hate our lyfe or for that wee bee weery to bee hilde here bycause wee bee handled ouer rigorously but wee muste beare our lot paciently in wayting Gods leysure to delyuer vs And wee see that Paule holdeth the selfe same measure when hee sayeth to the Romanes Alas who shall delyuer mee from this mortall body For I am vnhappie But yet therewithall hee sayeth Thankes bee to God through our Lorde Iesus Christe Lo heere howe Sainct Paule on the one syde calleth himselfe vnhappie and desireth to bee taken out of the worlde and on the other syde is contented and at reste bycause God preserueth him and hee knoweth that God wyll neuer forsake him howbeit that hee bee subiecte to many miseries VVee see heere his contentation And that wee may the better vnderstande the whole lette vs marke howe Iob hath done amysse in two poyntes That is to witte in not hauing the regarde that hee ought to haue had in desyring death and also in not keeping measure Heere wee see two faultes that are very grosse VVhen I say that Iob had not his eyes fastned vpon the marke that hee oughte I meane that his wyshing for death was not bycause hee sawe himselfe to bee a miserable sinner and coulde not attayne to the perfection whiche all of vs oughte to labour for but bycause hee was weerie of the nipping greefes as well whiche hee presently indured in his persone as which hee had susteyned before in his gooddes And so hee desired death bycause it seemed to him that God pressed him ouersore Thus wee see the firste faulte that I spake of But if wee apply the same to our owne vse it wyll bee yet better vnderstoode and apparaunte If a man searche and trye him selfe throughly and thinke thus with himselfe I am giuen to suche a vice and I fight agaynste it but I can not come to my purpose and the matter is not for one vice alone but I haue two or three that torment mee Surely yet I will not giue my selfe to the brydle neither will I wounde my selfe I feare the vengeance of God and wyll holde my selfe in suche sorte as I bee not vtterly vanquished I see I muste bee muche more earnest in seruing God and in fighting agaynst the worlde and mine owne fleshe as it is verye requisite I shoulde bee for I am hilde backe and hindered by myne owne lustes I saye if a man acknowledge himselfe suche a one after hee hath well examined his lyfe hee sayeth therevpon yea my God I see my selfe in miserable plyght and when shall I bee deliuered out of it For needes muste I beare sinne in me and although it reigne not in me yet doth it dwell in mee And what else is sinne but the Diuelles scepter whereby hee reigneth ouer vs Then am I the bondslaue of Satan and of death O my God muste I tarie euermore in this weerysome plight A Christian man may well haue suche sighes and beseech God to set him free from suche a bondage wherein hee seeth himselfe to bee But if the matter concerne aduersitie we must regard nother colde nor heate nor pouertie nor sicknesse but we must haue our eye onely on our sinnes And specially when God punisheth vs in what wise soeuer it bee wee muste mounte vp higher without any resting vpon the bodily aduersitie and thinke thus with our selues behold the fruites of our sinnes forasmuche as wee haue done agaynst Gods wyll it is good reason that hee shoulde shewe himselfe a iudge towardes vs VVhen wee haue thus acknowledged our sinnes the same worketh a remorse in vs and prouoketh vs to conceyue the sorow whereof S. Paule speaketh And thus muche as concerning the firste poynte But it is not ynough to thinke as afore is sayde that is to wit to wishe death in suche wise as I haue earst shewed but it be houeth also to keepe measure I say wee muste not onely wish it vpon good cause but wee muste also brydle our desire so as it bee ruled by the good pleasure of god And this will bring to passe that the outrage whiche is shewed heere in Iob shall bee restreyned as with a brydle I haue alreadie touched this poynt in the texte which I alleaged out of S. Paule For after he had made his moane and wished to be deliuered out of this prison of death he addeth I thanke my God and hee ceasseth not to bee quyet euen in the midst of those complaynts and longings And why so for hee seeth it is good reason that God shoulde bee the master and gouerne vs at his pleasure and that wee shoulde paciently wayte for such ende as hee listeth to gyue vs S. Paule perceyuing this concludeth immediately that although hee be a wretched sinner yet notwithstanding he is sure that God will guyde him in such wise as his saluation can not miscarie S. Paule thē had an eye to those two things And therefore hee sayeth that hee yeeldeth God thankes notwithstanding that hee bee in miserie Euen so muste wee do And in so doyng we shall not onely be the readier to indure all the miseries of this world for the honour of God that hee may bee glorified bothe in our persons and in our humilitie but also wee shall bee wylling to suffer for our neyghboures as Sainct Paule also sheweth vs by his owne example Hee sayeth to the Philippians that as for himselfe it shoulde bee farre better for him to bee taken oute of the worlde but for youre sakes sayeth hee it is requisite that I lyue bicause I know that you haue as yet neede of my laboure and that God imployeth mee aboute the edifying of your fayth and vnto him do I submit my selfe And afterwarde hee sayeth Although it were for my behoofe to goe hence oute of hande yet am I willing to abyde here still Lo howe Sainct Paule exhorteth all men to submitte themselues in suche wyse vnto Gods pleasure as whyle they lyue in thys worlde they may not onely beare theyr afflictions pacientlie but also bee readie to suffer for theyr neyghbours so as theyr labour may be profitable to the cōmon weale and they themselues do seruice to the Churche of god Thus wee see what wee haue to marke But what This lesson is not yet vnderstode for asmuche as there are very few that put it in vre for if God leaue vs in rest yee shall see vs so blinded with vayne and fond ioy and wee bee so ouersotted as we know neither death nor our owne frailtie any more neither haue we any discretion at all And if God visite vs with any afflictions it needes not to bee asked whether we blaspheme or no or whether any othes passe out of our mouth or no there will be store of misliking of murmuring ▪ and of impaciencie which shall bee full of sturdinesse And when the wind is in that dore with vs how many be there that thinke vpon their sinnes and that grone vnder such a burden and therewithall looke vnto
the yeare with thy goodnesse and thy steppes drop fatnesse 766. a 2. 66. 3. O God how maruellous are thy workes 766. a 12. 10. O God thou hast proued vs thou hast tried vs as siluer is tried 69. a 37. 12. Thou hast caused men to ride ouer our heads we went into fire into water but thou broughtest vs out into a wealthy place 69. a 73 110. a 58. 320. b 5â— 68. 21. God is our God to saue vs to the euerlasting Lorde belongeth the issues of death 74. a 28. 109. b 13. 69. 2. 3. 4. The waters are entred euen to my soule I sticke fast in the deepe myre I am wearie of crying my throte is drie mine eies fail whilest I waite for my God. 564. b 15. 5. They that hate mee without a cause are mo in nuÌ„ber than the haires of my head they that would destroy me and are my enemies falsely are mightie so that I am constreined too restore that which I toke not 75. a 36. 10. The zeale of thine house hath eaten mee the rebukes of them that defamed thee are falne vpon me 45. b 16. 71. 20 God hath taken me vppe from the depthe of the earth 320. b. 48. 2. As for mee my feete were almost gone and my steps had welny slipt 44. b 12. 4. There are no bands in the deth of the children of God. 344. b 48. 6. Pryde compasseth the wicked as a chayne and crueltie couereth them as a garment 309. b 10. 7. Their eyes stande out for fatnesse they haue more than heart can thinke 88. b 7. 310. b 6. 723. b 14. 9. The wicked set their mouthes against heauen and their tong trotteth through the earth 795. b 39. 13. It is in vayne that I haue washed my handes in purenesse and kept my hart pure 668. b 33. 700. a 54. 17. It is too troublesome a thing to consider the ende of the wicked 313 b 59. 77. 11. I sayd it is my death then I remembred the yeares of the right hand of the Lord. 284. a 14. 20. Thy way hath ben in the sea and thy pathes in the great waters 30. The meate was yet in their throte 392. a 8. 32. The reprobate sinned still when the wrath of God came vpon them 392. a 9. 39. God remembreth that we are flesh and as a wind that passeth and returneth not again 140. a â—8 566. a â—3 71. From thence where Dauid followed the Ewes with yong God brought him to feede his people laacob and Israell his heritage 30. a 61. 7â— 5. Howe long Lord wilt thou be angrie for euer shall thy Iealousie burne like fire 138. b 36. 80. 4. O God cause thy face too shine and we shall be saued 796. b 15 8. Lorde cause thy face too shine vpon vs and wee shall bee deliuered 796. b 16. 81. 3. God letteth the wicked goe aecording too the presumption of their harts and walke in their counsels 257. a 47. 82. 1. God standeth in the assemblie of gods and iudgeth among the Gods. 17. a 29. 6. You are Gods and ye are al the children of the most high 61. b 10. 88. 4. Blowe the trumpet in the newe moone in the solemnitie and on the day of our feast 114. b 12. 89. 33. God wil visit the sinnes of his with a rod. 361. a 14. 90. 3. God turneth man too destruction againe thou sayest returne ye sonnes of men 277. a 7. 504. b 56. 4. A thousand yeares in thy fight are as yesterday 157. b 53. 11. VVho knoweth the power of thy wrath for according to thy fear is thine anger 643. a 27. 12. Teach vs rightly to nuÌ„ber our dayes that we may apply our hartes vnto wisdome 83. a 4. 20. O Lord cause thy face to shine and we shall be saued 796. b 15. 91 4. The faithfull are sure vnder the wings of the Lord. 395. a 10. 11. Hee shall giue his Angelles charge ouer thee to keepe thee in all thy wayes 16. a 51. 12. The Angelles shall beare thee in their handes that thou hurte nor thy foote againste a stone 108. b 47. 277. a 7. 359. b 44. 15. Hee shall call vpon me and I will heare him 413. b 29. 92. 8. O Lord howe glorious are thy workes and thy thoughtes are verie deepe 766. a 14. 13. The rightuous shall florishe like a palme tree 350. a 18. 94. 7. The wicked say the Lorde shal not see neyther will the God of Iacob regard it 678. b 56. 11. The Lorde knoweth that the thoughts of men are euill 695. b 25. 19. VVhen I had many thoughts in my selfe thy comforts haue reioyced my soule 303. b 6. 95. 1. Come let vs reioyce vnto the Lord let vs sing aloud vnto the rock of our saluation 155. b 34. 6. Come let vs worship and fall downe and kneele before the Lord. 155. b 35. 7. The Lord is our God and we are the people of his pasture 285. b. 60. 8. Harden not your hearts as in Meribah and as in the day of Massah in the wildernesse 50. b 48. 97. 5. The mountaines melted like wax at the presence of the Lord. 173. b 58. 100. 3. God hath made vs and not we 746. a 12. 102. 17. God shall build vp Sion 388. b 38. 27. 28. 29. The earth and the heauens shall perish â–ª but thou shalt endure all shall waxe olde as dooth a garment as a vesture shalte thou change them and they shal be changed But thou art for euer thy yeears shall neuer haue end The children of thy seruantes shall continue and their seede shal be established before thee 84 â–ª b 17. 103. 4. The Lorde redeemeth the life from the graue and crouneth vs with mercie and compassion 74. a 6. 14. God knoweth that we be but dust â–ª 140. a. 28. 20. Praise the Lord ye his Angels that excell in strength that doe his commaundement in obeying the voice of his word 17. a 5. 104. 1. 3. God is clothed with glorie and honor which layeth the beames of his chambers in the waters and maketh the thicke cloudes his chariot walketh vpon the wings of the winde 735. a 55 795. a 53. 4. God maketh the windes his messaÌ„gers and a flaming fire his ministers 29. b 40. 12 VVhen the sunne riseth they retire and couch in their dennes 776 a 17. 13. Then goeth man forth to his worke and too his labour vatill the euening 344. a 58. 14. God causeth grasse to growe for the cattell and herbe for the vse of maÌ„ that he may bring forth bread out of the earth 344. a 14. 15. God causeth wine too growe which reioyceth the heart of man 509. b 57. 19. God made the Moone for certaine seasons the Sunne knoweth his going downe 344. a 38. 20. God hath made the darknes 344. a 38. 24. O Lord howe manifold are thy workes in wisdome hast thou made them al the earth is full of thy riches 95. b 4. 26. The ships runne in the Sea
of him hee shall no more be remembred the vvicked shall be broken as a tree 21 He misintreateth the barrein vvomen that beareth no children and doth no good to the widow 22 He dravveth the strong vnto him so as he distrusteth his ovvne life 23 Men giue him all for assurance and rest and his eyes vvatch the vvayes of them 24 VVhen they bee exalted for a little they are caughtavvay or die they bee made poore they bee barred vp like tovvers they be cut off as the top of eares of corne 25 VVho is hee that vvill make meea lyer if hee bee not so and vvho is hee that vvill disproue my vvordes THat we may fare the better by this doctrine we must call to mynd how it hath bin declared heretofore that the cause why these things are repeated vnto vs is that wee should not bee greeued and troubled to much when wee see things diuersely disordred in the world For if wee would haue a perfecte state heere where were our hope Therefore it behoueth vs to beare paciently the disorders whereby it pleaseth God to exercise vs and to humble vs and therwithall seeke the true remedie sith things are so troubled among men and that suche as ought to put to their hand to the amendment of them forslow their dutie Then let vs learne to resort vnto God and to trust in him and let vs not doubt but that in the end he wil pitie vs although we bee fayne to suffer many wrongs and reproches for a time And like as Iob had shewed heeretofore the outrages and extortions that were done so also did he say that God was not seene to punishe those that had so tormented the poore And hee addeth a similitude that may bee vnderstand two wayes by reason that the sentence is verie short and broken off The similitude is this The earth soketh in and the heate drinketh vp the waters of snowe to the graue be sinneth for so it standeth worde for worde And men take it as though it were sayde that the graue swalloweth vp all wicked men as the drie earth drinketh vp the snowe water and as the snowe melteth awaye at the heate of the Sunne Hereby Iob ment not to say that God punisheth men apparantly according to their desertes but that they die as other men and that there is no such execution done vpon their persons whereby men may perceyue Gods iustice but rather that they go the common trace God permitteth thē to die of their natural deth Therefore when we see not God punish the wicked and those that haue done so many mischiefes and cruelties he seemeth to be as it were asleepe in heauen and the weake and ignorant are offended at it as though hee had no regard of the world or as though hee were not dispozed to gouerne vs nor to mainteine the good and to suppresse those that are so vnruly But as I haue shewed alreadie Iobs intent is to shewe vs that in suche cases it behoueth vs to reuerence Gods secrete iudgementes assuring our selues that althoughe wee conceiue not the reason of his workes yet we must not therefore blaspheme him nor be swallowed vp with sorrowe but quietly wayte till God shew himself in cōuenient time It is not for vs to set him a day it behoueth vs to tary his leisure assuring ourselues that he executeth not his iudgements in all poynts in this life to the intent that wee should learne to reach out our fayth and hope further than this world But the sense will agree verie well also when this similitude is applyed to an other ende as thus Like as the earth soketh in and the heate drinketh vp the snowe water so the wicked men sinne euen to their graue As if Iob had sayde They bee so nuzzled in doing euill that their whole nature is giuen to it according also as it is commonly sayde that when menne are throughly nuzzled eyther in good or euil the custom that they haue taken vp maketh it to become as it were natural vnto them For it beareth such a sway with them as they followe it without any paine Iob then ment too declare heere that such as hee speaketh of sinne not at a start or by fittes as it is to be seene that some man ouershooteth himself by reason of some sodeine occasion that prouoketh him and although he haue liued honestly before times and without blame yet is hee caried at that time as it were with a tempest Thus we see thē that some men commit some euill or outrage but they continue not in it Iob declareth that he speakes not here of such as haue done amisse at a sodeine pang or brayd as ouercome by some forcible temptation but of such as are hardened in their naughtinesse and haue made it as it were a piece of their nature Therfore like as the nature of the Sunne is to melt snowe and afterwarde the drie earth sucketh it in euen so the wicked continue their euill doing euen to the graue that is to say vnto their death Sith we see such examples yea and are warned by this sentence to thinke vpon the thing that is tootoo ordinarie in the world let vs learne to resort vnto God and pray him to giue vs the grace to bowe vnder his hande and too bee so giuen too serue and honour him as the same may bee as it were naturall to vs True it is that the good shall alwayes haue some striuing in themselues for they neuer walke so vprightly but there is some incomberance and gainstriuing according as there is a continuall battayle betweene the mynd and the flesh Neuerthelesse the vertue that God hath put into vs must fo farre forth preuayle as to make vs loue the good with a free hart to cleaue throughly therevnto Then must we pray vnto God to strengthen vs therein and on the otherside we must beseech him also not to suffer the Diuell to get such possession in vs as to trayne vs hither and thither and to harden vs so sore in euill dooing as it might become as it were our nature Furthermore when we see men so stubborne in wickednesse let vs not thinke it straunge for it hath euer bene so as we see here by example Now in the end Iob sayth that the quiet man will forget such folke that the wormes shall take sweetnesse of them and that they shall no more bee remembred Heereby he sheweth well that the wicked shall not reigne for euer but must haue an ende Neuerthelesse God letteth them alone in peace vntill their death and their state seemeth to be no worse than other mens that haue liued in all equitie and vprightnesse without doing wrong to any of their neighbours Then if a man cōpare these pollers and theeues that haue eaten vp other mens goodes and delt merueylous cruelly I say if a man compare them with such as haue liued in simplicitie he shall finde their states alike and that things are so shuffled
knowledge depart out of the world willingly to receiue full fruition of the things that are promised here and whiche we hope for The wicked therefore are plucked away And yet if wee wey the matter well it is a thing against nature to be plucked away so And although the sayde sturdinesse that I spake of bee in all vnbeleeuers yet notwithstanding God hath diuerse times inforced the very Paynims to vtter suche wordes as declare vs to bee vnexcusable if wee shunne death in that wise and be to much wedded to this present life and like as a iudge wyll inforce an offender to consesse what he will haue him by holding him vpon the racke Euen so as I sayde afore God hath as it were by force wrested a confusion out of the Paynims too shewe that all suche as die not willingly and with a quyet harte are as monsters that turne nature quyte vpsyde downe There is a Heathenman that neuer hearde one woorde of good doctrine who when he was tolde of the death of his sonne answered I knowe that I begate him mortall Lo heere a confession made by a Heathen man whiche is ynough to condemne the whole worlde It is as muche as if hee had sayde sith that God hath set vs heere it behoueth vs to wayte after what sorte it pleaseth him too dispoze of vs so as if he list to take vs hence we ought to acknowledge that our life muste bee subiecte to his will. Another Heathen man sayeth Beholde I am in this worlde as if I were sette to bee a watchman in a castle or as if it were sayde to a souldier come hither go thither so hath God set vs here in this worlde with condition to call vs hence when he listeth The Heathen men that haue spoken after that sorte are too sufficient witnesses to condemne al such as will reply to sette any colour vpon their lewde affections in that cace and to excuse them And furthermore as I haue sayde alreadie lette vs marke that those Heathenmen spake not so but by constraynte of God which thing was done to the ende that we shoulde haue oure condemnation written and pronounced by them if wee agree not to his wyll But nowe what is to be done If wee will dispose our selues to dye willingly and go too rest our selues in God lette vs learne to knowe the vices that hinder vs and the remedies to redresse them Then firste of all lette vs learne to submit our selues vnto God and let vs not be so frowarde and madde as to wishe too exempt our selues from the subiection of him that created and shaped vs Behold the first thing whervnto it behoueth the faithfull sort to apply thēselues is to acknowledge to what ende wee be created and shaped Beholde God hath all soueraine dominion ouer vs therefore it behoueth vs to submit ourselues vnto him to dedicate ourselues so wholly to his seruice as wee may be alwayes his both in life death VVhen a man can so submit himselfe to God with all reuerence low linesse and so renounce himself as to say it is mete that the Creator shold haue the vpper hand of thee and be thy maister that is a good beginning Truely this lesson might holde vs tacke three dayes yea and three moneths too But it is ynough for vs if wee knowe the effecte of that whiche I haue touched that euery man may thinke vppon it at leysure Ye see then that the firste lesson whiche it standeth vs in hande too muze vppon if wee minde to liue and die quietly and not too bee plucked out of the worlde by force and violence is to submit our selues to Gods good will. And the seconde is that wee know to what ende and intent wee bee put into this worlde for without that are wee not as brute beastes An Oxe knoweth not wherefore God created him nother doo all other beastes also But man cannot bee excused For he hath witte and reason and God calleth him further than the worlde to the intent he shoulde knowe that his lyfe is but a wayfaring The brute beastes knowe not what deathe is tyll menne haue brought them to it and cut their throtes or till they die of some mischaunce Then doo not they discerne betweene life and death but men haue the vnderstanding thereof yea and our Lorde doth dayly set mirrours of our frayltie before our eyes Nowe if wee thinke not vpon them I pray you are wee not tooto brutishe Nay whiche woorse is the brute beastes muste condemne vs For although an Oxe know not wherefore he is created yet doth he still folowe some order of nature VVhy holdeth he down his hornes and boweth his necke to before the yoke but bicause our Lorde hath giuen him his lesson withoute wyll and withoute vnderstanding so as the poore beaste hath an inclination to doo that whiche is his duetie And is it not a shamefull thing that men in the meane while are more stubborne than Oxen Horses or Asses So then lette vs learne wherefore God hath sette vs in this ▪ worlde and to what purpose we liue heere that is to wit to the ende wee shoulde knowe that wee bee set here but as in a iourney and that wee bee lodged and susteyned heere on earth at Gods coste and that therefore we muste hang wholly vpon his grace feeling him to bee oure Sauiour and father according as hee sheweth himselfe towardes vs by his dooings when wee bee gyuen to serue him Thus then ye see the seconde poynte that wee haue to beare in minde if wee purpose too die willingly and not to bee plucked hence by violente force of Gods hande There is a thirde which is the cheefest of all and that is the heauenly lyfe For death is alwayes terrible to vs of it selfe and wee cannot but be afrayde when a man doth but speake to vs of it and wee be stryken with some astonishment if wee doo but thinke of it And therefore Sainct Paule sayeth that wee desire not death and that it is impossible for a man to be brought to desire to die we shunne it as much as is possible And why For God hath imprinted a feeling in vs that deathe is a curse and as it were a diffeating of nature and a changing of Gods order from that whiche it was before man sinned So then wee cannot but shunne death euen bycause it is contrarie too our fleshe and the terror thereof dismayeth vs by reason of the knowledge that God hath giuen vs And therefore Sainct Paule in the forealleadged chapter sayeth that we desire death not in respect of it selfe but bicause we know that as yet wee are but as it were in transitorie dwelling-places VVhat is our bodie It is so corruptible a thing that the leaues of a tree are not so soone rotten as we be But wee knowe that there is a house prepared for vs and that when wee bee restored to the heauenly glorie wee shall be lodged not
Therefore when we foresee such daungers and it seemeth vnto vs that when we bee escaped from one death there commeth a second and a thirde and to be short we are assayled on all sides that is a thing that stryketh our hart dead and that is it which Iob meeneth by saying that feare had caught holde of him within And this text ought to bee well marked of vs For the chiefe benefit which wee haue and which men do also naturally desire is to be in safetie and God also when hee speaketh of his blissings doeth aboue all things promise vs rest and that when we be in his custodie we shall sleepe at our ease without feare of beeing waked so as we shall not feare to sleepe euen vnder a tree or by a highe wayes side and although wee had neither doore nor barre nor lock nor key to our chamber yet we shall be safe vnder his protection Neuerthelesse wee see how Iob sayeth that he was possessed with feare It seemeth then that hee had no more trust in God and consequently that he was bereft of the souerain benefit that we desire and which God hath promised too all his children And verely the faythfull shal always haue finally such rest in thēselues as they may be cheerfull in their aduersities and that is bycause they rest vpon Gods goodnesse and know well that he will neuer forget thē Ye see then a rest which can neuer fail al the faithful so long as they trust in God and that did Iob well feele in part But herewithall let vs mark that now and then God will cast his seruants in such trouble I meane for a little while as they shall not know where they be And this ioy of the holy Ghost is as it were ouerwhelmed and choked in them so as they cannot resort vnto God nor warrant themselues that he watcheth ouer them nor be sure to say no no Howsoeuer the world goeth yet will my God preserue me indeed I perceyue not that he is minded to succour me but yet will I tary his leysure paciently The faithfull then may at times be scarce fully out of doubt and they shall be tossed with so great waues and stormes as they shall not know where to becom but shall be caried with such violence and tossed and turmoyled after such a fashion as their rest shall bee turned into trouble and what is to be done then It behoueth vs to vnderstande that first of all to be peaceable yea euen in the middest of all our aduersities ▪ it standeth vs in hande to flee to our God to be out of doubt that his promising too bee alwayes with vs is not vaine Therefore let vs mind Gods promises that we may be armed with them on all sides so as we may bee quiet in the middest of our aduersities For there is none other safetie for vs but the hope of succour at Gods hand So long as we haue that we cannot but fal vpon our feet as the prouerbe sayth But assone as we bee turned away from God and cannot beleue that he will helpe vs and hath a fatherly care of our welfare wee are vtterly dismayed and so amazed as we knowe no meanes in the world to quiet our selues And therefore let vs learne to settle our selues in Gods promises if we wil not be ouerwhelmed with trembling and fearefulnesse in the middes of our aduersityes Furthermore if now and then we be so fore oppressed as we knowe not where to become yet let vs not ceasse to resort to our God hoping that hee will chace away oure darknesse and not suffer vs to continue alwayes in suche distresse as there should be no remedie nor asswagement of our sorrowes Now sith wee see that the like happened vnto Iob and also vnto Dauid who are two myriours of pacience fayth and hope let vs not bee too much discomforted when it seemeth too the infirmitie of our fleshe that we be vtterly ouerwhelmed with aduersitie and seazed with such feare as we be vtterly forlorne For surely God will worke continually in his faythfull ones and although his woorke appeare not to the eye yet shall they feele it And truly although the faythfull bee in such anguish and feare as there seemeth to bee no more hope for them in the goodnesse of God yet shal they not quayle but be succored by him notwithstanding that they be not able to perceyue his succour by their natural reason Thus ye see how wee ought to proceede in our heauinesse and howe wee ought to practise this doctrine to profite oure selues by it And when as Iob addeth that God had cast him to the ground and that he was become like dust and ashes for he had erst sayde that his garments were chaunged and cleaued as it were to his skin Thereby he sheweth that he was vtterly ouerthrowne and that there was not one sparke of hope of lyfe left in him insomuch that it might haue bin sayde beholde a man vtterly consumed in whom there reigneth nothing but death For by these wordes carth dust and ashes he not onely meeneth that his strength fayled him but also that hee was become as a dead coarse yea euen as good as halfe rotten Iob then sheweth right wel that there was no more token of life in this extreeme affliction which he indured but rather that hee was condemned yea euen of all men wherein it is shewed vs that our trust muste not bee tyed too the things that are seene but that wee muste trust in God yea euen in the middest of death And that when wee seeme to bee past recouerie yet notwithstanding wee must take holde of the life that God hathe promised vs and continually imbrace it And herewithall let vs marke also that Gods power is not subiect too any humaine or worldely meanes but that hee worketh after such a fashion as is incomprehensible and secrete vntoo vs Lo here the two things which wee haue too marke in this text which goe ioyntly one with another For why haue wee sayde that fayth muste not bee inclosed in the things that wee see but bycause it is grounded vpon the power of God But this power is infinite and may not bee compassed or ruled by worldly meanes or by ought that can be seene For God is able to worke after such maner as is vnknowne to vs Seeing it is so it behoueth our fayth also too be inlarged lykewise And so for the better vnderstanding of this doctrine let vs begin at the seconde poynt which I haue touched which is that Gods power whereby he intendeth to work for our welfare is not boūded within these lower things and therfore that wee must not say that God will do thus or thus bycause the order of nature is so or bycause wee see some likelihood of it or bycause there is such a meane or helpe to compasse it For that were to doo him great wrong inasmuch as the things that are in him are infinite