Sermons on Deuteronomy, Sermons · Sermon 144
On Fryday the xiiij. of February, 1556. The CXLIIII. Sermon which is the third vponupon the fiue and twentith Chapter.
13 Thou shalt not hauehave two manner of weightes in thy bagge, a great and a little.
14 Thou shalt not hauehave two manner of Ephas in thy house a great & a litle.
15 But thou shalt hauehave a iust and a right weight, thou shalt hauehave a perfect & a iust Epha, that thy dayes may be prolonged in the lande which the Lord thy God giueth thee.
16 For all they which doe such thinges, and all they which deale vnrighteously are an abhomination before the Lorde thy God.
17 Remember what Amalec did vntounto thee by the way after your comming out of Egypt.
18 Howe hee came against thee in the way, and in the hindmost of thy traine strake all the weake which followed thee when thou wast fainte and wearie: and he feared not God.
19 Therefore when the Lord thy God shal hauehave giuen thee rest from al thine enemies which are round about thee in the lande which the Lord thy God giueth thee to possesse, then shalt thou put out the remembraunce of Amalec from vnderunder heauen: forget it not.
THere are two thinges especiallie wherein wee offende our neighbours, to wit, deceyte and open violence. For some are giuen to deceite and malicious wilinesse, to deceiue and beguile men: others vse open wronging and iniuries. In priuie deceite the most mischeeuous meane of beguiling that any man can vse, is the falsifying of weightes and measures. For the vse of them is the onelyonly way for men to buy and sell by, without strife or variaunce. If we hadde not monie wherewith to buye thinges; what a disorder should wee hauehave? And wares also are commonly solde by weight and measure. Nowe then if there bee deceyte eyther in monie or in weightes or in measures, the bonde of that intercommoning which men hauehave together among themselues is broken: so as they become like dogges and Cattes, and there is no meanes for them to deale one with an other. And therefore no maruell though our Lorde doe greatly mislike the falsifying of weightes and measures, and tell vsus that it is the worst and detestablest robberie that can bee. If a theefe purpose with him selfe to take a bootie, hee will set on a man, and from one hee will goe to an other. But wee are sure there is no theefe can passe his boundes so farre, as to spoyle and robbe the whole worlde. But he which vseth false weightes and false measures, hath no regarde at all, when hee robbeth; but doeth wrong vntounto all ingenerall: and that is the next way to peruert all ciuill order▪ so as no humanitie or common honestie may remayne any longer among men. What shall Lawes doe? Or to what purpose shall Iustice serue, whē there is no more anie playne nor vpright dealing in those thinges which shoulde helpe men to mayntaine their estate? Wee hauehave therefore a verie necessarie law in this place, where mention is made of weightes and measures. It is sayde: Thou shalt not hauehave diuerse stones in thy bag. And that is because in olde time they were woont to make their weightes of stone. And this importeth asmuch as if it were sayde: Thou shalt hauehave a iust weight and a iust measure. Moreouer let vsus beare in minde alwayes that which hath beene sayde before, namely that GOD oftentimes vnderunder one speciall kinde, giueth a generall doctrine. And so it is all one as if we were commaunded generallie in all buying and selling, to vse reasonable and vpright dealing without anie falsehoode. For when a man selleth one kinde of ware for an other, it is all one as if hee falsifyed his weightes or his measures. A simple man commeth to a shoppe and asketh for cloath: hee knoweth it not, but trusteth the Marchant, and the Marchant sayeth vntounto him, here is cloath of such a place: and hee knoweth well that hee lyeth: now this is all one, as if he had giuen him halfe a yarde or three quarters of a yarde, for a whole yarde. So then wee see how GOD ordeyneth in generall that our trayding shoulde bee after such a sorte as that hee which buyeth doe bring lawfull monie, and that hee which selleth doe deliuer his wares at a reasonable price and vse no falsehoode, neither in weight nor in measure, at leastwise if it bee such wares as are woont to bee measured by the yarde or ell, or weyed in scales or balaunces, but that on either part there bee true and iust dealing vsed.
And sith wee see so manie lawes tending all to this end, that no man shoulde be deceyued, but that euerie man shoulde hauehave his right; let vsus alwayes remember this saying,Matt. 23.23 That GOD will hauehave merciemercy, iudgement and iustice. And therefore let vsus hauehave compassion on them which are in necessitie, to releeue and succour them. And secondlie let vsus not onelie yeeld to euerie man his right, but also when wee see anie man wrong his neighbour, let vsus not suffer it, nor bee consenting vntounto it in anie case. Loe wherein wee exercise our selues if wee will order our life according to the will of GOD. For excepte wee doe so, what fayre countenaunce soeuer wee sette vppon thinges, yet all shall bee but detestable hypocrisie in the sighte of GOD, vntill wee hauehave learned to liue charitablie with our Neighbours, and to obserue this vprightnesse which nature hath taught vsus,Matt. 7.12. of not doeing otherwyse vntounto others than wee woulde hauehave doone vntounto our selues. Heere withall also wee be made to knowe our owne naughtinesse. For it were enough to hauehave warned vsus in one word, if wee were disposed to doe well, and had not such a rebelliousnesse within vsus, that wee euer drawe backewarde from that which is good. Then if men were inclined of themselues to do right and to exercise humanitie: it were enough to make but a signe vntounto them, and to say: Yee see what your duetie is: But nowe God is faine to make often repetitions, he is fayne to strengthen the lawes which hee hath giuen, hee is fayne to expounde them, he is fayne to heape commaundement vppon commaundement. And what is the cause hereof, but that wee are ouerharde to bee ruled, and that our desires are as fell and furious beastes: so that one bonde is not strong enough to binde vsus, but wee must be hampered with many cordes, nay wee must hauehave chaynes and fetters layde on vsus? So then let vsus know that our willes and minds are farre from beeing disposed to obey God. And therefore let euerie man quicken vp and inforce himselfe the more, considering how it is not without cause that God maketh so often rehearsall of that which serueth to bring vsus to brotherlie faithfulnesse and friendshippe; for asmuch as we drawe cleane backewarde from that which hee commaundeth as I hauehave tolde you before. Moreouer let vsus beare in minde, that the more a thing maketh to the common benefite of al, the better is it alwayes to bee obserued. Nowe I hauehave tolde you howe there woulde bee extreeme confusion, if there were no weightes nor measures: and therefore if weightes and measures should bee falsified, there woulde scarce remayne any ciuill order in the worlde. Therefore seeing the thing is so requisite and necessarie, that without it wee coulde not liue together, but shoulde bee as wilde and sauage beastes; let vsus knowe that whoso breaketh any part of this order, offendeth GOD most greeuously: and as the faulte is punishable by earthly Iustice: so let vsus assure our selues, that such offenders when they shall come to render an account before the heauenly Iudge, shal not escape the hande of God: For it was not long of them that all vprightnesse was not cleane abolished. Wherefore let vsus stande in feare of that which is tolde vsus here, and let euerie man deale vprightlie with his Neighbours; Let those which vse any trade of Marchandise hauehave a iust balaunce and a iust measure, and lawfull wares, and let them take heede that they vse no deceyte. Let both the buyers and the sellers vse such trustie dealing, as it may appeare that they hauehave a Lawe which beareth rule in their hearts: and although wee had neither threates nor punishmentes; yet let it suffice vsus that God hath declared his will vntounto vsus. Let that bee of force and power with vsus, to guide and gouerne vsus.
And moreouer whereas it is sayde. That all those which doe such thinges, are an abhomination vntounto GOD: it is spoken to the intent that men shoulde not deceyue themselues by subtiltie or Sophistrie: as wee are alwayes seeking for some starting holes: Such as are desirous to winde in their neighbours with craftinesse, hauehave alwayes some colour to paint their case withall. But although men holde vsus excused, it is nothing seeing wee must come before the heauenly Iudge. For Moses saith, That such a thing is an abhomination before GOD. Therefore let not men beguyle themselues anie more with any of the trifling excuses wherewith manie men doe shroulde themselues, but rather let them thinke thus: Beholde it is our GOD that speaketh, it will not boote vsus to disguise our matters. For hee will not suffer himselfe to bee mocked: and it is before him that wee must answere. And therefore let vsus walke in such wise as our owne conscience may beare vsus good witnesse, and as wee may protest not onelie with our mouth but also within with our heart, yt we hauehave liued vprightlie with our neighbours, that there is no secrete wickednesse within vsus, and that wee hauehave not made our owne gayne by an other mans losse. Lo (I say) what we hauehave to beare in mind vponupon this place.
And whereas Moses addeth: Whosoeuer doth vnrighteously: it is to confirme that which I said in the beginning: that is, that albeit GOD expresseth here but two kindes, to wit, Weight and Measure: yet notwithstanding, it serueth to put vsus in minde generally, howe men ought to liue with their neighbours without hurting of them. For if GOD leaue no kinde of wickednesse vnpunished, whether wee plucke other mens goods vntounto vsus by force or vse deceite to beguile the simple; if GOD call all such thinges to account: what will become of vsus when wee shall hauehave committed more outragious crymes, so as wee shall hauehave peruerted all common order, by playing the robbers & theeues in raking to ourselues whatsoeuer we coulde come by, as those doe which vse false weightes and false measures? For certaine it is, that vnderunder pretence of buying and selling, such foolkes doe play the rancke theeues, and are worse than those which robbe in the woods. And therefore let vsus knowe that whereas God pronounceth himselfe a Iudge to punishe all manner of wickednesse, hee sheweth that by greater reason, vengeaunce shall fall on them which make no conscience or remorse, to rake other mens goods vntounto themselues without discretion, or rather which hauehave giuen their lustes so large scope, that they rushe foorth into all euill, and all men both greate and small are faine to passe their pawes. Thus yee see in effect what the thing is which Moses meant to declare vntounto vsus in this place. Nowe if at that time it was behoouefull and necessarie, that GOD shoulde represse such deceytes as were committed in weightes and measures, howe much more needefull is it that hee shoulde doe the like nowe? For certainlie there is nowe no such vpright dealing in the worlde as was at that time: but corruptions are still increased: and therefore so much the more ought wee to exercise our selues in this lawe. And let vsus not thinke that wee may excuse our selues by the great number of deceiuers and pollers which are nowadayes: but let vsus knowe that the lawe of GOD is euerlasting: and that if wee wil bee taken for the children of GOD, wee must keepe that vprightnesse whereof Moses here speaketh, notwithstanding all the wickednes that is cōmitted in the world. And that is the cause also why he thinkes it not enough to say: Those which doe such thinges are an abhomination in the sight of the Creator: but he addeth also: Before thy God. And therefore we must alwayes returne vntounto this point▪ yt because GOD hath adopted vsus for his children wee must not bee carried away with euill customes. Though this man misbehaue himselfe and that man bee offensiue through his euill life; yet must wee still abide constant in obeying our GOD, seeing that he hath chosen vsus, and keepeth vsus for his owne. Thus ye see what we hauehave further to beare in minde concerning this place.
Nowe this lawe needeth not any long exposition. For there is no man which of himselfe knoweth not what confusion there woulde bee in the worlde, if the meane of buying and selling were taken away. Yet neuerthesse yee see howe GOD doeth further open his mouth to teach vsus. HaueHave wee then his lawe in three wordes? It ought to suffice vsus: but yet the practise of it is verie rare. Yea verily: and therefore wee ought not to busye our selues so much in saying ouer the words, which are set downe here, as to minde them throughlie, and to bethinke of them earely and late, and to say, Goe to▪ GOD hath commaunded that we shoulde hauehave iust weightes and equall measures, that wee might deale vprightly one with an other. When wee shall hauehave refreshed our minds with the remembrāce hereof, it wil serue to perswade vsus to order our life in such wise as it beehooueth vsus to do.
Moreouer let vsus note that vnderunder false weights and deceitefull measures, all acceptinges of persons are condemned by GOD. For if it be not lawfull to falsifie a weight or balaunce, if it bee not lawfull to falsifie a measure or yarde; what shal we say of falsifying of iustice? If in a garner, if in a sellar, if in a shop, God wil hauehave men to vse vpright dealing among thēselues: what is to be thought when it commeth to the iudging of a case in Lawe? If a man shoulde swarue aside to the fauouring of any person, what a dealing were that? As I hauehave alreadie touched, we must returne vntounto this generall commaundement of walking in vprightnesse with men, so as wee neuer swarue aside but holde on right foorth as God hath commaunded vsus. And if in Marchandise which are transitorie thinges God will hauehave vsus to obserue such vpright dealing: what ought wee to doe in the case where God is to be serued? Neuerthelesse wee see howe men shape and vnshape themselues, and make lawes after their owne fancies, nowe one way and now an other. But let vsus note that GOD boweth not anie way at our pleasure, but when hee once giueth a lawe, which is vnchaungeable, euerie man must frame himselfe thereafter. And let vsus not beare our selues in hande that wee shall bee our owne Iudges: for wee are not competent enough, but let vsus alwayes abyde in that which God hath commaunded.
Nowe let vsus come vntounto that which Moses addeth concerning Amalec. A man might at first blushe, thinke it an harde case, that it shoulde bee lawfull for the Iewes to reuenge themselues vppon the Amalekites, and that when they were at rest from their enemies, they shoulde then roote them cleane out. Remember Amalec also, because hee woulde hauehave cutte thee off by the way, and made an assault on thy hindermost people, and sought to make hauocke of thee. Forgette it not, but pursue it with fire and sworde. This is a verie seuere and sharpe condemnation. But wee hauehave to note that the Amalekites had prouoked the vengeaunce of God against themselues and were intangled in the condemnation which was alreadie giuen vponupon the people of the lande of Chanaan, as vppon the Amorites, the Pheresites and such like. Wee hauehave before shewed that wee may not account this sentence of GOD anie way cruell, when he ordayned that all these people should bee rooted out of the worlde. For hee had spared them nowe by the space of foure hundred yeares and more. And although they had then deserued to hauehave beene vtterlie ouerwhelmed with destruction;Gen. 15.16. yet was it said that their wickednesse was not then come vntounto full measure. But amended they in all that tyme wherein GOD wayted for their repentaunce with so great patience? No, but of badde they became worse. And therefore it behooued that cleane riddaunce shoulde bee made of them, seeing they were such a stubborn and vnamendable people. The like reason was of Amalec also. And hereby wee see what it is to bee intangled among the wicked, when they are altogether forsaken of GOD. It is all one as if a man woulde cast himselfe into the middest of an hoate burning fire, where hee must needes bee consumed with the wood. Let vsus marke well then that vnderunder the example of the Amalekites, GOD hath warned vsus in this place to take heede, that when wee see men giuen ouer vntounto all wickednesse and hardened in their sinnes, wee come not neere them, nor hauehave any thing to doe with them. And why? For it is the next way to binde vp our selues in the same bundell with them, and then must wee needes perishe together. Wherefore let vsus keepe our selues aloofe from foolke when wee see them so peruerse, and that they bee despisers of GOD, & are become as brutishe as beasts in their wickednesse. Let vsus I say, flee farre from them, vnlesse wee will hauehave their condemnation to take holde of vsus also, and bee carried awaye in the same tempest with them. And that is the cause also wherefore Esay the Prophete cryeth with a lowde voyce,Esa. 48.20. & 52.11. Flie farre from them. Hee is not contented to to say: withdrawe your selues from them, but flie, flie. And yet hee repeateth the same again and saith: separate your selues farre from them. And why? Wee see howe he meant it of such as Moses speaketh of in this place. Let that therefore be noted for one point.
Nowe herewithall we must consider farther, that the Amalekites resisted GOD to the vtermost of their power, and woulde hauehave hindered the Iewes from comming into that inheritance which he had already appointed out for them. Indeede they thought they had waged battell with men: but in verie deede GOD was their aduersary partie. For the Iewes came not thither through their owne power, but God had called them to possesse the Land of Chanaan for their inheritaunce. Therefore when the Amalekites banded themselues in multitudes against them, it was as if they had bidden battell vntounto God. And therefore wee may not maruell that their condemnation was so greeuous, seeing they flang foorth into so great rage [euen against God himselfe.] I graunt they knewe not certeynly that the Iewes had any such promise made them: and yet for all that, they were not altogether ignoraunt of it: It sufficed for their condemnation, that they ought to hauehave knowē by certaine signes that it was a power exceeding mans power, and thereupon shoulde hauehave beene feared from rushing so venterously an… at randō against those which were gouerned by the hande of God. And therefore wee are warned, when wee take any thing in hande, to beware that wee hauehave not God our enemie and aduersarie partie. Nowe hee hath declared, that forasmuch as the Church is in his protection, if wee attempt anie thing against the faithfull, whether it bee generallie or particularlie, it is all one as if we came to warre against God. And what shall wee get by that?Deut. 32.10 It is not for nought that he hath saide, That hee keepeth vsus as the apple of his eye. And therefore let vsus learne to abstaine from all doing of wrong, and consider well that if we prouoke the liuing God to anger, it must needes bee to our great confusion in the end.
Now as this doctrine ought to serue vsus for a bridle, to make vsus to abstaine from all outragious and wrongfull dealinges: So wee see on the other side what a comfort it is vntounto the faithfull when they know that God hath such a care ouer them, ye he will take their part and be their defendour, and that if any man harme them he declareth that the iniurie is doone vntounto himselfe. Therefore sith wee see that God setteth himselfe expressely on our part, ought wee not to take courage vntounto vsus, and to rest our selues wholy vppon his promises? Yet notwithstanding there are but fewe which can tast of this doctrine. For what is the cause that wee bee so kindled with desire of reuenge as soone as any man molesteth or troubleth vsus? It is because we knowe not that God watcheth ouer vsus, and hath his hande stretched out to maintaine vsus, and that hee will not suffer anie outrage to bee doone vntounto vsus, but he will redresse it and send vsus helpe and succour in time conuenient? Were we throughlie perswaded hereof, wee would be as meeke and quiet as lambes, wee woulde bee patient in our wronges, wee woulde tarie till he redressed them. But what? Because we hauehave no trust in him, euerie of vsus shifteth for himselfe by right or by wrong, wee regarde not what is lawfull for vsus to doe; nay wee thinke we should deceiue our selues if wee shoulde staye vppon the promises of God. And therefore let vsus learne to consider more deepelie of this doctrin, where it is saide: Thou shalt nor forget what Amalecke did vntounto thee by the way. For God sheweth that although we passe it ouer and make no matter of it when wee hauehave beene vniustly vexed, but forget that anie such thing was doone vntounto vsus: yet will hee remember it. Wee are tender enough in our own iniuries; but yet God sheweth, that hee taketh them more to hearte than wee doe, and that hee will punishe them which hauehave vexed vsus and dealte ouerrigorously with vsus, so as hee will call to remembraunce all the euill which they hauehave done vntounto vsus. Ye see then what wee hauehave to beare in minde as touching this place: to wit that wee must take heede of doing any violence to our neighbours; for God will take their cause in hande and we must needs hauehave him for our aduersarie party. That is the first point to bee noted. Secondly let vsus walke in all simplicitie and gentlenesse, knowing that if wee will bee as sheepe, wee shall hauehave a good shepheard which wil keepe vsus from the wolues, insomuch that although wee seeme to be euen in their chappes and readie to be deuoured; yet God will prouide a remedie for all, if wee can put our trust in him and feede our soules with patience,Luke. …1.1…. as our Lorde Iesus Christ declareth.
But now we must also call to remembrance that which wee hauehave treated of before,Deut. …3.4. to wit, that God is then speciallie mooued vntounto anger, when his people are troubled and hindered frō taking possession of their inheritaunce. And if hee hauehave declared such signe of anger against the Amalekites, because they would hauehave withhelde the Iewes from entring into the Land of Chanaan: what will hee doe, if wee noweadayes doe turne away the faithfull from entering; (not into the Lande of Chanaan, but) into the kingdome of heauen? For nowadayes God calleth vsus not to possesse the Lande of Chanaan: but to the immortall and incorruptible life. And therefore we must keepe on our way and labour to come thither. Nowe then, if anie come to trouble vsus: they which shall hauehave cast such stumblingblockes in our waye, that is to say which shall hauehave helde vsus backe from seruing our GOD; shall bee driuen to feele a double curse in comparison of the curse that lighted vppon Amalecke. Nowe let vsus consider howe many there are nowadayes which seeke to turne the children of GOD out of their right waye, some by crueltie and persecutions, others by leawde and wicked examples: to bee short, wee cannot set one foote forwarde in this waye, but wee are troubled, and Sathan deuiseth still I knowe not what to hinder vsus; and euer hee findeth ministers fitte for the purpose. What is the cause that all Churches are not so well ordered, as that God may bee serued with one common accorde, or that wee hauehave not such louelove and agreement among vsus as may shewe in verye deede that wee call vppon GOD as our Father? It is bycause wee are mingled among Amalekites. Wherefore let vsus take heede that they hinder vsus not: and let vsus also on our partes beware that wee trouble not the children of GOD, but rather let euerye of vsus take his companion by the hande as the Prophet Esay speaketh,….3. and saye, Come, let vsus goe and mount vp into the hill of the Lorde, that hee may shewe vsus his wayes, and guide vsus in his righteousnesse. Nowe then if wee will not bee coupled with them whom GOD hath heere ordayned to destruction, let euerie of vsus take payne to guide his neighbour and to further him in the good way, and let none of vsus staye or hinder them which are already on their way to goe whither God hath called them.
Nowe it is sayde: When GOD hath giuen thee rest from all thyne enemyes in the lande whither th… goest to possesse it, then remember the Amalekites. By the… woordes wee are giuen to vnderstande, first of all, that the people to the ende they myght bee the more encouraged to execute that which Moses had in GODS name commaunded them; are certifyed in this place, that in the ende they shoulde hauehave the victorie ouer all their enemyes. For it had beene a matter of laughter, if Moses had sayde, Remember Amalec, and when thou hast made a dispatch of all the rest, roote him out also. For the Iewes myght hauehave answered: What are wee to roote him out? Why? We are yet Wanderers; wee liue as it were at the courtesie of another man; wee knowe not what will betide vsus. In deede God promised vntounto vsus, the land of Chanaan, but hath hee not led vsus vp and downe in the wildernesse, as if we were worthy to bee altogether depriued and defeated of the possessiō of that land which he promised vsus? Why? Wee are yet to enter into it. And what are we thē able to do vntounto Amalec, seing we hauehave so many and so strong enemies? For this cause Moses setteth downe this promise, When the Lord thy God hath giuen thee rest from all thine enemyes, (saith he.) Nowe heereby wee are warned, that when God commandeth vsus any thing which seemeth harde, yea or altogether vnpossible, we ought to hauehave an eye vntounto his power: for otherwyse our courage cannot but fayle vsus. And they which of themselues presume to execute whatsoeuer GOD teacheth by his woorde, doe breake their neckes in the ende through their foolishe presumption. Seeing then it is so, let vsus humbly and earnestly desire of GOD, so to strengthen vsus as wee may bee able to obey him. For the dooing whereof let vsus hauehave an eye vntounto his promyses. For when GOD saith vntounto vsus, Doe thus: he addeth, care not though men withstande you: if you cannot accomplish that which I commaunde you, I hauehave power sufficient in mee to supply your weakenesse: I will vpholde you: and when it shall seeme that you are fallen downe, I hauehave meanes wherewith to helpe you vp agayne: and if the thing be more than you can doe, I will bring it to passe for you. Let vsus therefore arme our selues with these promyses, and thereuppon take courage to marche forewarde in our waye; and what threates soeuer wee heare, or what stumbling blockes so euer are layde in our way; let vsus yet keepe on our course still. And why? Bycause GOD will take care of all, and wee cannot bee deceyued by wayting for his helpe. In deede if wee hauehave not the woorde from his mouth, wee may not trust vppon our owne opinion and say: I hope GOD will helpe mee. Wee may not bee so presumptuous, but wee must assure our selues vppon the warrant which hee giueth vsus; as wee see in this place: Thy GOD wyll giuegive thee rest from all thine enemyes. And therefore Moses sayde not simply, When thou hast conquered the Countrey, when thou hast the victorie ouer all thine enemyes; but hee referreth all vntounto GOD. Whereby hee declareth (as I hauehave already touched) that men may not grounde themselues vppon their owne power and abilitie: but wee must hauehave our recourse alwayes vntounto GOD, and acknowledge that it is in him onelyonly to make vsus inuincible against all our enemyes. And if it was needefull that GOD shoulde woorke in such wyse to make the children of Israel to ouerthrowe the Chananites, Pheresites, Iebusites and the lyke: it is much more needefull that hee shoulde woorke nowadayes with a greater power in vsus, bycause wee are to encounter with more mightie enemyes.Ephes. 6.12. For (as Saint Paule sayeth) our combat is not against fleshe and blooud, that is to say, mortall creatures onelyonly, but also against the Princes of the ayre. In so much that if wee compare the power which wee our selues hauehave to resiste, with the aduauntage which Sathan hath our vsus; alas, hee is the prince of the worlde, and besides that, hee is aboue our heades, so as hee myght ouerwhelme vsus out of hande. And therefore GOD must put to his helping hande and fight for vsus, or else wee shoulde bee a hundred thousande times vanquished. So then, whensoeuer wee are to aduenture vppon any thing, let vsus learne to hauehave an eye alwayes vntounto the power of GOD, assuring our selues that the same is mightie ynough to strengthen vsus. And thereuppon taking courage, let vsus boldly defye all the forces of our enemyes bee they neuer so dreadfull: and let vsus knowe that they are nothing in comparison of the helpe and succour which God hath promised vntounto vsus, and which he is readie to shewe in verie deede. Thus yee see in effect what wee hauehave to beare in minde vponupon this place.
Nowe it is expressely sayde: That the Iewes shall bee reuenged vppon Amalec when they hauehave the lande in possession, which was promised vntounto them: And it serueth to shewe that wee ought to bee as quiet as may bee in executing GODS vengeaunce. For when men reuenge themselues of their enemyes, wee see they are altogether troubled with those bickeringes which they hauehave with them, and they are set all on fire by their passions. And that is the cause why reuenginges are forbidden vsus, when they proceede not from GOD, but that men thrust themselues so into them without any measure or discretion. Will wee then iustifie any reuenge of ours? Wee must bee at peace within our selues: that is to saye, wee must not hauehave an eye to our owne losse or gayne; wee must not bee mooued with any excessiue passion; to bee shorte, wee must hauehave a stayed and setled minde; and aboue all, the zeale of God must abide in vsus and gouerne vsus. Neuerthelater, we may not vnderunder this colour that GOD sayde vntounto his people, Remember the Amalekites, for I will hauehave them rooted out of the worlde; wee may not (I say) take occasion thereupon to reuenge our selues after our owne lust and liking. And why? For God layde not the bridle on his peoples necke, to say, Doe what you thinke good, you shall hauehave leaue to doe what you liste: but hee woulde hauehave the reuenge to proceede from himselfe: whereuppon wee hauehave to note two thinges. The one is that wee must bee appoynted of God, or otherwyse it shall not be lawfull for vsus to lift vp so much as a finger to punish any offences. The other is that although wee hauehave this calling, and that God putteth the sworde in our handes, yet neuerthelesse wee must not bring with vsus our owne affections which alwayes driue vsus on forewarde and ouermaster vsus: but wee must behaue our selues so simply and plainely in this vocation of ours, that the spirit of GOD may gouerne both our heartes and our handes. As touching the first poynt, I tolde you that hee which hath no expresse commaundement of God to that purpose, may not punish offences. If I see a man offend, although I ought to set my selfe against him to the vtmost of my power, and to withstand his wickednesse: yet bycause I am a priuate person, I may not attempt to punish the offender any way. For GOD hath charged mee with no such thing: and men may not on their owne heades, take vppon them any such charge. For although at ye first sight a man would take it for a great vertue if I shoulde fall vponupon a wicked man and apprehend him: insomuch that if he beate or abuse a poore man, & I come and maintaine the good cause, it would be taken for a good deede: yet in verye deede I passe my boundes, and take more vppon mee than God hath commaunded mee; and this deede of mine may not be accounted for a vertue. Yee see then what stayednesse the faithfull ought to keepe in their liuing, to wit, that they attempt not any thing but what God hath giuen them in charge to doe. That is to be noted for one poynt. Nowe for the second, wee must note that vnderunder colour that God hath armed them with authoritie to punish vices, men must not fall into heates through their carnall affections and passions, to reuenge their owne quarels, but must doe that which they knowe GOD liketh of, and yet to no other ende or meaning than hee hath appoynted.
And herewithall let vsus note, that they which are ordained and appointed of God to execute Iustice, ought to keepe themselues in the high beaten way, wherein God willeth them to goe without taking vntounto themselues any new lesson. For it is not for earthly Iudges to make lawes at their pleasure, and to say eueryevery day: I will doe thus, and I will doe otherwise: but they must hauehave a carefull eye to their office and duetie. Beholde it is GOD which speaketh, wee must execute that which hee commaundeth; and therefore let men holde themselues thereunto, and not presume to alter his commaundement in any wise: for otherwise a man may pretende goodly excuses, but God liketh better of the obedience which men yeelde vntounto him, than of al that euer they can alleage in reason, although it hauehave neuer so great likelyhood. Moreouer (as I hauehave alreadie touched) when wee heare concerning Amalec, that GOD woulde hauehave him cleane rooted out: a man might reply and say: What if a man should handle this people gently and spare them? Were it not a reasonable thing? Should a man deale so extremelie with them? Surely when the people of Israel left it vndone, their shewing of merciemercy was a kynde of despysing GOD;1. Sam. 15. and it is certayne that their so dooyng turned to their owne confusion, according whereunto wee see howe it was sayde, You hauehave not executed the vengeaunce of your GOD,Numb. 33.5 and therefore those whome you hauehave suffered to lyue must bee as thornes in your sides to pricke and to punch you; or rather to put out your eyes: you shall surelye finde it so bycause yee hauehave not doone as GOD commanded you. This serueth then to shewe vsus that euerye man must followe that which is appointed him, and when hee once knoweth what his office and calling requireth, hee must simply obey God.
And moreouer let vsus alwaies hauehave recourse to this point, that seeing God sheweth himselfe a friend to our friends and an enemie to our enemies; we must put our whole trust & confidence in him;Exod. 23.2… & hiding our selues vnderunder his wings, wee must not doubt but that he will shew in the ende what care hee hath had of our welfare. For hee sayth,Exod. 13.7. I am moued with iealousie, I am inflamed with choler, bicause of ye iniuries which my people hath suffered. In deede God is not subiect to any passions, he is not moued after the maner of men: neuerthelesse, to shewe howe dearelye hee accounteth of our welfare, and bycause wee conceiue it not excepte hee doe (as yee woulde say) transfigure himselfe and vtter himselfe vntounto vsus in such wyse as wee maye conceyue some passions in him: that is the verie cause why hee sayeth that hee is mooued with choler, and inflamed with a iealousie to defende his people. Let vsus therefore settle our trust thereuppon: and although he doe not by and by lift vp his hand and thunder vppon our enemyes, let vsus not thinke therefore that hee hath forgotten vsus, but let vsus bee patient and sorowfull, and let vsus desire him to accomplish his promises. And if wee so doe, hee will rayse vp such men as we thought to hauehave beene against vsus; and they shall spend themselues in our defence, and wee shall bee armed in such wise agaynst all our enemyes, that wee shall beare away the victorie; and as it is heere declared that hee was the defender of his people in olde time; so he will nowadayes doe much more for vsus, bicause he is come nearer vntounto vsus in the person of his onelyonly sonne.
Nowe let vsus kneele downe before the Maiestie of our good GOD, with acknowledgement of our faultes, praying him to make vsus feele them more and more, and to receyue vsus vntounto merciemercy although wee bee altogether vnworthie of it, and that in the meane tyme hee will so gouerne vsus by his holy spirite, that wee may apply both our handes and our eyes, and our feete to his seruice, and not attempt any thing without his worde, but that whatsoeuer wee doe, wee may doe it with such a zeale, as hee may bee glorifyed and our lyfe may bee in all poyntes referred vntounto his will, without turning of our selues aside eyther to the right hand or to the left, and that wee may learne to rest our selues wholly vponupon him, and not bee tempted to iniurie any man, but that whatsoeuer wickednesse wee see in the worlde, wee may alwayes walke vprightly and soundly, to the intent that when wee bee vniustly and wrongfully tormented, he may shewe himselfe our defender. That it may please him to grant this grace not onelyonly to vsus but also to al people & Nations of the earth, bringing backe all poore ignoraunt people from the superstitions and idolatries wherein they are helde: that so hee may leade them to the knowledge of his trueth: And that for this purpose it woulde please him to raise vp true Ministers of his word, &c.