sicknesse pouertie and diuers other things VVell then if we be beaten with Gods roddes it behoueth vs to lay our life too his law and if we find our selues to haue done amisse there our inditement is throughly framed and our iudgement already giuen vpon vs and there remayneth nothing but execution Thus you see the ordinarie maner that God vseth in chastizing men But in Iob he had an other respect For he punished no him for his sins not that he deserued it not for there is no creature so rightuous that can exempt himself from Gods corrections But yet for all that as I haue declared afore God had not a respect to Iobs offences hee punished him not in that measure by reason of his misdeedes but to trie the faith and pacience of his seruant and also to make him an example to al the world In the meane while Iob had his mouth shet so as hee wist not what to say and therefore it behoueth vs not to enquire any other cause why he was handled so roughly It is a secret vnknowne to men Then is it not without cause that Iob desireth God to answere him that is to say too enter into plea with him and to suffer him to mainteyne his owne soundnesse and to let him know why he indureth such torments But herewithall let vs marke that it is not lawfull for men too chalenge God after that sort For it is good reason that hee shoulde handle vs after hys owne pleasure and that we should stoupe to him although the cause of his iudgements bee not apparant vntoo vs Then if it please God to visit vs with rigour and wee see not why hee doth it yet must wee keepe our mouth shet that we murmur not agaynst him and neuerthelesse haue it open still too glorifie him confessing that although his iudgements bee a bottomlesse deepe yet they cease not to be iust and rightfull Thus ye see what wee haue to note For in good faith there is not a more terrible thing than if God should enter into lawe with vs If he set himselse agaynst vs alas what shall become of vs Then if we fall too prouoking of him and desire too go too lawe with him is not to our great confusion And this doctrine is well worthie to bee noted For wee see howe men doo dayly fall to murmuring and grudging in themselues And what else is that but to prouoke God and to desire to go to lawe with him But shall we bring our matters well to passe True it is that they which skirmish after that fashion when they bee afflicted say not that they woulde haue God to be agaynst them but in the meane whyle that is the marke which they shoote at For if a man bee impacient in his affliction and holde not himselfe in quiet by yeelding to Gods good will too take correction at his hande I pray you doth he not lift vp himselfe to the intent that God being so prouoked to wrath should maynteyne his owne right Let vs kepe our selues from quarelling with God when he stryketh vs with his rods that we haue him not our deadly enimie and let vs learne rather to submit vs vnto his hande and to like well of that which he doth although the reason thereof bee hidden from vs for a time Surely wee ought too desire earnestly that it may please God to shewe vs why he scourgeth vs Howbeeit that must not bee done to any other ende than too profit our selues by his corrections and to applie our chasticements to our instruction when we know the cause of them Therfore when euery of vs feeling his owne sinnes is sorie that hee hath offended God and ashamed of his owne lewdnesse and therevpon humbleth himselfe seeking remedie to turne away from his euill I say when we by all meanes indeuer to apply Gods corrections too our owne vse and to make them turne into such a discipline as we may shewe our selues not to be vtterly past amendment we may well after that maner desire God to make vs vnderstande why he scourgeth vs to the end that hys corrections be not in vaine But if he list to vse his power and too holde vs there as it were in ignorance so as wee know not why he vseth so great rigor against vs yet must wee in suche extremitie cast downe our heades and flee for refuge vnto that which I haue declared alredie namely that God is rightuous in all respectes and therefore that although wee knowe not the cause why hee afflicteth vs yet wee must not ceasse too glorifie him continually Lo what wee haue to marke in this streyne And heerewithall let vs come to that which Iob sayeth My marke sayeth hee is that the almightie shoulde answere me If mine aduersarie wright a booke and it behoue mee to beare it I will not bee ashamed to cary it I shall not be like an offendour that is indyted and condemned but that booke shall rather maynteyne my soundnesse I durst sayth he dock my selfe with it as with a crowne VVhen Iob speaketh so hee meeneth that all the
And although that such as do backbite vs haue their mouthes stopped and haue not any reason to conuince vs withall yet they wil not cease to be caried away with such spite as to slaunder vs and to cast foorth wicked words against vs Hereby we be warned that if men bee so maliciouse as to coÌ„demne vs without proof we must not take it to much to hart For it is no noueltie It happened to Iob that excellent seruant of God and at this day we see that the papists thinke ynough to haue decreed that their lewd errors superstitions and false doctrines are good For they steppe to it with a maysterly style that it is ynough for them to haue determined it to be so There is no entring into disputation nor any serching by reason how things go For to their owne seeming they haue all authoritie and therevppon they thunder against vs But in the meane seazoÌ„ we know that truth is on our sides and we are fully resolued of it VVherfore let vs resist such temptations and not be abashed at them seing that at all tymes they that had no reason for themselues haue notwithstaÌ„ding not ceassed to condeÌ„ne the good case boldly and without remorse of coÌ„science Seing theÌ„ that the diuel blindeth theÌ„ so let vs always kepe on ouâ— course sticke stedfastly to the truth that we knowe And for our owne part also let vs take warning to walk more leysurely wheÌ„ we haue ben anywhit to hasty For oftentimes it will fall out that the childreÌ„ of God shal be ouerseene not haue stay ynough of ourselues Therfore let vs not go on still neither let our rashnesse bee matched with wilfulnesse Truely it is a hard thing For he that hath once ouershot himselfe doth commonly become wilfull Howbeit when we haue done amisse we must not coÌ„tinue in euill but rather learne to restreine our selues saying I haue here exceded measure I know well I haue not bridled my self with such modestie as I ought to do VVhat is to be don Oh I must not harden myselfe but seing I haue taken a wrong way I must returne backe againe Ye see then that by the exaÌ„ple of Iobs freends the holy ghost warneth vs first to be wel aduised that we take no quarrel in haÌ„d rashly against God and secoÌ„dly that if we happen to be ouerseene we must not in any wise be wilfull nor proceede in our euil but acknowledge our fault and labour to amend it out of hand As concerning Eliu of whom mencion is made here it is not without cause that the scripture sheweth vs of what stock he came according as he is named the Buzite of the house of Ram. For here wee see first the auÌ„cientnesse that we touched heretofore the â–ª principal point also which God meÌ„t to declare vnto vs is that there hath always remained some good seede of religioÌ„ among those that were wrapped in many fond fancies And that is a very notable point For we knowe that the world did out of hand fall away from God and all men turned aside to corruptioÌ„ and lies I meene euen immediatly after the floud notwithstanding that the vengeaunce of God were so horrible and worthy of remembraunce and that the children of Noe whiche had escaped hauing liued a long time after might tell their children and successors after what maner God had taken vengeaunce of the wickednesse of the world For notwithstanding all this yet they fell all away and forsooke the right religion turning aside vnto lies idolatrie all other disorders Herein we see that men are exceeding frayle and that there is nothing harder than to hold them in the feare of God in good religion True it is that in respecte of euill wee bee but too stedfast wee cannot bee bowed aside and if a man wold go about too amend the euill in vs he knoweth not at whiÌ„ch ende to begin nother can he bring it to passe bycause there is suche a piteouse hardhartednesse in vs But as for goodnesse wee forgoe it byandby there needeth nothing to thrust vs from it VVee haue a faire mirroure hereof shewed vs in this that men went astray and forsooke the pure knowledge of God so soone after the flud notwithstanding that they were told of it And here withall wee see in this example of the persone of Eliu that God hath always left some good seede in the middest of darknesse and that there hath alwayes bin some good and holy doctrine And why To the end the vnbeleeuers shoulde bee left vnexcusable so as they coulde not alledge that ignorance reygned ouer all For wherof came it that God was not serued and woorshipped purely but for that men turned their backes vpon him And they dyd not that through a simplicitie wherevnto they might gyue some colour of honestie but rather of a stubborne wilfulnesse Men are loth to be beguiled yea or to seeme to be beguiled but wheÌ„ it coÌ„meth to the seruing of God they shet their eyes quench all the light that shyned in them and seeke nothing but to giue ouer themselues to all trumperie This is the thing that is shewed vs here But it behoueth vs to way wel what hath bin treated of heeretofore namely that althoughe these men were no Prophets of God yet notwithstandyng the doctrine that proceeded from them had such a maiestie as it might ryght well beseeme the person of Prophets True it is as I haue sayd that they did misapply it But yet notwithstanding there was an excellent spirit in them And in very deede as I haue declared afore the things that haue bin set out by them ought to bee receyued as out of the schole of the holy Ghost And although these personages were so excellent yet were they not taught by the lawe of Moyses but were separated from the Churche of god For if the lawe were published at that time whych thyng is vncerteyne yet were they distant from the countrey of Iury and had not any felowshippe with them that they might bee partakers of the doctrine whiche God had simply appoynted for his people VVe see then that men which had no scripture nor any thing saue the doctrine whiche Noe and his children had sprâ—â— abroade after the fludde are Prophetes of God and haue an excellent spirit And although they dwelt in a straunge countrey yet we see that God had giuen them a knowledge sufficient too edifie all the common people Thus ye see how the world could not bee excused of ignorance For although idolatrie reigned in the time of Thare and Nacor and that they themselues also were idolators as it is sayd in the last chapter of the booke of Iosua and that those whiche came of them folowed theyr steppes yet notwithstanding Elia which was of the house of Ram and the other three were exempted from the common corruptions of that tyme And so wee see that the pure religion was not quite abolished among them but that
they had a sufficient doctrine to leade them to God and to conuince the worlde of the wilfulnesse and ignoraunce that was in it Thus yee see what we haue too marke in the first place Also when we heare it sayde that God gaue men ouer to walke in destruction Let vs mark well that it is bycause he was not so graciouse to all men as to giue them the peculiar doctrine whych hee had reserued to his owne people and Churche but yet was that no excuse for them God therefore did let all men runne astray and they were all drouned in destruction Neuerthelesse there continued alwayes some seede in theyr harts whereby they were so conuicted as they could not say that they knewe not God nor had any religion nother could any of them cleare hymselfe from it For it aboade ingrauen in their consciences that the world was not made by it selfe but that there was a heauenly maiestie wherevnto it must needes bee subiect Verely Sainct Paule speaketh expresly of the records which God hath imprinted in his creatures insomuch that the order of the world is as it were a booke to teach vs and ought to lead vs vnto god Howbeeit heerewithall it behoueth vs too come to that which is treated in the second chapter to the Romaines namely that God hath grauen such a certeintie in our cōsciences as we cannot wipe away the knowledge which we haue of good and euill Euery man hath not so muche knowledge as wee heare that Iobs three freends had But yet notwithstanding we shall neuer find any man so rude and barbarouse but hee hath some remorse of conscience and knoweth that there is a God and hath some discretion to condemne the euill and to allowe the good God then hathe left these traces and crankes in the harts of the ignorantest to the ende that men myght not couer themselues with any excuse but be condemned by the inditement that is laid vp within themselues And by the way let vs marke that it was foolishly done of mē to fight againste God in maintenaunce of the doctrine which had reygned among thē For seeing that the knowledge of God hath shyned so cleerely in the world as all men might be inlightened by it as wee haue seene afore How is it possible that they should gyue ouer themselues to so grosse a beastlinesse as to worshippe stocks and stones to honour the Sunne and Moone to make puppets and quite and cleane to forgette the liuing God Howe could this come to passe For it is all one as if a man shuld wilfully runne headlong against a thing at high noone or like the stumbling of a drunken man that reeleth asyde though he see the right way before his eyes VVe see then that men swarued not aside through simplicitie but that they spighted God through a purposed malice And therfore let vs consider it well to the ende we runne not any more to these wonted shifts to say I pray you if men bee so dazeled as they know not any thing concerning God ought it not to serue to excuse them when any man alledgeth this let vs on the contrary part take that for our answere whiche is sayd in Sainct Iohn namely that the light shined in darknesse and we see the same by this present example For it had bin vnpossible for men too haue runne astray into so grosse and outrageous superstitions if they had not wilfully throwne themselues intoo them Their ignoraunce therfore was matched with wilfulnesse and stubbornesse when they forsooke the right way of saluation and gaue themselues ouer too their Idols Lo what we haue to beare away And it warneth vs to be the more ware in walking whyle we haue the light with vs I haue sayd already that if God be so graciouse to vs as to shewe vs the way it behoueth vs to make hast and it is no time for vs to sleepe and much lesse to shet oure eyes wilfully At this day we see that greate darknesse reigneth ouer most parte of the world The wretched Papists go astray and knowe not what they do And why For God hath giuen them ouer as they be woorthy and forasmuch as they haue forgotten the truthe his vengeaunce must needes come vpon them as a waterflood to ouerwhelme them and drowne them in destructiō But wee on our side haue Iesus Christe who is the Sunne of righteousnesse that shineth vpon vs And therfore we must not haue our◠eyes shet but we must walke whyle the day lasteth following the exhortation that is giuen vs heere that we become not guiltie of wilfull defacing of the knowledge which is giuen vs at these dayes Thus yee see what wee haue to marke in the first place of this sentence Now as touching the anger of Eliu let vs marke that it is not blamed heere as an inordinate passion but it is a good and alowable misliking bycause it proceedeth of a zeale that Eliu had toward Gods truth when hee saw Iob iustifie hym selfe in such wise as be esteemed himselfe more righteouse than God. Iobs freends had not this knowledge For they hyld opinion against him that he was a wicked man and Iob declareth that he was not so No more was hee indeede Howbeeit as I haue sayde he exceeded measure and although his cace was good yet did he handle it amisse and tooke an euil way with it Eliu therefore marketh Iobs ouershoting of himselfe and his murmuring now and then through impaciencie and how that therein hee wente about to iustifie himselfe aboue god Agayne he is angry at those that tooke vpon them the euill case vnaduisedly were not able to compasse it but were confounded in it when it came to the pintche Behold then how Eliu is inflamed with anger but not without cause and forasmuch as his zeale was good therefore the holy ghost allowed the anger and wrath that was in him But by the way it behoueth vs to marke this saying that Iob intended to iustifie himselfe aboue God. Truely his intent was not so and he would rather a hūdred times that the earth had swalowed him vp or that he had neuer bin borne into the worlde than to haue thought such a blasphemie And truly I haue told you that as often as he ouershot himselfe it was not to conclude fully so but it was through the raging of hys passions according as it is very hard for men to stay thēselues but that many passions shall oftentimes escape them Ye see in what cace Iob was and how in the end hee alwayes condemned himselfe and when he had done amisse would not excuse it How is it sayde then that hee intended to iustifie himselfe aboue God This saying conteyneth a good and very profitable doctrine For here we be taught that we may sometimes happen to blaspheme God when we thinke not of it In what sort In pleading against him If we allow not all things to be good whiche God doth and specially when hee afflicteth
bethinke vs of the vice which is so deeply rooted in vs that is to wit that we thinke not to scape Gods hand by our startingholes and after as we be drunken in our sinnes so also thinke wee that God hath his eyes shet and blindfolded or else that hee hath a curtaine drawne afore him so as hee cannot perceyue the things that wee hide Howbeeit on the other side and for the seconde poynt let vs marke howe it is sayde that all our darkenesse shall bee discouered before him when bee listeth And therevpon let vs take warning that we thinke not our selues to haue made the better market where mē are not priuie too our naughtinesse For the very cause that sendeth many too destruction is for that they go for good men or at leastwise can stop the mouthes of such as are not priuie to their wickednesse for thē they triumph and dare spight God himself But let vs assure our selues that we shal haue gayned nothing by our deceiuing of the world For how goodly shewes soeuer we haue made in the ende wee must come before the heauenly Iudge who will open the bookes that were fast shet before and cause his great day too appeare too the intent too bring all the darkenesse too light which as nowe keepe things in huckermucker And this is the cause why the holy Scripture speaketh so often of it It is not in one place nor at one tyme onely that it is sayd that there is no darknesse before god But for what cause is this sentence so often repeated It is bycause wee cannot bee persuaded of it For when wee haue eschued the shame of the world wee beare oure selues in hand that God ought not too stirre our filthinesse nor too discouer it But let vs assure our selues hee will make the knowledge of it too come euen vnto heauen Seing then that wee cannot bee persuaded of it it is no superfluous thing that the holy ▪ ghost doth so often tell vs that God will iudge after another fashiō than mortall men doo now adayes And that is the cause why it is purposely sayd heere that the sinners shall not hyde themselues there as if Eliu shoulde saye it commeth dayly too passe that mens eyes are so dazeled as they take their vices for vertues yea and are so euill minded that it dooth them good to bee flattered according as we see that when euill hath full scope there is no more condemning of vices but euery man vpholdeth them So then it may come too passe as is seene by experience that vice shall reigne and that there shall bee such a floud of iniquitie that all things shall bee turmoyled among men and there shall bee no more iudgement nor discretion with them but yet for all that it must goe farre otherwyse before god VVherefore let vs learne too lift vppe our eyes aboue the worlde and by fayth beholde Gods iudgement which as nowe is hidden knowing that there all things must bee discouered according as it is saide in Daniell that the bookes shall bee layde open that is too say that the recordes shall be layde before vs VVhat maner of recordes Not of paper or parchment but of our owne consciences so as euery man shall bring his araignment not written but ingrauen so deepely as there shall bee no more disguising of it And besides that God himselfe shall bee there in the person of his sonne with such light as all thinges shall bee knowne yea euen whiche are nowe vnder deepe dungeons All these things must then bee seene both of the Angelles of heauen and of all creatures Let vs bethinke vs of this too the ende wee may walke in an other maner of feare than we haue done and ridde our selues from all hypocrisie for wee cannot amende our market by flattering our selues as is sayde afore Finally let vs learne not too make oure reckening withoute oure hoste but as often as the cace concerneth the examining of oure life let euery of vs cyte himselfe before Gods presence and therewithall consider how it is sayde heere that seeing it is his office too serche mens heartes yea and euen theyr deepest thoughtes it is too no purpose too quitte oure selues as nowe before men bycause wee cannot thereby escape his hande Therefore let vs learne too examine oure selues after that sort and furthermore suffer our darkenesse too bee lightned by Gods woorde seeing that this poynte also is attributed vntoo him It is sayde in this sentence that there is neyther darkenesse of death nor 〈…〉 ye mist so thicke as can byde those that woorke wickednesse Therefore the Apostle in the Epistle too the Hebrewes witnesseth that like as God knoweth mennes heartes so hee will haue his worde too bee as a two edged sworde too cut asunder our thoughts and affections yea and too enter euen vntoo the maree too discouer the things that are hidden in vs And Sainct Paules meening is that when Gods worde is preached wee must needes bee reproued as though all our articles were written agaynst vs and our whole life were layde afore vs that wee maye bee conuicted and vtterly cast downe too the ende too glorifie God by acknowledging howe greatly we bee guiltie before him And therefore let vs not onelye cyte our selues before Gods iudgement seate too the intent too correct all feynednesse but also as oft as his worde rubbeth our sores and rebuketh oure vyces let vs take it paciently and not presume too bee willfull For what shall wee winne by it VVe see many men now adayes which chafe and frette if their vices bee touched for they woulde that folke shoulde beare with them still And that is all one as if they woulde not that God should haue anie authoritie more ouer them nor bee any more theyr Iudge But if they considered well what is sayd here they would not bee so dull as they are seene too bee in that they bee alwayes newe to learne what things are If a manne shew them anye thing that is commonlye knowne they are as scornefull of it as may be And why Bycause they neuer felt the auayleablenesse of this doctrine how there is no darknesse in Gods sight but defyle themselues hanging their groynes downe too the grounddwarde lyke swyne and sleeping after such a sorte as it shoulde seeme vntoo them that all their sinnes are nothing notwithstanding that the number of them is so great as they may seeme to bee as it were saped in them but yet their filthinesse stinketh not vnto them bycause they themselues are rotten in it Therefore it would behoue them too thinke a little vpon this lesson and then would they be more quiet whē men shew them their vices And it is a wonder to see that although many mēs wickednesse is apparāt to the world insomuche that euen little children can iudge of it yet notwithstanding they aduaunce themselues agaynste God and despise him and will not abyde to be rebuked And what a shame is it I
applied his whole indeuer to the honouring of God needed to bee subdued after that maner what had wee neede too be Let vs compare our selues with Iob. He was a mirrour of Angellike holinesse wee haue heard the protestations that he made here before and although he were extremely afflicted and by reason therof did murmure and let slip many wilde words yet did he alwayes hold himself to the grounde of woorshipping God and of humbling himselfe vnder his hand he hilde still that generall poynt though he swarued aside in some particulars But we bee as fleshly as may be and our vanities do so carie vs away as we bee in maner starke drunken Hardely can wee discerne that there is a God in heauen and if a man set his woorde afore vs we make slowe haste to it yea and we bee duller than Asses in it Had not our Lorde neede then to make vs feele his maiestie and too touche vs with it in good earnest Nowe truely God needeth to rayse vp stormes and whirlwinds to make vs know that it is he which speaketh but hee must dispose vs after another maner too come vntoo him according also as hee doeth Then if one man haue hartbitings and troubles in his conscience and another be afflicted with diseases and the thirde bee touched with aduersitie let vs vnderstande that it is God which calleth vs to him bycause wee come not too him of our owne accorde nor do drawe neere him to heare his worde he subdueth such hardhartednesse as meete is it shoulde be to the ende that our mindes should be humbled in true obedience Doeth God then see such rebelliousnesse in vs Hee muste needes vse the maners and meanes aforesayde to draw and win vs to himselfe and to the ende wee may heare him hee must be fayne to speake to vs as it were out of a whirlwinde not that this preuayleth in all men For wee see some that kicke against the prick and play the restie iades and although god quicken them vp yet winneth he nothing at their hand How many of these wretches are to be seene whom God chastiseth so many wayes striâ—ing so hard blowes vpon their heades with a beetle that if they were neuer so harde they must needes bee softned and yet notwithstanding they neuer leaue gnashing theyr teeth at him VVe see they cannot be trayned neither can they by any meanes be moued so full of pride and stubbornnesse do they shewe themselues agaynst God euen spyting him to the vttermost of theyr power So then it were much for the behoofe of all those whom God chastizeth that they were disposed too come vnto him and that is his intent Therefore let vs beware that we disappoynt not our God but as oft as he sendeth vs any aduersitie let vs learne to resort to him as well as though hee spake with thunder or thundered vpon vs to make vs heare him Let vs consider this and let vs so coÌ„sider it as our mindes may be truly subdued vnto him and our whole seeking may be to bee wholly humbled vnder his obeysance Lo what we haue to marke in this streyne And let vs marke further that although God doo not in these dayes thunder from heauen yet notwithstanding all the signes that haue bene giuen in olde time for the warranting of his worde ought too serue vs also at this daye VVhen Gods lawe is preached vnto vs wee must immediatly match therewithall the thing that is spoken in the ninetenth of Exodus which is that the lawe hath beene duely warranted and that our Lorde gaue full authoritie therevntoo when hee sent thunder and lightenings from heauen and made the ayre to ring with the noyse of his trumpets and that all this was done too the intent that the lawe shoulde bee receyued with all reuerence euen to the worldes ende As much is imported in this verse For wheras it is sayd that God appeared in a whirlwind it behoueth vs to vnderstand that his intent was to warrant the thing that is conteyned in this booke and not only that but we must also extende this authoritie vnto his whole word There is yet this one thing more to be considered that if God begin to call vs too him after a louing maner and shew himself rough sharpe in the end we must not think it strange but rather examin well our life to knowe whether wee haue obeyed him or no and in so doing let vs on the one side acknowledge his apparant goodnesse and on the other side consider that he must needes vse the second meanes to win vs when hee seeth that he gayneth nothing by his fauourable dealing which hee had shewed vs As for example God doth sometimes cocker vs when he intendeth to take vs for his owne and to haue vs of his flocke and hee setteth foorth his worde vnto vs without sending vs any affliction Verie well wee see it is his will so too do and wee like well of it But yet in the meane while we profite not our selues by it to bee confirmed in his goodnesse as wee ought to be to renounce our owne wicked lustes to forget the worlde and to giue our selues wholly vnto him Hee beareth with vs for a time but in the ende when he seeth vs so retchlesse he beginneth to smite Heerein we ought too perceyue that his speaking to vs as it were out of a whirlwinde is not without cause forsomuch as we had no will to heare him when he spake graciously vntoo vs and after a kindeharted and fatherly maner Therefore it is requisite that God should speake to vs with such vehemence sith hee perceyueth that wee will neuer come too him till hee haue prepared vs after that fashion True it is that hee winneth some by his bare worde howbeeit when hee seeth othersome stubborne he sendeth them some trouble and aduersitie And doubtlesse there are a number that had neuer come too the Gospell nor neuer bene touched rightly at the heart to obey God if he had not sent them some token that hee was minded to chastice them Heerevpon when they felt once by afflictions that there is nothing but wretchednesse in this world they were inforced to mislike of themselues and to cut off their pleasures wherein they had bin plunged heeretofore Ye see then how God draweth men to him after diuerse sortes But let vs profite our selues by the meanes that he vseth towards vs and againe when he speaketh not to vs in a whirlwinde let vs on our side bee familiar with him and suffer our selues to be ruled by him as sheepe and lambs For if he spie any hardhartednesse in vs he must needes subdue vs whether we will or no. And although he suffer vs to play the looce colts for a time yet at length we shall feele his terrible maiestie to make vs afrayde at leastwise if it please him to shew vs fauour for God doth vs a singular good turne when he wakeneth vs after that maner and