0 ! In this historie is set before our eyes the example of a singular pacience. For this holy man Job was not onely extremely afflicted in outwarde things and in his body, but also in his minde, and conscience by the sharpe tentations of his wife, and chief friends: which by their vehement wordes, and subtil disputations brogh him almoste to dispare: for they set forthe God as a seuere judge, and mortal enemie vnto him, which had caste him of, therefore in vaine he shulde seke vnto him for succour. These friends came vnto him vnder pretence of consolation, and yet they tormented him more then did all his affliction. Notwithstanding he did constantly resist them, and at length had good successe. In this storie we haue to marke that Job mainteineth a good cause, but handeleth it euil: againe his aduersaries haue an euil matter, but they defend it craftely. For Job hede that God did not alway punish men according to their sinnes, but that he had secret judgements, whereof man knewe not the cause, and therefore man colde not reason against God therein, but he shulde be conuicted. Moreouer he was assured that God had not rejected him, yet through his great torments, & affliction he brasteth forthe into manie inconueniencies bothe of wordes and sentences, and sheweth him selfe as a desperate man in manie things, and as one that wolde resist God: and this is his good cause which he doeth not handel wel. Agayne the aduersaries mainteine with manie goodlie arguments, that God punisheth continually according to the trespas, grounding vpon Gods prouidence, his justice, and mans sinnes, yet their intention is euil: for they labour to bring Job into dispaire, and so they mainteine an euil cause. Ezekiel commendeth Job as a juste man, {Ezek. 14,14}, and James setteth out his pacience for an example, {Jam. 5,11}