Sermons on Deuteronomy, Sermons · Sermon 147
On Wednesday the xxv. of Februarie, 1556. The Cxlvij. Sermon, which is the third vponupon the sixe and twentith Chapter.
13 Then thou shalt say before the Lord thy God, I hauehave brought the hallowed thinges out of mine house, and also giuen it to the Leuite, to the straunger, to the fatherlesse, and to the widowe, according vntounto all thy commaundements which thou hast commaunded me. I hauehave trasgressed none of thy commaundementes, neither hauehave I forgotten them.
14 I hauehave not eaten thereof in my mourning, nor held backe aught of it in vncleanesse, nor giuen aught thereof for the dead, but I hauehave obeyed the voyce of the Lorde my GOD, I hauehave done according vntounto all that which thou hast commaunded me.
15 Looke downe from thy holy dwelling place of heauen, and blesse thy people Israel, and the land which thou hast giuen vsus, as thou swarest vntounto our fathers, the land which floweth with Milke and Hony.
THere is not one amōg vsus which desireth not to be esteemed of in the face of the world, eueryevery man boasteth himselfe of the discharging of his duetie: and we are also enclyned by nature to set out our selues before men: for ambition driueth vsus thereunto. But in the meane time there are very fewe which enter into their owne conscience, to know howe they hauehave behaued themselues before God, and which hauehave such a regarde in ordering of their life, as to say: I walke in the sight of the heauenly Iudge, it is he vntounto whome I must bee accountable: I must therefore rest my selfe vppon him, and not ioy in the estimation of men, for that is but a vanitie: there are very few (I say) which enter into this consideratiō. Now God seeing that vice to raigne in vsus, seeketh to remedie it: as we may see in this place where it is sayd that we must returne vntounto him, to hauehave a good testimonie of our life. Thou shalt say (saith he). And how? hee setteth vp here no scaffold for vsus to make protestation before men, what we hauehave done: No: but he appointeth him selfe to be the Iudge, and will hauehave vsus to speake as in his presence. Thou shalt say before the Lorde thy God: sayth hee. And so wee are warned, that to order our life well, we must not hauehave our eyes fastened on this world, nor take great care what men thinke of vsus: but we must take especiall paynes to approue our whole life, with all our workes and all our thoughtes vntounto him, before whom we must appeare at the latter day. I graūt we must diligently auoyde all offences, and put the doctrine of S. Paule in practise, to doe well not onelyonly in the sight of God,2. Cor. 8.21. but also before mē, to the intent we may edifie others, and winne others by our example to doe that which they ought. But yet neuerthelesse wee must labor aboue all, to hauehave God to lyke of vsus, and albeit the world speake ill of vsus and slaunder vsus; and turne al yt into euil which is good: yet must not yt turne vsus aside from our duetie, but we must hold our selues vntounto God. To be shorte, to fare the better by this doctrine, let vsus learne both euening and morning to summon our selues before God; let eueryevery of vsus enter into himselfe, as if he were out of the sight of mortall men, and say: Alas my god, I must liue as I were in thy presence, and I cannot escape thy handes nor thine eyes: giuegive me grace therefore so to order my lyfe as I may referre it wholy vntounto thee, and frame it vntounto thy will. Behold what we hauehave to doe. And when we hauehave passed the day, let vsus thinke: Alas my God, how hauehave I behaued my selfe towardes thee? When we hauehave such a care, we shall not make any pompous shewes before men, as those which would hauehave men flatter or reioyce in thē, and hauehave their prayses preached; when in the meane time they fall asleepe before God; neither can they consider their owne blockishnes, but although they finde themselues guiltie, yet they thinke all is wel so men lyke of their doings here belowe. This is the thing which we hauehave to cōsider, in yt God hauing spokē of the offering of the first fruits, addeth that wee may not thinke that wee hauehave gayned much when men accuse vsus not, nor vpbraide vsus for defrauding GOD of that which is belonging vntounto him. Therefore although men charge vsus with nothing: yet wee may not sleepe thereupon: but eueryevery man must examine himselfe, and consider whether hee hath done that which was commaunded, and that not to the intent to bee commended of mortall creatures, but of the heauenly Iudge.
Now it is expresly sayd: I hauehave done all thinges which thou hast commaunded me, and according vntounto thy statutes, and I hauehave not forgotten them. Wee see here, what is the rule of good lyfe: Namely to doe according as God hath commaunded vsus; which suffereth vsus not to dwell in doubt, as the ignorant wretches doe, who know not at what ende to beginne, because they are not instructed in the word of God. Ye see how in Poperie, when a man would liue as he ought to do, he listeneth to yt which one saith, & to yt which an other saith, he is turned and returned with eueryevery wind, and eueryevery mā bringeth in his peece, so as they are always to learne how to begin. To the intent therfore that wee be not wauering nor douting: let vsus holde our selues vntounto that, which is so often warned vsus in the holy scripture, and whereof we hauehave a confirmation in this place: that is, that wee may be at defiance with all the worlde, if wee keepe on in the way which God hath shewed vsus. Now I graunt that men may finde things enough in vsus wherefore to blame vsus: as wee see what outcryes the Papistes make, and how they storme and say that we despise the traditions of our holy mother the Church, and the decrees of holy councels, that wee ouerthrow all order, that our lyfe is loose and licentious, and that our whole desire is to leade a brutish and beastly life. These be the thinges which they vpbraide vsus withall. And why? Because wee forsake their tyrannie, because we will none of their pelting baggage which they hauehave deuised, because wee will not be hampered with their cordes, (for all their lawes and statutes which they hauehave forged, are as cordes to strangle poore weake soules with all) and because wee cast aside all those thinges. Now hereupon they indite vsus. But let vsus appeare before God, and then we may defy them: yea, we shall hauehave sufficient for our defence, if we can make this protestation truely; God is my witnesse that I hauehave behaued my selfe according to his worde. Surely this is an inestimable comfort that all they hauehave, which swarue not from the pure and simple plainenesse of the worde of God; but followe this playne path, respecting nothing but howe to obey him which hath all souereignetie, and authoritie ouer vsus. When we hauehave done so; let vsus be contented that God lyketh of our dooinges, though men condemne vsus for them. For their iudgements are no weightier than leaues, they are soone gone, and we see here whereunto God calleth vsus. But let vsus note withall, that whereas it is sayd here; I hauehave done according to al thy statutes and the cōmandementes which thou hast ordayned, and hauehave not forgotten the same: wee are thereby put in minde to inure our selues throughly to the knowing of our duetie: for what is it which maketh vsus to transgresse so many wayes against the commaundementes of our God, but our negligence in not thinking on our duetie? By meanes whereof, we are easilie taken tardy. For the diuell is crafty, and alwayes prying and watching how he may e…trap vsus: & we for all that are carelesse to think vponupon that which God hath commaunded vsus. In deede we would not of purpose defie God, nor rebel against him: but howsoeuer the worlde goeth, we hauehave little care, we apply not our whole studie to consider of our dutie, and to say; Go to, what is it that God requireth of mee? And because we hauehave not an eye hereunto, wee stumble and fal, and go astray. We are therfore exhorted in this place, to looke more narrowly vntounto our selues, & to bee more watchfull, that we forget not our dutie. For we hauehave a very short memorie, if God did not often refresh it. Let vsus learne to consider whether we hauehave followed the good will of God or no in this behalfe: let vsus continue therein, and keepe all one course still, and holde on in that trade all our whole lyfe. If this were well imprinted in our heartes, wee would be more diligēt to heare and to reade the worde of God than we are. We had neede to be put in minde of that which God hath cōmaunded vsus, or else we wil soone forget it, euen in the turning of an hand: and yet we vouchsafe not, either to heare, or to reade any thing which should be for our instructiō. God therfore is iustly prouoked to punish our negligence, & we must needs fal into many ouergrosse faultes. And why? Because we seeke not after that remedie which he hath put into our handes.
But here a man may demaund a question, how God wold hauehave men to protest before him yt they hauehave walked according vntounto al his statutes & that they hauehave forgotten nothing of thē. Is it possible for vsus (how much soeuer we inforce our selues,) to obey God in such wise, as there shal be nothing but perfectnesse in our lyfe? That were cōtrarie to all ye holy scripture. For it is sayd that none shall be found righteous in ye sight of God.Ps…l. 143.2. If God would vse rigour, we should all perish before his face. And yt place is spoken euen of thē yt are ye righteousest. Verily, when S. Paul went about to proue yt we cānot be iustified but by faith onelyonly, and through ye merciemercy of God & the fauor of our Lord Iesus Christ: he alledgeth onelyonly yt which is writtē in ye law:Deut. 27.26. Gal. 3.10. Cursed are they which performe not all those things. For he taketh this for a ground, yt it is not possible for any man liuing, to performe ye law, because it surmounteth all their power. It seemeth here then, that God ment to traine vp his people in hypocrisie, when he taught thē this lesson to say, I hauehave obserued all thy statuts, I hauehave let passe none of them. Now to aunswere this hard question, let vsus note yt the holy scripture in speaking of ye faithfull, saith in deede yt they hauehave walked according to ye statutes & ordinances of God, as whē S. Luke speaketh of Zacharie,Luke. 1.6. & Elizabeth his wife, he saith yt they walked vprightlie & perfectlie according to ye commaundementes & ordinances of God. And this manner of speach is often to bee found in holy scripture. And yet this proueth not, yt Zacharie was altogether perfect, yt he had an holynesse of Angels, yt he had no vice in him, & that his wife also was such another. No, but the scripture in so speaking presupposeth yt God of his goodnesse beareth with ye faithful, & that hee imputeth not their faultes vntounto them, when they ouershoote not thēselues too far, nor become rebels and despisers of God: but intend alonely to walke according to his wil, & submit thēselues vntounto him, and enforce themselues and take paynes yt way. Forasmuch then as the faithfull hauehave such affection and zeale to giuegive thēselues ouer vntounto God; although they trippe, although they stumble, although there be much amisse in thē; and that God in rigour might cōdemne their whole life, and that there is nothing in them which is not stayned with some blot or other: yet doth GOD accept their doings, as if they were sound & perfect. And why? For when we are iustified through the grace of our Lorde Iesus Christ, then doth God receaue vsus vntounto merciemercy, not onelyonly to accept of vsus as of his children, but also to take in good worth whatsoeuer proceedeth from vsus, although it be worth nothing, ne deserueth any such lyking. Seeing then that God sheweth himselfe so gratious and fauorable vntounto vsus; let vsus endeuour to doe well. Although wee performe not that which is required of vsus, and bee but in the midway: yet shall it be allowed vsus in our account as if we had performed the lawe. Now according hereunto, the faithfull protest, that they hauehave walked according to Gods will, that they hauehave kept his statutes, that they hauehave forgotten nothing of them. And why? They meane that they hauehave had an vpright affection, that they hauehave not bin double minded, that they meant not to serue GOD by halfes as many do, but that in all respects they hauehave bin willing to bee subiect to the Lawe. Yet for all this, they are not so blinde, but they acknowledge their imperfections, and bewaile them, and knowe themselues to be miserable in that respect: but it sufficeth thē that God hath vouchsafed them such grace, as to walke vprightlie, and not to halt on both sides as hypocrites doe. Wee see that they which were the iustest in all the world, hauehave confessed their wretchednesse, and bin ashamed of their whole lyfe. Iob in deede sayth,Iob. 29.15. that he was an eye vntounto the blinde, a foote to the lame, a defendour of the fatherlesse, a father of the poore, the refuge of the widowe, that he deceiued no man, that he abused not his credit, and that his hand was not shut vntounto thē which were in neede. And yet after he hath said all this, hee sayth, Alas; when I come before my Iudge, I must hauehave my mouth shut vp. Wee see how the seruantes of GOD hauehave not bin so presumptuous, as to set forth their owne lyfe as perfect.Act. 13.22. Dauid had such a witnes of God, as wee may wonder at: I hauehave found Dauid (sayth God) according to mine owne heart. Beholde how God speaketh and auoweth that Dauid was the holyest of all creatures, and yet for all this wee heare what he sayth:Psal. 143.2. Alas Lord enter not into iudgement with thy seruant, for neither I nor any man liuing shall be founde righteous in thy sight.Psal. 130.3. Lord if thou deale lyke a Iudge, who shall stand before thee? Beholde we are all of vsus confounded. If these men hauehave thus spoken, what shall be sayd of vsus which are farre wide from such perfectnes as was found in their lyfe? And therfore we see how al the faithful yt euer were, hauehave alwayes acknowledged their faultes, hauehave euer bin humble, hauehave euer bin beaten downe. Saint Paul also who was so excellent in al vertue,Rom. 7.24. saith, Alas wretch that I am, who shal deliuer me from this bodie of death? And afterward in the end, although he was a prisoner, although hee waited for nothing but death, and prepared him self to receiue it, and beheld euen then ye crown of righteousnesse which was prepared for him: yet he saith, I am not yet come to my marke; but I must enforce my selfe yet farther.Phil. 3.… S. Paule herein confesseth his infirmities. So then let vsus note that the Saintes neuer vaunted themselues before God to hauehave performed all that he commaunded them, and to hauehave discharged themselues of their dutie. But when they had taken holde of the free fauour which was promised vntounto them, namely that GOD pardoned their sinnes, and that he would not call them to any precise account, that he forgate and buryed all the spottes and staynes which were in their workes; when they tooke holde (I say) of this promise, and hung wholy vppon it: then could they protest and say, Lord we hauehave done all that thou hast commaunded vsus to doe, yea because they were grounded vppon the meere fauour of God, who will not examine their workes with rigour. After that manner ought this place to be vnderstoode. It is not that any man may say that he hath fully discharged his dutie, and that he hath obserued ye whole lawe: for we are al accursed because it is vnpossible for vsus to obserue it: but that God meant to stir vp men to enforce themselues to do well. And moreouer because we hauehave alwayes our recourse to the freebestowed goodnes of God, he hath giuē vsus this leaue and libertie to say, Lord, I hauehave done that which thou commaundest; that is to say, I hauehave sought to do it. For when we tend to the seruing of God, it is all one as if we had serued him: whē we hauehave the affection, it is all one as if we had ye effect: whē we are in ye way, it is all one as if we had ended our course: when we desire, it is all one as if we had put the thing in practise. And what is the cause hereof? Euē ye infinit goodnes of our God, who sifteth vsus not seuerely, but spareth vsus & beareth with vsus as with his children. We see now in effect what is sayd. And hereby we are warned to doe our indeuour to walke according vntounto the commaundementes of GOD, that wee may vnfainedly say: Lorde, I hauehave doone all that thou commaundest me. And yet in the meane time let vsus also acknowledge our vices, and craue pardon for them. But howsoeuer the worlde goeth, let vsus not double with GOD but let vsus endeuour willinglie and vnfainedlie to obey him. This is the thing which wee are taught in this place of Moses.
Now because the fruits of the earth are treated of here, it is saide, I hauehave not eaten of the first fruites in the anguishe of my heart. This saying may be expounded two manner of wayes: either that men hauehave not eaten with griefe that which they ought to offer vntounto God: or that how great soeuer their neede were; yet it constrained them not to swarue from doing well, but that they alwayes discharged their offeringes. As touching the first, it is certaine that albeit men bee at defiance with GOD so as they harden themselues to offend: yet notwithstanding they hauehave alwayes some remorse within them.
In deede when men are come to the fulnesse of all wickednesse, they hauehave no longer any remorse of conscience (as S. Paul saith,Ephe. 4.19.) they make no conscience of doing any thing as we see these robbers which are altogether brutish, and not onelyonly such as beset the high wayes, but those also which are giuen to pilling and polling; they are so setled in crueltie, that they make no conscience of dooing any thing. The adulterers likewise, after the diuel hath once blinded them, are no longer ashamed of their owne filthinesse. As much is to be saide of all others, which are set to followe their carnall affections and desires. These seeme to hauehave no feeling nor remorse of conscience at leastwise as in respect of themselues. But yet in the meane time God presseth them in such wise, that spite of their teeth they are constrained to hauehave within thē many blinde sightes, they are awaked when they would rest, and they hauehave secret stinges which torment and vexe them,… 22. as the Prophet Esay saieth, That the wicked man hath no peace, & that his thoughts are as the waues of the sea which meete together, and beate themselues one against another. In this case are all such as offend God. So then it is not without cause that it shoulde bee said: I hauehave not eaten of it with anguish of my heart: as if it were said: Lord I hauehave not eaten my bread in such sort, that I hauehave bin touched with any remorse of hauing giuen any thing vntounto thee faynedly, or of hauing kept backe ye offerings which thou hast commāded me to make. Now hereby wee are warned, so to content our selues with yt which God giueth vsus, as yt no prick of conscience might grieue vsus for keeping backe other mens goods. Yea but in ye meane while wee must note also, that we must be diligent in cōsidering what we hauehave done: for they that flatter thēselues may wel protest yt they hauehave no anguish in their hart; but in ye end it must needs be stirred vp by God, and they must feele his anger in despite of their …eeth, & know howe guiltie they are in his sight. Let vsus therfore on our part take good heed, and consider whether we hauehave wronged any man: & let vsus eate our bread in such sort as we may truly declare before God, that we hauehave neither remorse nor prick of conscience. But the true and natural meaning is that which we hauehave set down in the second place, that is▪ that God would hauehave eueryevery man to protest, that he hath not ceassed to doe his duetie for anie necessitie or extremitie wherein he was. For we thinke we are dispensed with al when we cannot discharge our duetie wtout great paine & much adoe. For example, he that hath nothing to pay, thinketh he is quit of his debt. And it is commonly said in ye prouerb. That neede hath no law. And so bicause mē are wont to make necessitie a shield & buckler for al the euils which they commit, therefore it is sayd, I hauehave not withheld mine offeringes in the anguish of my heart. As if wee confessed, that although we hauehave bin so distressed, what we knewe nor on which side to turne vsus, that wee had no bread to eate, yet we hauehave not bin tempted therby so doe euill, but wee hauehave walked according to the will of God. Although wee hauehave beene in extreme neede; yet hauehave wee not ceassed alwayes to deale vprightly and indifferently, what neede so euer wee were in. This is it in effect which is meant by this place. And mention is purposely made of the anguish of the heart, to the intent we should know, yt although there bee much weakenesse in vsus, yet is it not a sufficient excuse to doe euill. There are many which when they hauehave vsed any deceyte, pilfering or extorsion; will alleage and saye: Oh consider I am weake, I hauehave no such constancie as others hauehave, the tentation ouercame mee. But GOD in this place alleageth, that his children may bee tempted (for the anguish of the heart is a signe that wee bee made neyther of steele nor stone,) that wee hauehave stinges in vsus, to pricke vsus and to holde vsus in bondage; but yet yt wee must fight against them whatsoeuer commeth of it. Therefore let vsus learne that although pouertie be hard and grieuous; yet notwithstanding we ought to resist all the temptations which wee feele in our heart, and therewithall to walke vprightly. This is a fitte lesson for poore folke, to the intent they beare not themselues in hand, that in their need it is lawfull for them to catch what they can get, and to seeke their aduauntage as many doe; saying: Yee see there is none that pitieth mee, I must looke vntounto my selfe: thereuppon they make no conscience eyther to sell counterfeite wares or otherwise to discharge themselues verie yll of their duetie. And it is purposely sayde (as wee see) that although wee bee distressed; yet wee must eate but of the bread which God giueth vsus, and not whatsoeuer wee can catch by vnlawfull meanes.
There is afterwards mention made of Filth and vncleanenesse, and of the deade: And that is bycause of the ceremonyes of the Lawe. For wee knowe howe GOD meant to keepe the people of olde tyme occupyed in these figures, to the intent wee myght knowe that men are subiect vntounto many defylementes, and that they become vncleane at euerie turning of a handle. And heere is mention made of the dead, bycause if one touched a dead man or entered into an house where hee was; he was defyled. Heereby the Iewes were warned, that in this present life wee are beset with so many defylementes, that wee cannot steppe a foote forwarde, nor turne a finger, but God shall espie something woorthye of blame in vsus: and for that cause were the washinges appoynted. And the Iewes had a looking glasse and a liuely picture thereof, when they sawe a deade bodye. For beholde, it is a carrion: and whence proceedeth this lothsomnesse which we see to bee in a man, when hee is deade? For the body of man is the house and temple of the holy Ghost, and the dwelling place of the liuely Image of GOD. Yet notwithstanding, the body of man beyng dead is more stinking than the carrion of a dog or of an Asse. Nowe then, the sight heereof serueth well to humble vsus in beholding the fruites of sinne. For God sheweth as it were with his finger, that the spirituall filthinesse which dwelleth in vsus▪ vttereth it selfe euen in the body. And this was ye meaning of the figures which the auncient fathers had vnderunder ye law. Now it is true in deede yt the figures themselues are no longer in vse; but yet ye substance of them shall alwayes remayne, to do vsus to vnderstand yt forasmuch as we be subiect to many defilementes bicause the world is so corrupted as is pitie to beholde, wee ought to keepe good watch, & that as oftē as we perceiue any staine in vsus, or that we hauehave not folowed Gods commandements roundly, or yt we hauehave bin allured by any wicked affection, or that wee hauehave not walked in the way of God with so feruent zeale as we should hauehave done, or yt wee hauehave bin held back & hindered with some worldly care: wee must bewaile it before God, and flee for refuge to ye bloud of our Lorde Iesus Christ: for there is no talke to be had of other washings. The holy water of the Papistes is but a charme, whereby they hauehave renounced ye benefite of the death & passion of our Lorde Iesus Christ. VntoUnto his death therefore must wee hauehave our recourse. And moreouer, although we feele not our faults, (as in very deede many escape vsus, & wee knowe not ye hundredth part of them) yet must wee not ceasse to walke in carefulnes & humblenes, and to craue pardon of God. After that maner must we deale that we may be answerable vntounto the figures which were vnderunder the lawe.
Now as touching this place, it is expresly said, I hauehave held backe nothing of it in vncleanes, neyther hauehave I applyed any of it to the seruice of the deade: to shew vntounto vsus yt we ought not to mingle ye seruice of God with the corruptions of ye diuell. As how? We shal see many, who hauing wel to spend, doe consume it ill: some of them in whoredome, and some in I knowe not what ryot and excesse. And when they hauehave to their seeming giuen some litle piece of it vntounto God: they dispense with them selues to fall to ye working of all wickednesse. As for example; when the Papists cause some Masses to be sung, or whē they hauehave had some other priuate deuotions: they thinke yt God ought to be contented with that he hath had his morsell. Therefore when a man hath spent much money vponupon an whoore, one Masse (as he thinketh) will set him free in respect of God. When a wicked varlet hath spoyled & robbed this man and that man, hee will come as it were in scorne to make some small offering vntounto God, & he thinketh all is well. And euen here among vsus a man shall see such as flatter themselues after the same maner. For they beare themselues in hand, yt they hauehave made amendes for their robberies, when they hauehave giuen a smal part of their booty vntounto God. But the scripture telleth vsus expresly,Psal. 50.16. yt God abhorreth such sacrifices as are mingled with our filthes, & that we doe but vnhallow his name by them, & that we work him most horrible treacherie. So then let vsus note, yt Moses meant to declare vntounto vsus, yt if we will offer such offeringes as God may accept, we must not mingle them with our owne defilements. In deede (as I hauehave alreadie tolde you) we cannot bee so pure and cleane▪ as that no fault may be found with vsus: but yet wee may come and serue our God purely, and not be fraughted with such hypocrisie as to doe his commaundements by halfes, but serue him with an vpright and pure affection. Thus ye see in effect what we hauehave to beare in mind concerning this place: where it is said, I hauehave taken none of it in filth and vncleannesse.
Now in the end Moses rehearseth that againe which he had alreadie touched, of obseruing the commaundements of God. But he expresseth it more fully than he had done before. Frō whence proceedeth this obedience, & from what root…? Verily from hearkening vntounto God whē he speaketh, and when he sheweth vsus the way which we must keepe. I hauehave hearkened vntounto the voyce of the Lord my God, and hauehave followed that which hee commanded me. By these words all such as follow their owne likings are condemned. Wee see how peruersly the most part of men doe walke. … man wil say & confesse that we must serue God: but after what maner, and fashion? There is not that man which snarleth not himselfe in his own fansies. Well (saieth he) I must serue God. And how? I will doe the best I can. But no man regardeth what God commandeth, no man considereth what is pleasing vntounto him: we goe & offer vntounto him at randon whatsoeuer our own braine conceiueth. But all such inuentions of our owne are heere in one woord condemned, where it is said that first we must hearken vntounto the voyce of God: If wee will hauehave him to receiue our offerings and sacrifices, all our offering vntounto him must be according vntounto his word, which we cannot doe except we be taught in his schoole. Will wee then walke as we ought? Let vsus take paines to bee taugh… in the woorde of God. And this is the thing wherein we shall differ from the Papists, to wit, if we profit in the Gospell. For those poore beastes goe astray, and knowe not in what case they are: for they neuer knew, yt the ground of all sacrifices is obedience. And therfore they do whatsoeuer commeth in their heads; and no wonder: for they neuer had the wil of God declared vntounto thē, they are depriued of ye doctrine of saluation. But as for vsus, seeing God hath vouchsafed to declare his will vntounto vsus, let vsus hearkē vntounto yt which he commandeth, let his voyce ring in our eares, & while he speaketh, let vsus not be deaf. Moreouer let vsus not think our selues discharged by knowing what we ought to doe, but let vsus also put it forthwith in practise. What are we ye better for the hearing of our duetie at a Sermon, or for the reading therof in the holy scripture; vnlesse we proceede to put the same in practise, knowing that Gods speaking vntounto vsus is to make tryall of our obedience?
Now hereupon it is sayd, Looke downe therefore O Lord from thine holy dwelling place, euen from heauen, vponupon thy people Israel, and blesse them in the land which thou hast promised and sworne to giuegive them, in the person of our fathers. Heereby God meant not to say that the people should ground themselues vponupon their owne merites: but he ment to stirre vp the faithfull to walke simply in his feare if they woulde hauehave him for his part to continue his benefites and his blessings towardes them. This would bee darke if it should not bee layde foorth more plainely. In deede all that euer God promiseth vntounto vsus, proceedeth from his owne free bestowed goodnesse. But yet for all that he will not hauehave vsus to neglect our dutie, and to abuse his promises, as if we might binde him vntounto vsus, and wee in the meane time bee his enimies: he will not hauehave vsus to spit in his face and to pinne him in the meane time to our sleeue & say. Thou must shewe thy selfe a father vntounto vsus, although we be not thy children: thou must bee at peace with vsus, although we make war against thee. No, we may not dally so with God. But will we enioy his fauour vntounto the ende? Will we hauehave him to continue beneficiall vntounto vsus? Let vsus take heede then that we serue and honour him, let vsus take heed yt we walke according vntounto that wherunto hee hath called vsus: for wee must alwayes beare this saying of his in minde, Turne ye vntounto me,… 1.3. and I will turne vntounto you. God saith that …e turneth himselfe from vsus, when he letteth vsus alone, and taketh his blessings from vsus, and hath no pitie on vsus, ne heareth vsus though we call vppon him, but giueth vsus vp for a pray, both vntounto the diuell and vntounto all our enemies. For when we turne our backes vntounto him, it is good reason that he should also forget vsus. Neuerthelesse hee willeth vsus to turne vntounto him, and hee will turne …nto vsus, that is to say, if we walke in his feare, hee will neuer forget vsus, but we shall feele his hande ready to aide and helpe vsus in all our needes and necessities. This is is the common doctrine of the holy scripture. And according hereunto it is saide in this place, Lorde, seeing wee hauehave wal… in thy commaundementes, looke thou also …ercifully vppon thy people, and blesse thine inheritance, and the land… which thou hast promised vntounto our fathers. True it is that the Iewes knewe verie well, and wee hauehave seene the same oftentimes heretofore, that this lande was not giuen vntounto them in respect of the obedience which they had yelded vntounto God: and that neither they, nor their fathers had any maner of way deserued it. But God was moued by his own only good pleasure, to giuegive it vntounto them. The Iewes ought to hauehave beene throughly perswaded thereof. Euen so let vsus looke well to our selues, and say: Lorde, true it is that whatsoeuer we hauehave, we holde it of thy meere goodnesse: for thou hast also bound vsus vntounto thee, and hast put this bridle vppon vsus, that we be thy children, insomuch that thou hast preuented vsus with thy mercy, and shewed thy selfe a father towards vsus in adopting vsus: And we Lord likewise hauehave followed the calling whereunto thou calledst vsus; we hauehave indeuoured to shewe that thy bountiful liberalitie towards vsus is not vtterly misbestowed. Now therefore continue thou thy good doing towardes vsus. To bee short, this case admitteth not any bragging or boasting (as I hauehave alreadie tolde you) but rather it serueth to stirre vp men to walke in the feare of God and to certifie them that although they hauehave not behaued themselues in all pointes as they ought; yet God will continue his goodnesse towardes them vntounto the ende. And surely wee hauehave neede of such an assurance. Wee see howe distrustfull we be; insomuch that although God hauehave powred out his benefites vponupon vsus longtime together… & we hauehave felt his help oftentimes: yet are we always in doubt, and we cannot tel whether God will continue his fauour vntounto vsus or no. For this cause he will hauehave vsus most certainly assured, that when we walke in his obedience and depende wholly vponupon him, he wil not forsake vsus, but will continue in doing vsus good still; and not leaue vsus in the midde way, but performe that which he hath promised; and as he hath saide, so will he doe. We see nowe in effect whereunto Moses had an eye, and what doctrine we hauehave to gather out of this place. Will wee then abide in possession of Gods benefites, yea euen as touching this present life? Let vsus sticke fast vntounto our God, and neuer seuer our selues from him; let vsus doe our indeuor to serue and honour him. If we so do, surely we shall neuer hauehave any mind to turne away after our owne vanities: but when we see that he is come so neare vntounto vsus to doe vsus good; wee also shalbe readie to giuegive our selues wholly ouer vntounto him, that hee may make vsus to feele the performance of his promises, and to knowe that he will continue to doe vsus good, and reach vsus his hand to take vsus to himselfe, not for a day or two onelyonly▪ but for euer both in life and in death.
Nowe let vsus kneele downe before the maiestie of our good God with acknowledgement of our faultes, praying him to make vsus feele them more and more, and therewithall seeing it pleaseth him to vse such fatherly goodnes towardes vsus as to vouchsafe to accept the things which we offer vntounto him, notwithstanding that there bee much amisse in them: Let vsus pray him yt this his so doing may encorage vsus the better to yeeld our selues wholie vntounto his seruice, and to imploy our selues therin, so as we may truely protest, that we hauehave not doubled with him, but that we hauehave endeuoured to frame our life vntounto his holy commaundements: that hauing obtained such grace of him through our Lorde Iesus Christ by the benefite of his death and passion, we may bee so clothed with his perfect righteousnesse, that wee may appeare before God his father at the latter day, as if there were nothing in vsus but all perfection. That it may please him to graunt this grace, not onelyonly to vsus, but also to all people and Nations of the earth, &c.