Sermons on Deuteronomy, Sermons · Sermon 145

Sermons on Deuteronomy · Sermons · Sermon 145

p. 891On Wednesday the xix. of Februarie, 1556. The CXLV. Sermon which is the first vponupon the sixe and twentith Chapter.

WHen thou commest into the lande which the Lorde thy GOD giueth thee for an inheritaunce, and possessest it and dwellest therein,

2 Then shalt thou take of the first of all the fruite of the earth, which the Lorde thy GOD giueth thee, and put these fruites which thou bringest out of thy land, in a basket, and goe vntounto the place which the Lorde thy God shall choose, to place his name there.

3 And thou shalt come vntounto the Priest which shall bee in those dayes, and shalt say vntounto him; I acknowledge this day vntounto the Lorde thy God, that I am come into the land which the Lord sware vntounto our fathers for to giuegive vsus.

4 Then the Priest shall take the Basket out of thy hand, and shall set it downe before the Aultar of the Lord thy God.

5 And thou shalt speake and say before the Lorde thy GOD: My father was a Syrian, a poore man, and hee went downe into Egypt, and soiourned there with a small companie, and grewe there vntounto a Nation great, mighty, and full of people.

6 And the Egyptians vexed vsus, and troubled vsus, and loaded vsus with harde bondage.

p. 892WEe hauehave in this place the Lawe of y^e first fruits which was made for this ende, y^t the Iewes shold thereby acknowledge 10vntounto GOD, that they helde the lande of Chanaan of his mere and onelyonly gifte: as when a Lorde graunteth any Lande in Fee, hee reserueth some Rent and some kind of seruice to himselfe to testifye that the Lande is helde of him. So likewise GOD meant to hauehave a certayne memoriall among the Iewes, whereby they shoulde bee put in minde to serue 20him, for so much as hee nourished them, and that whatsoeuer they had in possession, they helde it of his freebestowed goodnesse. In deede GOD did it not after the manner of mortall men: for those which are Lordes of any land, bee they neuer so riche, hauehave neede of Rentes and reuenewes: for the mayntenaunce of their estate. But GOD who standeth in neede of nothing, ordayned this Lawe, onelyonly for the profite and welfare of his people. For the 30first fruites were not brought vntounto the Temple as though GOD were to receiue some commoditie of them to himselfe: but the bringing of them was to this intent, that the people shoulde bee the better stirred vp by that meanes, to discharge themselues of their duetie towardes GOD. For the first fruites went not for full payment, but they serued onelye for a solemne protestation, thereby to shewe that the people was much more bound 40vntounto GOD.

And let vsus note that GOD by appoynting this Lawe, meant to giuegive vsus to vnderstande what great vnthankefulnesse there is in men, when there must bee such meanes deuised to quicken them vp to acknowledge and confesse his goodnesse. For if there were but one droppe of reason and vnderstanding in vsus, needed we any exhortation to magnifie and extoll onr GOD, for enioying so great benefites 50as hee hath bestowed vponupon vsus? Hee sheweth himselfe▪ so liberall towardes vsus that his blessinges doe euen (as yee woulde saye) stoppe our eyes. And is there not great reason then that this bountifulnesse of his shoulde waken vsus, to declare that wee hauehave not beene forgetfull of those benefites, which hee hath bestowed vppon vsus? Yes verily. But what? Wee must bee spurred forewarde in this behalfe like Asses: whereby wee see what vnthankefulnesse 60and vnfaythfulnesse is in vsus: for that is the cause why GOD ordayned this ceremonie among the Iewes, that they shoulde offer euerye yeere the firstlinges of their fruites. Before they shoulde presume to eate breade of newe Corne, or taste anye other thing, they were enioyned to offer their first fruites vntounto the Priest. And through this oblation all the fruites of the earth were as it were hallowed, I meane in such wise, that then they myght lawfully vse them.

In deede whatsoeuer the earth bringeth foorth, is of his owne nature pure and cleane, neuerthelesse wee our selues are so defyled, that wee corrupt whatsoeuer wee touche, vntyll GOD sende his blessing vppon his creatures, that by that meanes they maye bee sanctifyed agayne to our vse. And that is the cause why Saynt Paule sayeth,1. T… that thorough fayth and prayer, the meates which wee receyue are hallowed: not that there is any vncleanenesse eyther in the breade, or in any other meates themselues, but bycause wee are not woorthie to bee partakers of them, vntill GOD gyue vsus leaue to vse them as to his Children. And this wee obtayne through fayth, and by calling vppon the name of GOD, bycause it pleaseth him to shewe himselfe our foster-father. Yee see then howe the first fruites serued to make all the fruites of the yeere pure and cleane, that men myght lawefullye vse them, and bee made partakers of them, receyuing them as it were from the hande of GOD. And whosoeuer they bee which without makyng this confession, and without yeelding this homage vntounto GOD, doe glutte themselues with meates, although they may saye it is of their owne goods and lyuing, yet notwithstanding they playe the theeues with GOD: and they are not woorthie to keepe any longer those thinges which hee bestoweth on them: as hee which deceyueth his Lorde of his lande, and wyl yet receyue profite by it, is woorthie to bee thrust out of all the lyuing which hee holdeth of him. So then wee see for what purpose this Lawe was ordayned.

But before wee proceede any further, it shall bee good first to consider of that which is contayned in this texte, and then wee will gather vp altogether, and applye it vntounto our instruction. It is sayde, Thou shalt take euerye yeere of the newe fruites which thou receyuest out of thy grounde, and bring them in a basket vntounto the place which the Lorde thy GOD shall appoynt to place his name there. In that it is spoken of euerie yeere, thereby we doe the better vnderstande the thing which wee hauehave alreadye touched, to wit, that it is not ynoughe for menne to bee taught their duetie once for all; but GOD must pull them often by the eares, and put them often in minde of that which hee hath once tolde them. For that which wee shoulde beare awaye, wee forgette by and by: but if wee hauehave once learned any tryflyng toye, or I knowe not what thing else, which serueth for no other ende but to marre vsus; that shall bee throughlye imprinted and ingrauen in our memorie. But p. 893when we hauehave knowen the wil of God and hauehave heard his promises, and he hauehave commaunded vsus any thing y^t slippeth soone out of our remembraunce; except eueryevery man for this part doe diligently minde the thing which he hath learned. Ye see then what the cause is why God thinkes it not ynough for men to make this acknowledgment once in their life tyme, or at the yeere of Iubile onelyonly,… …5.10 bicause that then y^e possessions were renued, and there was good opportunitie to vse 10this acknowledging in such a chaunge. GOD could hauehave contented himselfe with it, were it not that men (as I tolde you) hauehave so short memorie, when the case concerneth their duetie towardes God.

And this may profit vsus, not onelyonly to teach vsus to condemne that vice, which is ouer great and too too wicked in vsus: but also to leade vsus to the quickning vp of our selues. For in as much as we perceiue what slothfulnes is in vsus, and that there 20is nothing more easie than to go so astray, as we shall neuer thinke on God; eueryevery of vsus ought to be so much the more watchfull to say: What shal become of mee, if I withdraw not my selfe out of this way and call to minde the will of God which hee hath already declared vntounto mee? Surely I shall by and by become a very beast. Wee must therefore take occasion to quicken vp our selues seeing God for his part stirreth vsus vp & waketh vsus in such sorte, which thing hee doeth because 30bee cannot otherwise compasse vsus. Let this be noted for one poynt.

Nowe to the intent that the people shoulde heere hauehave nothing to pleade, nor seeke any startingholes to shift themselues from dooing their duetie: it is expressely sayde, When thou commest into the lande which the Lorde thy GOD giueth thee to inherite, and possesse it, and doest dwell therein. For it is all one as if GOD did heere auouche his tytle; as when a fyne is set, 40and any chiefage required, it is to bee layde foorth and declared, that hee which is to receiue the fine is the chiefe Lord, and owner thereof, & that his graunting of it at the first was with such condition. Such is the case heere. For God sheweth that the Iewes enioyed that lande, eyther by right of conquest as gotten by their owne force & power, or by inheritaunce, or by purchase, or by gift of man: to bee short he declareth that they can make no title vntounto it 50by any inferiour meane, but that they must looke vp vntounto GOD aboue, and say: Our Lorde hath vouchsafed to plant vsus in this land which was none of ours: wee cannot say that it belonged vntounto vsus, our fathers had no right vntounto it: whence then doe wee receyue this benefite but of the free gift of our GOD? It behooueth vsus therefore at leastwyse to acknowledge this benefite, and to confesse howe greatly wee are bounde and indebted vntounto 60God.

Men ought in deede of their owne mere motion to consider the goodnesse of GOD when it is vttered vntounto them by effect: but yet wee hauehave neede to bee put in minde of it, and GOD must bee fayne to goe to lawe for his owne right and to defende it. And the reason is, bycause wee are too too wicked, and seeke by all meanes as much as wee can possibly, to darken the grace and fauour of GOD, except hee himselfe bee a witnesse thereof, and shew that hee wil not hauehave it misbestowed. Therefore albeit this bee spoken vntounto the Iewes, yet notwithstanding let vsus note, that GOD meant to vpbrayde all mankinde with the wickednesse which wee feele to bee in vsus, that is, that hee himselfe is fayne to speake and shewe howe much wee are beholding vntounto him. For except hee did so, there is not one of vsus which would not priuiledge himselfe from the obedience and subiection which he oweth vntounto him.

Nowe it is expressely sayde, That they shall come vntounto the place which GOD will choose to put his name there. This was expressely commaunded to the intent that the Iewes shoulde bee reyned the shorter, as in deede men must bee so vsed, or else there is no dealing with them. Wee see howe eueryevery man draweth backe with myght and maine, as if hee woulde exempt himselfe from the seruice which he oweth vntounto GOD. True it is in deede, that when wee doe any thing beyng forced and constrayned thereunto, GOD will none of it but reiecteth and refuseth such seruice: neuerthelesse hee ceasseth not to giuegive vsus the spurre, when hee seeth vsus on our side to bee lasie, and that is to bring vsus vntounto willing obedience to make vsus to goe to it with a free courage. But wee must needes bee driuen forewarde at the first, or else wee will neuer bee brought to yeelde our selues vntounto him. But wee must also note that which hath beene declared afore, to wit, that GOD by ordayning a certayne place wherein hee woulde bee worshipped and hauehave sacryfyce doone vntounto him, had an eye vntounto the weakenesse and rawenesse of men. True it is that GOD passeth not for these outwarde thinges, neither doeth any holynesse consist therein: but ceremonies are ordayned for our sakes. If wee were Angels, wee shall neede no such helpes, but bycause wee bee intangled with our flesh and bee so lumpish and earthly as wee are, God is fayne to stoope vntounto vsus, that hee may lift vsus vp vntounto himselfe. God therefore vnderunder the Lawe chose a certaine place wherein he woulde bee worshipped. And why? Bycause the people comming thither, and hauing the Sanctuarie there, had a witnesse of the presence of GOD, which was in the arke. Againe the Aultar for sacrifices was there, and all the rest, as it was seene in y^t heauenly patron whereof mention is made in Exodus.Exod. 25.40Exod 25:40 In y^t place therefore there was as it were a lookingglasse whereby a man might direct his eye higher. For like as when a man hath a weake & dimme sight, he must vse spectacles to helpe his sight: euen so bicause men are ouergrosse, and cannot see farre, it was requisite that GOD shoulde giuegive the Iewes a kynde of spectacles, whereby they might bee the p. 894better inabled to seeke him, yea euen in such manner as behoued them. And that is the cause why no mention is made heere but onelyonly of the name of God. For there was daunger least the people would stande too much on the corruptible elements. For this cause God saith not, I will dwell in this temple, as the Iewes sometimes imagined that hee did: and therefore it was requisite that they shoulde bee vpbraided with that imagination by the Prophet, saying: 10What house will ye builde mee?Esa. 66.1. Act. 7.48.Isa 66:1Acts 7:48 And in another place it is saide, that the euerliuing God dwelleth not in any temple made with mans hand. But he saith, I will put my name there: that is to say, I wil giuegive you a certaine signe and marke, that I am neere vntounto you, if you worship me after a spirituall manner, and intangle not your selues in your superstitions, ne transforme mee at your owne pleasure, as men will needes be alwayes forging of ydoles: but knowe you that I 20come neare vntounto you, to the intent that you might come the more familiarly vntounto mee: and for the leading of you thereunto, you shall hauehave my worde preached and sacrifices offered among you. And hee saieth further, before the Lorde thy God, or In the presence of the Lorde thy God. For why? The ceremonies must profite vsus, or otherwise they shall bee no better vntounto vsus than childrens toyes. If in baptisme wee had nothing but the water, ne knewe what the vse 30and vertue thereof is; it were but a contemptible thing. But forasmuch as we knowe that the water is a certaine warrant that wee are washed with the bloude of our Lorde Iesus Christ, and that it liuely representeth vntounto vsus the spirite of God, by the which wee are regenerated and borne a newe: wee see that baptisme is a certaine warrant vntounto vsus, that wee are clothed with the righteousnesse of our Lorde Iesus Christ, and that by this meanes wee are reconciled 40vntounto GOD as beeing cleansed and washed with his bloude, so as wee bee made newe creatures by his holy spirite. All this wee see there. In the supper of the Lorde, when wee heare Iesus Christ say vntounto vsus,1. Cor. 11.241 Cor 11:24 This is my bodie which is deliuered for you, wee knowe that it is not for nought that a morsell of breade is giuen vntounto vsus: wee knowe it is not for the nourishment of our bodies, but to leade vsus to the foode of our soules. Yee see (I say) in what sort wee 50may feele the presence of God, not (as I hauehave alreadie saide) that hee is enclosed in these corruptible elementes, and that wee must seeke him there: but that these visible signes must leade vsus vp on high. Wee coulde not mount so hye of our selues, were it not that God reacheth vsus forth his hande. Hee reacheth vsus his hande by those meanes which hee hath ordained, as himselfe knoweth most fitte and conuenient for our weakenesse and rawnesse. 60Let vsus therefore beare in minde that where as God in this place commaundeth the Iewes to offer their first fruites in the Sanctuarie, hee did it to this ende, that men shoulde exercise themselues in such ceremonies as are conuenient for them, and that they shoulde knowe that they serue to drawe them vntounto God, and that they stande in neede of them, euen because their nature is earthly. Moreouer, by this saying that God will put his name there, men are warned to worshippe God spiritually, and that the hauing of ceremonies serueth not to tye relygion and holinesse to them: but to make them goe further, and to mount vp higher, namely to doe them to vnderstande that therefore GOD ought to bee worshipped in spirite and in trueth,Iohn. 4.…3.John 4:3 as it is saide in the fowerth of Iohn.

Also there is this saying; That God will choose the place: And that serueth to bereaue the people of all libertie of inuenting any thing at their owne lust and pleasure. For wee knowe howe venterously men presume on such libertie, in somuch that when God is to bee serued, eueryevery man forgeth some priuate deuotion to himselfe, saying it is better for mee to doe thus; and then must I doe that: And why? For to my seeming it is good; I weene so. Euerie man groundeth himselfe vppon his owne fancie. And by this meanes the worshipping of God is vtterly corrupted. And euen that also hath beene the verie cause of the bringing in of such confusion throughout all Christendome, as we may yet perceiue to bee among the Papistes. What is it which they terme the seruice of God? Euen that which hath beene forged by men. For they cannot shewe one syllable in the holy Scripture to warrant that which they doe. And therefore God liketh not of it, but reiecteth and refuseth it by good right. For hee will hauehave men to holde themselues altogether vntounto his will without swaruing aside one way or other. Yea, hee will hauehave them to waite for the worde from his mouth; and hee telleth vsus that hee vtterly mislyketh all that euer men doe bring of their owne,Esa. 1.13.Isa 1:13 and that it is not only vaine but stinking and abhominable in his sight. Neuerthelesse it is an ordinarie matter in Poperie, to forge such pelting trifles and gewgawes without number. Yea, and it is a common prouerbe among them, That whatsoeuer is doone of a good intent, is well done: yea but God saieth the cleane contrarie. So then let vsus note that as the people is in this place warned that they hauehave no libertie graunted vntounto them to choose what place euerie man listed, as who shoulde saye, wee will serue God in this place, and hee will accept well of it: but that they must come vntounto the place which hee himselfe had appointed, and not attempt any thing vppon their owne heades, but onelyonly followe the saide rule of resorting to the place which God had marked foorth. Whereby we see that when the case concerneth the seruing of him, we may not attempt any thing of our selues, but holde vsus vntounto that which hee hath ordained. Nowe in deede it is true that at this day there is no such peculiar place appointed wherin God wilbe worshipped, or wherein he will hauehave sacrifices made as was the temple of Ierusalem: yet notwithstāding, vnderunder one particular we hauehave here a generall instruction, that it is not lawfull for p. 895vsus to doe what we thinke good to worship God withall, but that we must hauehave an eye vntounto that which he requireth and lyketh of, and neuer passe beyond those boundes.

Let vsus come now vntounto this saying, That the man shall offer himselfe vntounto the Priest and say: Beholde, I protest here that my father was a Syrian, a very beggar, and came into this land lyke a poore hunger staruen soule, and was afterward driuen into Egypt, from whence at length God brought him 10backe againe, and gaue vntounto vsus this Land, wherein wee dwell now through his fauour. Now by this manner of protestation, the Iewes were done to vnderstand that they ought to come vntounto GOD without compulsion, as if it were sayd, I looke not to be thrust foreward, I looke not to bee called vp by processe, as one that minded not to doe his duetie but by force: but I protest, that is to say, I offer my selfe here of mine owne good will, I come aforehand. In 20deede God had appointed this law, & (as I hauehave already tolde you) it was to reproue the people of their vnthankfulnesse: but yet for all that, his intent was that the people shoulde come their owne good will: and that is the thing which I hauehave already touched. I might seeme at the first blush, that GOD constraineth vsus; but yet hee meaneth not to stand vponupon this poynt: it is but to inure vsus to an vnfayned and freehearted obedience. At the first wee be lyke 30the young Heiffers which cannot skill to beare the yoke. For when a man setteth a young Heiffer first to the plowe, he turneth away his head, he strugleth, striueth, and chafeth, and in stead of going forewards, he draweth backward, vntil he be tamed. In lyke case is it with a horse: there is much a doe with him at the first before hee can be broken. God vseth vsus in the same manner; howbeit but to make vsus tractible, that whē we be once brought to subiection, then we may 40come with a free & franke wil to yeeld ourselues obediēt vntounto him. Let vsus not therfore abide stil in this slauish feare: but let vsus know y^t God is our father, and that we ought to take pleasure in framing our selues according to his will. Let eueryevery man therefore enforce and set foreward himself herein, that we may truely say, Behold I protest that I am bound vntounto my God.

Now it is sayd afterwardes: My father was a Syrian. No doubt but this is meant of Iacob: 50not that he was borne in Syria; for he was borne in the land of Chanaan; and his father was a straunger there, and had not one foot of ground to dwell on, he had onelyonly a burying place which he bought for his monie: and they were faine to remoue often out of one place into an other, as men draue them out. They were lyke byrdes vponupon a bough.… 37.41. Besides this, Iacob was banished out of his fathers house, and forced to get him away, because his brother Esau threatned to kill 60him. By reason whereof he abode a long time in the land of Syria: he dwelled there fourteene yeere to get him those wiues which hee had, namely, Lea and Rachel, and after that he serued his father in Law Laban for sheepe, because he would not depart home altogether naked. Ye see then how Iacob was first a poore wanderer; and had soone forgotten the land of Chanaan when he was gone out of it. In deede God alwayes kept him in sure trust of y^e promise which was made vntounto him, concerning that land: and that was the cause why hee made that vowe of his,Gen. 28.20.Gen 28:20 when he went out of the land which was giuen vntounto him: yet neuerthelesse he was olde before he went out of Syria. Behold, being a man broken with age, and striken farre in yeares, he entreth againe into the land of Chanaan, & that as a Syrian: for he is altogether new, he commeth thither as one that had neuer bin there before: and although he had then some wealth, yet were all his miseries there brought new again to his minde: My father, a Syrian, was in the very way of destructiō. For how was he afflicted when hee was constrained to leaue his fathers house? He hath the knife held as it were to his throate,Gen. 30.31.Gen 30:31 for behold, Esau his brother seeketh to put him to death: Esau is possessed as it were w^t a diuelish spirite to persecute his brother Iacob. And when Iacob meant to returne into the land of Chanaan; behold, that cruel beast, namely Laban deuoureth him, not onelyonly fleecing the wool from his back, but also oppressing him after a tyrannous manner. In the end he must yet appease his brother Esau: in which miserie of his he is as it were halfe dead, and maketh no other account, but to be vtterly cast away; he thinketh neuer to saue his familie:Gen. 32.Gen 32 Neuerthelesse he diuideth it into foure bandes, that if the one might not be saued, the other might escape. Beholde to what shift hee is put, and how hee deuiseth with himselfe; well, if there bee no remedie but that thou must dye, well, yet some one of thy children maye escape: and although I cannot saue all; yet God will keepe some one aliue to performe his promise in him. Such was the comming home of Iacob. So then it is not sayd without cause in this place that hee was at the poynt to be destroyed: yet did God succor him as it is sayd here. Neuerthelater, Iacob is yet farther constrained to fly into Egypt by reason of famine, wherewith he is so pinched, y^t he goeth to seeke foode in a strange countrie, and for a time forsaketh the inheritance which was promised him. Afterwards hee remaineth there in cruel bondage, and his ofspring is after a sorte drowned in Egypt. They were not onelyonly put to great taxes and tallages, but also oppressed as bondslaues: yea and in the end commaundement was giuen that all their male children should be destroyed, so as that people might neuer be spoken of any more. Thus ye see in what horrible bondage they were, and a man would thinke that the children of Abraham dwelt in Egypt as in a graue, so as all was now past hope of recouery. But it is sayd, wee cryed vntounto the God of our Fathers and he heard vsus, and hath giuen vsus this land in possession. And therefore I protest this day that I held it of him. Here we see first of all, how men are led to acknowledge the state and condition wherein they were, when God first tooke pitie on them. For assoone as we are once at our ease, we beare our selues in hand p. 896that it is a fit occasion for vsus to runne astray: and thereupon followeth pride, & this pride is accō panied with y^e contempt of God. There is therfore no other way to humble vsus, & to make vsus to feele the goodnes of God, than to know y^t before he reached vsus his hand and helped vsus, we were the most wretched & miserable of all creatures. And this is a very necessary poynt to be noted. For ye shall see men so blinde, or at leastwise so bleare eyed, that they will thinke we are of I 10wote not what abilitie, vntill our Lord bring vsus vntounto this poynt of knowing and acknowledging our selues to be the children of Adam, and consequently accursed, and that from our mothers wombe. Wee bring nothing with vsus but sinne and destruction. If this were not declared vntounto vsus in the holy scripture; how wonderfully would men stand in their owne conceites? For euen yet for all this they cannot stay themselues from boasting, (such beastes are they) neither 20vnderstand they how it is a certeine kinde of drunkennesse that turneth them so away to vaunt thēselues after that fashion, and to beare themselues so in haud, that they hauehave this and that [which they hauehave not.] Thus yee see how men presume maruailously of themselues vntill their prating bee daunted: but when God once thundreth vponupon all mankinde, and sheweth that we are all heires of death, that we are the bondslaues of Satan, that there is nothing in vsus but 30cursednesse, that all our wisedome is starke foolishnesse, y^t we cannot bring any thing vntounto him which he shall not mislyke and condemne. Whē we see that the holy scripture painteth vsus forth after that maner, so as there remaineth nothing to vsus but vtter shame: then wee beginne to hang downe y^e heads. But vnlesse God vsed this maner of dealing with vsus, it were vnpossible to win vsus, but we would alwayes lift vp our hornes. Let vsus 40therefore beare this lesson well in minde, as it is taught vsus here, which is, to bethinke vsus of our first originall, whence we are come, whence wee are sprong, what we were when God first tooke pitie of vsus, and what we shoulde yet hauehave bin if hee had not preuented vsus with his goodnesse. After that we hauehave once knowen this in generall, let eueryevery man particularlie also hauehave an eye vntounto himself. He which thinketh that he hath somwhat to glorie in as touching the world (as there are many which will say, I am borne of 50such a kinred, there is such a thing in me, and another will glory in his wisedome, and another in his vertue, and another in his riches, an other in his byrth) let him I say looke vponupon himself and say, yea: but for all this, how many shamefull markes hath God imprinted in me, as well as in all others? And first of all, that how highly soeuer a man be exalted, yet assoone as God withdraweth his strength, behold he is no better thā a wretched carrion: and again, what is the soule 60but a bottomlesse gulfe of al wretchednes? And if any man hauehave a good vnderstāding: it is without doubt the especial gift of God. And moreouer they which are the most excellent of al others and best accounted of in the world, hauehave yet many spots and staines in them, so as they hauehave wherefore daily to lament. For although a man hauehave something in him which is worthie to be accounted of, yet shall hee finde so many wantes and defaultes in himselfe, as shall make him to cast downe his head. So thē let vsus learne, not onelyonly to hauehave an eye to that wretchednesse which is in vsus, inasmuch as we are the sonnes of Adam; but also let eueryevery man throughlie examine the faults, vices and infirmities which are in him, and therby learne to stoope, and enforce ourselues to yeeld vntounto God the glorie which belongeth vntounto him, reseruing nothing at all vntounto our selues as in deed we hauehave nothing good of our owne. To be short, let euerie man exercise himself in the vewing of his owne miseries and let vsus not doe as some fooles doe, who take a glasse to behold their own beautie in: but let vsus take it rather to see what blemishes wee hauehave. And that is the very thing whereat God also amed, when he meant to hauehave the Iewes euē of purpose put in minde, that their father was a poore begger, & that he was as a creature halfe dead. For he was so despised a person in the eye of the world, that they had no cause to bee prowde of him, or to presume to attribute any thing vntounto themselues in that behalfe.

Againe not only he speaketh of their father Iacob: but they also say: Our kindred went downe into Egypt, and there were we trampled vnderunder feete aboue measure: which thing serued well to beate downe the pride of the Iewes, to the intent they should no more attribute any worthinesse to themselues, seeing they were so euill intreated in Egypt: Also it serued well to make them forget whatsoeuer moued them to pride, when they were there as bondslaues, and were so heauy burdened, as it would pitie a man to beholde: yea, and y^t in the end they were condemned to hauehave their remembraunce rased from out of the earth. When they were so far oppressed, it was an occasion to make thē to forget all their hautines and ambition, and to confesse that they helde their lyfe of God. Now in the end it is sayd, We called vponupon the GOD of our fathers, and hee hearde vsus, and hath placed vsus in this lande which wee doe nowe possesse. True it is in deed that God tarried not vntill he was called vponupon, for he had already made a promise vntounto Abraham, that at the end of foure hundred yeres, hee would take pitie of his seede when it had bin so oppressed: so that God would hauehave the Iewes to know that they had no other deliuerance, than that which had beene promised so long before. For had not that bin: they might hauehave borne themselues in hand that their deliuerance from that bondage had happened by mere chaunce. But when they were oppressed to the vttermost, thē it made them to bethinke thēselues thus: What? Our fathers hauehave promised vsus that God in the end will drawe vsus out of this vnknowen countrie, and straunge bondage wherein wee are. This was then a preparatiue to make the Iewes to feele that fauour and grace which was promised vntounto them: For nowe the fit time was come to bring it to passe.

Now whereas here is speaking of the GOD of p. 897the fathers; it is to bee referred to the promises, least men might thinke themselues excused whē they call vponupon such a GOD as hath bin taught them, as the Papists nowadayes do ground thē selues vpō their fathers: O (say they) I hauehave bin so brought vp, I hauehave bin so taught from a child, mine ancestors hauehave liued after this sort. They beare themselues in hand that this is a sufficient warrant, & such a one as may not be gainsayd to make good whatsoeuer they doe: but in deede 10it is starke follie, because it is not for men to forge Gods vntounto themselues at their owne pleasure: for what else are they than very Idols? But when as here is speaking of the God of the fathers; it is because of y^e promise that was made vntounto Abraham, Isaac, and Iacob. So then if we will call vponupon the liuing God, let vsus returne vntounto this point and say: It is true in deed that there liued many men in the world before Abraham, Isaac, and Iacob: but they neither ought nor 20deserue to be accounted for fathers. For why? They withdrewe themselues from God, of whome commeth all fatherhoode,… and all kinred as sayth saint Paul. We must therefore followe the Patriarkes and bee their children: and secondly let the Apostles bee our fathers, and let vsus followe them; and if wee frame our selues after their example, let vsus not doubt but that wee shall keepe the straite way vntounto God, and that hee also will take vsus vntounto himselfe. Ye see 30then in what sense it is here sayd, that the Iewes called vppon the God of their fathers. And here wee are warned in fewe wordes, to gather together all the proofes and argumentes that can bee to assure vsus the better, that all the good thinges which wee hauehave, doe come vntounto vsus from GOD. For why? Wee are not so sharpe sighted as it were needfull; it is soone dazeled (as I hauehave tolde you afore.) Yea, rather we bee as blinde men: wee must bee quickened vp 40to consider Gods benefites towardes vsus, or else wee shall neuer attaine thereunto. And therefore let vsus take as much paynes as wee can to consider it and say, Go to, God sheweth mee here, how it is he that worketh, and he giueth me a token thereof. I must therefore apply it vntounto mine instruction: & not say, this happened vntounto mee by chaunce: I hauehave had good fortune: but I know that my God hath holpen me, that it is through his goodnesse that I prosper, that 50it was his hand which hath succoured mee in such an extremitie. Forasmuch then as wee are so rawe and weake of our selues, that wee consider not the benefites of GOD, except wee hauehave many helpes to guide vsus thereunto: let vsus take all the proofes that wee can get, to assure our selues the more throughly of them. And to this ende is it that the Iewes say, We hauehave called vppon the God of our fathers: whereby first they put themselues in minde of the promise, and secondly they see that God redeemed them by vertue of the same promise, whereby hee freely bound himselfe vntounto Abraham, Isaack, and Iacob. And hereupon they might thus conclude: We are not come out of Egypt by the hand of man: that is to say, wee cannot attribute it either vntounto our selues or to any creature liuing: but God must bee acknowledged for the onelyonly author of our redemption and saluation. Now in effect wee see here, that whereas God deliuered vntounto the Iewes such a sette forme of acknowledging his benefites, it was to conuict them, that in possessing of the land of Chanaan, they could not say: We hauehave conquered it by y^e power of our owne arme, we hauehave gottē it by our owne labour, we hauehave bought it with our mony, or wee hauehave some other title vntounto it in respect of men: No, it was nothing so: but we hold it of our God; we possesse it vnderunder his hand, the proprietie thereof is alwayes his. Yee see then whereunto this confession whereof mention is made here did serue. In deede all cannot bee handled at this time. Let vsus therefore learne this one short lesson, that in this example God hath put vsus in minde to acknowledge how much wee bee bound and beholden vntounto him for all the benefits which he hath bestowed vppon vsus. Wherefore considering our owne slowenesse in this behalfe, let eueryevery of vsus quicken vp and pricke foreward himselfe to confesse and acknowledge in deede, that wee holde all of the hand of God: and let vsus shewe in deede, that we come to make such acknowledgement, not as forced thereunto, but of our owne voluntarie and free good will; and that we be not vnthankfull for the good which hee doth vsus in this worlde: but doe attribute all vntounto his freebestowed goodnesse, wayting for the possession of that heauenly life whereunto he calleth vsus.

Now let vsus kneele downe before the Maiestie of our good God with acknowledgement of our faults, praying him to touch vsus with such a feeling of them, as our whole seeking may bee to rid our selues of all our corruption from day to day, vntill wee bee renewed with his righteousnesse: and that wee may grow and increase more and more therein, in such sorte as wee may come in the ende into his heauenly glory, and bee wholy fashioned lyke to the glorious immortalitie, which hee hath already shewed vsus in our Lorde Iesus Christ. And so let vsus all say: Almighty God heauenly father, &c.