Sermons on Deuteronomy, Sermons · Sermon 12
On Fryday the xxvj. of Aprill. 1555. The twelfth Sermon, which is the second vponupon the second Chapter.
8 Then passed we by our brethren the children of Esau, that dwell in Seir, by the way of the wildernesse of Elath, and of Asion-gaber: then turned we, and went in the way of the wildernesse of Moab.
9 Then saide the Lord vntounto me, trouble not Moab, neither prouoke him to battell: for I will not giuegive thee any peece of his land to possesse, bicause I hauehave giuen Ar in possession to the children of Lot.
10 The Emians dwelt there before, which were a great people and many in nomber, and tall as the Enakims.
11 And likewise they were counted Giantes as the Enakims, and the Moabites called them Emins.
12 Likewise in Seir dwelt the Horians aforetimes. But the children of Esau draue them out, and destroyed them before them, and dwelt there in their stead, like as Israel hath done in the land of their possession, which the Lord hath giuen them.
13 Then said I, now then, get ye vp, and goe ye ouer the riuer Zared. And wee went ouer the riuer of Zared.
14 And the time wherein wee trauailed from Cades barne vntill wee passed the riuer of Zared, lasted eight and thirtie yeeres, euen vntill the whole generation of the men of warre was consumed from among the hoste, as the Lorde God had sworne vntounto them.
15 For the hand of the Lord was against them, to destroy them from among the hoste, vntill he had consumed them.
16 And it came to passe, that when all the men of warre were consumed from among the people,
17 Then the Lord spake vntounto Moses, saying:
18 This day shalt thou passe the borders of Moab by Ar,
19 And come to the children of Ammon, whom thou shalt not besiege, nor prouoke them: for I will not giuegive thee any possession in the land of the children of Ammon, bicause I hauehave giuen it in possession to the children of Loth.
20 This land also was counted a land of Giantes: for Giantes dwelt in it aforetimes: and the Ammonites called them Zomzomins:
21 A great people and many in nomber, and tall as the Enakims. But the Lord destroyed them before them. And so they possessed it and dwelt there in their stead:
22 Like as he had done for the children of Esau that dwell in Seir, when he destroyed the Horims before them: by reason whereof they possessed their land, and dwelt there in their stead euen vntounto this day.
23 Also the Caphthorims that came out of Caphthor, destroyed the Euims that dwelt in Hazerin euen vntounto Gaza, and dwelled there in their stead.
LIke as yesterday wee sawe that the children of Israel were commaunded to passe by the Countrie of Edom without doing any wrong to the inhabitantes, bicause there was kinred betwixt them, inasmuch as they descended of Esau Iacobs brother: so nowe they be willed to passe by the borders of Moab and Ammon, without dooing them any hurt or harme, bicause that they also were of kinne to them. For the Moabites & Ammonites came of Loth: and God would hauehave the children of Israel to acknowledge it still. And herein wee hauehave to note, that here againe God tried the obedientnesse of his people. For the children of Israel had languished nowe a great while alreadie: and although they had bene fed by Gods free goodnesse, inasmuch as Manna was giuen them dayly from heauen: yet notwithstanding if wee looke vponupon their trauell, the time thereof might seeme verie long to them, & they might hauehave bene exceedingly wearie of it. Nowe againe God commaundeth them to passe on their way, paying for their meate and drinke, and not to take any bootie nor to seeke any profite or aduantage, but to goe by intreatance notwithstanding that they could hauehave vsed force. This might hauehave bred a newe hartburning among them. Howbeit forasmuch as they had beene wel tamed with afflictions: they yeelded themselues the more plyable as was declared yesterday. And therein wee see what the fruite of chastisement is. When God hath once pulled downe our pride, and taught vsus to beare his yoke: wee can stoope to obey him, and wee will make no great a doe of it. But vntill that time, our necke is so stiffe as wee can no skill to yeelde to any right or reason. Ye see then that one point which we hauehave to marke, is that God tried here the obedience of his people, by forbidding them to make warre vppon the Ammonites or Moabites. And here Moses alledgeth the selfe same reasō again, which I expounded yesterday intreating of Mount Seir and of the Countrey of Edom. You shall not prouoke the Moabites, saith he. And why? For God will not giuegive you their land to possesse. As if he should say, it is not lawfull for you to attempt any thing, which God doeth not auow, and giuegive you leaue to doe. Nowe it is certaine that he will not suffer you to prosper, if you assaile the Moabites, and therefore forbeare them.
And so let vsus marke well, that such as make warres wrongfully and frowardly, consider not that their ambition and couetousnesse shall bee cursed of God in the ende, and that all their preparation must come to ruine & confusion. True it is that such as take warres in hand vponupon a brauerie, shall diuers times hauehave great victories and winne many Countries: howbeit that is not bicause God beareth them any fauour, but bicause he meaneth to punish men, sometime the one and sometime the other, so as eueryevery one of them shall hauehave his turne. And in good sooth wee see that the warres which are made now adayes, are like the game of the Barriers, wherein he that winneth to day looseth to morrow. And this is not done by haphazard, but our Lord giueth Satan the bridle, who prouoketh and inforceth the wicked to kill one another, and to knocke one another vponupon the heades. For God vseth them as Smithes,Zach. 1.20. as he saith by his Prophet Zacharie. But yet herein wee hauehave a good lesson, which is, that when a Prince moueth warre, he must consider wel against whom he doeth it, and whether God do giuegive him entrance or no, or else the end of it must needes be cursed of God.
And hereunto Moses addeth the cause why the people of Israel might not take any thing frō the Moabites.Deu… For it is the Lorde (saieth he) that hath giuen them the land to possesse. Yesterday it was declared, that God did cast out his lynes ouer all the world, and that the partitions were made by him: insomuch that Principalities, Kingdomes, & Common weales hauehave not any thing of them selues, but for that he will hauehave the world to bee so gouerned. Therefore when any man goes about to chaunge the borders that God hath set: he doeth as much as he can to violate the order of nature, and the end thereof must needes bee cursed. Were this marked throughly, wee should not see so many garboyles as are in the worlde. For men thinke not that they ought to yeelde any account vntounto God. And in very deede they thinke not that God medleth with the gouerning of men. When they hauehave gotten any victorie, they make bonfires for ioy, & they thanke God with solemne procession: but it is not for that they thinke so, or for that they be fully perswaded of it: it is but for vaineglorie that they do it. For if they meant to shewe that God was on their side: they should lay downe their pride in fathering all things vponupon their owne power, or vponupon their good fortune. Yet notwithstanding it would bee thought a very straunge thing nowe adayes, if a man shoulde say to them that take warres in hand, Be well aduised: for if your cause be not iust, lawfull, and allowed of God, so as you hauehave sure and infallible witnesse that you were inforced to make warre, and that God hath reached out his hand vntounto you and shewed you the way: all you furniture must needes turne to your owne ouerthrowing. If a man should say so to them, they would thinke he did them great wrong: but yet were it for their behoofe to mark that lesson well.
Further let vsus marke, that this must serue vsus for a comfort. For if wee bee sure that God hath called vsus into the place where wee bee, and that wee liue there in his seruice: we hauehave here a promise, that if any man come to assaile vsus, howe great force so euer our enemies bee of, although they come as a tempest that were like to destroy and marre all: yet notwithstanding wee shall be maintained by the hand of God. Nowe then if our Lord take vsus so into his protection, and telleth vsus that wee dwell in any countrey at his appointment: ye see we may wel assure our selues, and defie all our enemies. Contrariwise, if God list to forsake vsus: wee bee vndone, there shall neede no great force to ouerthrowe vsus. Therefore let vsus learne to submit our selues cōtinually to the tuition of our God, and to pray him to bee our defence. And when wee see great forces prepared against vsus, let vsus flee to his promise, and waite to bee succoured of him at our neede. Thus ye see that the applying of his doctrine to our vse, consisteth not in thinking that only princes are taught thereby what they should doe: for the meane people also are to be comforted therby, forasmuch as they may see thereby that God defendeth them as his flocke.
Also let vsus call to minde what was rehearsed here, concerning kinred. In deede it was treated of at length yesterday: howbeit forasmuch as Moses speaketh of it againe, in making mention of the children of Moab and of their brethren the Ammonites: and seeing that God setteth before his peoples eyes the kinred which they had with these nations: Let vsus marke yt wee must liue peaceably and brotherly one with another, bicause God hath knit vsus together. In deede wee shal not all be kinsfolke in respect of the flesh: but yet is there such a [generall] vnion among mankinde, as wee ought not at any time to bee such straungers one to another, yt there should not be some communicating together: & specially forasmuch as we be all created after one likenes, & we see as it were our own flesh & bones in other folkes persons, in respect whereof it behoueth vsus to practise this saying of the Prophet Esay,Esa. 58.7. that we must not hate our own flesh. But besides this, there is an image of God which shineth in all men: and is it not reason that wee should doe it so much honour, as to reuerence it wheresoeuer it sheweth it selfe? Againe seeing God hath called vsus to the knowing of him, and will hauehave vsus to call vponupon him as our father, and hath vouchsafed that wee shoulde bee marked with Baptisme, and be graffed into the bodie of our Lord Iesus Christ, and that he openeth vsus his kingdome, to take vsus in thither as into our common inheritaunce: must it not needes be that wee be worse than beastes, if yet for all this, wee will not bee kinde hearted one to another, to bee as brethren, and to abstaine from all anoyance and extorsion? And herewithall let vsus marke also, that the neerer God bringeth men together, and maketh any neighbourhood between them▪ the more readie ought they to be to doe seruice one to another: and that if they doe it not, it is as a defying of God and nature.
But nowe let vsus see what kinred there was betweene the children of Israel, and the Moabites and Ammonites. Truly the original of these two peoples was of incest, so as they could not boast of their Pedegree. And in deede the verye names of them were euerlasting marks of their shame. For what is Moab to say? Of my father. What? that the daughter had conceiued childe by her owne father? Yea: and that (ye see) was a beastly and cursed deede. And againe, what is meant by Ammon? [It is as much to say, as] Of myne owne people, that is to saye, of mine owne bloud: for he also was borne of the other daughter, who had made her father drunken as her sister had done, and so conceiued by him likewise: and all this was against nature. Ye see then that these nations are no better worthie than to bee counted Harlottes birdes borne in a brothelhouse: but that they were yet in more horrible plight, because their begetting was against all order and humane honestie. And yet notwithstanding, God will hauehave the children of Israel to acknowledge their kinred wt them, not for any honor or worthinesse sake, but onelyonly bicause of Lot. For although he were so beastly drū ken, as to be bereft of discretiō: yet did God cō tinue his goodnes towardes him, and therefore vouchsafed he to fauour his linage & the childrē that came of his race. And therein we see yt God had not an eye to the excellencie of those nations to whom he shewed himselfe so beneficiall, but yt he did all of his owne free merciemercy. Likewise also as touching the children of Israel, if God had looked for noblenesse to moue him to shew himselfe so gratious towards them, and to deale so friendly with them: what would hauehave come of it? For ye chiefe stocke among them was ye tribe of Iuda.Ge. 38.… And whence came Phares and his brother Zare? Euen of incest too. For Iuda thinking to hauehave medled with a harlot as common as a Colmanhedge, had to do with his owne daughter in lawe, & played the beast as dogs and buls doe. Ye see then it was so great a villanie, yt euen the Heathen men would hauehave bene ashamed of it. They that neuer knewe of God nor of Religion, could not hauehave done worse. To bee short, it was ynough to hauehave made al his ofspring to hauehave bin quite rooted out. And yet nowithstāding we see that Dauid came of the same race, and that it was Gods will to stablish the seate of a kingdome in his tribe, yea & that not of an earthly & transitorie kingdome onelyonly, but of such a one as should bee a figure of the euerlasting kingdome that bringeth vsus to heauen, insomuch that euen our Lord Iesus Christ came of the same stocke. And so wee see (as I said afore) that God sought not any worthines in this behalfe, as who should say that this people was of more dignitie and noblenesse than all the rest of the worlde, and therefore he would make much of them. No no: but he powred out the infinite treasures of his goodnesse vppon them. Yea and the basenesse of the children of Israel, caused Gods inestimable goodnesse to bee perceiued the better, and gaue the greater glosse vntounto it. Then let vsus consider, that whereas here is mention made of the Moabites and Ammonites: GOD alledgeth them not as in waye of exalting the thing that is in man, or to put in ballaunce, their desertes, their qualities, or any renowne of theirs which they hauehave gotten by their owne trauell. He meaneth no such thing. But forasmuch as it pleased him to louelove Lot, and to continue his merciemercy towardes him & his linage, notwithstanding the foule and outragious fault that he had committed: Therefore is it his will that ye Moabites and Ammonites shall still inioy the landes that he had giuen them.
And let vsus note further, that although God bestowed his blessinges so largely vppon those two Nations: yet they were neuer the better for it, but became so much ye more vnexcusable in the ende. For surely their vnthankefulnesse shewed it selfe in that they knewe not that God spared them. Let vsus marke well then, that Gods preseruing of vsus in this worlde, and his defending of vsus with his hande, and his making of vsus to scape our enemies handes, and his susteining of vsus through his fauour, is not all [that wee ought to desire]. For the hauing of all this will boote vsus nothing at all, if wee want the principall: which is, that God bee mercifull to vsus, that wee call vppon him, that wee referre our selues wholly vntounto him, and that we knowe him to bee our father, not to maintaine vsus heere for a two or three dayes onelyonly: (for this life is but a little shadowe that glideth away out of hand): but to bee our euerlasting Sauiour, and that wee walke in such wise vnderunder his awe, as wee not only look to be guided by him for a little while: but also that hee should gather vsus to him in the ende, so as when hee hath made vsus to passe through this worlde, at the last wee shall hauehave a much better inheritance which is prepared for vsus in heauen. When wee once knowe this, wee hauehave all. And that will make vsus to inioy these earthly blessings to our welfare. Otherwise they shall bee turned into a curse: Insomuch that they to whome GOD hath done most good, shalbe founde most blameworthie before him. And why? Because they hauehave abused them. For wee doe wickedly corrupt all Gods benefites, when wee bee not ledde and prouoked by them to honour him for them, and to put our selues wholly into his handes, to flee to him for refuge. Let vsus then put this doctrine in vre: and while wee passe through this worlde, let vsus not deuour the benefites that God sendeth vsus, to become brute beastes here, pooring with our muzzels vppon the grounde: but rather let vsus lift vp our heades to heauenwarde, and consider that God calleth vsus to him, and that it is to no purpose to hauehave had some earthly prosperitie, except wee goe further, that is to witte vntounto our GOD, to bee knitte vntounto him for euer. Thus yee see what we hauehave to beare in minde.
Yea and let vsus marke also that the two nations which are spoken of heere, shewed themselues too too vnkinde, in yeelding farre other rewarde to the children of Israel than was to be looked for. Wee see that the children of Israel passed by them [quietly,] paying readie monie for all thinges, yea euen for the water that they dranke. The Moabites therefore and the Ammonytes not onelyonly had no cause to complaine, seeing they were not greeued nor troubled by the children of Israel, nor receiued any harme or losse by them: but also ought to hauehave considered thus, Beholde, Gods will is to stablishe the brotherhood that is betwixt them and vsus, and that ought wee to print well in our mindes. In so much that although they had had neither stories nor Chronicles: yet ought that to hauehave beene a thing of renowne among them, and the report of it ought to hauehave beene common from father to sonne, to the ende they might hauehave applied and indeuoured themselues to maintaine one another. Though there had beene none other alyance nor promise: yet ought that to hauehave suffised to maintaine peace and agreement betwixt them. But contrariwise they became Scorpions to sting the children of Israel: and when they coulde not make warre against them themselues,Ezec. 25.12. they linked in with their enemies, and procured them manie quarrels.Adb. 11. And whensoeuer any aduersitie befell them, they playde the barking curres and made hew and crie after them, as wee see is spoken of them by the Prophetes and the Psalmes:Psal. 137.7. For it is saide, Lorde remember the children of Edom, which were the neerest of kinne vntounto them: for they came of Esau and were circumcised as well as the children of Israel, they bore the badge of Gods couenaunt, as householde folkes of his Church: and yet for all that, in the day of Ierusalem they cryed out, vppon them vppon them, roote them out so as one stone may not abide vpō another. Thus see ye so greate a crueltie, that euen the enemies woulde hauehave beene more courteous, than these which had cause to hauehave beene so, and ought to hauehave beene as brothers. As much is to bee saide of Moab. For when the poore Iewes were put to any afterdeele and fledde vntounto Moab, in hope to hauehave some refuge there: they were betrayed by these to whome they had conueied themselues. And therefore doth God complaine of such crueltie saying:Esa. 26.4. Moab, thou wart the couert of my people, but when they came to thee, thou drauest them away, yea and deltest more cruelly with them th…n their enemies. That was the recompence which those nations yeelded whom God had so greatly borne withall, and to whom hee had shewed so great kindnesse: but yet ought not that vnkindnesse of theirs, to make the children of Israel to shewe themselues vncurteous towardes them. For their sparing of them after that sort, increased their condemnation the more, I meane them that had so ill acknowledged the benefite. And therfore GOD failed not to punish such trecherie.
Nowe then wee bee taught, first not to passe whether men acknowledge ye good that we hauehave done them or no. For albeit that wee may seeme to lose the thing that wee shall hauehave done: yet let it suffise vsus that GOD alloweth our obedience, in that hee saieth, bee kindeharted towardes all men. And when wee shall hauehave indeuoured to doe good to all men, without hurting of any man: if men acknowledge it not, but doe the contrarie vntounto vsus: verie well, let vsus not passe for it, but let vsus beare their vnthankefulnesse patiently. For why? Wee hauehave serued GOD, who will not forget what wee hauehave done. Therefore if the worlde bee set vppon such frowardnesse, as wee may bee occasioned to feele some griefe and impatiencie: yet must wee still keepe on our course, which God hath commaunded vsus. Marke that for one point.
And it is a verie needful lesson in these dayes. For if we should fal to reckning of our cards, before we would shew any kindnes one to another: what a thing were that? When should a man begin to doe good? [neuer:] for we see how al the world is so corrupted, as is pitifull to thinke. It seemeth that wee cast our good turnes into the throtes of woolues or madde dogges, and that it is nothing else but a prouoking of their malice more and more, which seeke to abuse our simplicitie. But yet for all that, it behoueth vsus to hauehave an eye to that which God commandeth.
Nowe whereas men on their side are so malicious and froward: let vsus marke, that as God took vengeance of the Moabites, Edomites and Ammonites, for misusing the children of Israel after that sort: so will he doe the like nowadayes. I tolde you euen now that the Prophets doe oftentimes make mention of the slender recompence, that these nations yeelded to the children of Israel: but did God let them alone from heauen? No. For although the children of Israel cō plained not: yet did God take their case in hand, and set himselfe as counterpartie against those nations. He taryed not till the crie of the afflicted did come vp vntounto him, and vanish away in the aire: but he sendeth them his Prophets, and telleth them that forasmuch as he had taken the people of Israel into his protection, he wilbe reuenged of the outrage that is done vntounto them. For although that they on their side did suffer it iustly, for shrinking from their subiection to God: yet notwithstanding, the Edomites, Moabites & Ammonites ought to hauehave pitied their brethrē. And therfore did God set himselfe against them and saide, You also must flee when your turne comes about, and no man shall receiue you: yee shalbee scattered throughout the worlde, and not finde any place to rest in.Abd. 17. Ios. 6.26. Againe, when hee speaketh of the Edomites: wee see hee curseth them, and in the meane season comforteth his owne people. There shalbe a horrible spoile (saith he) through the whole countrie of Iewrie▪ but yet will I bring home my people againe in time. But as for Edom, cursed shall hee bee that buildeth it againe, or that goeth about to builde it and set it vp againe. Hee shall lay the foundation of it in his first borne, that is to say, all the preparation that shall bee made to set vp this people againe, shall fall downe in the ende, and they that helpe him shall perish: for there shalbe no helpe, but it shall fall out against him. Nowe then, sith wee see this, let it suffise vsus that wee hauehave indeuoured to doe our duetie. For our God will take the case in hande for vsus, and bee on our side. If men bee malicious towardes vsus, and render euill for good: GOD will make himselfe the counterpartie against them, and although wee sit still and make no countenance to reuenge our selues: yet will GOD put to his hande. Thus yee see what wee hauehave to beare in rememberannce concerning these nations.
But there is yet this point to bee noted where it is saide, That there had beene Gyants in all the Countries of the nations afore mentioned▪ and that God had driuen them out. For Moses intended to doe vsus to w…, that the successours of Ammon, Moab, and Esau, had beene brought into those countries by the hande of God. As if he should say, there was no force in themselues to conquer the countries that they possessed: for they were too farre ouer matched. And therefore as touching their bringing of their matters to passe: it must be concluded that it was god which wrought that chaunge. Mark that for one point.
And hee addeth, that it was to be considered that the children of Israel had gotten the possession of their land after the like maner. He speaketh here as of a matter alreadie come to passe. As if hee shoulde say, Goe to, looke about yee my friendes; see how God bringeth you into the lande that he promised to your fathers for an inheritance. When yee be come thither, and that hee hath setled you there: thinke yee that hee woulde maintaine you there, if he had not compassion vppon you, according as you shall hauehave good neede thereof? For yee shalbe hated of all the worlde: and therefore your God must bee faine to maintaine you. Nowe if you be desirous to bee preserued by him, attempt not any thing against his hande, and you shall perceiue that hee will set himselfe against all such as shall goe about to hurt you. Therefore must you bee gentle towardes them that are in the same case that you are. Nowe wee see what Moses meaning is. Wherfore let vsus learn to come home to our selues when wee consider not Gods benefites towardes other men, as in deede oftentimes wee hauehave our eyes blindfolded. If a man tell vsus that wee ought to consider the good that God hath done to our neighbour: wee passe not for it. But when wee enter into our selues, then are wee conuicted, and wee learne what it is to forsake others. That is the common lesson which is giuen vsus heere. As howe? for it would bee darke still, if it were not set out plainlyer by example. If it bee saide vntounto vsus generally, God hath giuen euerie man that which his pleasure is that hee shall hauehave and possesse: thereuppon such as pille and polle their neighbours, & vse violence and extortion, notwithstanding that they make their quarel against creatures, do in deed match themselues against God, who wil hauehave order kept in the world. Whē any man tels vsus heereof, wee are not perswaded of it that it shoulde bee so. For wee hauehave euer some fonde toye or other to bleare our owne eyes with all. What, say wee? Is such a man rich by the will of God? And howe knowe wee that? Nay rather, I see hee is inriched by euill meanes. We make no bones in construing the thing the cleane contrarie way. And why? Because wee consider not Gods grace in our neighbours. But if a man say vntounto vsus: See what God hath done for thee: thou must doe him homage for it: if thou acknowledge it hee will make thee to inioye it, yea and thy inioying of it shall bee for euer.
Againe, looke that thou succour thy neighbours according to the abilitie that hee hath giuen thee: and if thou goe that way to worke, all shall turne to thy benefite. Now then we see to what purpose Moses hath alledged this admonition: and after what manner wee ought to practise it.
And besides this, let vsus marke in general, that the chaunges which happen, come not but by Gods hand and prouidence. When wee see a mightie people, when wee see strong and well manned Cities, when wee see all other meanes that may serue to the maintenance of a Countrie, and yet the same is conquered by enemies: it must needes bee thought that God wrought therein. And therefore let vsus learne to behold Gods iudgementes in al the alterations, that are seene in the worlde. And although all things bee on a broyle: yet let vsus vnderstande that God holdeth the sterne aboue. True it is that men will make vprores, and runne into disorder, and when they keepe a greate stirre, to their seeming God is shut out of doores. But when they hauehave practised what they can, yet shall it not stoppe God from turning all things to such ende as hee hath purposed in his minde. And therefore as I saide afore, let vsus not imagine that fortune beareth any sway in the worlde: but let vsus assure our selues that God hath reserued the souereintie to himselfe, to bring euen all the turmoyles that men rayse vp, to such ende as hee hath ordeined, of purpose to punish the sinnes of such as offende him, to pull downe the pride of such as are too loftie, and to cut off his blessings when he seeth them misused. That is the thing which we hauehave to note.
And euen these manner of speeches, That God draue out the Gyantes before the face of the Edomites and before the face of the Moabytes, doe yet better confirme the things that are saide alreadie, according as wee hauehave seene heeretofore, that it is hee which putteth men in feare.Exo. 23.27. Deut. 2.4. For if it please him, although men hauehave no courage at all, but bee fearefull and henharted▪ yet will hee make them strong and stout, so as they shalbee as vnmoueable as rockes when other come to incounter against them. And on the otherside although they bee Gyantes and carie the countenaunces of Lyons: yet can God weaken them in one moment, so as they shall runne away from their owne shadowes, though no bodie else pursue them. Forasmuch then as Moses vseth such manner of speeches: let vsus assure our selues that men hauehave not their heartes in their owne handes, to strengthen them at their neede. And therefore let vsus take warning thereby, to trust that GOD will discomfit our enemies without the power of man: and that if they rise vp against vsus with neuer so violent rage: yet shall they bee beaten downe, and not bee able to doe any thing against vsus. And why? For GOD which when hee listeth doeth put to flight not only men of smal courage, but also euen Gyants which are so howge that they astonish men euen with their looke: can well ynough skil how to put them backe with al their boldnesse.
And therefore let vsus learne to call vppon GOD, that hee may vouchsafe to giuegive vsus corage at neede, and that wee may bee strengthened by him: for else what will become of vsus? Wee shall bee as weake as water, though no man preace much vponupon vsus. And this must teach vsus to walke the more warely, considering the weakenesse or rather brittlenesse that is in vsus: to the intent wee bee not so foolish, as to ground our selues vppon our owne strength and courage, but pray vntounto GOD to holde vsus with his mightie hande, and to giuegive vsus inuincible constancie. Nowe if wee bee so vnable to incounter with mortall men: howe much more vnable are wee to incounter our ghostly enemies? Are wee able to withstand Satan and all his assaults? Alas, wee come farre short. And therefore let vsus followe the counsell that is giuen vsus heere: let vsus pray GOD to driue away Satan, and to cut a sunder all the cordes which holde vsus heere fast tyed, and therewithall to giuegive vsus such power to resist him, as wee may hauehave victorie euen vntounto the ende. Thus yee see what wee hauehave to remember vppon this text of Moseses.
Furthermore where as hee saith, that God led his people about by the space of eight and thirtie yeeres, vntill such time as all those that were able to beare armour at the time that the people murmured, were consumed: it serueth still to bring to rememberance the thing that hath beene spoken: namely that God executed the vengeance which he had threatened to his people. And (as wee see) it is a verie profitable lesson, to teach vsus to tremble at Gods threatenings, as well as to bee mooued at his promises. Such is our nature, that when GOD promiseth vsus any thing, wee fall to scanning and disputing of it, so as wee cannot rest vppon it, to say it shall bee so: wee cannot conclude that it is Gods will. True it is that we will confesse it with our mouth: but as for to bee fully resolued of it, wee will none of that, vnlesse his trueth bee well sealed and warranted in our heartes by his holie spirite. And yet euen then too, we be so inclyned to distrust, that we draw still backe from the thing that God promiseth vsus: so brutish and dulheaded are we.
And this appeareth yet more when he threatneth vsus, So much the more then ought wee to thinke vppon his iudgementes, and to consider that if hee bee prouoked, the threatenings that hee hath vttered with his mouth shall not fall to the grounde, but hauehave their effect and performance.
Thus ye see to what purpose Moses rehearseth again, that all they which were aboue twentie yeere olde at the time that the people murmured, were consumed, and that not by casualtie, but according to the Lordes owne saying. And this was to assure the people yet more, to the ende they might perceiue that Gods threatening of them was in good earnest.
And herewith all let vsus also call to rememberance, that God cannot abide that men shoulde despise and refuse the benefite that hee offereth, and let occasion slippe: for if hee open the gate, and men will not enter, hee cannot beare with that negligence of theirs matched with disobedience. For what was the cause that God was so prouoked to anger, that hee sware that all the carkeises of the people shoulde rotte in the wildernesse,Num. 14.31. and that hee vsed so sharpe wordes vntounto them? It was for that they had refused to enter into the lande that hee had promised them. Wee see then, that vnthankefulnesse prouoketh Gods vengeance against vsus to the vttermost, specially when wee refuse the benefite that hee offereth vsus, and that such refusall proceedeth of wilfulnesse and malice, which happeneth in manner continually. For what maketh vsus so loath to receiue the good turnes that GOD woulde doe vsus; but our owne vnbeleefe, forasmuch as wee thinke not that he will keepe touch with vsus, but rather fall to reasoning what will become of it? And therefore let vsus marke well that men shall neuer bereaue themselues of Gods benefits, but through their owne distrust. Wherefore it standeth vsus so much the more on hande to indeuour to beleeue al the promises of our God, and to receiue his sayings purely and simply, and to yeeld vntounto them without any gainesaying. Lo wherupon it behoueth vsus to rest.
Nowe as concerning the time, true it is that God coulde hauehave destroyed them all at the first day which prouoked him so to anger: he coulde hauehave sent an Angell to hauehave made cleane riddaunce of them, and yet hauehave preserued the young folke by myracle, so as they shoulde hauehave come into the lande the first day: but hee ledde them vp and downe by the space of fortie yeares. And why did hee so? To the ende that others shoulde take example by them. For God seeth, that wee profite better by his corrections and iudgements in processe of time, than if hee shoulde punish vsus out of hande and away. Indeede, in our owne imagination wee had leuer that God shoulde thunder downe at the first dash, and wee thinke wee shoulde perceiue his power much better, if hee wiped them quite out of the world which hauehave offended him, and that wee might see the wicked consumed at once. And what woulde become of it, if hee shoulde out of hande destroy and take away all those out of the worlde, which are not worthie to liue in it? If it were so, wee woulde within a day or twaine forget the thinges that he had shewed vsus before our eyes. Wee may well weene the contrarie, but God knoweth that it is so. For hee leaueth the wicked heere in this worlde, where they hauehave their delightes, sportes, and triumphes at their pleasure: and that is to trie our patience. Neuerthelesse sometimes God setteth them languish as well as other folkes, so as a man may see them dragge their legges after them, and they bee as it were vppon the racke, and God setteth them before vsus as looking glasses, so as we may well perceiue, that it is more for our profite to see his iustice so prolonged, by making the wicked to languish after that manner: than if hee shoulde sende them their punishmentes out of hande. This (saye I) stickes faster in our rememberance. Yee see then howe wee be better taught by the delay of Gods iustice, than if it were executed at once and out of hande. And that was the cause why it behoued God to bee fortie yeeres space in consuming the people, to shewe them that they were not worthie to enter into the promised lande. For thereby the younger sort were occasioned to thinke, why did not God giuegive vsus the fruition of the lande at the first day? It is because our fathers murmured against him. And so are wee depriued of the inheriting thereof from our childhoode, and that not for a day or two, but it was Gods will that we shoulde wander in this wildernesse a long time, to the end that the sinne of our fathers might be the better printed in our minds, to beware that wee followed them not in that behalfe. Yee see then that by this meanes the yonger folke were taught to liue in the feare of God, and to be better aduised than their fathers were. And therefore whensoeuer God executeth not his iustice vppon the wicked, to make cleane riddance out of hande, but consumeth them by little and little: let vsus learne to hold our wittes alwayes tied vp and as it were in suspense. And in the meane time let vsus take the instruction that God giueth vsus thereby, & learne to beare them wel in mind, and neuer to forget them: for his intent is to put vsus in minde of them vntil we hauehave throughly digested them. After this manner must wee practise this doctrine, concerning the time that is set downe heere by Moses, wherein God led his people vp and downe by the space of eight and thirtie yeares, wherevnto two yeares moe were added afterwarde, to make vp the full number of fortie.
Nowe let vsus kneele downe in the presence of our good God with acknowledgement of our sinnes, praying him to vouchsafe to bring vsus more and more to such repentance, that wee mourning for them before him, may acknowledge that there is nothing but cursednesse and destruction in vsus, wherein wee should dwell stil, if he pitied vsus not, and that in the meane while we may not be so frowarde and malicious, as to turne heade against him, though hee handle vsus roughlier than wee would bee, but that acknowledging it to bee rightfull that hee should touch vsus with his hande, wee may bee so reformed, as our whole seeking may bee to mortifie all our affections and lustes, and to please him and to obey his righteousnesse: and that therewithall he strengthen vsus in such wise, as wee may fight stoutly vnderunder his antsigne, & by that meanes be mainteined vnderunder his protection, vntill we hauehave finished our race in this worlde, and bee taken vp into his euerlasting rest, after wee hauehave outstoode the battelles that wee hauehave to indure here. That it may please him to grant this grace not onelyonly &c.