reasons to defende himselfe withall that he shall be quitte before God if he may haue leaue to plead his cace And he pleadeth not before men for he had to deale with deafe eares but he would haue those to whom he speaketh to holde their peace and to heare what hee shall debate and too wayte for the ende and issue of that which shall be vttered of god VVee see then what the summe of his intent is that is to wit he ment to say that he should bee quit if he myght haue leaue and libertie to debate his cace And wherevpon dependeth this VVee must call to mynde what hath beene declared afore that is to witte the two sortes of Gods rightuousnesse That God will sometimes iudge men by his lawe for there he hath giuen vs a ryghtuousnesse whiche is throughlye knowne and apparant vnto vs God doth as it were enter into couenaunt with vs when he giueth vs this rule marke howe I will haue men to liue hee that doth not all these things cursed be hee and who so euer performeth my law shall liue Seing then that our Lord hath so certifyed vs of his will hee hath shewed vs a rightuousnesse that is altogither apparant But if he should iudge vs therafter we should be fayne to enter into an account and to to examine our life by euery commaundement and too thinke with our selues Go too wherein hast thou doone amisse Behold thy God requireth such a thing hast thou performed it No then thou seest wherin thou art faultie Marke I say how we shall be condemned by the law Likewise on the contrarie part if we knowe ourselues to haue fulfilled Gods law which is vnpossible but I admit it were so I say when a man trieth his works throughly if he finde that his life hath bin conformable to Gods law then is hee iustified after the rightuousnesse that is apparant and knowne to vs But yet for all this Iob hath protested heretofore that there is a higher rightuousnesse in God whereby hee could condemne euen the Angelles VVherefore is that For although God allowe a mans life when it is throughly framed according to his lawe yet is not he bound thereby neyther is it as much to saye as we owe him no more seruice and that he should hold vs acquit For if we compare the perfection that is in God with the perfection that is in the creature what wil come of it The Sunne may be darkned though it giue light to al the world that is to say ther is nothing that can suffize or satisfie that matter So then let vs marke well that whē so euer God listeth to iudge vs by his lawe although wee know no euill nor vice in our selues yet should wee not bee rightuous for all that But let vs come to that which Iob sayth VVhen so euer I shall haue leaue to plead my cace sayth he and to lay forth my matter in order and to alledge all my reasons I knowe that I shall then be iustified That is to say If God would iudge me but according to his lawe and that I might answere to shewe what my life hath bene then should I be iustifyed But I haue told you that this is impossible For there needes none other proofe to shew that al men are cursed and damned then that God sayth that whosoeuer performeth not all these things shall bee accursed VVhen S. Paule goeth about to proue that no man shall be iustified by the deedes of the lawe but that we be all giltie before God so as all mouthes must bee stopped hee alledgeth the same sentence Yea But doth it follow therevpon that we are all damned VVee must looke whether we do Gods lawe or no. And S. Paule presuppeseth that wee do it not that is to say that there is none whiche dischargeth his dutie but all of vs are farre off from it So then what meeneth Iob to say that hee shall be iustified if God would admit him to stand to his defence as if God had not wherof to accuse him or that he were not faultie in any thing And we knowe that in so much as hee was a mortall man hee was clothed with many infirmities and sinnes How then doth hee meene that hee could be quit First of all wee must call to mynde what hath bene touched heretofore namely that Iob looketh not simply at his own deseruing nor what he is of himselfe but at Gods intent in scourging him As howe VVee haue seene that God findeth sinnes in vs that are worthy to bee punished Go to hee beareth with them and forgiueth them and yet in the meane while he will afflict vs for some other cause as befell vnto Iob. True it is that he was a wretched sinner that God according to his lawe might haue punished him extremely but yet notwithstanding he had no suche respect VVe haue seene afore that God punished not Iobs sinnes as of set purpose to punishe him as if he should say I will punish this man bicause hee hath deserued it or bycause he hath liued naughtily No God had no such respect with him VVhat then He intended that Iob should be a mirrour to all men to the end that when we beholde him we may haue occasion to humble ourselues knowing that Gods hande is too heauie for vs to beare also considering our own frailtie and that according to his secret and incomprehensible iustice hee might handle vs a hundred thousand times roughlier than he doth therwithall also haue an eye to the pacientnesse of the man God then ment to vse Iob to all these matters and so we see that his intent was not to punish him And that is the cause why Iob saith that if he had leaue to speake and to open his cace at large he should be found rightuous according to Gods intent that is to say as in respect of the present affliction that he endured God should not find any iniquitie in him in that behalfe but contrariwise allow him for one of his seruants But Iob in so saying reiecteth not the forgiuenesse of sinnes wherevpon all our rightuousnesse is founded VVe say that men are made rightuous by only faith bycause wee are damned in our workes this is true and bring all damnation and cursednesse before God and therefore must all of vs abyde shame and confuzion For this cause it standeth vs in hande to borrowe a rightuousnesse that God maye like and allowe which thing is done when our Lord Iesus Christ clotheth vs with his owne rightuousnesse and the same is allowed vs before god Ye see then that we become rightuous by fayth bycause we bee clenzed and scoured from our sinnes in the death and passion of oure Lorde Iesus Christe And in the meane time God guideth vs by his holy spirit and guiding vs accepteth the seruice that we yeelde him that is to say he accepteth the goodnesse which hee hath put into vs For there is not so much as
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
yea that great VVhale which God hath made to play therein 800. b. 56. 28. VVhen God hideth his face all things are troubled and when he taketh away their breath they die returne to their dust 141. a 61. 29. VVhen God taketh the breth from his creatures they dye and returne to their dust 81. a 25. 83. b 32. 107. a. 10. 30. God sendeth forth his spirite and they are created and he renueth the face of the earth 141. a 57. 32. God loketh on the earth and it trembleth he toucheth the mountaines and thy smoke 752. b 1. 107. 34. The frutefull lande becommeth barren for the wickednes of them that dwell therein 520 â–ª a 2. 42. The rightuous shal see it and reioyce but al iniquitie shall stop hir mouth 102. b 16. 24. VVho is wise that he may obserue these things and consider the goodnesse of the Lord. 96. a 47. 110. 4. The Lord hath sworne will not repent that thou art a priest for euer after the order of Melchisedech 816. b 33. 112. 1. Blessed is the maÌ„ that feareth God. 380. a. 20. 113. 6 God abaseth himself to beholde the heauen and the earth 438 a 43. 6. The righteous shall be in euerlasting remembrance 350. a. 18. 115. 11. You that feare the Lorde put your trust in him 532. a. 3. 16. God hath giuen the earth to the sonnes of men 432. b. 55. 116. 10. I beleued therfore did I speak for I was sore troubled 130. a. 13. 373. b. 35. 628. a. 28. 695. b. 8. 696. b. 28. 12. 13. I will call vpon the name of God for all his benefites towardes me 425. b. 5. 449. b. 54. 118. 3. 4. The house of Aaron saith that the mercy of God dureth for euer and they that feare him say that that his goodnesse dureth for euer 532 a. 1. 17. I shall liue and declare the workes of the Lord. 210. a. 61 18. The Lord hath chastened me fore but he hath not deliuered me to death â–ª 656. b. 8 119. Beth. VVherin shall a young man redresse his way in taking hede according to thy word 269. a 8 37. Hâ— Lord turne away mine eies from regarding vanity 570. a. 6â— 67. Teth. Before I was afflicted I went astray 656 b. 8. 71. It is good for me that I haue ben afflicted that I may learne thy statutes 107. b. 13 Nun. The woord of the Lord is a lampe vnto my feete and a light vnto my path 257. b. 48. 818. b. 56 98. 99. 100. Mem. Thou hast made me wiser by thy commaundements and I haue passed in wisedome al my teachers I haue passed the auncient in knowledge 695. b. 46 120. 7. I seeke peace and when I speake therof they are bent to war. 75. a. 32. 123. 1. God dwelleth in the heauens 436. a. 5 125. 1. They that trust in the lord shal be as the mount Sion which can not be moued from his place but remaineth for euer 88. b. 5 3. The rodde of the wicked shall not rest on the lot of rightuous 89. a 7. 126. 1. God is knowne in Iâ—dea â–ª and his name is great in Israell 156. b. 15. 127. 2. It is in vayne for you too rise earely and to lye down late and eate the bread of sorow for God wil surely giue rest to his beloued 472. b 21. 3. Children are the inheritance of the Lorde the fruite of the wombe the reward that he giueth 91. a 2. 112. a. 12. 128. 2. Blissed is the man that eateth the labor of his hands 388. a 48. 3. The wiâ—e of the rightuous shal be like a fruitfull vine vpon the sides of the house of the rightuous and his children like the Oliue plantes round about hâ— table 351. a 57. 129. 4. The rightuous Lord hath cut the cordes of the wicked 89. a 7. 6. All those that hate Sion shall be as the grasse on the house toppes which withereth before it come forth 158. b 42. 130. 3. Lord who is he that shall stand 458. a 25. 4. There is mercie with the Lord to the end that he may be feared 361 a 31. 448. a 5. 131. 1. I haue not walked in things more greate and maruellous than apperteined vnto me 594. b 26. 133. Through out the Psalme 8. a 43. 138. 8. The Lorde will performe his worke toward me 197. b 31. 285. b 139. 7. 8. VVhether shall I goe from thy spirite or whether shall I flie from thy presence If I ascende into heauen thou art there If I make my bed in the sepulchre thou art there 185. b 45. 456. a 12. 12 â–ª The darkenesse hydeth not from thee and the night shineth as the day 679 â–ª a 47. 14. Lorde marueilous are thy workes 766. a 10. 140 4. The wicked haue sharpened their tongue like a serpent the poyson of vipers is vnder their lips 191. b 33. 143 â–ª 2. Enter not into iudgement with thy seruaunte for in thy sight shall none that liueth be iustified 458. a 25 â–ª 669. b 20. 5 â–ª I doe remember the time past I meditate in all thy workes 157. a 7. 145. 9. 17. The mercie of God is ouer all his workes 433. b 44. 18. God is nere vnto all that call vpon him 357. a 14. 507. d 23. 146. 7. 8. 9. God executeth iustice for the oppressed hee looseth those that are bounde hee keepeth the straunger he comforreth the fatherlesse and the wydowe 433 b 27. 147. 9. God geeueth to beasts their foode and to the young rauens that crie 776. b. 3. 148. Throughout the Psalme You creaturâ— of heauen praise ye the Lord. 56. b 55. Prouerbes 15. THe wise man shall heare and increase in learning 529. b 18 532. a 34. 541. b 38. 661. a 37. 696. b 32. 5. 15. Drinke the waters of the Cesterne and of the riuers out of the middes of thine owne well 544. b 50. 8. 1. Doth not wisedome cry vnderstanding vtter her voyce 526. b 33. 751. b 32. 22. The lorde hath possessed me in the beginning of his waye and was before his woorkes of olde 751. b 33. 31. I toke my solace in the compasse of his earth and my delight is with the children of men 427. a 14. 527. a 39. 751. b 33. 9. 10. The beginning of wisedome is the feare of the Lorde 529. b 18 532. a 34. 541. b 38. 10 7. The memoriall of the iust shall be blessed 350. a 59. 14. That which he feareth shall come vpon him 305. a 43. 12. 10. A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast but the affection of the wicked is cruell 610. a 37. 14 27. The feare of the Lorde is a welspring of lyfe to auoide the snares of death 529. b 5â— 16. 1. The preparations of the harte are in man but the answere of the tongue is of the Lorde 66. a 9. 9. The Lorde directeth the steps of man. 303. b 30. 14. The wrath of a king is as messengers of death 309. a 48. 17. 5. Hee
that mocketh the poore reprocheth him that made him 583. b 57. 27. 28. A man of vnderstanding is sober in his speache likewise a foole when he holdeth his peace is counted wise 251. a 50 â–ª 400. b 42 18. 3. VVhen the wicked commeth then commeth contempt and with the vile man reproch 473. a 14. 739. a 8. 10. The name of the Lorde is a strong tower the righteous commeth thither and is exalted 356. b 46. 20. 7 The children of the righteous shall bee blessed after him 417 b 10. 24. The steps of man are ruled by the Lord. 303. b. 30. 21. 13. He that stoppeth his eare at the crying of the poore shall also crie and not be hearde 328. b 30. 431 b 38. 472. a 26 543. b 57. 22. 2. God hath made rich and the poore 431. b 37. 6. Teach a childe in the trade of his way and when he is old he shall not depart from it â–ª 380. a 51 24. 16. The iust falleth seauen times and riseth againe but the wicked fall into euill 69. a 11. and 108. b 34. 25. 22. Thou shalt lay coales vppon his head and the Lord shall recompence thee 600. a 36. 27. It is no glory vnto those that seeke their owne glory 37. a 40. 27. 7. He that is very hungry although he eate bitter meat it seemeth vnto him sweet 382. b 49. 28. 1. The wicked flie when none pursueth but the righteous are bolde as a Lyon. 111 â–ª a 59. 14. Blessed is the man that feareth alwaye 15. a 57. 448. b 3. 682. a 10. 30. 32. If thou hast thought wickedly laye thy hande on thy mouth 403. b 7. Ecclesiastes 5. 15. VVHat profite hath hee â–ª that hath trauailed for the winde 673 a 18. 9. 4. It is better to a liuing dog â–ª then to a dead Lyon. 424. a 34. Isaie â— 3 THe OXe knoweth his owner and the Asse his maisters â—rib but Israell â–ª hath not knowen â–ª my people hath not vnderstand 235. b 26. 784. a 15. 6. From the soule of the foote vnto the heade there is nothing whole therin but wounds and swellinges and â—ores full of corruption they haue not beene wrapped nor bounde vp nor molyfied with oyle 721. a 32. â—2 If you come too appeare in my presence and to treade in my courtes who hath required this of your hands 327. b. 29. 15. VVhen you make many praiers I will not heare for your hands are full of bloud 327. b 18. 18. Come now sayth the Lorde let vs reason together when your sinnes shall be red as C 〈…〉 zin they shall be made white as snow 330. b 59. 453. a 56. 2. 19. They that feele the wrath of God shall goe into the holes of the rockes and into the caues of the earth for feare of the Lorde when he shall arise to destroy the earth 280. a 35. 411. a 17. 644. b 36. 22. Cease you from the man whose breath is in his nosethrels 311. b 59. 3. 10 Say ye it shall be well with the iust for he shall eate the fruites of his woorkes 2â—1 a 15. 413. a 35. 666. b 47. 5. 3. You inhabitauntes of Ierusalem and you men of Iuda iudge beetweene mee and my Vineyarde 190. a 39. 4. VVhat could I haue done any more to my vineyard that I haue not done VVhy haue I looked that it should bringe foorth grapes and it bringeth forth wylde grapes 161. b 57. 11. VVoe vnto you because you rise vp earely to follow drunkennes 721. b 38. 13. My people is gone into captiuitie â–ª because they had no knowledge and their nobles haue bene famished and the multitude is dryed vp with thirst 530. a 21. 20. VVoe vnto them that call good euill and euill good 131. a 15. 24. As the flame of fire deuoureth the stubble and as the chaffe is consumed of the flame so theyr roote shall bee as rottennesse and their budde shall rise vp like duste for they haue caste of the Lawe of the lord of hostes and haue blasphemed the word of the holy one of Israell 60. b 25. 26. God will whistle to a people from the end of the earth and beholde they shall come hastly wyth speede 671. b 43. 30. Beholde the darkenesse of afflictions vppon the people 535. b 51. 6. 2. The Seraphines stoode vnder the Lorde and euery one of them had sixe vvinges with twaine they couered their face and with tvvaine they couered their feete 156. a 20. 715. b 55. 5. Mine eyes haue sene the king the Lord of hostes 77. b 60. 9. In hearing ye shall heare and shall not vnderstande and in seeing ye shall see and shall not perceiue 810. b 13. 11. I sayde hovv long Lord and hee sayde vntill the cities bee wasted without inhabitaunt and the houses vvithout men and the lande be vtterly desolate 336. a 3. 7. 18. In that day shall God whistle after afly that is at the vttermost partes of the flouddes of Egipt and after the Bee whiche is in the land of Assur 671. b 44. 8. 9. 10 Gather together on heapes O ye people and ye shall be broken in pieces and harken all yee of farre countries make your selues readie and ye shall be broken in pieces take couÌ„cell it shal be brought to nought speake the woord and it shall not stande for the Lord is with vs. 99. b 32. 10. Take councell and it shall be brought to nought speake the vvord and it shall not stand 392. a 60. 4â—1 260. 9. 13. The people is not tourned towarde him that strooke them and haue not besought the lord of hosts 721. a 27. 10. 12 VVhen the Lord hath accomplished all his vvorke vppon mount Sion and in Ierusalem I will visit the fruite of the proude hearte of the king of Assur 812. a 49. 11. 2 The spirit of wisedome vertue shall reste vppon him 548. b 1. 616. a 58. 4. God shall smite the earth vvith the rodde of his mouth shall slay the vvicked vvith the spirit of his lips 76. a 20. 13. 10. The starres of heauen and the planetes thereof shall not geeue their light the sunne shall bee darkened in his going foorth and the moone shall not cause her light to shine 299. b 1. 15. 7. They shall beare their prouision to the floud of the Arabians 184 a 40. 19. 11. The princes of Soan are fooles the princes of Noph haue erred they haue caused Egipt to erre 246. a 50. 14. The Lorde hath mingled among the Egiptians the spirit of errours and hath caused Egipt to erre in euery vvorke thereof as a drunken man erreth in his vomite 99. b 19. 22. 14. Let vs eate and drink for tomorrow we shall die 721. b 16. 24. 23. The moone shall bee abashed and the Sunne ashamed when the LORDE of hostes shall raigne in mount Syon and in Ierusalem and when hee shall bee glofyed in the presence of his auncient men 81. b 9. 26. 1. God is our vvall and bulwarke 508. b
a 24. 17. Avvake and stande vppe O IERVSALEM vvhiche haste drunke at the hande of the Lorde the Cuppe of his vvrath thou hast drunke the dregges of the Cuppe of trembling and wronge them out 691. a 20. 52. 1. Aryse arise putte on thy strength O Sion put on the garmentes of thy beautie for hencefoorth the vncircumcised and the vn cleane shall passe no more by thee 6â—0 b 1. 7. Hovv beautiful are the feet of him that declareth and publisheth peace that preacheth the SaluatioÌ„ 646. b 14. 11. Departe departe yee goe out from BABYLON aud touche no vncleane thing goe out from the middeste of her bee yee cleane that bear the vessels of the Lord. 41. a 3. 54. 7. 8. GOD forsaketh the faythfull for a little whyle but with great compassion vvill hee gather them 361. a 14. 55. 6. Seeke yee the LORDE vvhyle hee may bee founde call vppon him whyle hee is neare 155. b 48. 9. As the heauens are hyer then the earthe so are my vvayes hyer then your vvayes and my thoughtes aboue your thoughtes 456. b 22. 715 a 57. 716. a 53. 57. 20. The wicked are lyke the raging seas that can not rest vvhose waters cast vp mire and dyrt 303. a 5. 58. 2. The Hypocrites crye from day to day and desire to know my vvayes they vvill aske wherefore haue wee fasted and thou seeest it not wherefore haue vve humbled our soules and thou regardest it not beholde in the day of your faste you will seeke your will and constrayne yourdetters 260. a 20. 7. VVhen thou seest the naked couer him and hyde not thy selfe from thine ovvne fleshe 545. a 6. b 10. b 1. 59. 1. The hande of the Lorde is not shortened that it cannot saue 359. b 30. 2. Your sinnes haue hidden the face of God from you that hee will not heare 191. a 25. 4. They conceiue felonie and bring forth iniquitie 317. a 17. 9. Iudgement is farre from vs and Iustice commeth not neare vs vvee wayte for lyght but loo it is darkenesse for bryghtnesse and wee walke in darkenesse 311. a 30. 14. Iudgement is turned backwarde and iustice standeth a farre of 131. b 7. 60. 1. Arise O Ierusalem bee thou illuminated for thy light is come 469. a 59. 61. 11. As the earth bringeth foorth her buddes euen so the Lord will cause righteousnesse to grow and praise before all the Gentiles 645. b â—8 64. 4. They haue not hearde fince the beginning of the worlde they haue not hearde with the care neyther hath the eye seene another GOD beside thee that doeth such thinges for those that wayte vppon thee 742. b 17. 808. b 10. 7. O Lorde thou hast hidden thy face from vs 648. a 1. 8. VVee are the woorkemanshyppe of the LORDE 294. b 60. 65. 1. I haue beene sought of them that asked not for mee and haue beene founde of them that sought mee not I sayde too a people that called not on my name here I am here I am 649. a 59. 23. The people of GOD shall labour no more in vayne 757. a 13. 65. 24. GOD heareth those that feare him before they call 357. a 1. 357. b 48. 449. b 37. 562. b 44. 66. 1. Heauen is GODS seate and the earth is his footestoole 435. b 43. 2. VVhome should I beholde but him that trembleth at my words 170. a 2. 5. Heare the woorde of the LORDE all ye that tremble at his woord 170 a 2. 24. They shall see the deade bodies of those men that haue transgressed agaynst mee their woorme shall not dye and their fyre shall not be quenched 590. a 22. Ieremie 1. 10. I Haue set thee ouer the nations and ouer the Kingdomes to plucke vppe and to â—oote out too destroye and throw downe too buylde and to plante 675. a 45. 18. I haue made thee as a wall of brasse against the Kinges of Iuda 627. a 41. 2. 13. My People haue committed two euilles they haue forsaken mee the fountayne of liuing waters to dig them pits euen broken pittes that can holde no water 126. a 54. 159. a 34. 27. The wicked haue tourned theyr backes vnto me 410. a 18. 5. 3. O Lord are not thine eies vpon the trueth 4. a. 5. 14. God putteth his woorde as a fyre in the mouthe of those that refuse him and themselues shall bee as wood and the same shall consume them 395. b 29. 22. God hath placed the sande for the bondes of the sea and it can not passe it the waues thereof doe rage and roare but they canne not passe ouer it 493. b 12. 761. b 49. 24. Let vs feare GOD that geueth vs the rayne of the morninge and of the eueninge in due season 745. b 68. 7. 11. My house is made a den of theeues 260. a 40. 9. 23. 24. Let not the wyse man glory in his wysedome nor the stronge manne in his strength but let him that glorieth glory in that he knoweth God who is the Lorde whiche sheweth mercy iudgment and righteousnesse 532 a 47. 10. 13. GOD by his voyce geeueth the noyse of waters in the heauen and causeth the clowdes to ascende from the endes of the earthe hee tourneth the lightenings to rayne and bringeth foorth the windes out of his trea sures 745. b. 68. 23. O LORDE I know that the waye of manne is not in himselfe neyther is it in manne too walke and directe his steppes 66. a 47. 24. O lord correct me alwayes by reason 194. a 59. 283. a 17. 11. 12. The cityes of Iuda and the inhabitaunts of Ierusalem shall crie c 562. b 60. 20. God tryeth the raines and the hart 679. a 24. 12. 1. 2. Lorde If I dispute with thee thou art righteous 457. a 8. 3. Lorde pull them out that dispise â—hee lyke sheepe to the slaughter 690. a 14. 15. 20. I will make thee vnto this people a stronge brasen wall and they shall fight against thee 627 a 41. 1â— 7. 8. VVhoe so trusteth in the LORDE shall bee as a tree that is planted by the waters which spreadeth out her rootes c. 158. b 19. 315. a 5 350. a 24. 380. a 24. 10. I am the Lord that searcheth the hearte and tryeth the raynes 149. a 6. 18. 17. I will shewe them the backe in the day of their calamitie 648. a 2. 20. 17. O Lorde thou hast abused me and I am abused 608. b 36. 12. The Lorde tryeth the righteouse and seeth the raines and the hearte 679. a 24. 23. 29. The word of the Lord is like a fire 395. b 29. 24. 3. The Lorde sayde what seest thou Ieremie and hee sayde figges the good figges very good and the noughtie very noughtie which cannot bee eaten they are euill 812. b 37. 7. I will geeue a hearte too the people of Iuda for too know mee 225. a 14. 25. 9. I will sende Nabuchodonozor the king of Babell my seruant 37. b 50. 29. I beginne to sende affliction vppon the
the remedies which hee offereth vs to the ende they maye bee corrected and therewithall guyde vs in such wyse in this worlde as wee may desire nothing but to please him in all pointes and all respectes and to follow hys holy commaundements And so let vs all say Almighty God our heauenly father c. The fiftenth Sermon which is the second vpon the fourth Chapter This Sermon contayneth yet still the exposition of the sixth verse and then afterward as followeth 7. Consider I pray thee vvho euer perished beeing an innocent or vvhere haue the vpright bene destroyed 8. As I haue seene they that plough vnrightuousnesse and sovv incomberance gather the same 9. They perished vvith the blast of God and vvere consumed vvith the breath of hys mouth 10. The roring of the Lyon the noyze of the Libarde and the teeth of the Lyons vvhelpes are dispatched 11. The Lyon perisheth for vvant of pray and the Lyonesses vvhelpes are chaced avvay FIrst and formost wee haue too beare in mind what was declared yesterday which is that to serue God aright wee must bee ledde by a freeharted affection to giue our selues vntoo him withoute hauing any respect of being well intreated at his hand afterward or that he will send vs our owne hartes desire For as for those that wyll so indent wyth God to receyue at Gods hand what soeuer they themselues desire first they shew themselues too be ouerfleshly and too much gyuen too their lustes and secondly they woulde bynde God after a very straunge fashion and behaue not themselues as children towardes theyr father For they bee driuen by a slauishe respecte they bee hyrelinges and wagismen VVhat muste wee doo then Referring our selues to Gods good pleasure we muste haue suche a constancie in vs as too honour him bothe in woe and weale and too desire too bee hys and too continue in the obeying of him what soeuer hee doo too vs or how soeuer hee dispose of vs If wee bee not of this mynde all the seruice wee can do him shall like hym neuer a whit notwithstanding that it bee neuer so well liked and esteemed of the worlde And therefore lette vs not referre our fearing and reuerencing of God too the ende that wee would haue him doo what wee liste But although hee be rough and sharpe towards vs so as it may sometymes seeme that hee would thunder vpon vs yet neuerthelesse lette vs abyde still in awe and say Lorde it is reason that thou shouldest raigne ouer thy creatures Also it is not for the childe to commaunde his father nor too binde hym too the stake but too say Here I am Sir gouerne you mee according too your good pleasure for I protest I desire nothing but to be subiect vnto you Behold what we haue to doo But surely wee know well inough that as the Scripture sheweth vs it is not lost labour to serue God for he hath promised vs a plentifull reward and we shall not be disappointed of our expectation But yet must the said freeharted affection go before it that wee make not any bargayning with God to say he is bound to vs according too our appetities and that he must of necessitie graunt vs what so euer we haue imagined in our owne brayne Lo how gods seruants knowing that their seruice is acceptable that it shall not be vnprofitable do notwithstanding not reste themselues vpon the reward that is promised them much lesse then must they intend to bring God to the bente of their bowe or to taske him of necessitie to doo thys or that but must with all lowlinesse referre themselues wholy in all things to his pleasure And whereas I speake here of reward I debate not whither reward be due vnto vs or no for as now we stand not vpon that matter VVhen we haue done all that is possible to be done God shall be neuer a whit in our debt But when he promiseth vs reward I vnderstand it to be of freegift and that it is not for that we haue deserued it or for that wee be worthy of it but bycause that as he hath receyued vs into his fauour so will he also allowe of our workes yea whiche hee hymselfe doth by his holy spirit For as touching goodnesse there is none in vs and yet looke what God hath giuen vs he accepteth it as if wee brought it too hym of our owne And when he receyueth our workes so of his owne mere goodnesse it is too gyue vs the better courage too serue him by hauing an eye too hys promises wherein he protesteth vntoo vs that our rewarde is great in heauen yea and that hee will blisse vs in thys world also so as wee shall not want any thing at all Then may wee cast our eyes heerevpon and comfort our selues but heerewithall as I haue sayde wee muste not recken that God should deale with vs after our owne deuice but rather determine with our selues to referre the matter wholly vnto him and to submit ourselues wholly to his good will. Thus we see the doctrine that wee haue to gather of this texte which is very profitable for vs For it is a marke whereby to discerne Hypocrites from Gods children An Hypocrite may well magnifie God with full mouthe in time of prosperitie But if the worlde goe against his desire a man shall see that all is chaunged with him And what is the cause of it It is for that suche maner of men beare no reuerence to Godwarde further forth than hee applyeth himselfe vnto them And what kinde of reuerence is that If I be minded to serue mine owne torne by one very well bicause I can drawe profite out of him I will make good countenaunce to him but if he perceiue it he will shake me off like a vilaine and hee serues me but well Nowe if mortall men can not beare such carlishnesse what shall become of vs when we come vnto God shall we loue him or shall we honor him but only so farre forth as may be for our owne profit what a mockery is that See we not how the order of nature is peruerted But if there be true friendship betwene vs and any man we wil honor him for his vertues which we know to bee in him and to the ende wee may liue togither in one cōmon accord to serue god I say that when God giueth vs such marks we may well serue honor a man So then we may well haue this regarde to creatures which are nothing But as touching God hee must bee honored for his owne sake bicause he deserueth it and we must be so rauished to the honoring of him as we may not thinke of oure selues sauing as in seconde place and in inferiour degree VVee maye see then howe the hypocrites bewray themselues by repyning againste God in the time of aduersitie and when hee handleth them not after their owne fansie And for as much as most men are giuen to this vice wee see
should followe the measure that I haue spoken of alreadie Nowe wee see the profite that redoundeth too vs by this doctrine if wee can applye it well too oure vse that is too witte that when wee desire too bee heard at Gods hande the same must not bee too bring excuses as thoughe wee were not faultie and that wee could lessen our offences or rather make them none at all but it must bee too enter intoo the knowledge of them yea and to enter in such wise as wee may bee vtterly throwne downe and there may bee none other shift for vs but to flee vnto Gods goodnesse and that when wee shall haue condemned our whole life we may notwithstanding not ceasse to truste in the mercie which hee hath promised to wretched sinners when they mislike of their sinnes and condemne them desyring nothing but that God should receyue them to mercie Yee see then in what wise wee ought to practize this sayde request But it is harde for vs to attayne to such reason and therefore we must streyne our selues to it For this hardnesse muste not put vs out of hearte but rather prouoke vs too runne vntoo God praying him of hys grace too touch vs in suche wyse with his doctrine as by the meanes of hys worde wee maye offer vp suche requestes vnto him as wee may feele in the fruite of them Our faultes are tolde vs dayly and yet there are few that thinke vpon them God therefore perceyuing vs to be so slow yea euen in such sort as he is not able to moue vs by his worde lifteth vp his hand and sendeth vs some chastizements And bicause that if the affliction be but small it is nothing to vs wee do but shake oure eare at it as the prouerbe sayth God doubleth his stripes and scourgeth vs more and more holding our nozes to the gryndstone as they say and withdrawing himselfe from vs so as hys spirite is as it were quenched in vs and we feele not that he gouerneth vs any more in so muche that we become poore desperate soules and crie out alas what is this Afterwarde we become so inraged that wee would fayne haue God to giue vs some release and if hee giue vs it not yee shall see vs vtterly past our selues so as there is no remedie in our state Then may we well desire God to withdrawe his hande and to giue vs leaue to say Alas Lorde thou seest I am a sillie creature I feele heere thy chastizementes which are ouergreat considering myne infirmitie True it is this chastyzement is due to mee yea and I ought to feele yet muche more but my strength is so feeble and weake as to my seeming I am already shet vp in the dungeon of hell Alas my God voutsafe thou therefore to alay thy rygour a little that I may haue leysure to take my breath and too bethinke my selfe better than I haue done VVhen I haue such a releef I will come to thee and my woundes shall be assuaged For I see that the very meane to take good by thy scourging is that I abide not vnreformable vnder thy hand Behold the goodnesse that God dothe vnto vs when he suffereth vs to come vnto him Neuerthelesse when we make such request vnto him it must bee done with such condition as this VVell Lord it is true that the petition which I make is for my necessity thou seest I am able to beare no more and if thou preuent not the mischeefe I must needes fall into such a gulfe of confuzion as I shall neuer get out of it againe Neuerthelesse Lord I referre my self wholly vnto thee thou knowest what is meet and conuenient for me and thou arte able to remedie the extremities wherein I am according as thou haste infinite meanes to plucke thy seruant euen out of death Now then if we adde this condition God dothe well suffer vs to make suche request yea and he will like well of it Lo what wee haue to marke in this sentence But by the waye wee muste not thinke that Iob was so farre ouerseene as too beare himselfe in hand that hee was faultlesse and that hee was ready to enter into lawe with God and to pleade agaynst him weening that he shuld get the better haÌ„d Let vs not think that Iob was sotted with such a follye VVhat then VVee must hinke that he spake without aduisement as we bee wont to doe when our affections ouermaster vs For we haue our eyes so bleared as we discerne nothing at all As for example If a man bee besides himselfe for greese and anguish as he knoweth not himself any more some light wordes will escape from him and if hee bee told of it he will answere it was not so Yet is it true that he shall haue spoken them Yea but it shall not seeme so too his owne vnderstanding bycause his wit is troubled and confounded For as I haue sayde our passions carie vs away in such wyse as we bee in a maner beside our selues in that cace and yet in the meane whyle God ceasseth not to maynteyne alwayes a knowledge in vs the which shall notwithstanding bee as good as choked VVhen a man couereth a fire wyth asshes and earth if there be a great Cole in it it will lye hyd vnderneath and a man shall not see any thing nor perceyue any heate Euen so doth God sometymes suffer all discretion too be as it were choked in vs and in that cace wee see nothing but the asshes that is to saye the passions that are vppermoste and wee see some steame but the fire sheweth not it selfe at all Euen so then standeth the cace wyth vs And when Iob made this protestation hee felte himself in such extremitie that hee sought meanes too come before God saying that hee would be the first that should speake Let vs bee sure that hee spake this as a man vtterly rauing in his fittes Seeing the cace is suche let vs learne to walke alwayes in humilitie and let vs be well ware that our affections doe not carye vs awaye after such a sorte as wee knowe not what wee doe or say Lo heere a sentence that is verye profitable and full of good learning For first of all wee see that our affections are like wylde beastes which dashe vs against god But let vs come to rushe at him and what shall we winne by it Are wee hardâ—r than hee Are wee able too make him to bowe or else too breake him Alas wee muste needes bee crusshed and broken in peeces when we rushe against him so furiously And not onely so but also hee will ouerthrow vs with his blast he nedeth but his breth as the Scripture sayeth to destroye vs vndoo vs and bring vs to nought Therefore let vs vnderstand that our passions must bee repressed and wee must hold them in awe yea and we must as it were fetter them that is to say we must do the vttermost that we can to abate the
prouiso that hath bene set downe by me I say we must beare in mind that Gods iudgements go not all after one rate in this world nor are executed after one visible maner that our senses may perceyue them Sometimes God causeth his children to be tossed frō post to piller as we see nother is it of the present time only that S. Paule sayd we be without reste Meeneth he that it is a curse layd vpon Gods children that they should bee alwayes wandering in this world No For therby they be taught to seeke their heritage rest that is prepared for them aboue Therefore whereas the faithfull are as birdes vpon a bough as men say so as they wote not where to abide but are remoued to fro it is not executed vpon them as a curse but rather it is turned wholly to their welfare saluatiō Howbeit as oft as we see our Lord leaue the wicked the despyzers of his woord it behoueth vs to vnderstand that he giueth a taste of his curse in that cace Againe when they dwell quietly in their houses and noman troubleth them God hath thunder and brimstone in his hand and can soone destroy them For although all men fauour them and that the worlde maynteyne them and holde them vp so as they be throughly fenced on all sides yet can not al that shet the gate against God but that he may reuendge on his side when he listeth Immediatly there followeth that his roote shall wither beneath and his boughes bee cut of aboue Here nowe againe Bildad dothe vs too vnderstand that the wicked shall be cōfounded notwithstanding that their state seeme as happie as any may bee For therevnto dothe this similitude leade vs Certesse he likeneth them too a tree that is rooted in the ground Marke me a tree that is well planted afterward spreadeth out aboue as wel in trūke as in boughes which bear leaues floures and frute and euen such is the outwarde shew of the wicked and of the despyzers of God such similitudes are well woorthie to be noted For as I haue declared alreadie we must not be greeued at al when we see that God doth not at the first dashe punish those that steppe out vnto euill but rather seemeth to beare them good will and to heare their petitions This troubleth vs and our desires boyle within vs so as we would faine that God should take vengeance out of hande So much the more then behoueth it vs too marke well how it is sayde here that the wicked may wel be like vnto fayre trees according as it is sayde in the. 37. Psalme I haue seene the vngodly aduaunced so high as he seemed like a Cedre of Libanus For like as Ceders are higher than other trees euen so are the wicked among men in somuch as it seemeth that all men els should stoupe vnder thē But what for that I went by sayeth Dauid and kept on my way and when I came backe againe I sawe there was no print of them remayning VVhereas he sayeth he went by he meeneth that he taried paciently til God had accōplished his worke and that the full time was come Euen so must we do when wee see the wicked in prosperitie the same must not hinder vs from following our course till we be come thither as God calleth vs Thus yee see what wee haue to marke in this text for the first poynt Secondly it behoueth vs too marke this threatening that when the wicked shal haue taken deepe roote and be come to such prosperitie as there is no likelihood that euer any winde or storme shall shake them then shall their roote wither beneath that is to say then will God worke after such a sorte as they shal be throwne downe and consumed and theyr braunches shal be cut off aboue that is to say God will persecute them by all meanes Now when wee see this let vs resorte to the promises that are giuen to Gods children according as it is sayd that the man which feareth God shal be like a tree planted by a riuers side which alwayes draweth moysture and nurrishment too it and that such as are of a perfect beleefe in God are like thervnto as it is sayd in leremie Therefore let vs pray God that we may draw moisture from him and that the thing which is spoken in another place of the Psalmes may be fulfilled in vs namely that the rightuous shall florishe as the palme tree prosper euen in the house of the Lord Also let vs pray our Lorde to nurrish our roote beneath that although wee carie no outwarde shewe before men yet we may not cease to haue our life hidden in Christe And that if it please him to giue vs any countenance the same may be to the magnifying of his blissing so as wee may be an example and record of his goodnesse and that if it please him at any time to cut off our boughes he wil also make that to turne to our profite as when a man cutteth or shreddeth a vine it is to make it beare good fruite afterwarde whereas if it were lette alone it would growe wilde Then let vs be sure that if it please God to cut off our boughes it is too make vs yeelde the more fruite in him by taking away that which is superfluous in vs that all things may turne too our benefite Besides this it will serue also to restreyne vs frō being tempted to pray God to make vs like the wicked ▪ that is to wit to make vs prosper as they doo Thus much concerning this similitude And it is also sayd that their memoriall shall perish in earth and that they shall haue no more renowme any where True it is that we must not put our trust in this worlde too seeke renowme and glorie here For the holy Scripture mocketh such kinde of vanitie saying that such as doo settle their names in earth know not what God and his kingdome meene Therefore wee must not be desirous too make our selues renowmed in this worlde Yet is it not in vaine also that God hath promised it as a blissing too his children that their name shall continue for euer and that it shall be blissed And how is that It is bicause our Lorde spite of the churlishnesse of the worlde will notwithstanding make his seruants honorable and in good estimatiō They may be despized for a time yea and subiect to many slaunders and reproches But God will deliuer them at length and bring to passe that their rightuousnesse shal be knowne Ye see then that the memoriall of good men and Gods children shall be blissed True it is that this is not alwayes accomplished in the world but yet it falleth out so oftentimes Againe whereas God speaketh of renowme or memoriall he meeneth it in respect of such as haue discretion too iudge For the vnbeleuers are blinde and ignorāt in discerning Gods children aright but yet doth not that diminish any
not onely in eating and drinking but also in al our desires and lustes and let vs so bridle them as we may cut off al the superfluous concupiscences that drawe vs vnto euill Thus ye see in effect what we haue to marke in this sentence Now herevnto Iob addeth for an ende that the wicked are lightfooted vpon the water and glyde away and yet for all that that they go to the graue Like as the earth drieth in saith hee and the heate of the Sunne sucketh vp the snowe and all the moysture that is in it So doth the graue swallowe vp the wicked It seemeth that Iob sheweth here that God punisheth all the euill deeds that are done in the worlde and that there in he agreed with Eliphas But his meening is farre otherwise For his intent is too shewe in effecte that the wicked perishe in such wise as a man can not perceiue Gods hand apparantly vpon them to say behold God punisheth such a man by cause he hath liued amisse But contrariwise that the wicked soke away like water and leaue no remembrance of themselues behinde them They goe to the graue yea and so doe good men too So then we see howe Iob concludeth here that God doth not so execute his iustice in punishing the sins of men as it may alwayes be seene And heerewithall let vs call to mynde howe it hath bene sayde afore that Iob blasphemeth not God to make himself beleue that there is no prouidence that all things an ruled by fortune and that God in the meane while setteth asleepe in heauen No but his intent is to shewe that Gods iudgementes are not alwayes visible It behooueth vs to beare well in mynde this saying and to set it alwayes before our eyes for it is a verie profitable doctrine as I haue shewed heretofore but yet hath it need to be repeated newe againe It is that the good are greatly troden vnder foote For after long pining they die before their time and yet in their owne opinion they haue liued too long And why For their life was nothing else but cōtinull consumptiō VVe see this with our eyes But in the meane while what becommeth of the wicked that haue despized God and bin full of outrage crueltie and naughtinesse Assoone as their good dayes are past they die yea euen as water that soketh away For a man shall not perceiue that God vttereth any certaine marke of his vengeance vpon them but their death is gentle and easie VVhen a man sees this what can he say It is a great stumbling blocke for suche as iudge after their naturall reason to see that our Lorde doth not alwayes punish the wicked but letteth them goe in their common traine and afterwarde when they die there is no more seene in them than is common and generall in all men Yet must we not therefore surmize that they be scaped or that they shall abyde vnpunished but we must haue an eye to the iudgement which wee looke for according to the promises of the holie Scripture assuring our selues that our Lorde calleth vs thither when he executeth not his iustice to the full but onely in part to giue vs some inckling of it which may serue to shewe vs that things are not yet brought to their right order to to the end we should hope for the comming of our Lord Iesus Christ and so much the more heartely long for him as our Redeemer Thus then ye see what is to be doone VVhen we see Tyrants beare sway innocent bloud shed whoredome and other loocenesse reigne wrongs outrages and violences committed poore folke troden down and mens feete set vpon their throats and all things shuffled togither in such a hotchpotche as wee wote not what to say let vs confesse saying VVell Lorde if all things were ordered as we would wish we should no more hope for the comming of our Lord Iesus Christ nor for the resurrection that is promised vs nor for his heauenly kingdome we should bee alreadie as in a Paradise But nowe that we be tossed as in a raging sea and are in the midst of stormes and whirlewindes it serueth well to teach vs to long for the rest that is prepared for vs in heauen and which thou hast promised vs to the end we may haue our sight alwayes fastned vpon the comming of our Lord lesus Christ thy Sonne who shall gather vs all to himselfe according as thou hast committed vs to his charge protection and guyding Furthermore when we see the wicked nowadayes hide them selues in doing euill let vs assure our selues that yet for all that wee can not hide our selues from the presence of oure God and that although they shunne the Sunnelight yet can not wee shunne the sight of him that searcheth all hearts VVhat is to be done then Forasmuch as we gain nothing by seking of lurking holes to shun the presence of our God so as as we would not by our good will come in his sight and whereas the wicked eschue him and mocke at all the threatnings that are made to them of his iustice let vs seke nothing more than to come before our god And seeing he is so gracious to vs as to make vs our owne indges let vs not tarie to be condemned at his hand but to the ende we may be quit let vs yeelde our selues giltie of our owne accorde Ye see then that the may to put this sentence in vre is to learne to condemne ourselues when wee come to shewe ourselues before God and to come to him vpon trust of his promise which is to receyue all suche to mercie as are sorie for their sinnes and seeke nothing else but the grace that is offered vs dayly in the persone of our Lorde lesus Christ Now let vs fall down before the face of our good God with acknowledgement of our sins praying him to touch vs to the quicke with such repentance as we may perceiue the euill that is in vs to seeke the remedie therof by sticking to his rightuousnesse and to conuert vs in such wise to himself that in stead of feeding ourselues in our own vices and lewde lustes we may seeke to frame our selues wholly to his holie lawe and commaundements that we knowing what neede we haue to be healed of our spirituall diseases may seeke the medicine wher it is to be foūd that is to wit in our Lord Iesus Christ that being renued by his holie spirit we may hold on our way right foorth to the place that he calleth vs vnto euen till he haue fully clothed vs with his owne rightuousnesse after wee haue continued in the waye of saluation which he sheweth vs nowe by his worde That it may please him c. The .xciij. Sermon which is the third vpon the .xxiiij. Chapter 19 As the earth drieth vp and as the heate drinketh vp the snovve vvaters so the sinners to the graue 20 The louing man shall forget him the vvormes shall take svveetenesse
namely that the wicked shall heape vp golde and siluer and moueables and yet in the ende good men shall come to bee clothed with them True it is that bycause Gods children walke simply and playnly they may want many thyngs and it may seeme that pouertie threatneth to attache them within a daye or twaine but yet God prouideth in such wise for them as they alwayes kepe on their way still VVee see then that the godly shall sometymes bee clothed with the spoyle of the wicked but yet for all that what a thing were it to make a certaine rule of it and too bynde God to it continually VVherefore it behoueth vs to beare alwayes in mynd that Gods iudgements are not euer apparant and visible to bee seene with mens eyes VVhen we see a wicked man rich we stumble at it saying what meeneth this And when wee see the wicked and the despyzers of God honoured it seemeth too vs that God gouerneth not the worlde and that thinges are guided by Fortune Behold how faith is vtterly defaced when we go about to measure Gods iudgementes by the thinges that wee can presently see with oure eyes And therefore let vs learne too suspende oure iudgementes Verely if God plucke the wicked mennes goodes out of their hands let vs vnderstand that he fulfilleth the threat whiche wee heare spoken of in this place And if hee doe not let vs marke that hee reserueth the execution of his iustice vntill the last day and that he will not bring things to perfection as nowe bycause he will nourishe our hope still and not haue vs wedded to this world nor seeke our felicitie heere bylowe as in a Paradise of pleasure but to lift vp our eyes aloft and to passe as lightly through this worlde as through a iourney knowing oure selues to bee wayfarers and wanderers in this worlde and that therefore it behoueth vs to trauell continually to the heauenly and euerlasting heritage As muche is mente by that which followeth which is That the wicked man shall buylde his house as a moth and that it shall hee as a watchmans Caban euen suche a watchmans Caban as watcheth the Vyneyardes VVhen the vnbeleeuers and the despizers of God doe buyld they beare themselues in hand that they shall dwel in them a thousand yeares after their death For doth not the statelinesse that is seene in the buildings that are made by the despizers of God shewe that they imagine an immortalitie in this world They beare themselues in hand that they shall prolong their life by their Palaces VVhen a man hath builded his house to continue for a thousande yeares he beleeues that his house is tyed to him and that he shall by that meanes be renoumed But God scorneth such ouerwening For this cause Iob compareth the houses of wicked men too the houses of mothes Howe so The moth marreth and wasteth all things to make himselfe a lodging he eateth cloth he eateth furre he eateth all that he findeth and to be shorte where so euer a moth lodgeth it is alwayes too another bodies cost and hinderance and yet notwithstanding there is nothing but corcuption and vermine in his lodging VVhen a vinekeeper maketh his Caban to watch the vineyardes it is but for three monthes for as sone as the vinetage is done down goes the Caban and although no man set hande to it yet it falleth downe of it selfe Euen so it is sayd here that the wicked men do make them stately houses and beare them selues in hand that whē they haue buylded after that maner they shall dwell in them for euer But what VVhat are they themselues Euen as a moth that is to say they haue nothing but corruption and that must they be sayne to carrie with them continually Seing it is so surely their houses will not continue long True it is that they shall make a great shewe for a time but in the ende God will beate downe their houses so as they shall not abyde in them any long while Thus see yee a notable iudgement that God executeth vpō those that will make such estimation of thē selues in this world And for as much as we see examples thereof wee ought too marke them well and thereby learne not to nestle out selues in this world nor to build by guile wrong and extortion Let our building be according to the goods that God hath giuen vs And let not such as are well housed besot them selues in their owne lustes to nestle themselues here For let men nestle themselues vpon earth as much as they list and yet shall it not barre God from plucking them away Then let vs kepe our selues well from making our nest here bylowe according as it will bee sayde in the nine and twentith Chapter that Iob made his reckning that his state should neuer change But men beguile them selues in behighting them selues suche euerlastingnesse and God also laugheth their fonde presumption to scorne And therefore if the godly be lodged after their owne minde yet let them count them selues as straungers in this worlde and let them be alwayes readie to part hence whensoeuer it shall please god And if they haue not the commodities that were to bee wished yet let them goe for warde still and learne to knowe that God aduertizeth them by eyesight that this is not the place where they must abyde but that it behoueth them to passe further Thus then ye see what we haue to remember when we perceiue that our Lorde will not haue men too set their mindes vpon the thinges here bylow Therfore let vs trauell the right way where hee calleth vs and then shall wee bee blissed then shall euerie of vs dwell in rest all the time that he hath to liue bycause we shall not bee troubled with the vnquietnesse which the wicked and the despizers of God haue Thus much concerning that poynt And furthermore although that both we our selues and also our houses bee nothing but corruption yet haue we this promise to comfort vs that when wee bee restored fully to the heauenly glorie we shall haue no more need of these materiall buildings here bylowe yea and that our bodie itselfe shall bee another manner of thing than it is nowe But yet therwithall let vs learn also not to build with snatching and catching and other leude dealings For that is the cause why oure Lorde doth so destory the great Palaces that are builded and throwe them quite downe According also as wee see the Prophets threaten that they shal be the dwelling places of shreeke Oules of wylde beasts of birds of pray yea and of nightcrowes and wylde woodwardes Our Lorde then doth it not but to auenge him selfe of the robberies and extortions that are committed for the buylding of great places according as it is sayde in the Prophete Abacucke that when suche as haue bereft other men of their goods doe build there is as it were a quire betweene the walles so as one wall shall
come too that it hath pleased God too inlighten vs with the wisedome that is conteyned in his Gospell and to open our eyes by his holy spirite so as wee bee able to see his secretes which else should be hidden and incomprehensible to vs and therfore let vs learne too magnifie him for the same These be the two things we haue to beare in minde And by the way lette vs marke that whereas mention is made heere of the Estridges egges if God extend his prouidence too the hatching of hir egges euen when they be left and forsaken it is much more likely that hee will neuer forget vs vs I say which are more excellent creatures And in good sooth wee see hee hath prouided much better for mankind than for those cattell For behold the hennes of them are so foolish that they forget their owne egges and their chickens that shoulde come of them but our Lord hath printed a kindnesse in women that they know their yong babes and nurrish them with their own bloud and substance Seing then that our Lord hath set such an order in mankind thereby wee know that hee hath a fatherly care of vs Howbeeit wee muste not measure his goodnesse by that only but let vs come to that which he sayeth by his Prophet Can the mother forget hir child Although al the mothers in the world should forget their children yet will not I forsake thee sayeth the lord God then on the one side sheweth himselfe a father in that he holdeth the mothers at such stay in giuing themselues willingly too the charge of nurcing their children True it is that we see not this in all mothers for there are a number of these tender and nice things that cannot finde in their hearts too take payne with their owne children but a nurce shall bee more kinde too a childe that is none of hir owne thā the owne mother is Neuerthelesse the sayd kindnesse appeereth commonly And whence proceedeth it Euen of God whose will it is too maynteyne mankinde by that meane Moreouer when wee know his fatherly goodnesse which sheweth it selfe to his creatures very well surely God doth afore hande make vs too feele his fauour and the care that hee hath of vs howbeit let vs vnderstand that in himselfe he surmounteth all that euer we can perceyue in this worlde and that if wee come vnto him with humblenesse hee will alwayes shewe himselfe as he is that is to wit the welspring of all mercie and will pitie our aduersities and succour vs in them Therefore let vs haue the sayd trust and although we be wretched creatures yet let vs not therfore ceasse to trust in him and too glorifie him assuring ourselues that if we yeeld vs teachable to him as his obedient people he on his side will shewe vs that our acknowledging of him to be our God is not in vayne Now let vs fall down before the face of our good God with acknowledgemēt of our sinnes praying him to make vs feele them better and generally too open our eyes that wee may no more be puffed vp with pryde and presumption nor be any more drunken with our own vayne fancies too stande in our owne conceyt and too boast our selues but that wee may rather learne too submitte our selues to him to holde all our goodes of him and to do him honour for them acknowledging that if he continue not his mercie towards vs we be vtterly vndone at euery minute of an houre that by that meane wee may bee alwayes hild in his feare and subiection and profite therein more and more and that moreouer hee may vouchsafe too beare with vs still so long as he seeth vs yet hemmed in with so many infirmities and corruptiōs vntill he haue vtterly bereft vs of them and transformed vs vntoo his glory and image That it may please him too graunt this grace not only to vs but also to all people and nations of the earth bringing backe all poore ignorant soules from the miserable c. The Cliij Sermon which is the third vpon the ▪ xxxix Chapter 22 Hast thou giuen strength to the horse or inuironed his necke vvith neying 23 VVilt thou make a horse afrayd as a grassehopper or Locust the neying of his nosthrilles is terrible 24 He diggeth the earth with his foote he reioiceth he goeth with boldnesse before the armed mā 25 He passeth not for scaring he feareth not nother shunneth he the svvoord 26 Let the Quiuer rattle and the steele of the speare and of the shield 27 Hee svvallovveth vp the earth in rage and fiercenesse and hee passeth not for the noyze of the trumpet 28 VVhen he heareth the trumpet he sayeth ha ha he smelleth the battell a far off and the noyze of the Captaynes and the shouting of the armie 29 VVill the hauke take him to his fethers by thy vvisedome or vvill hee spred out his vvngs tovvardes the South 30 VVill the Eagle mounte vp at thy commaundement and make hir nest in the high places 31 Shee dvvelleth vpon the rocke and abideth vpon the high mountaynes as in infortresses 32 And from thence shee espieth hir pray and hir eyes looke farre off 33 Hir yong ones sucke vp bloud and haunt vvhere dead bodies are 34 And the Lorde ansvvered and sayde vnto Iob. 35 Is it learning to striue vvith the Almightie let him that reproueth God ansvvere to this IF we were dispozed to bee taught of God hee also on his parte woulde deale so with vs as all his teaching shoulde be to lift vs vp out of hande vnto himselfe yea that after so familiar a fashion as a father talketh to his children Howbeit forasmuch as we be harde to bee gouerned and in steade of yeelding our selues teachable we will needes be ouerwize God is fayne to send vs to schoole to the beasts as we haue seene heretofore and as he proceedeth to do heere still For in speaking of Horses and of theyr nature hee sheweth that men know not his workes when they wil nedes auaunce themselues after that sorte agaynst him And therewithall he sheweth that vnlesse it please him hee will not vouchsafe to answere any of our replyes but it shall be ynough for vs to be disproued by the brute beastes Yea euen by the horses which are of household with vs so as he shall not neede to go farre to stoppe our mouthes For he shal haue aduocates inough to plead in his cace in the stretes in the fields and in the houses he wil not ray sevp great Oratours among men but will as I sayde content himselfe to haue the brute beastes to pleade for him Furthermore here is no curious discoursing of the nature of horses for God ment not to deale with such manner of processe but hee alleadgeth simplye the things that are knowne to the ignorantest sorte A man neede not to be greatly practised for the vnderstanding of the things that are spoken heere for little children knowe them like