Sermons on Deuteronomy, Sermons · Sermon 176
On Wednesday the v. of May, 1556. The CLXXVI. Sermon which is the fourth vponupon the one & thirtith Chapter.
17 Is it not because my God is not with me, that these euils hauehave found me out?
18 But I will hyde my face in that day because of the wickednesse which hee shall hauehave committed, euen for that he shall hauehave turned away to other gods.
19 Now therefore wryte this song for you, and teach it the children of Israel, putting it in their mouthes, that this song may be a witnesse to mee against the children of Israell.
20 When I hauehave brought them into the lande which I sware to their fathers, flowing with milke and hony: and they shall hauehave eaten and beene filled and become fatte, and hauehave turned away to other gods, and serued them, and blasphemed mee, and broken my couenaunt.
21 And when many euils and tribulations be come vppon them: then shal this song answere to their face for a witnesse: for it shall not be forgotten in the mouth of their seede: for I knowe their thoughtes, and what they doe already at this day before I hauehave brought them into the land for the which I hauehave sworne.
THe chiefe thing that God telleth vsus, to assure vsus in this present life, is this, that hee hath his eye vponupon vsus, and that he is so mindefull of our welfare, that nothing shall want vsus, because he is able to prouide all thinges that bee necessarie for vsus; and therewithall is able also to defende vsus from all anoyaunce, insomuch that his eye is vntounto vsus a buckler, a fortresse, and a shadowe to shroude vsus vnderunder it. Likewise it is sayde of his good will in the fifth Psalme,Psal. 5.3. that it shall be our shielde. The thing then wherein the faithful ought to rest and reioyce: is yt God looketh vponupon them with compassion yt he neuer forgetteth them, that he guideth all their steps, and that he hath a fatherly care ouer them to remedie all their euilles. And on the contrarie side, the greeuousest threat that God can vtter is to turne his face away from vsus, and no more to vouchsafe to hauehave care either of vsus, or of our life, but to forsake vsus. For then wee are set open to Sathan and all maner of misfortune. And where is then our defence? For wee hauehave no meane to resist, we see we be fraile and wretched creatures, there is nothing in vsus. And therefore wo be to them of whom God wil hauehave no longer care; but forsaketh them as those that belong not vntounto him at all, ne be of his housholde. And that is the thing which he sayeth in this place, that when the people of Israell hauehave left him, hee will hide his face from them, and will be no more their father, as he had beene afore time. Nowe this is so spoken vntounto the Iewes, as it ought to serue vsus also for a warning at this day. Will we then hauehave this souereigne and inestimable benefite, namely, that God should guide vsus; that our life should be in his hande, and that he should take vsus into his keeping to vpholde vsus? Then must we looke that we call vponupon him, and as we professe his name, so must we also serue him in truth according to this saying of Saint Paul,… 19. that who soeuer calleth vponupon the name of the Lorde, that is to say, whosoeuer protesteth to be of his people, must depart from all iniquitie.… Therefore let vsus learne to serue our God with a pure conscience, to resort to him for refuge, and to put our whole trust in him. And then are we assured that one hayre of our heade shall not fall away without his will. For if he hauehave care of the sparrowes, (as our Lorde Iesus sayth) what will he doe by them whom he hath chosen for his children?… 10.29 We be not onelyonly men created after his owne Image, but he hath also set his marke vponupon vsus, to the end to saue vsus as members of our Lord Iesus Christ. Let vsus not doubt therefore, but that he wil euermore performe the duetie of a father in looking to vsus. But if in the meane while we become wandering beastes, and eueryevery man fall away from him; then must that which is pronoū ced heere be accomplished vppon vsus, namely, that God will hide his face: not because that he forgetteth any thing: but he speaketh in this manner after the fashion of men, to make vsus to vnderstande that in deede he will not looke vponupon vsus with compassion, nor prouide for our life, nor succor any of our necessities; but that he will doe ye cleane contrary, that is to say, that he will leaue vsus for such as we be, and shew vntounto vsus, that we be not worthy for him to encumber himselfe any more with vsus, or to busie himselfe about vsus. Surely it is a dreadfull vengeance, when GOD hath so forsaken vsus. Therefore let vsus beware that we sticke so vntounto him, as there may bee an inseparable band betwixt vsus, that is to say, as we for our part may honour him as our father, reposing and setting all our trust in him: and he go forewarde continually in doing vsus good, and as his regarde may be the couert to hide vsus from al ye assaults of Sathan, from all the troubles that he deuiseth against vsus, and from the hurtes and ano…ances of this worlde.
Now he sayeth expressely, that he will bring the Iewes to that passe, that they shall confesse those mischiefes to bee falne vppon them, because God is not amongst them. Heere he treateth of a forced confession: for hee speaketh not a whit of true repentance, but onelyonly of a remorse which all the despisers of God doe feele, for that they hauehave of long time beene stubborne, yea and skorned all correction. When they be pinched to the vttermost yt they can no longer hold out; then must they needs confesse spite of their teethes, that there is a God which is their Iudge. He sayth that the Iewes shall make such a confession, when he hath brought them vnderunder foote with maine strokes. Heereby we see yt he threatneth them that his punishing of them shall not be mieldly and after the cōmon maner; but that also he will vse such rigour▪ that what hardnesse and stubbornesse soeuer be in them, yet shal they be broken if they will not bowe, accordingly as I hauehave handled the same point heeretofore. Neuerthelesse it is good for vsus to bee often put in mind of it, & to bethinke vsus thereof oftentimes. For men do alwayes deceiue themselues herein, that they thinke that they shall by and by scape the hande of God, and when they hauehave receiued a stripe or twaine, they doe but shake their eares & thinke all is done. Therefore if wee be stubborne in naughtinesse, let vsus looke surely to bee beaten downe, vntill we be driuē to confesse that he punisheth vsus iustly. Nay, let vsus not tarry till then. But when we heare how God proceedeth against such as are vtterly hardhearted and will not yeeld vntounto him, let vsus be afraid. And as soone as we heare him threaten vsus, or perceiue any token of his anger, let vsus turne againe vntounto him, and meeken our heartes, and let vsus vnderstande yt vntill he be appeased, our sorowes must needes increase, euen to the vtter ouerwhelming of vsus. That is the thing which Moses ment in saying, that they which despise God and his word, shall feele that there is neither ende nor measure of their calamities, and that they shalbe cōstrained to say, These plagues are come vponupon vsus, because God is not among vsus.
And heerewithall we must also marke the experience which the people had. For (as the cō mon prouerbe sayth) experience is the mistres of fooles. The people had then already of long time knowen what it was to hauehave God dwelling amongst them, and yt it brought all maner of ioy, all maner of rest, and all maner of happines. And when yt God was turned from thē, they were driuen to consider to their cost, what an vnhappinesse it was to hauehave him a stranger to thē. To be short, heere Moses sheweth the diuersitie yt is to be seene, when God doth for a time blesse a people, & make them to prosper: and contrariwise when for the misusing of his grace he turneth away, and sheweth himselfe an enemie and aduersarie against them. Nowe therefore while we inioy the tokens and Testimonies of Gods louelove, let vsus learne to serue and feare him, that ye possession therof may continue with vsus for euer. If we be so wicked and froward, as to skorn God when he vseth such goodnesse towarde vsus. and forbeareth vsus with patience: let vsus assure ourselues that he will giuegive such glorie to his benefits as that the extreme miseries which he will make vsus to feele, shall force vsus to say, Where is the Lorde that dwelled with vsus aforetime? Howsoeuer the case stand, Gods will was that the song which was deliuered to Moses, should be a witnesse to aunswere against the people. He sayth yet againe that hee will hide his face, and that by reason thereof the people shall be a pray, and vtterly deuoured, and that there shalbe nothing but tokens of horrible cōfusion in all their state. The people then is sufficiently warned and certified of Gods wrath: but yet God addeth this song more, to the ende that on the one side the people perceiuing their state so wretched, shold say, God punisheth me and that iustly. And on the other side, that in this similitude they might behold themselues as in a glasse, and that by the hauing of this song, they might bee put in minde of their misdeedes and transgressions; and made to consider that God doth the office of a Iudge, and thereby be the more moued to thinke vponupon their faultes, and to humble themselues. Now we see heere first of all, what dulnesse there is in men: for God giueth vsus no superfluous thing, nay there neuer departeth word frō his mouth which is not profitable for vsus, and which ought not to serue vsus for instruction. Wherefore is it then that God giueth this song to the people of Israell? It is because it should serue them for a Testimonie. At what time? Euen at such time as they should be afflicted to the vttermost, that they might be holden as it were on the torture, and be constrained to confesse the faultes and iniquities which they had committed. And how then? Could not the plagues which they endured, suffice to bring them to reason, and to cause them to turne againe vntounto God, whom they had forsaken? Yes in deede, were it not that men be so hard hearted, that in seeing they perceiue not a whit, and that their wittes be as it were dulled and dead. We see by this then, that although our Lorde chastise men, euen with such extremitie, as they must needes confesse that it is he to whom they be to aunswere and to yeelde account, and that it is his hande that pursueth them, and that he is their enemie: yet they be so foolish that they settle thēselues in their owne imaginations, and although they knowe it, yet they bee not throughly perswaded of it in their heartes: but let it escape them and by and by forget it, vnlesse God doe put to his worde, and tell them. It is to me that you must hauehave an eye: for I do summō you before my iudgement seate. When I do thus scourge you, I set your faults before you, I do heere make out your processe for you. If God spake not when he striketh with his hande, the stripes would bee vnprofitable to vsus. Now we perceiue the hardheartednes that is in vsus. For although it be heere spoken of the children of Israel, yet doth the holy Ghost vnderunder the example of them, tell vsus what we be. Therefore let vsus learne to know our selues better, and consider that although it bee needefull for vsus to receiue instructiō concerning Gods punishments, least we should become vnreformable: yet notwithstanding it would profit vsus nothing, vnlesse we had the word of God, whereby he draweth vsus to repentance, and by the which he doeth vsus to vnderstande, that the thinges which we suffer must not be imputed to hap hazard, but we must vnderstand yt they come frō him. And thus must we resort to the holy scripture, so often as wee be afflicted. For on ye one side, when men are scourged they chafe vppon the bridle, and become as doted, as if they were astonished with the stroke of a hammer; they thinke not of God. True it is that when they feele thēselues pinched with aduersities, they crye alas, but they doe neuer the more lift vp their eyes to ye hand of God, to vnderstande him to be their Iudge. Therefore we must proceed thus far; that is▪ we must hauehave recourse vntounto Gods word; and when God smiteth vsus on this maner, let vsus take warning to submit ourselues vntounto him, & not keepe vsus aloofe as we are wont. Now ye same word not only will shewe vsus yt it is Gods hande that smiteth vsus; but it will also bring vsus to examine our life. It is not said in the scripture yt God punisheth men not knowing wherefore, or yt he taketh pleasure in tormenting them: but it is sayd, that he punisheth them for their faultes so as we must alwaies needes acknowledge his iustice; insomuch yt if men coulde skill to profit themselues by the afflictions yt are sent them, they be all of them as medicines, and Gods intent is to shew himselfe a father by warning them after yt maner. Moreouer they serue to make men inexcusable: insomuch yt all the afflictions which they suffer in this world, shalbe an augmentation of the last vengeance, because they would not stoope vnderunder the hande of God, while he nurtured thē for their welfare. Thus ye see yt when we be scourged, we must resort to the holy scripture, first of all to vnderstand yt it commeth not by aduenture, but that our Lord doth thereby shew vntounto vsus yt we hauehave offended him, & that he meaneth thereby to make vsus to feele our sinnes, to the end we should not be so senselesse as we were before, to flatter & to hardē ourselues but that we should come directly vntounto him, and yeelde ourselues guilty, yea euen with such misliking of our sins, as we shold hate the euil yt is in vsus, and seek nothing but to be receiued vntounto his gouernment, to be changed & renewed by him, so as wee may take no pleasure but onelyonly in framing ourselues to his good pleasure. That is the thing which Moses meant in saying, yt although the people should be constrained to say, yt they suffered those so many plagues & miseries, because God was no more among them: yet should they also hauehave a testimony to follow thē, and to holde them as at a bay, as who would say, Thou shalt not escape, but shalt know yt thy sins be the cause of al these euils; although thou seeke starting holes, yet must thou bee as it were pent vp, and feele yt God is against thee, & that thou shalt be more & more tormented, vntill thou turne againe vntounto him. True it is that this is spoken of a witnesse yt was against ye people, and yt it serueth to expresse ye stubbornes which was in ye children of Israell, as hereafter we shall see more at large. And surely although God vouchsafe to shewe vsus merciemercy, and would hauehave vsus to heare his woord, to the intent to bring vsus to repentaunce, yet must that woorde first bee a witnesse against vsus. As for example, wee shall neuer obtaine fauour of God vntill hee hauehave condemned vsus. And wherefore? Bicause we be wrapped in our sinnes, and doe sooth and flatter our selues in them. Nowe so long as men doe thus glory in themselues, or become carelesse, there is no place for merciemercy: for they make but a scoffe of the goodnesse of GOD. Yee see then that wee bee shutte out from all hope of saluation, vntill wee bee condemned of God. To bring this to passe, his word must discouer our iniquities, and all our filthinesse, and make vsus abashed and ashamed, and also driue vsus to feele the sorrowes of death, and to see hell which is prepared for vsus. The point then whereat God beginneth when hee meaneth to bring men to saluation, is that he stirreth vp his worde for a witnesse to them, to make them to know that they be vtterly forlorne and damned. Is that done? Then doth God admonish vsus, and giuegive vsus Testimonie of his good will; and not onelyonly lay vsus foorth his doctrine, but also recite the processe of all our faultes. Nowe then, let vsus receiue the woord when it testifieth vntounto vsus our condemnation; that beeing drawen thereby to repentance, and altogether ashamed of our selues, wee may obtaine fauour before GOD. Yet let vsus vnderstande moreouer, that when GOD doeth so frame our inditement, it is for our benefite: for hee maketh vsus our owne Iudges, to the intent that hee himselfe would not iudge vsus, but surceasse from it. Nowe if wee will needes play the wilde beastes, when as GOD testifieth our sinnes vntounto vsus; or else if wee goe to seeke for leaues to couer vsus,… 3.7. that is to say, if wee will needes scape his iudgement by our lying and hypocrisie, and play the skoffers which make a mocke of all warninges that are giuen vntounto them; or if we play the mad bedlems in despising GOD as we see many doe, who cannot abyde any rebukes, but doe grinde their teeth as often as they bee made to vnderstande their sinnes; if (I say) wee doe proceede so farre, then must the woorde of God stand still in his first force, to wit, it must bee a Testimonie to vsus of our damnation. And therefore seeing it is sayde heere that the Song is a witnesse to auow that GOD hath iust cause to punishe his people, and that the people stande conuicted thereby: let vsus feare, let vsus feare (I say) least our Lorde doe with lyke extremitie pursue the processe which hee hath made against vsus, and that there bee no place of refuge to his grace after wee hauehave once reiected it: nay rather, as soone as hee summoneth vsus, let vsus learne to stoope, and to shut our mouth; and not to make any excuse, but to say; Lorde, wee see verie well, that if thou wouldest vse rigour towardes vsus, we were vndoone, there is no shift for vsus but that thou must receiue vsus lyke damned and forlorne cast-awayes as wee bee, and bestowe thy merciemercy vppon vsus: for all our welfare lyeth in this, that thou looke no more vponupon our sinnes to punish them, but that through thy free goodnesse, thou doe take them away and blot them out. Thus ye see how we ought to put this place in vre, where Moses sayeth, that this Song shall be for a witnesse to the people of Israel.
Hee sheweth yet better what testimonie hee giueth by this Song. It is (sayeth he) that I will bring you into the lande which I hauehave promised to your fathers, a land flowing with milke and honnie. Heereby he giueth vsus to vnderstande, that it is a fatte lande, and fruitfull of all good things in such abundance, as if milke did runne therein, in stead of Riuers: and as if they had withall the like abundance of hony. This maner of speech is very commonly vsed whensoeuer God speaketh of the land of Chanaan: and not without cause. For God had blessed it aboue all the rest of the world; yea and no doubt, but the people found that with their comming thither, the fruitefulnesse of that land was augmented. And surely it is a maruailous matter, how such a huge multitude was nourished in so small a countrie. But at this day we see it is a land halfe barren. True it is that euen as yet there are some places thereof as little speckes, which are very fat & abundant; but yet farre vnable to verifie that which wee reade of it here, namely that the land did flowe with milke and honie. But herein we do so much the better see that which is spoken in the 107. Psalme,Psal. 107.34 namely, that when God hath giuen neuer so great fruitfulnesse to a land, he can make it barrain againe, as if it were sowed with salt, so as there shall be nothing but leannesse, nor any sustenance to bee found therein. Wee perceiue then by the land of Chanaan, how it is the hand of God that giueth aboundance to a land: and likewise that his withdrawing of his blessing, causeth a land to become fruitlesse and altogether barraine. And therefore doeth Moses nowe protest that when the people come into ye land, and there be nourished, filled and fatted, & then serue straunge gods: they shalbee condemned so much the more: and then they must not looke for any startingholes, but bee discouered to the whole world to their condemnation, and this present song shalbe as a processe wherin the forme of law is obserued; so as ye summons shalbe made first, & then the examinations and informations shalbe exhibited; and afterward ye malefactors being arrained and condemned by their owne mouth, shall receiue the sentence of iudgement against them. Now wee see what the meaning of Moses was.
Heereupon let vsus marke that by making comparison of the woord of GOD with the thinges which are befalen vntounto vsus, and which wee hauehave felt by experience; wee ought to be wakened, or else we be too brutish. As for example, whereas the Scripture telleth vsus that God bestoweth his richesse vppon men, of purpose to bring them backe vntounto him by his gentlenesse, and fatherly goodnesse; and also that hee continueth to doe them good, of purpose to drawe them to repentaunce, when he seeth them goe astray: although wee had no experience thereof, yet is it certaine that the holy Scripture ought to suffice vsus. But if wee looke into our owne state, and vppon the thinges whereof God hath giuen vsus experience; and consider howe many wayes he hath shewed himselfe liberall towarde vsus, so as his goodnesse is throughly knowen vntounto vsus, and we bee resolued that it is his hand that hath fed vsus: surely yt beholding of so many benefits which God hath bestowed vponupon vsus, ought to make vsus to proceed yet farther, & to consider that although we hauehave offended him, and bin wicked and vnthankfull; yet is he not weary to do vsus good: but doth rather striue against our leaudnes, & ouercome it with his goodnes. When we think vponupon these thinges, then hath ye scripture a good testimony of our experience, and then must we needs be so much ye more guiltie. That is ye thing which Moses meant in this text. For hauing tolde the Iewes that this Song should serue for a testimony to stop their mouthes so as they should not hauehave any thing to reply against GOD, hee saith: for proofe heereof, I wil bring them into the land which I promised vntounto their fathers, and there they shall be fedde and fatted. For seeing that euen after they hauehave tasted my goodnes so great towards them, they will needes turne away from mee, and follow after strange gods: is it not ynough to bewray their filthynes vntounto all the worlde? Must not all creatures be witnesses thereto? Shal not my word thē hauehave good authoritie to say, that they be too leawd a people, & a people that are not worthy, that I should euer hauehave giuen them one morsell of bread to eate, & much lesse that I should hauehave adopted and chosen them from among all the nations of the world,Exod. 19.6. 1. Pet. 2.9. to be a holy people, and a Royall preesthoode? Now we perceiue the meaning of Moses. It remaineth yt wee apply it to our vse. It was meete that the Iewes after this warning peale, should hauehave acknowledged that they came not into ye land of Canaan, otherwise than by the leading of God, and that the same lande was giuen them in possession bicause of the Promise made to their father Abraham. Moreouer they saw, how God held them there. It is good reason then that they should hauehave concluded, that (seeing they were depriued of so great a benefite, and yet God is vnchaungeable & altereth not his purpose) the euill came of themselues, in that they suffered not God to continue his mercy toward them, but did refuse it, & shut the gate against him. Indeede we hauehave not at this day a land of Canaan; we hauehave not yt which the Iewes had, to be gathered into one certaine Country. But what? We be too blind, if we vnderstand not that what Country soeuer God hath giuen vsus to liue in, yet it is he that doth harbour vsus. And although we had neither Testimony nor Token of his goodnesse as concerning this present life: yet there is a matter which passeth all this; which is, That he hath drawen vsus out of the darkenesse of damnation wherin we were plunged: and hath brought vsus to ye heritage of saluatiō. For through hope,Eph. 2.6. we be already set aboue with Iesus Christ; as S. Paul speaketh in the Epistle to the Ephes. Yet neuerthelesse besides this, God of his exceeding great goodnes, faileth not to giuegive vsus many mo testimonies of his fatherly louelove: for who else nourisheth and feedeth vsus in this world? Howe many waies doe we dayly perceiue that he hath his hand stretched out, yea or rather his winges, (as he saith in the Song) as it were to broode vsus heere like little chickins?Deut. 32.11 We see it with our eyes. Seeing then that wee hauehave so much experience of the goodnesse of God; and againe yt on the other side, he by his scourging of vsus doeth traine vsus to the vnderstanding of our sinnes, and therupon doeth offer vsus his woorde wherein to beholde the articles that are layd against vsus: must we not needes be too hard hearted and brutish, if wee bee not mooued to come vntounto him with true repentance? So then, let vsus learne to exercise our selues better in the rememberaunce of Gods benefites, & to acknowledge them accordingly, as he hath bound vsus vntounto him: and on ye other side to consider, that if he at any time faile vsus, the same must needes come of our vnthankefulnes. For as for him, he will continually proceede more and more to doe vsus good, vnlesse we hinder him, and turne away the course of his goodnesse, as if a man should stay the running of a Riuer. For the goodnesse of God is a fountaine that neuer dryeth; it is certaine that he neuer ceasseth to doe vsus good. Doeth he then scourge vsus? Our sinnes must needes be the cause thereof, bycause we hauehave prouoked his wrath. After that manner must wee consider as well of Gods benefites, as of the afflictions that he sendeth vsus, specially when wee bee warned by his word, as the way is here shewed vsus.
And whereas he sayeth, That the people after that they be filled and fedde: It serueth to aggrauate their vnthankefulnesse the more. For if the people of Israel had bin afflicted, and that thereuppon they had fallen away, [there had bin some colour:] as oftentimes men being tempted doe fall away from GOD bycause they be at their wits end. And albeit that the same be no sufficient excuse, yet may it seeme that the fault is so much the lesse. As for example, whē a man hath meanely serued God, and it hath not appeared that he hath dealt amisse, but rather that hee had a good zeale and affection: if God thereupon doe punish him, and he bee so vexed that he woteth not where to become; in so much that hee doe murmure, chafe, and blaspheme God, or is induced to doe euill; men will say, Wel, this man, as long as GOD dealt gently with him, did shewe himselfe to bee in good order: but nowe see what temptations doe. But when a man is blessed of GOD, and doeth prosper by all meanes, and it is Gods pleasure to wynne him by gentlenesse and goodnesse: if thereuppon hee become a rebell, and despise God, and giuegive ouer himselfe to all manner of loosenesse, (as some are seene to do, or rather as the common manner is, that as soone as GOD giueth men that which they doe long for and desire, they become drunken, and doe lose both wit and reason;) if a man [say I] doe then ouershoote himselfe after that fashion when GOD dealeth with him so gratiously: is not his sinne so much the more haynous? Yes certainely. That is the thing which Moses meant to declare in this place; [where he sayeth.] They shal come into the Lande which I hauehave promised them, there will I sustaine them, there shall they bee filled and made fatte; and then will they turne away after straunge goddes. By these woordes we are made to vnderstande, that the more our Lorde maketh vsus to feele his fauour and fatherly goodnesse, the more ought we to be allured to rest wholly vppon him that hee may possesse vsus, and the more ought all our wittes and affections to bee stayed vppon his louelove, so as the diuell may not finde any breach nor gap open to deceyue vsus, for so much as GOD hath so wonne vsus vntounto himselfe. That is the instruction which we must learne by this text, otherwise the complaynt that GOD maketh against the Iewes by his Prophet Ieremie, shall lyght vppon vsus.… 25. My people [sayeth he] what hauehave I doone to thee? Heere GOD entereth into disputation with the people bycause they were so defiled with Idolatry and had peruerted all together. Goe to (saith hee) let vsus nowe pleade together; my people, what hauehave I doone to thee that thou shouldest complaine? I hauehave brought thee out of the lande of Egypt, I hauehave stretched out my mightie hand to deliuer thee from thence, I hauehave ledde thee, and directed thee, I fedde thee in the wildernesse, I caused Manna to come from heauen, I gaue thee the foode of Angels: and when thou wast come into the lande which I had promised thee, I fought against thine Enemies, and I gaue thee victorie against them all. But these bee not the cheefe matters: I hauehave moreouer giuen thee my Lawe, which is the couenant of lyfe and saluation, I hauehave giuen thee my Sacrifices, to the intent thou shouldest hauehave a Testimonie that it is not without cause, that I would hauehave you to my selfe. Also I hauehave made thee to finde so great riches of my bountie, that it is impossible to value the benefites which I hauehave bestowed on thee: and doest thou nowe fall to despising me, and to breaking thy fayth, and to turning away after straunge Gods? Is this the recompence that I looke for? If a man doe plant him a vine and tend it; he meaneth to eate and drinke the fruit thereof. And if the vine do yeeld a strange and a bitter fruite, to choke the maister withall, what wil come of it? Deserueth not such a vine to be quite plucked vp? Let vsus therefore bethink our selues, and not tarie till our Lorde accuse vsus to hauehave greeued his holy Spirite:… but let vsus turne this text to our profite. And for as much as we knowe by experience, that he is a liberall father vntounto vsus; let it mooue vsus to soften our hearts, how heard soeuer they bee, that wee may learne to giuegive ouer our selues wholly to him. Thus ye see whereto this Text ought to serue vsus where it is sayde, I will set them in the Lande which I hauehave promysed to their fathers, they shall bee nourished there and made fatte, and they shall turne away vntounto straunge gods. And therefore seeing that GOD maintaineth vsus, let vsus suffer him also to guide and gouerne vsus, vntil he hath brought vsus to yt eternal inheritaunce, which he hath promised vsus, and which we looke for.
Yet moreouer hee saith, that this song shall aunswere them as a witnesse, because it shall neuer depart from their mouth. Hereby we do see how it is our Lordes will yt his word should serue not to some one vse onelyonly; but also for a continuall instruction euen vntounto the end; & that the fathers should conuey it ouer to their childrē. And the chiefe succession which we ought to leaue to them that come after vsus, is that when God hath once vttered his will vntounto vsus, wee must beware that it be not buried, so as none of vsus bee so fond as to hold himselfe contented with his owne only knowing thereof, as though the light of saluation ought to die with vsus: but rather that they which come after vsus may inioy it also. And therfore when we our selues hauehave knowen God, and hauehave had his trueth preached among vsus; wee must to the vttermost of our power indeuor, that it may continue after our death, and that our children may come to receive ye doctrine which we hauehave followed. And if the word of God slip away, and men think not thereon (as it is come to passe in the Popedome, & as it was afore time:) it commeth of their owne leawdnesse, and they must needes yeelde a reckoning for their disanulling of so great a benefite. Wee see that the law was lost for a time amongst the people of Israel, and this song was out of the mouthes of both great and small; but yet God at the last did not suffer the people to continue in such ignoraunce; but it was his will that the Lawe was founde, and that the people came with great solemnitie to receiue it, and hee tolde them that they were woorthy of blame for defacing the doctryne of Saluation, and therefore hee willed them to repent. Nowe, seeing it is so; as I hauehave already touched, when GOD hath once taught vsus his will, let vsus learne (as I sayde afore) not onelyonly to profite therein for the present tyme or for the tyme of our owne life, but also to procure as much as in vsus lyeth that our Children after our death, may still enioy the same Religion, and that the name of GOD may euer bee had in remembraunce.
And although there be many that cannot profit themselues thereby; yet shall it turne to their condemnation, and God shall not fayle to bee glorified. For surely Moses speaketh in this place, not onelyonly of Gods elect, and of such as were the true seede of Abraham: but also of such as were willing to take profite by the lawe, and were not altogether reprobates. For seeing it was Gods will that this song should bee in their mouthes: thereby wee ought to be so much the better aduertised, that our Lord doeth oftentimes leaue his worde to the worlde, to bee a message and a testimonie of his louelove and goodnes; howbeit not for the saluation of all men, but for the condemnation of the greater part. Wee see that euen among the Heathen there remained alwayes a remnant of the trueth: wee see such sentences vttered by the heathen, as it is impossible for a naturall man to thinke the least of them which they hauehave alleaged. By what meanes then did they it? It was Gods dooing, who brought them so farre foorth to their greater condemnation; and at the last day they shall full well be brought in minde of it againe. Nowe if we hauehave the word of GOD, which ought to bee a much more familiar instruction to vsus; and that God constraineth vsus to hauehave our eares beaten therewith, and to bee able to talke thereof; if wee make none account thereof, but walke altogether contrarie to it, so as it may seeme that wee hauehave conspired to prouoke the wrath of GOD against vsus; Alas how dreadfull condemnation is readie for vsus? Therefore let vsus looke well to our selues, and let vsus consider that our Lorde doeth often times leaue his worde in the mouth of men, not to the intent they should be instructed thereby to their profite; (for they be neither worthie nor capable thereof, bycause of their malice and rebellion,) but to the intent they should hauehave the lesse excuse, at such time as they must condemne themselues, and when this sentence is to bee executed vppon them, namely, Thou wicked seruaunt I condemne thee,Luke. 19.22. yea euen by thine owne mouth. Let vsus therefore take heede of that, and let vsus make such confession of Gods trueth; as the same may proceede from the roote of our heart, and be a good Sacrifice, and so consequently turne to our saluation, as Saint Paule sayeth in the tenth Chapter to the Romanes,Rom. 10.10. which was alleaged by mee, not long sithens. Thus must the woorde of GOD bee alwaies in our mouth, not to condemne vsus, in such wise, as wee may sit rucking still continually in our filthinesse: but to condemne vsus in such wise as wee may bee touched with repentaunce, and vtterly mislike of our sinnes, and flee vntounto God to obtaine fauour at his hand: yea euen in such wise, as he may rule and gouerne vsus by his holy spirit, and from hencefoorth bee glorified in all our life.
Nowe let vsus fall downe before the Maiestie of our good God, with acknowledgement of our faultes: beseeching him to vouchsafe more and more to giuegive vsus a true vnderstanding and feeling of that which wee hauehave deserued, so as wee may bee altogether cast downe in our selues, and lay away all glorying of our selues, and that our whole resorting for refuge may bee alonely to his goodnesse: and that in the meane whyle we may sigh vnderunder the burthen of our flesh, for so much as wee bee so ouerloaden, that wee are not able to come to him with so pure affection, as we ought: and that he will augment the graces of his holy spirit, vntill he hauehave rid vsus quite and cleane of all maner of vices and imperfections, and renewed vsus after his owne image, so as we may forsake all thinges, to giuegive our selues vntounto him: and that renouncing this present world, we may labour to attayne to the inheritaunce of the heauenly life. That it may please him to graunt this grace, not onelyonly vntounto vsus, but also to all people and nations of the earth, &c.