Sermons on Deuteronomy, Sermons · Sermon 172
On Wednesday the xxij. of Aprill, 1556. The CLXXII. Sermon, which is the fourth vponupon the thirtith Chapter.
15 See; I hauehave this day set before thee, lyfe and good, death and euill.
16 For I commaund thee this day to louelove the Lorde thy GOD, and to walke in his wayes, and to keepe his commaundementes, and his ordinaunces and his iudgementes: that thou maiest liue and increase, and that the Lorde thy GOD may blesse thee in the Lande which thou goest to possesse.
17 If thy heart turne away, and thou obey not, but beest led aside, and bowest thy selfe to other gods, and seruest them:
18 I doe tell you this day, that you shall surely perishe, and not prolong your dayes in the lande, into the which nowe passing ouer Iordan thou goest to possesse it.
19 I take heauen and earth this day to witnesse against you, that I hauehave set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life that thou maist liue, thou and thy seede,
20 By louing the Lorde thy GOD, by obeying his voyce, and by cleauing vntounto him: for hee is thy life and the prolonger of thy dayes: that thou maist continue in the Land which the Lord hath sworne to thy fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Iacob, to giuegive vntounto them.
WE sawe yesterday howe Moses did magnifie the authoritie of the worde of God which was committed vntounto him, saying: Seeing that God is come nere vntounto vsus, and hath opened his holy mouth to declare vntounto vsus his will, we must holde vsus wholly thereunto, and without seeking any further, wee must not aske any more, who shall goe vp into heauen, or who shall go downe into the deepe? For wee hauehave sure witnesse and such a one as cannot faile vsus. Seeing that God hath spoken let vsus followe it. He addeth here moreouer; See, I hauehave this day set before you, life and blessing, death and euill. Whereby hee sheweth vsus, that the worde of God, when it is taught vsus, doeth carry with it such vertue, and such power, that we ought to holde the things which are there tolde vsus, to bee as certaine, as if they were alreadie done in deede. The worde which Moses doeth vse in saying, See, as if he shoulde point with his finger, to make the matter visible vntounto vsus, doeth import that wee must yeelde such reuerence to the worde of God, that wee must esteeme the thinges therein conteined, to … as present vntounto vsus. And the same is to bee applied as well to the threatenings as to the promises. If God doe promise vsus any thing, it is not for vsus to cast doubts thereof, [and to say,] Yea, but how may it come to passe, seeing there is no likelyhood thereof? Let vsus sticke to that which hee telleth vsus. Likewise if God doe threaten vsus, wee must tremble and not doe as they doe which tarie for the strokes, for they be so ouertaken vnawares, as they hauehave not the power to crie alas, they be ouer raught with feare, and God giueth them not the grace to returne vntounto him, because they coulde not finde in their hearts to doe him the honour, to submit themselues vntounto him at such time as he warned them a farre off that hee is their Iudge. Thus are we to practise this sentence which Moses vseth in saying, That when wee heare the worde of God, hee will hauehave vsus to rest altogether thereon and to settle our wittes wholly vntounto it. And this ought to serue vsus to double purpose: that when as it shall seeme vntounto vsus, that it is but lost time in this worlde to serue God, yet notwithstanding we may not surcease to obey him, waiting for the blessing which hee hath promised vsus, and assuring our selues, that wee shall not be deceiued because he is faithfull. And likewise on the contrarie part, when wee be tempted to doe euill, in hope that we shall rema…e vnpunished: let vsus bee holden backe with this bridle, namely, that wee cannot escape the …rath of God, because hee hath declared that hee is the Iudge to doe vengeance for such thinges. The faithfull therefore in ordering their life, must alwayes bee fully resolued of this, that in seruing of God, they bee sure that hee will guide them, and that their ende shalbe good and happie. But in the meane while the worlde shall scorne them, and they shall hauehave many temptations to turne them away; they shall see the wicked prosper, they shall see them make their triumphes; and on the otherside they shall all that while see themselues goe to wracke. Nowe when wee bee thus tossed, wee must take our stay in the worde of GOD. Seeing that God hath promised to blesse vsus, when wee walke according to his will: we are sure that he will not abuse vsus; for his worde is the infallible trueth; and therefore let vsus sticke vntounto it. Againe, it seemeth vntounto vsus, that we shoulde make mountains and work wonders, when we let loose the bridle to our owne lustes: Let vsus feare God: for he telleth vsus, that when men hauehave once misbehaued themselues,Gen. 4.7. their sinne abideth stil at their doore and keepeth continuall watch, so as when they hauehave wandered hither and thither, and passed their boundes neuer so farre, yet they must come to reckening. Seeing it is so, let vsus learne to bridle our selues, and not to tarrie till God execute his iudgementes vppon vsus: but let vsus rather preuent them through feare. Nowe wee see to what end Moses hath declared, that he set before the eies of the people, both life and good, death and euill: verily euen to assure the Iewes thereof, that they might no longer stande in doubt. And wherefore? For there needeth nothing to carrie vsus away, as wee see too much by experience. For it is a verie rare thing for men to rest them vppon the promises of God steadfastly without wauering, they bee blinded with the thinges of the worlde: and vnlesse God doe out of hande accomplish the thing which hee hath spoken; they thinke they shalbe deceiued. And although they dare not accuse God of vnfaithfulnes: yet can they not find in their hearts to doe him the honour to thinke him to be true. Againe, although God threaten vsus, yet are we so dulheaded, y• eueryevery of vsus perswadeth himselfe yt he shal go vnpunished, and scape scotfree. Seeing then yt there is such lightnes in vsus, & that we bee so wauering, we ought so much the more to put the lesson in practise which is set downe heere.
Now as touching life and good; it is asmuch as if he should say all manner of happinesse: and likewise by death and euill, is ment all maner of wretchednes. Indeede this present life is not the full measure or perfection of the blessings which God hath promised vsus. It is no more but a certaine tast of them. Death also is but a little token of Gods wrath. The state of the life to come is the perfection both of weale and woe. But Moses speaking vntounto the people, that were yet holden vnderunder the figures and shadowes of the lawe, did name life, and thereunto added this worde blessing, to signifie, that the people by seruing of God shoulde bee blessed, euen in all manner of felicitie; and contrarywise that they must of necessitie looke for all manner of wretchednesse, if they did fall away frō the seruice of God. For the better confirmation hereof, hee saieth, This day I commaunde thee to louelove the Lorde thy God, and to keepe his commaundements, and to cleaue vntounto him, that thou maiest come to possesse the Lande which hee hath promised to thy fathers. Heere is a confirmation to holde the people conuicted, that they might hauehave no occasion to reply any more, but be compelled to confesse that the Lawe of God serued to call them to saluation, if so bee they had obeyed him: And contrariwise that it shoulde bee vntounto them a good Testimonie of their condemnation, so as they coulde not pretende any excuse, seeing they were so well instructed, and yet continued hardhearted and stubborne still. Moses sheweth this by the stubstance that is contained in this doctrine. What is it (saieth hee) that I hauehave inioyned thee? It is, that thou shouldest louelove the Lorde thy God. Hath not nature left this marke imprinted in our heartes, namely, that wee bee created euen to this ende: to louelove our God? Wherfore are we in this world? Wherfore doth God keepe vsus heere? Is it not reason that he should hauehave some homage of vsus, and that forsomuch as wee be his creatures, wee shoulde hauehave an eye vntounto him, & he bee the scope of our life? If it be not so; what order will there be? Wee see in this worlde very many Testimonies of Gods wonderful wisedome, iustice, righteousnes, and power, and he hath placed vsus here beneath, to beholde al these thinges; and also he hath fashioned vsus after his owne image and likenesse.… Now if our eyes bee blindfolded, if wee bee dulheads, if we wil not vnderstand the things which hauehave bin shewed vntounto vsus, is it not a kinde of turning of all thinges vpsidowne which God hath established both beneath and aboue? Yes surely. Ye see then howe it is an vtter confounding and ouerthrowing of all order, whē men worship not their God, ne submit themselues vntounto him. It is not therefore without cause that Moses alledgeth this reason, when he ment to shew vntounto the Iewes, that it was not for thē to argue any more as touching that doctrine, seeing that the ende whereto it tended was that God should be honored and hauehave his right. But this word louelove importeth yet more. For it ought to touch men more liuely, than if he had spoken simply of feare & subiection. Indeede Moses addeth by and by yt wee must obey our God, and that we must keepe his statutes & his decrees. God then doth iustly require of vsus a seruice, & we ought not to denie it him: but yet hee beginneth at louelove, to the intent to draw vsus vntounto him after a louing manner, and not by force as if we woulde say, well it is ynough for vsus to serue our God: but yet let vsus goe to it with grinding our teeth, because no man can exempt himselfe from that necessitie. But Moses sheweth that the doctrine of ye lawe ought not only to holde vsus in awe, and to bring all our senses and affections in captiuitie vnderunder the obedience of God: but also that it ought to win & possesse our harts, so as we shold come of good will to offer our selues vntounto God, to bee altogether his. Let vsus therfore consider that God doth vsus a singular good turne, when hee beginneth at this point, namely, yt he will hauehave vsus to louelove him. But we be also exhorted to serue him, not by cō pulsion, as ye most part of the world doth, in whō (as wee see) there is nothing but slauish feare. Therefore let vsus learne so to gouerne all our affections as it may be our chiefe pleasure to serue God. Now on the contrary part, whereas Moses ioyneth the obedience of the law with louelove, therby hee sheweth that there may bee hypocrites which shall make a countenance to louelove God, & will boast themselues therof with full mouth: but yet the very true proofe thereof is that wee honour his maiestie and submit our selues to the same. For God hath not bounde vsus to him by halues: what manner of superiority hath he ouer vsus? Now then like as a child loueth his father, & as a good subiect loueth his prince; euen so must we louelove our God, that is to say, wee must beare such reuerēce towards him, as to couet nothing but to frame our selues to his good pleasure in al things, so as he may weald vsus at his wil, and bee glorified in all our life: And forasmuch as he wil hauehave a triall of vsus; when hee hath giuen vsus his lawe and set vsus downe the rule whereby our life should be guided: if we behaue our selues thereafter, then doe we shew indeed that we louelove our God aright. And therfore let vsus conclude cōcerning all such as pretend deuotion & holines, (of which sort we see many nowadays in ye popedom yea & euen where the gospel is preached, there be many that make pretence to be rauished and caried away with a zeale) that all that euer they do is but smoke, vnlesse our life bee answerable thereto, so as we follow the wil of our God, & indeuour to obey him by keeping his commandemēts & ordinances. That (I say) is ye true mirror where we may behold whether we louelove our God or not, and whether there be any faith & purenes in vsus. And herewithall Moses telleth the people againe, that they shall not louelove God but to their owne profite & welfare: as if hee shoulde say, although God doe by iust title, require that wee shoulde louelove him, yet doth he not that in respect of his owne profite or aduantage, for he can receiue nothing of vsus. Howe then? He seeketh and procureth our welfare. For hee seeth verie well that we be miserable when wee are fallen away from him: and therfore he is desirous to win vsus, not for any gaine that can therby redound to himselfe, but to the intent that all the benefite thereof shoulde redound vntounto vsus. Nowe then what a churlishnes is it, that men cannot finde in their heartes to submit themselues vntounto God, specially seeing that he neuertheles hath such a care of their welfare, that he seeketh them, and taketh paines to reduce them to him, howbeit (as I said afore) not for that he can be any thing bettered therby for his part, but because he wold not hauehave them to perish. Seeing then yt we know this, must we not needs be too too dulheded, yea & starke mad, if our harts be not meekened; yea & not onelyonly meekened to stoope vnderunder the obedience of God; but also therewithal set on fire with a zeale to come vntounto him, & to bende all our indeuour that way? Nowe wee perceiue in effect whereat Moses amed in all this sentence. And moreouer on the contrarie side hee doeth also set downe the threatenings; for (as I hauehave said) hee expoundeth more at length this doctrine, which he had erst touched in fewe wordes. See, I set before thee this day good and euill, life and death. Hauing saide so, hee taketh the first part thereof. For (saieth hee) I craue nothing of thee, but that thou shouldest louelove the Lorde thy God, that by obeying him thou mightest liue and possesse the land which hee hath promised vntounto thy fathers, which is as it were, a pawne of his louelove, and the true felicitie vntounto the which thou art called, for to attaine to it, that is to say the kingdome of heauen. Thus much concerning the first part.
Nowe he commeth to the seconde and saith, If thou turne away, and rebell, and beest caried to serue straunge Gods: I tell thee, that thou shalt perish, (saith hee) and thou shalt not escape the hande of the Lorde thy God. Looke not to prolong thy dayes when you shall hauehave so despised him which hath all goodnesse in his owne power, and will in the end reuenge himselfe of the dispisers of his worde. Nowe wee see the meaning of Moses in generall. It remaineth for vsus to marke the manner of speech which hee vseth. He saith, If thy heart looke backe not to obey, and that thou beest moued to obey straunge Gods and to serue them. When hee saith, If thy heart turne backe, his intent is to expresse heere the malice of men, which couet nothing but to flee from God. For if we were not caried away by our wicked affections, it is certaine that euerie of vsus woulde followe this Principle, and the seede which is in vsus; namely, That forasmuch as there is but one God, therefore we ought to worshippe and serue him. Let men bee as wicked as they list, and let them striue as much as they can to extinguish al manner of light, that they may hauehave no more reason in them: (as we see many doe, whose whole delight and indeuour is to make themselues verie beastes); yet doeth this remaine still engrauen in them, That there is a God which ought to be serued. What shall become of vsus then, if we seeke him not as we ought to doe? Againe, see we not the worlde howe it is so farre out of course, that there is nothing but confusion throughout all, and that thereuppon eueryevery man goeth astray? Whereof commeth it (say I) that we bee so witlesse, as to follow the wicked trade of other men, and yet bee compelled to condemne the same? Euen of this, that wee turne away our heartes backe; that is to say, that euerie of vsus wrappeth himselfe in wilfull blindnesse, and eueryevery of vsus setteth himselfe backe, notwithstanding that we hauehave beene taught the contrarie. For albeit that it is true without exception, that all they which turne away from the truth, doe it of a certaine wickednesse: ye… notwithstanding, we bee double folde the lesse excusable, when wee hauehave bin taught by the word, so as God hath shewed himselfe vntounto vsus familiarly. Therefore when we heare this saying of Moses, wee must apply it to our vse. For we see how our Lorde hath shewed vsus the way of saluation by his Gospel, wee see how he continueth it still from day to day: what will become of vsus then, if wee stray away? Wee shall not bee as the Turkes, or as the verie Papistes: but it shalbe vpbraided vsus that wee hauehave turned our heartes backe, and that where as God had set vsus in the good way, and reached vsus his hande to guide vsus: wee hauehave beene frowarde, and woulde not hearken to the thinges which hee tolde vsus: and that all this wee hauehave done of wilfull malice. Yea and Moses addeth yet an other worde, saying, If thou bee driuen to serue straunge Gods. He sheweth that men be driuen with a certaine furie or frentikenesse when they cannot finde in their heartes to submit themselues to God, to bee wunne vntounto him by his worde. Needes then must there bee a dreadfull rage in this case, and that Sathan worketh after a horrible manner, when men bee so farre out of order. Wee hauehave seene in the fourth Chapter,Deut. 4.19. howe hee saide, Looke well to thy selfe, that in beholding the sunne and the stars, thou be not compelled to worshippe them and to make them ydols. There Moses sheweth that men woulde neuer runne out to ydolatrie, vnlesse they had some outrageous prouocation within them to driue them thereunto, as if they were out of their wittes. For were men well aduised & setled in their wits, as they ought to bee: they woulde certainly come to their God. And therefore wee bee double guiltie, when hauing turned away from our GOD, and drawen backe our heartes through wilfull malice and stubbornenesse, ouer and besides that, wee hauehave beene caried with such a raging moode, as wee cannot bee tamed, neither can any repentance take place in vsus, neither will wee bee ruled by reason; but we behaue ourselues like folk that are straught or rather starke madde. And hereby wee ought to take warning to mistrust all our affections, and to bridle and imprison all our wittes, seeing wee bee so lightly withdrawen from God, and turned away to become backeslyders. If men giuegive themselues libertie, what followeth but that their heart will quickely bee turned backewarde? When wee shoulde walke vprightly, wee make it difficult to goe one step, but if it come to backeslyding, wee flitte away like water, there is nothing in vsus but slippernesse. Therefore must wee holde our selues as captiues, knowing well that if wee hauehave neuer so little libertie, wee bee straight way gone quite from our God.
Moreouer when men doe so beleeue their passions, they must needes become like madde beastes, neither reason nor equitie may beare sway, there is no more vnderstanding in them, and to bee short they are become brutish of their owne accorde. Seeing wee bee warned of these thinges, let vsus learne so to fight against all manner of excessiue lustes, and against all the appetites that boyle within vsus, as GOD may gouerne vsus quietly, and wee bee readie to follow which way soeuer he calleth vsus. Now after that Moses hath spoken so, he addeth, that albeit that the people hauehave passed Iordan, and become to the possession of the land, yet they shal not enioy it for euer. Here our Lorde declareth vntounto vsus, yt if he beare with vsus for a time, wee may not thereupon fall asleepe, nor perswade our selues that wee bee at peace with him, as the hypocrites do, who vnlesse they be pinched with miserie, and that God doe pursue them roughly, doe alwayes make their market after their owne deuise. Well [say they] God must needes louelove mee, for I am at myne case: and thereupon they flatter themselues. And whereas they do but mocke God, they thinke that hee seeth it not a whit. To bee short, the blessinges that God bestoweth on them, they turne as it were to a shrowding sheete, of purpose to keepe God from espying any whit of their life. And thus they bleare their owne eyes, & make them selues pastime & good cheare, as though they shold neuer come to reckoning. And that is too common a fault. Now Moses sayth vntounto them here, Albeit your God doe at this present time bring you into the lande which hee promised you, and that you passe ouer Iordan, where God will shewe his power, euen in drying vp ye Iordan as hee did in drying vp the read sea, where your enimies were vanquished & put to ye foyle; insomuch that when you were like to hauehave bin stopped from entring into your inheritance, yet notwithstanding al those lettes were ouercome. For as much therfore as you see such fauour of God; beware that you sleepe not in the meane whyle, but walke in his feare; for he can as well driue you out of that land, as he doeth at this present bring you into it. To be short, whensoeuer we hauehave receiued any fauour at Gods hand, we be exhorted to vse it in such wise, as ye same may be an occasion vntounto vsus to serue him, so as wee conceiue courage to yeeld ouer our selues to his obedience, for least we be bereft therof againe either early or late, for playing the wylde beastes & for dealing stubbornly after that God hath made vsus fatte,…. 32.15 according as wee shall see in the song of Moses. Moses hauing spoken so, vseth a greater vehemencie, saying: This day I call heauen and earth to witnesse, that I hauehave set before thee life and death, blessing and cursing. The same in effect was spoken afore, but (as I told you at a glance) Moses meant to expresse yet more, to the intent that the people shoulde vnderstande that he spake in good earnest, and that although their hearts were of stone, yet ought this to soften them. And let vsus marke first of al, that if the Iewes were thus harde & slowe, yea and ranke rebelles too; we be no better than they. For it is not in respect of them onelyonly that God sayth hee wil chaunge mens stonie heartes; it is a general promise.…. …1.19. Hee sheweth that of nature men be such, namely, altogether rebellious, & that they will by no meanes be ruled. And therefore Moses is fayne to inlarge his speech, and to hauehave recourse to heauen and earth. Hereby we hauehave matter first of all to pricke vsus forwarde. In deede men suppose that they be able fellowes to come vntounto God: but were there such forwardnes in vsus as wee surmise: it were ynough for God to becken to vsus with the finger, and to say, Come. But nowe when hee is fayne to crye out, and to vse roughnesse, and to handle vsus sharply, yea, and (as yee woulde say) to coniure vsus; it is a token that hee perceiueth well, that without this manner of dealing, hee coulde not drawe vsus to him; but that wee woulde still drawe backewarde from him. Therefore let vsus learne to condemne our selues: and moreouer when we heare that GOD doeth prouoke vsus more roughly than wee woulde, wee may not for all that bee nyce, nor grieued thereat. In deede it is meete for vsus to bee tender hearted one way, that is to say, that wee bee not like Stithyes or Anuyles, which beate backe the strokes of the hammer: but yet let vsus take heede, that wee repyne not at the vehemencie which GOD vseth towardes vsus; knowing that the same is necessarie for vsus. If GOD then after hee hath taught vsus gently, doe exhort vsus with a more quickenesse, yea, and threaten vsus, and moreouer summon vsus, and afterwarde frame our inditement against vsus, let vsus vnderstande that it is necessarie that it shoulde bee so, and that wee ought not to bee offended thereat: for wee shall winne nothing by it. Yee shall see many which can fynde in their hartes that the Gospell should be preached: but after what manner? Forsooth after a deade manner, so as the letter shoulde be layed foorth, and then eueryevery man holde what hee listed, without any exhortation to bee made, and without vnfolding of the inwarde force thereof. Such scoffers as these are to bee seene, which doe flatly mocke GOD, and yet in the meane whyle will needes bee borne withall. What, say they? Is it a preaching of the Gospel, when men threaten, and deale thus roughly? But in the meane whyle let vsus consider what wee be, whether it be meete that God should deale with vsus after our one liking. In deed if we were pliable, so as our heartes did yeeld at euerie word: then weare this vehemencie superfluous & vnprofitable: but seeing we be as slow as Asses, and also frantique, so as he cannot tame vsus, nor reclaime vsus vntounto him; it is good reason that he should speake in an other phrase. That is the thing which wee hauehave to obserue, where Moses doeth in this place call to heauen and earth. Yea and let vsus marke, that he expresseth more in saying, heauen and earth, than if he had called all the Angels of heauen, (as hee might hauehave done,) and in likewise all the dyuels of hell, as executioners of the iustice of God. But it ought to make vsus more ashamed when he setteth before vsus ye senslesse creatures. Now therfore when wee hauehave not obeyed our God, who shalbe our witnesses to condemne vsus? The creatures yt hauehave neyther reason, nor vnderstanding, nor senses. The earth knoweth not wherefore it was created, no more do the heauens; and yet doe euen they preach with a loud voyce, that their creator is to be obeyed.
To take these wordes of Heauen and Earth, for men & Angels: were too colde a doctrine. Moses vndoutedly had a farther respect; which is, that men shalbe woorse than ashamed, if they giuegive not eare to God when he teacheth them. And wherefore? For it might be replyed that it was an vnreasonable kinde of speach, to cal heauen and earth to witnesse. For they bee not of capacitie to alleage any thing. No: but let vsus consider howe the earth, hauing no vnderstanding, doeth through a secret inclination obey God; shee openeth her bowels to nourish men; shee bringeth foorth fruite, shee doth her dutie in all respectes; yea, and shee doeth it in such wise, as shee maketh it manifest vntounto vsus by effect, that shee tendeth to none other ende, but to obey her creator. And what doeth the heauen? Wee see howe it goeth about, and is in continuall labour: what voyages doeth the Sunne make eueryevery day? hee fetcheth an infinite circuit. Wee see likewise howe the moone doeth the like, and so the rest of the Planets. Also wee see other motions which goe a contrary course to these. To bee short, the heauen doeth as it were burne in desire to serue God; and yet these bee creatures without reason, without vnderstanding. Seeing then that these shewe openly vntounto vsus, that the secrete inclination of nature do…th lead them thereto, & they neuer leaue off, but there is such a constancie in them, that since the worlde was first created, this order hath alwayes continued still: what is to bee done of vsus in whome God hath imprinted his owne image, to the intent wee shoulde hauehave witte and discretion; telling vsus in our consciences, that wee ought to discerne good and euill asunder, and prouoking vsus thereto by his worde, wherby he discouereth himself vntounto vsus familiarly? If we for al this do draw back stil, & wil not receiue his yoke, nor yeeld him any obedience, must we not needs be worse than monsters; and consequently bee counted detestable? And on the other side, if after wee hauehave shewed some semblance of obedience to God, wee then become wauering, and by and by become wearie of seruing him, and turne away from him: shall wee not bee reprooued & conuicted by the continuall order of nature? Let vsus marke wel then, that it is not without cause, that Moses, (to make men more ashamed) telleth thē that heauen and earth shalbee witnesses against them, whereby they shalbee conuicted. Thus yee see in effect what wee hauehave to obserue. Now let vsus come to that which hee addeth, I hauehave set before thee good and euil, blessing and cursing: to the intent thou shouldest liue: verily, euen by louing the Lord thy God for that he is the life and the long continuance of thy dayes. Here Moses addeth not any new thing; but confirmeth his former matter. Whereby wee doe still see, that we be so dulheaded when obedience to Godwarde commeth in talke, that it is not ynough for vsus to hauehave the matter spoken briefly, & as it were by a glance: but it must be beaten into our heads. And therfore God neuer vseth any superfluous speache: but thereafter as he seeth it expedient for vsus, so doth he repete things: and because he seeth that we hauehave but a short memorie, hee is faine to put vsus in mind of the things which we knew & hauehave now forgotten. Also for as much as he seeth vsus to be hard of digestion; he is fayne to chaw the doctrine to vsus aforehand, that we may bee able to digest it. That is the thing which Moses doth presently, when he sayeth: This day I call heauen & earth to witnesse, that I hauehave set before thee good and euill, blessing and the curse. Nowe let vsus returne to that that wee hauehave spoken; which is, that as often as the worde of God is declared vntounto vsus, wee must looke into the power therof, euen to stay our selues thereuppon: that after wee hauehave once receiued the grace which hee offereth vntounto vsus, wee may not dout that wee shalbe deceiued, being so stayed vppon the testimonie which hee hath deliuered to vsus of his goodnesse and louelove. And likewise that beeing touched with dread and feare; to the intent we may preuent the threatenings, wee must not linger till hee put the thinges in execution, which hee hath denounced against vsus, but we must goe and yeelde our selnes vntounto him, to pray him to receiue vsus to his merciemercy and pitie. And albeit that this solemne protestation bee not made eueryevery day, as it was here done by Moses; yet wee must vnderstande that it belongeth vntounto vsus at this day, to the ende that none of vsus shoulde beguyle himselfe.
Moreouer it is sayde that both blessing and cursing are set before our eyes when wee hauehave the worde. Why so? For when our Lord trayneth vsus vntounto him, what remayneth then? Is not hee our life and the length of our dayes? Shall wee liue when wee bee parted away from God which is the fountaine of life and of all manner of happinesse? If wee take this worde God [in our mouth] and do not vnderstande whose we bee, nor what wee owe him; wee make him but an idoll, hee is but a fantasie: as there be many which talke ynough of God, but yet they doe not thinke that they leaue him emptie of all his glorie. But it is not for vsus to speake after that manner of our God: wee must yeelde vntounto him that which belongeth to his maiestie. Beholde, our God is the fountayne of life, hee is the welspring of vertue, of ioy, of felicitie, & of glorie. To bee briefe, the fulnesse of all goodnesse lyeth in him; and therefore as soone as wee turne away from him, wee cannot hauehave any droppe of those things: but all manner of mischiefe shall pursue vsus. That is the thing which Moses hath declared vntounto vsus in this place. So then by this worde God, and by his proper office, he sheweth vsus, that when we hauehave his word, we must not then any longer stagger, neither is there any excuse for the misbeleeuers which do not this honor to God, to conclude & to answere Amen, as soone as he saith the word. And why? For it is alone as if they renounced him. And ye Apostle vseth as it were a like reason, in the Epistle to the Hebrewes,Hebr. 4.12 where hee sayeth: For as much as it is the office of GOD to search mennes heartes, hee hath also giuen the same power to his word, so as it must pearce our bones, and soake euen into the marrow and into ye very thoughts. He putteth downe there a likenesse and conformitie betwixt God and his worde. So also in this place Moses telleth vsus, that it is not for vsus to cauill or wrangle any more, when wee hauehave once beene instructed by the worde of God. For therein hee sheweth himselfe what he is, there must wee behold his power. Nowe then, if wee intytle God to this prayse that hee is our life, and the length of our dayes, it is certaine that wee must fynd the same in Gods worde, and thereof wee ought to bee throughly well assured. To be short, wee see howe Moses standeth vppon this point, that the worde of God ought to hauehave such honour & reuerence at our hands, as to accept it as if God himselfe appeared vntounto vsus visibly in his maiestie, and to submit our selues obediently thereunto, as in very deede that is the true proofe and tryall of the obedience which wee yeelde vntounto him. But herewithall, wee bee also admonished, that men deceiue themselues, when they seeke either life or prosperitie any where else than in God. For wee foorthwith goe to wracke as soone as he draweth his spirite from vsus.… Do wee then desire to liue? Let vsus abide vnderunder the wings of our God, and cleaue vntounto him, according as it is sayde here. True it is that in this place Moses setteth forth an earthly life vntounto the Iewes, and also the land of Chanaan, which was assigned vntounto them for their inheritance: but yet he sheweth that God meant by exercising of them in those thinges to trayne them on farther. Let vsus marke (I say) that Moses did not meane to holde the people to this earthly life, but to make them to vnderstande the goodnes of GOD, and to giuegive them some certaine taste therof, by the testimonies which they had here beneath. Moreouer, seeing that it is so that God protested vntounto the Iewes by the mouth of Moses, that hee layde before their eyes both life and death, when hee willed that the lawe shoulde bee published: let vsus vnderstande that the sayde life is yet better vttered vntounto vsus at this day. For the lawe is called the messenger of death, because life is not there so largely knowen, as our Lorde Iesus Christ doth shewe it vsus at this day, in that hee commeth to offer himselfe vntounto vsus as the liuely image of his father,Col. 1.15. to the in…ent that wee shoulde be transfigured into his glorie. Let vsus then marke well, that as oft as the doctrine of the Gospell nowadayes is preached vntounto vsus, God sheweth forth life vntounto vsus, and calleth vsus in such wife vntounto him, as wee may become one with him, according to this saying which wee reade in the seuenteenth Chapter of Saint Iohn; Holy Father, I beseech thee,Iohn. 17.21. that they may bee one with vsus, as thou and I are but one. Seeing then that our Lorde Iesus hath pronounced this with his own mouth; let vsus not feare but that whensoeuer we bee called vntounto him, hee doeth ioyne vsus perfectly to himselfe in glory. But yet therewithall, let vsus also bee afrayed, least for our refusing to receiue life to inioy it; death bee giuen vntounto vsus. Not that that is of the nature of the Gospell; (for wee our selues be the cause thereof) but because the reprobates bee euermore consumed by the onelyonly sauour of the Gospel, through their owne malice and vnthankfulnes.2. Cor. 2.16. Let vsus bee aduised to choose the life that is offered vntounto vsus, seeing wee neede not to seeke it farre off, but the matter resteth onelyonly in receiuing it, when it is set before our eyes. But as touching the cause, and how God gouerneth vsus by his holy Spirite: that was treated of yesterday, shew…ng that the same is done by his word, notwithstanding that it is vttered vntounto vsus by the mouthes of men.
Nowe let vsus fall downe before the maiestie of our good God, with acknowledgement of our sinnes: beseeching him to make vsus feele them more and more, yea, and to mislike them, and that wee may bee to reformed to his obedience, as we may couet nothing but to dedicate our selues wholy to his seruice, vntill that being quite dispatched from our olde Adam, wee bee fully reformed by his righteousnesse. And so let vsus all say, Almightie GOD heauenly father, &c.