Sermons on Deuteronomy, Sermons · Sermon 177
On Wednesday the vj. of May, 1556. The CLXXVII. Sermon which is the fifth vponupon the one and thirtith Chapter.
22 And so Moses wrate this Song the same day, and taught it the children of Israell.
23 Then hee commaunded Iosuah the sonne of Nun, and sayde, bee strong and of good courage: for thou shalt bring the Children of Israell, into the lande concerning the which I hauehave sworne to them, and I will bee with thee.
24 And it came to passe that Moses finished his wryting of the woordes of this Lawe in the booke: so that hee made an ende.
25 Then Moses commaunded the Leuites that bare the Arke of the Couenaunt of the Lord, saying:
26 Take the booke of this Lawe, and lay it in the side of the Arke of the Couenaunt of the Lorde your God, that it may bee a witnesse agaynst thee.
27 For I knowe thy stubbornnesse and thy stiffe necke, beholde, whyle I am yet a liue with you this day, you bee Rebelles agaynst the Lorde: how much more then will you be so after my death?
28 Cause all the Elders of your Trybes and your Rulers to come before me, that I may vtter these words in their hearing, and that I may call both heauen and earth to witnesse against them.
29 For I knowe that after my death, you will bee corrupted and fall away from the way that I hauehave commaunded you. And finally euill will come vppon you, bycause you shall hauehave doone euill in the sight of the Lorde, by prouoking him to anger through the workes of your handes.
30 So Moses spake the words of this song in the eares of all the congregation of Israell: vntill he ended them.
WEe hauehave heere before already seene, howe Moses exhorted Iosuah, whome GOD gaue him to bee his successor. And therein wee hauehave seene also, that he was contented to hauehave serued God during his owne lyfe time, and that hee was not grieued yt another was reserued for the charge which was more excellent than that which had beene committed vntounto him. For the chiefe matter was to put the children of Israel in possession of the heritage that God had promised them. Moses is remoued from that honor, and GOD tolde him that it was to shame him withall, bicause he had not glorifyed him, when the people stroue, at such time as they asked water to drinke. God sayd that Moses behaued not himselfe constant ynough at that time,… 10 and therefore hee punished him, and would not that hee shoulde put the people in possession of the land of Chanaan. Nowe see with what patience Moses did beare this chastisement which God layd vppon him: In so much that although Iosuah was appointed in his place, yet hee was not a whit mooued thereat with enuie or euill will: but did rather exhort him, desiring nothing, but that such a man might be set vp, as should maintayne and preserue the state of the Church. Hereby we are taught, that although God doe pardon our faultes, yet neuerthelesse if it please him to send vsus corporall punishments to the intent wee shoulde the rather humble our selues, and not spurne against his power, but stoope to it, and yeelde our selues altogether obedient; surely it is conuenient for vsus as he knoweth verie well. And therefore let vsus suffer our selues to bee gouerned by his hand, as it is the generall rule that we must obserue in al the punishments that God doeth send vsus.
And by the way, wee are also to marke, that the zeale of the honour of God and of ye welfare of his Church, ought to beare rule in vsus: so as none of vsus doe couet to bee in high degree, and to mount aboue his neighbours: but bee contented that God doe conduct vsus by the meanes of men, and that hee choose such instrumentes as it pleaseth himselfe. For so hee may alwayes hauehave the soueraintie, and the Church prosper, let vsus reioyce therein, and let no man hauehave regarde of himselfe. Moreouer wee are to call to rememberaunce, that when Moses meant to encourage Iosuah, hee assured him vppon the promyse of GOD. And that is the thing which must bee the stay of all our strength. For if wee will bee stout vppon our owne heade; GOD will ouerthrowe such a rashnesse, lyke a fond thing as it is. What must then bee done▪ Wee must embrace the promises of GOD; and when hee hath once tolde vsus that he is our defender: wee must not feare that wee shall bee forsaken of him, but bee resolute in all thinges. And although the worlde doe offer vsus many ouerthwartes to make vsus to distrust: yet let vsus stande stedfast in the thing which our GOD hath told vsus. For it is good reason to doe him the honour, that his woorde may bee preferred before all thinges that may turne vsus away from the affiaunce that hee hath giuen vsus.
Thus see you heere a very profitable lesson which is, yt bycause we feele so many infirmities in our selues yt there needeth nothing to beate vsus downe, but as soone as ye wind bloweth, we be shaken, or else doe fall altogether: we perceiuing such feeblenesse in vsus, must receiue the remedie that is offered vsus here; which is to hearken to the promises of our God. And for as much as hee assureth vsus that he will neuer faile vsus; let vsus trust to that stay: For when the winds, the Stormes, and the Tempestes of this present world come; wee shall neuer bee shaken. Ye see then that the strength and stay, of the faithfull, is to rest altogether vponupon that which God hath promised them. And for that cause doeth Moses say to Iosuah, Thou shale put the children of Israell in possession of the land. And Moses speaketh it not at aladuenture;Deut. 30. but to ratifie that which we hauehave seene more at large here before; namely that God had chosen Iosuah to that office, and that hauing committed the charge vntounto him, he promised him in likewise to vphold him with his mightie hande, Whereupon it is saide vntounto him, be strong, and behaue thy selfe manfully. So then let vsus learn to fight against al temptations when wee hauehave once tasted the force of Gods promises. For it is a token that wee giuegive no credite to that which God speaketh, when wee continue lyke Reedes shaking with eueryevery winde, and tremble at eueryevery trouble that commeth: standing in a mamering, or starting from the right way, and waxing rechlesse in discharging our duetie. As often as such thinges happen, wee shewe our weakenesse: and wee giuegive good proofe that wee beleeue not that which GOD hath spoken. Wee may well alleage and say, As for my selfe, I hold the promises of God for certaine, I doubt not but that whatsoeuer proceedeth from his mouth is an infallible trueth. Wee may well so say; but the deede it selfe proueth that there is nothing in vsus but hypocrisie, and that wee bee not firme to go through with that which is commaunded vsus, and to discharge our duetie in following our vocation, ne walke steadily when all thinges seeme forlorne. To be short, let vsus learne that faith is ioyned with such power, as ought alwayes to make vsus to go foreward still, whithersoeuer God calleth vsus: And so shall it doe, conditionally that we bee grounded vppon his woorde. And on the contrary side, we must needes be tossed with vnquietnesse, and be wandering hither and thither, and trotte vp and downe without any stay, if we hauehave not the word of God to guide vsus, and to be our lanterne. And it is the right payment of all them, that leane to their owne fansies, and make foolishe enterprises, and passe their boundes and lymites: It is requisite (say I) that our Lord should beate them downe at the last, though they were aduaunced for a tyme. And what is the cause? Bycause (as I saide afore) there is no power but that which is grounded vppon the woorde of God.
But there is yet one point more, which is that euerie one of vsus must hauehave respect whereunto hee is called, and what it is that God hath committed to his hands: for (as we see heere) if Iosua had thrust in himselfe, without God had appointed him, what power could hee then hauehave had? Peraduēture for a braide or twain he might hauehave done wonders, as we see ye Children of this worlde doe, who in their brauerie doe as it were spitte fire for a whyle as they say, but in the end are quite confounded. And euen so shoulde it hauehave happened to Iosua. But forasmuch as hee taryed till God had shewed him his wil, therfore he was not disappointed of his hope. So then, let none of vsus take more vppon him than is lawfull for him: but let vsus consider what our office and calling require, and so let eueryevery of vsus keepe him within his degree, with all sobernesse and modestie; and then will GOD bee our guide, according to this saying of his, that his Angels shall alwayes beare vsus company,Psal. 9….11. euen in our iourneyes, so wee goe not astray. Nowe heerewithall it is declared heere, that Moses did write this Song and all the booke of the Lawe; and that hauing written it, hee red it openly before all the people, and gaue the booke of the Lawe to the Leuites, willing them to lay it in the side of the Arke or Coffer of the Couenant, and telling them that it should be a Testymonie against the people. Yea and once againe he accuseth thē of rebelliō: Thou shalt know (saith he) what a one thou art. God must alwayes hauehave an action framed against thee and bee thy Iudge; for thou art full of Rebellion, thou wilt not bee gouerned but by strong hand; If thou wouldest willingly serue thy God, hee would vse thee after a more myeld and gentle fashion. But what? Bycause thou art so hardened in euill, that thou wilt not by any meanes bee bowed, GOD is fayne to vse rigour. And nowe yet once againe (sayeth hee) I will call heauen and earth to witnesse against you. That is the effect of that which is declared in this place.
Now as concerning the first poynt, we must marke that this woorde Writing doeth import, that Moses was not the author of the Lawe nor of the song: but was onelyonly the writer or recorder thereof, at the mouth of God. Nowe then, like as a clearke of an office writeth what is appoynted him; Euen so it is sayd expressely here, that Moses wrate the things which he receiued of God, and not any thing that was forged in his owne brayne. And this serueth to giuegive such authoritie to the Lawe and to the song which wee shall see heereafter; as may make vsus to giuegive eare with all reuerence, not to a mortall creature, but to the liuing GOD, whose will it is to hauehave his Maiestie knowen there. Thus much for one poynt.
And herewithall it is shewed vsus that our faith oweth no obedience but to him onelyonly, neyther ought to depend vppon men, howe wise soeuer they be; but that God ought to hauehave the gouerning and whole Lordship thereof. According whereunto Saint Paule protesteth, that he raigned not like a Lord vnderunder any colour ouer their faith,2. Cor. 1.24. but that he reserued that right vntounto God, to whom alone it belonged. And in verie deede if wee should compare all the men liuing in the worlde with Moses, it is certaine that we should alwayes finde, that hee is the excellentest Prophet that GOD hath chosen of all the rest, according as wee shall see in the ende of this song:Deut. 34.1… and yet for all that, his speaking of the law which was published by him, is not to bring vsus in admiration of his person, that wee should say, Truely that was an excellent man: but it is sayde that God was serued by him. After what manner? Soothly euen thus, that hee did not take any thing in hand, nor put foorth any dreame or dotage of his owne, but onelyonly wrate that which hee had receiued at the mouth of God. Seeing that this testimonie is deliuered concerning Moses: what diuelish boldnesse and arrogancie is in them that bee farre inferiour to him: which will needes bee heard, when they bring foorth nothing but their owne fantasies, and submit not themselues to the worde of God? And yet wee hauehave to marke that the charge of Moses differed greatly from theirs which be at this day ordained Ministers in the Church. For God gaue him his lawe; and therefore hee was fortie dayes and fortie nightes in the mountaine without meate or drinke, to the ende that his doctrine shoulde bee authorised. Nowe, this was peculiar to him, and as a speciall priuiledge. Seeing it is so, then are we so much the better confirmed in that which I hauehave spoken: to wit, that it becommeth not men to enterprise any thing of their owne braine (as they say,) but that they must onelyonly deliuer forth that which God cōmandeth them, and be (as it were) his instruments.
And heerewithall let vsus marke also, how it is not without cause, that Moses commandeth the Leuites to lay the booke of the Lawe in the side of the Chist or Arke of the couenaunt: for thereby it had the more Maiestie, not bycause the Sanctuarie of it selfe was of more worthinesse than other places; but bicause God had ordained it to yt vse, and that it was his pleasure that it shoulde be as a pledge, & a visible signe of his presence. This matter hath bin alreadie treated of heretofore: & therfore we need not to stand vpō it any long whyle▪ neuerthelesse it is requisite to hauehave ye remembrance there of briefely renewed vntounto vsus. Men of their owne nature bee so dull, that they can neither attaine nor indeuour to attayne vntounto GOD vnlesse they hauehave some helpes. As for vsus, wee hauehave not nowe the figures and shadowes which the fathers had vnderunder the law. For GOD hath nowe reueyled himselfe vntounto vsus more familiarly in the person of our Lord Iesus Christ,…15. who is his liuely Image: but vnderunder the lawe, it was necessarie that the fathers shoulde hauehave the figures to aide them, to the intent they might bee confirmed in the fayth. And when they came to the Sanctuarie or the Tabernacle, it was a kind of offering themselues before the face of God. There were no Images nor Puppets: for it was not their fashion to hauehave anie such remembrance of God, as the Papistes doe imagine; but there were the ten commaundementes, which were laide vp there, and God woulde that his maiestie shoulde bee looked vppon in his worde. And Moses giueth expresse commaundement, that the booke of the lawe which he had written, shoulde bee laide there in the side of the Chest of the couenaunt. And to what ende? As if God shoulde say, Here is my Testimonie, you must not receyue this doctrine as if it were framed after the deuice of man: ye must hold it as a thing that comes from mee: for you hauehave a visible token thereof. Nowe then we see whereunto this ceremonie of ye putting vp of the booke of the lawe into the Chest of the couenaunt did serue: It was all one as if God had protested that hee auowed it to be his owne, and that Moses had no further to do with it than onelyonly that hee serued him as his minister.
Here we see yet againe that which we hauehave declared alreadie: namely, that God calleth vsus altogether to himselfe, and that hee would not hauehave drawen vsus away one way or other to hauehave regarde vntounto men: for so shoulde our faith bee alwayes wauering, and there woulde be no stay. It is his will that wee shoulde hauehave our eye vppon him alone, to yeelde our selues to his obedience. And therefore let vsus learne to betake vsus wholie to our God, if wee meane to hauehave a true and holie vnion in the Church. The Papists do prate much of the Catholike church, and of the agreement that ought to bee therein: Yea, but in the meane while there is horrible diuision and hellish confusion among them, because God beareth not rule there by his word, neither is there any allowable doctrine, but they be tossed too and fro: I meane not the common sort onelyonly, but euen them also which make the articles of fayth and frame commandements & traditions at their owne pleasure, whereof they hauehave hoorded and heaped so manie one vpō an other, that they can scarsly wel tel who is the reporter of this or that, or who is the inuenter thereof, or who was the first maker of such an order or of such a tradition. Thus yee see how all thinges goe to confusion and disorder, when men direct not themselues by the pure doctrine of GOD. And therefore let vsus marke, that when our Lorde willed that the booke of the law shoulde be put vp in the Sanctuarie: it was as it were his Royal seate where he sate himselfe, & where hee woulde bee honoured. And thereby hee shewed in effect, that hee woulde not hauehave his Church to be gouerned after the pleasure or liking of men: but meant to holde it in awe, and that his onelyonly worde shoulde bee receiued, so as men should looke onelyonly vntounto him, and be gathered together there. But now that wee hauehave our Lorde Iesus Christ for our heade,Iohn. 10.42 & 5.27. and that he is appointed our Shepeheard, and telleth vsus that if wee bee his sheepe, wee must not onelyonly heare his voyce, but also discerne it from the voyce of straungers: I pray you shall there be anie excuse, if we be so wauering in the aire, as we see the Papistes are, following eueryevery man his owne deuice, or else busying themselues about the Traditions of men? Therefore let vsus learne to submitte our selues vntounto God and vntounto him whome he hath set vp in his behalfe to be our onelie gouernour: Also let vsus learne to heare the lawe and the Gospell in such wise, as wee may quake at the Maiestie of our God: and let vsus come with such reuerence and humilitie to the hearing of the doctrine that is deliuered out of it, as wee may not in anie wise replie against it, nor bring thither anie one droppe of our owne wisedome, to say, I think it not meete; to what purpose is this spoken? But let vsus without gaynesaying, receiue all that euer our Lord declareth vntounto vsus. Thus much for one point.
And moreouer let vsus so sticke to him, as our faith be not tossed to and fro. When wee see diuersitie of opinions, and that to aduaunce themselues men doe through ambition vndertake great matters; let not that carie vsus away; but let vsus continue still resolued that there is none but GOD alone that will teach vsus [aright,] & that hee hath doone it by his lawe, and lastlie by the Gospell, insomuch that our Lorde Iesus Christ is appointed by him to be our Teacher, and we hauehave expresse commaundement to heare him, This is my welbeloued sonne, heare him.Matt. 3.17. By the which point he doeth men to vnderstande, that he will hauehave them to sticke vntounto his doctrine and to be obedient to the same.
Moreouer it is saide, That the law shall bee laide vp there far a Testimonie against the people of Israell. It shoulde seeme at the first shewe, that the law serueth but to condemne men: but I hauehave alreadie declared yesterday, that it is saide so as in respect of folkes frowardnesse which will not be taught but by compulsion. True it is that this hardenesse is to bee founde in all men: for by nature wee are hardlie brought in order, we bee combersome, the wilde beastes doe not easilie become gentle, no… suffer themselues to bee tamed at our hands▪ but yet there is not so wild a beast to bee founde in the worlde as euerie man is, vntill our Lorde hauehave subdued the stubbornesse that is in vsus, and giuen vsus the Spirite of meekenesse; and therefore our Lorde is faine to speake vntounto vsus, and as it were to enter an action to reprooue vsus. In respect whereof it is saide,Iohn. 16.8. that the spirite shall iudge the worlde. There our Lorde Iesus Christ treateth of the Gospell, and sheweth to what ende it shall be preached. I will (saith hee) sende foorth my doctrine, and to what ende? To iudge the world. Yea but the Gospell is a message of grace and fatherly louing kindnesse. God doth heere offer vntounto vsus his heart, and telleth vsus that hee requireth nothing, but to bring vsus to saluation: and wherefore then speaketh hee of condemnation? It is impossible for him to bring vsus to saluation, vnlesse we bee first condemned. Therefore it behooueth vsus at the first entrie to be inforced to submit our selues vntounto God: for vntill he hath made that chaunge in vsus, wee will neuer yeelde to bee gouerned by him. Yet notwithstanding our Lorde so worketh in his elect, yt after he hath humbled them, they suffer themselues to be led without any more resistance; insomuch yt their whole pleasure and ioy is to bee subiect to God, and to frame themselues altogether after his will. The others be so rebellious, that our Lord is faine to vse continuall roughnesse and sharpnes against them. True it is that euen the faithful hauehave alwayes in them some kind of striuing, so as they bee neuer so throughly reformed but that there is euer some replying. Yet notwithstanding, as manie as are gouerned by the Spirite of God (as all his children bee) shall cheefely hauehave their whole desire and affection to bee altogether subiect vntounto God, and to doe nothing vppon their owne heade or after their owne liking. As for the others which be not reformed, it is requisite that God shoulde alwaies stande in lawe against them, and vse rigour to their condemnation. For this cause it is saide here, that the booke of the lawe shoulde bee a witnesse against the people. Moses meaneth not but there shoulde bee some, that should profite by the law, so as the doctrine thereof should not be a warrant vntounto them of Gods goodnesse to guide thē to the hope of euerlasting life: but he treateth here of the greatest sort which was wicked and froward. And ye scripture vseth such a maner of speech, when a people is for the most part wicked, saying, All of you. Although our Lorde knowe his owne people, and separateth them from the rest: yet forbeareth he not, to say, You… as though hee spake generally without exception. Let vsus marke then, that the lawe was laid vp for a Testimonie against the people: not because it doeth not conteine a witnesse of the louelove of God for mens welfare: but because of ye peoples malice, who could not finde in their heartes to fare the better thereby, but turned the light into darkenesse, and conuerted their breade and meate into poison, and altered life into death. Also we ought to thinke vppon this which Paul speaketh, namely that the lawe is a minister of death:2. Cor. 3.7. but he speaketh there but of ye commandements: whereas here Moses comprehendeth all the couenaunt that God had made, euen the couenant of the Gospel, concerning the which we hauehave seene herebefore how Saint Paul saide,Deut. 30.… Rom. 1…. that the same perteineth not to the lawe: namelie: The word is in thy mouth and in thy heart. Also I hauehave tolde you, and wee hauehave had sufficient proofe therof, that Moses was not onelyonly a minister of the law, but also did set forth the free promises of saluatiō which were grounded in our Lord Iesus Christ. And now he doth briefely comprehende all that in a summe. Neuertheles he forbeareth not to say, that the lawe shall be a witnesse against the people. And why? As I saide afore, it commeth not of the nature of the lawe, that is to say of the doctrine; but of ye malice of that people, which could not abide, that God should be their father and Sauiour. Now then, the thing which is here protested of the lawe, perteyneth to the Gospel: to witte, that when the Gospell is preached, if wee accept the message which is offered vntounto vsus, wee hauehave GOD for our father, we bee assured of his free adoption, and we may freely cal vponupon him in the name of our Lord Iesus Christ. Thus ye see howe wee ought to be rauished with ioy, when God sheweth himselfe so good and gratious towardes vsus. Neuerthelater, if we despise so great a benefite, or abuse it as the hypocrites do, or if we be skorners of God, or loose liuers; or if we be so wedded to this present worlde, that the heauenly inheritance seemeth nothing vntounto vsus: God wil holde skorne of vsus also, and moreouer there shal not one onelyonly word be spoken, which shal not ask vengeance against vsus at the last day: God will hauehave infinite witnesses. Looke how manie sermons hauehave beene made, looke howe manie lectures hauehave beene reade, and looke howe manie bookes hauehave beene printed: and they shal al be witnesses to condemme vsus as guiltie, and to make vsus inexcusable before God. Although then yt this ceremonie of hauing a booke laid vp as it were in the presence of God, be not now obserued: yet notwithstanding seeing we hauehave God with vsus in the person of our Lord Iesus Christ, and that Iesus Christ hath receiued and auowed vsus for his Church, and also authorised his Gospel according as we perceiue by this saying of his, He yt heareth you,Luk. 2….1… heareth me, and he yt refuseth you refuseth me; Seeing (say I) yt we be at this point; there nedeth none other proces to bee framed against vsus. Let vsus looke therfore that we withall reuerence and feare receiue the doctrine which is deliuered vntounto vsus in the name of our God, to the end wee bee not iudged and condemned thereby at the last day. According whereunto our Lord Iesus Christ threatneth the Iewes in an other place, saying: It is not I that will condemne you,Iohn. … but the word which you hauehave heard at my mouth shall be your iudge. So then, let vsus take heed while our Lord allureth vsus vntounto him gently, and let vsus goe to him: and let our whole seeking be to put ourselues as sheepe vnderunder the guiding of our sheepherd: and then shal not the worde be a witnesse against vsus, nor serue to condemne vsus: but much rather we shal hauehave in ye law a certaine Pawne of our saluation: and we shall see in the ende, that it is not a vayne doctrine. Wee see yet better by that which followeth, that the malice and rebellion of the people was the cause why Moses vsed such seueritie. For it is saide that he was verie mield and gentle:… 12.3. and yet howe speaketh he? What maner of speech doeth he vse? I hauehave knowen you of long time to be very hardhearted and stubborne, and at this day, I perceiue not that you bee any whit amended; nay ye bee rather waxen worse and worse: ye bee become wilde beastes, euermore rebelling against GOD, and howe much more then will ye do so after my death? As if he should say, I knowe you to be such as wil neuer be good. And nowe must I hauehave recourse to heauen and earth: for I find no sufficient witnes among you: I must call the senselesse creatures, to shewe that the heauens and the earth, albeit they hauehave neither reason nor vnderstanding, shal appeare before GOD to crie for vengeance against you. In speaking after this maner, Moses might seem to bee the sharpest, the roughest, and the cholorickest man yt euer was: and that was against his nature. But what? Hereby wee doe so much the better perceiue, that the people were in maner vnreformable and past hope of recouerie, and that there was none other way to deale with thē but after such a fashion. And indeede, if wee compare Moses with God, what is al the mieldnesse that may bee in a mortall man in respect of the fountaine of all goodnes? For albeit that Moses was of a meeke spirit, so as there was nothing in him but meekenes, and that he was as mielde as the scripture speaketh: yet notwithstanding, all the goodnesse which he could hauehave was but a little droppe of that which GOD had shed out vppon him by his holy spirite. In GOD we finde all perfection of goodnes: yet doe we see howe sharpe and rough he is against men. And whence commeth that, but of our greeuing of him? Insomuch that hee is faine (as ye woulde say,) to transforme himselfe, because we cannot finde in our heartes to suffer him to behaue himselfe towardes vsus, as hee woulde in following his goodnes, which is infinite and vnmeasurable in him. So then, we see that the frowardnes of the people of Israel was horrible, seeing that GOD and his seruant Moses, (who bare the marke of the goodnes and meekenesse of his holy spirite) were driuen to behaue themselues so roughlie. And hereof wee may gather, that when GOD chose that people, it was not (as we hauehave alreadie saide herebefore) either for desert or worthinesse that hee founde in them. And indeed Moses casteth it in their teeth [saying;] Shoulde you thinke that GOD is bound to you? If he hauehave aduanced you aboue al other nations, & giuen you anie dignitie or excellencie: should you therefore boast your selfe thereof? Nay you be a stiffe necked people, which cannot bowe; you be (saith he) rebellious and froward, and therefore it is to bee concluded, that God was not mooued to choose you, but of his owne goodnesse.
Nowe that we hauehave found such frowardnes in the people of Israel; let vsus repaire to ourselues: for the meaning of God is to teach vsus at other folkes cost. They which be deade so long while since, be at this day set as it were on a stage, God putteth them to reproch, that they might serue for an instruction to vsus. We heare that the people of Israel were froward & stubborne, and we see how God condemneth them, & discouereth their shame. To what ende? For our good & for our learning. Now then, seeing that the childrē of Israel be put to shame here after such a sorte, let vsus learne to examine well whether there bee the like faultes in vsus: and surelie when we hauehave serched all thinges throughly, we shall find that we be no lesse faultie than they. For where is the readinesse to serue our God when hee calleth vsus? Wee be so slowe and so rechlesse, as is pitie to see. Neither is there onelyonly slownes and slackenesse in vsus: but also wee cease not to kicke against him. Howe manie wicked fansies hauehave wee, which turne vsus away from the simplicitie of faith? Howe much are wee tempted of our wicked lustes, which serue to make vsus to kicke against our God? How bee wee held down in this present worlde, whereas wee shoulde mount vp vntounto heauen? Howe doe wee breake all manner of order which our Lorde hath set amongest vsus for our welfare? And albeit that for a time, wee pretende some good desire and inclination: yet it lasteth not, wee bee changed from it with the turning of a hande, so as we be caried nowe this way, nowe that way, & euerie little ouerthwart is enough to make vsus mislike of Gods worde. And hauehave we once conceiued such misliking, in the ende wee become like venemous Todes against God: and wee see so manie examples thereof as is horrible. Nowe therefore, when wee hauehave well looked into our state, wee shall bee constrained to confesse that we be no better than this people. Wherefore let vsus beware that the worde of God which is preached, be not a Testimonie against vsus at this day. Yea and let vsus not thinke it straunge, though God reprooue vsus sharpelie, and send vsus such rebukes as he did to the Iewes: neither let vsus say, with such, as settle themselues in their filthinesse, Howe nowe? God pincheth vsus too harde. Alas wee had neede to bee called vppon a hundred foolde more than we bee. What must we then doe? We must be more quiet towardes our God than we hauehave beene; specially when he vseth roughnesse in his worde, and that our sins bee laide open, so as our shame bee discouered: and that on the otherside he threateneth vsus, & summon vsus before him, and lay there before vsus the condemnation that is prepared for vsus, vnles wee returne vntounto him by repentaunce. Therefore whensoeuer hee vseth such vehemencie, we must not kicke against him, but wee must acknowledge the same to be more than needefull for vsus, because that if hee helde vsus not short after that maner, he could neuer weeld vsus. Thus yee see what we hauehave to remember, in that we see Moses to hauehave been so vehement, as to hauehave vsed the tearmes of rebellion and malice, and to hauehave tolde the people that if they had beene stubborne in his life time, they woulde much more bee so after his decease. When we see all this, let vsus vnderstande that our Lorde teacheth vsus, that we hauehave neede to be subdued after that manner; for what were to bee wonne at our handes, by vsing gentlenesse towardes vsus? The matter is apparaunt. True it is that God allureth vsus so gently, that hee may seeme to flatter vsus as a father doeth his children: but if hee continue in so doing, wee fall to making heade against him, and to setting vp of our bristles, and finally to dashing at him with our hornes: and to spurning and kicking at him, so as it woulde pitie ones hearte to see it. Forasmuch therefore as our Lorde knoweth that he coulde not holde vsus in obedience, but by such threateninges, rebukinges, and rigour: he fashioneth himself to our nature, to the intent to subdue the stubbornesse that is in vsus. Thus ye see still what wee hauehave to remember vppon that place.
Nowe it is saide herewithall, That Moses willed the People to bee assembled together, euen of purpose to call Heauen and earth to witnesse against them. Howbeit, forasmuch as this hath beene expounded once alreadie; I will not stande vponupon it anie more. OnelyOnly this shall suffice, that to make the people the more ashamed, Moses calleth the heauens and the earth to witnesse, which are vnreasonable creatures. As if he shold say, needes must these bee detestable people: for it is an vtter peruerting of the order of nature, when men which are created after the image of God vse neither wit not reason, but become blockishe; insomuch that if God speake to them it is but lost labour, and hee is fayne to hauehave recourse to the creatures which are voide of vnderstanding, as to heauen and earth. Here therefore Moses meant to touch the children of Israell to the quicke, in saying that hee called heauen and earth agayne to witnesse which are creatures euen without sense, to the ende they shoulde the better know what a brutishenesse it was that they would not giuegive eare vntounto GOD, who notwithstanding had not onelyonly printed his image in them inasmuch as they were men; but also had chosen them for his people, and giuen them his lawe to leade them a right. Nowe, although this thing bee to bee counted as a monstrous and ouglie thing: yet is it to bee seene in manner euerie where. For God speaketh as well in these dayes, as hee did by Moses. Yea and hee hath shewed himselfe more familiarly to vsus, in the person of our Lorde Iesus Christ: and yet for all that, what manner of eares bring wee to the hearing of his worde? Wee be not onelyonly deafe but also partlie madde, and partlie so blockishe that if wee were timberlogges, wee coulde not in a manner bee so ignoraunt as wee bee. Not without cause therefore is it rehearsed here againe, that Moses had recourse to heauen and earth, to the intent to make vsus ashamed, because wee bee so possessed aforehande with our wicked lustes, or with the vanities of this world, or with our owne blindnesse; that for all that euer GOD can say or speake vntounto vsus, hee cannot preuayle at all with vsus. Yet notwithstanding, it might seeme that this people had more modestie in them, than Moses speaketh of: For in the ende it is added that Moses sung this song, and put the people in minde of the thinges which they had seene alreadie, and moreouer threatened them that GOD woulde punishe them, telling them that although God did at that time set them in possession of the lande which hee had promised them; yet should they not abide anie long time in it, ere hee shoulde bee faine to driue them out againe, and all for their wickednesse. Doeth Moses say so? They heare him well enough. And it is a woonder to see howe this people are painted out in that song: for there all their leawd dealinges are discouered; and yet they replie not to it any more. For if a man shoulde speake to the people of Geneua noweadayes, as Moses spake to the people of Israell; and reproue folkes sinnes as they deserue, shoulde hee bee receyued? If a man shoulde lay foorth the leawde dealinges that reigne among vsus, and tel vsus of our contempt of GOD and his woorde, of our stubbornnesse and wicked practises, of our whoredome and loosenesse, and of such other like thinges: and not onelyonly speake of the deedes that are doone nowe adayes, but also shewe other thinges that hauehave beene committed; and not onelyonly speake of actuall sinnes, but also say after this manner, Ye bee of such a nature as this, namely yee bee thankelesse towardes GOD, stubborne against him, full of crueltie, pride, malice, and al manner of iniquitie. If a man shoulde speake al these thinges, I pray you howe shoulde hee bee hearde? O, what murmuring woulde there bee? Nay it woulde passe murmuring: for men would gnash their teeth at it, and there woulde be no such patience in vsus, as was in this people: for they coulde well enough endure Moses to tell them the thinges aforesayde. It is saide expressely, that hee rehearsed all the saide song in the hearing of all the people. And there is is yea this saying added more, Throughout to the ende. And why was that? Hee coulde hauehave saide well enough, that Moses had rehearsed the song with a loud and cleare voyce, in the hearing of the people: but hee sayth, that euerie whit of it was rehearsed in the eares of the people, euen from the beginning to the ending. So then, his meaning is, that the people stoode as dumbe, and yeelded themselues guiltie. And therefore sith wee see that notwithstanding such silence, and such apparancie of the feare of GOD and of godlinesse, yet GOD vttered so rough a sentence: wee must vnderstande, that it is not enough for vsus to protest ceremoniously, that wee bee subiect to GOD; Insomuch that although wee resorte to sermons, and hauehave our eares beaten continuallie with them, and call vppon GOD, and make profession of our faith; yet notwithstanding all this is nothing. In deede all these thinges are good and holy: but if we vse them in way of hypocrisie, cursed bee we, and we must not thinke to pay GOD with such kinde of Coyne. What is to bee doone then? When wee hauehave hearde Gods worde, let eueryevery of vsus examine himselfe, let vsus search out our sinnes, let vsus be sorie to see that we be not so forwarde as were requisite: and beeing prouoked hereby, let vsus pray God to change and reforme vsus, and to bring vsus home wholy to himselfe. After that manner must wee deale. And moreouer, although wee hauehave had some order, and kinde of gouernment among vsus for a time; yet let vsus be afraid alwayes, least there hauehave beene some faynednesse lurking vnderneath it. For we see what befell to the people of Israel: and in verie deede the thing shewes it selfe. For wee see that by startes they submitted themselues, and there seemed to bee some feare of God in them. And yet as soone as any occasion was offered, as soone as anie wicked deceiuer stepped vp; by and by they were turned away againe. Examples hereof are to bee seene: and God graunt we see them no more. Yet ought they to warne vsus, that if there bee anie forme of good gouernment or behauiour among vsus▪ so as the Church seemeth to be in good state, and religion to florishe, and God to bee honoured: the sight of all this must not make vsus to thinke that that is all which we hauehave to do, as though a great number of vices lay not lurking vnderneath it: but wee must pray God to vouchsafe to make this gouernment to bee of such force, as it may drawe our heartes vntounto him, and euerie of vsus may hauehave an eye to himselfe; that when wee once knowe throughly the euill that is in vsus, we may seeke to God to rid vsus thereof: that where as wee hauehave beene stubborne, and hardhearted aforetimes, we may no more followe that trade, but come and submitte our selues with all meekenesse and mieldnes to our God, so as he may rule vsus without any gainstriuing.
Nowe let vsus fall downe before the Maiestie of our good God with acknowledgement of our sinnes, praying him to vouchsafe to burie them quite and cleane, and therewithall to receiue vsus so into his protection, as we may fight against al the lustes of our fleshe, and the temptations of the worlde, vntill wee hauehave finished our course: And that because wee be so frayle of our selues, wee may alwayes resort vntounto him, euen vponupon trust of the promises which hee hath made vsus, specially in that hee hath promised to heare vsus in all our petitions which wee make to him in the name of our Lorde Iesus Christ. And so let vsus all say, Almightie God heauenlie father, &c.