Sermons on Deuteronomy, Sermons · Sermon 163
On Saturday the xxviij. of March, 1556. The CLXIII. Sermon, which is the eleuenth vponupon the eight and twentith Chapter.
65 Amongest these people also shalt thou hauehave no rest, neither shall there bee any rest to the sole of thy foote. Moreouer the Lorde wil giuegive thee a trembling heart, and dymnesse of eyes, and a heauinesse of minde.
66 And thy life shalbe hanging before thee: thou shalt be afeard day & night, and be vncertaine of thy life.
67 Thou shalt say in the morning, O that it were night: and at night thou shalt say, O that it were morning: because of the fearefulnesse of thy heart, wherewith thou shalt bee afraide, and because of the sight of thine eyes, which thou shalt see.
68 And the Lorde will make thee to returne into Egypt by shippes, by the way, whereof I hauehave said vntounto thee, that thou shouldest not go about to see it any more: and there shalt thou bee solde to thine enemies for bondmen and bondwomen, and none shall bye thee.
AMongst the benefites that we desire in this present life, one is to hauehave some restingplace and some harbor to lodge in. Though a man be poore yea and troubled on all sides: yet if he hauehave some little hole to hide his heade in, that he may resort thither: he careth not for all the rest. But if we knowe not where to become, nor hauehave any friend to receiue vsus, nor any nooke nor corner wherein to rest vsus; our state is then extremely miserable. That is the cause why Moses now (after hee hath declared that God woulde driue away and banish the Iewes out of the lande which hee had giuen them to inherite and to rest in for euer) addeth, that they shall be as vagabondes and hauehave no certaine dwelling place, but be tossed from post to piller.
Nowe it is certaine, as we hauehave alreadie saide yt this shal oftentimes happen to the faithful, but it is for another purpose: & God doth in ye mean space comfort them, & it is behoueful that their patience should be tried after that maner. For the thing wherein wee shewe our obedience towarde God; is when as hee mingleth vsus among the wicked, so as wee seeme not to differ a whit from them, but all goes to hauocke (as they say) and yet notwithstanding we continue sounde in heart, and commit our selues into the handes of our God, knowing that hee hath not forgotten vsus, though he suffer vsus to be so tossed. Contrariwise all despisers of the Lawe doe beare their mark, as if they were burned with a searingvron in their hearts, and do know that God is against them, and that their sinnes doe reproue them. Albeit that men doe not accuse them, yet doe they feele a sufficient testimonie in themselues to confound them withall. And that is it that Moses doth farther adde, saying: That vntounto such as are hard hearted against Gods worde, God will giuegive a trembling heart, a sorowfull minde, and daseling eyes, so as in the morning they shall say: May I see night? And when night is come: Alas, how shall I passe it ouer? Can I continue vntill the morning? Insomuch that their life shall as it were hang before them, and they shalbe in miserable vnquietnesse. That is the thing wherein the faithfull doe chiefly differ from the despisers of God, and wherein their state doth varie. For albeit that ye faithfull do suffer much trouble in this worlde, yet hauehave they euermore wherewith to comfort themselues: according as our Lorde Iesus saieth in Saint Iohn.… 16.20 You shalbee vexed in this worlde (saieth hee) but yet shall ye not faile to hauehave comfort in me. Wee must consider what is the grounde of our comfort; namely that they which stande assured in the protection of God, do euermore commit their life into his hands, as we see Dauid did when hee was beset on all sides. When he was threatened with a hundred deaths, he said, Lord, I commend my soule vntounto thee,Psal. 32.6. thou art faithfull and thou hast redeemed mee. He knewe that God had maintained him euen vntounto that houre; and that indeede without the marueilous power of him, hee coulde not hauehave liued so long. And thereupon he concludeth thus: because that God is faithful, hee will surely hauehave pitie on mee: and therefore I commit my soule to his keeping. Loe at what point the faithfull are. They verie well perceiue the daungers wherewith they be beset: they perceiue that their life is but a smoke that might vanish away out of hand▪ they see there bee many ambushes laide for them, insomuch that all the worlde is against them, and that they cannot safely steppe forwarde one step without incountring of some miserie. The faithfull vnderstande all this: ouer and beside, that they bee subiect to all the chaunges of this humaine life, and that they bee fraile as all the children of Adam bee, they see well there is no restingplace for them heere. But yet heerewithall they knowe that God hath care ouer them, and that hee is their protector. That is the thing which they rest vppon. Hauing such a stay, they holde on their way forward: but yet are they not carelesse; for we must not be so blockish as to cast no perils: for we coulde not call vppon God if wee sawe not the perils wherein we bee. And it prouoketh vsus to seeke vntounto our God, when wee see that without him wee shoulde perish euerie minute of an houre. The faithfull then must not be without feare▪ but resting vppon the tuition of God, they must sticke vntounto him, & assure themselues that he will neuer forsake them. That is it wherein they reioyce. Yea and they goe yet farther. For although they be to go among thorns; although they bee driuen to make many leapes, although they catch now & then some knocks; yea and although they bee altogether shut vp & hauehave no way out: yet notwithstanding through the power of faith they euermore reioyce euen in the midst of all their sorowes & perplexities. On the contrary side, the despisers of God be as blind as is possible, and do close their eyes, least they might see their infirmities, & so do harden thēselues. Yet for all this, God compelleth them to look vntounto thēselues, & then are they vndone: they be ouerraught with feare & amasednesse. It is not their manner to make their recourse vntounto God. For they vnderstand nothing of his protection, nay contrariwise they shunne him, & flee as far from him as they can, bycause they conceiue nothing in him but dreadfull maiestie, which putteth them quite out of hart. As for the wicked therfore, and all such as hauehave rebelled agaynst God; they after long hardening of thē selues, when God waketh them, know not where to become. For they passe not of comming vntounto him, but doe rather vtter their rage by spyting him and by gnashing their teeth at him. And because they finde no ende of their miseries, nor hauehave any rest, this terrour which God casteth vppon them is an incurable disease. As for to call vppon him, or to betake their liues into his hands, they hauehave no power: but rather forasmuch as they knowe that they hauehave warred against him, they bee likewise driuen to vnderstande, that in steede of helping them, hee will surely vexe them. That is the thing which we see heere in this text, where Moses saieth, God will giuegive thee a trembling heart, a sorowful minde, and daseling eyes.
Nowe here may a question bee demaunded. For we perceiue that Gods children, euen they that bee most deare vntounto him, and which hauehave serued him in the rightest and soundest manner; euen verie they are oftentimes in such distresse, as doth amase them & make them besides them selues. What complaints maketh Dauid? That his eyes are forworne;Psal. 6.7. that he is as good as consumed with mourning, that the marowe of his bones is dried vp; that all his strength is faded, that he is in so great feare, that to his owne seeming hee was swallowed vp into a bottomlesse gulfe. This happeneth somtimes to Gods children. How so? This threatning is made to them that despise him, to them that cannot by any good meane bee reclaimed, and which hauehave alwayes withstoode God. I hauehave tolde you already heeretofore, that God to trie his people to the quicke, suffereth them to bee altogether in like case as the wicked, insomuch that euen they themselues doe thinke so too. But yet doth God therewith reach them his hande, and although he doth not qualifie their griefes at the first, yet he holdeth them at such stay that they shall not quaile. There lyeth still some seede of Gods spirite hidden in them, which at length vttereth it selfe more fully, so they see well that God susteined them in the middest of those extremities, and in the end it appeareth vntounto them, as it were in a visible manner. Let vsus marke it well then, that when the children of God bee tossed and troubled with afflictions and hauehave so grieuous and harde temptations as were able to make them thinke, that God is their enemie, so as they dare not open their mouth to call vponupon him, but are vtterly astonished: insomnch that although he alledge vntounto them the promises of his grace, yet they cannot tast of them, but doe somtimes euen refuse them like the vnbeleeuers, as though they were fully determined to shut themselues out of all hope of saluation: when they bee at this point, then doeth our Lorde worke in them, in such wise as he suffereth them not to bee quite ouerthrowen with temptation.2. Cor. 4.8. And that is Sainct Paules meaning where he saith, We be afflicted, but we perish not, wee bee oppressed, but yet howesoeuer the worlde goe, wee bee not ouercome: for wee beare the mortifying of Iesus Christ in our flesh. Whereas hee saieth, that the faithfull may indeede be pent vp in afflictions, he saith also that yet notwithstanding they quaile not for euer: albeit that they are made to stoope vnderunder the burden, and to grone as though they were crushed and broken; yet notwithstanding, al those heartbreakings breede not any deadly fall. Hee addeth the reason. Namely that it is the mortifying of our Lord Iesus Christ, that they beare. As if hee should say, that God doeth euermore separate them from the misbeleeuing and reprobates, and from the despisers of his maiesty, and that hee printeth in vsus the marke of his only sonne. It is true, that in this case they seeme as dead, but the same death is holy, for God sanctifieth it, for that they bee members of our Lord Iesus Christ: and thereby they attaine to the resurrection. True it is, that Saint Paul speaketh not alonely of the last resurrection, but he beginneth at the comfort which GOD giueth presently to his children to trayne them on still to the port of saluation. Now then, they enter into the middes of death, euen while they bee aliue. And therefore let vsus marke, that although God doe now and then so afflict such as hauehave walked in his feare and hauehave put their trust in him, that they bee stricken with terror and tossed with vnquietnesse: yet notwithstanding hee holdeth them vp by the secret operation of his spirit: and moreouer comforteth and gladdeth them in the ende, accomplishing that which he saith in an other text:1. Cor. 1.5. Rom. 5.5. That the more they were distressed, the more doeth hee set their heartes at libertie, that they may freely come vntounto him: and so consequently maketh them to vnderstande that he neuer forsooke them. Lo howe our Lorde tempereth the troubles, and afflictions of the faithfull: so as although they indure neuer so great paines, and doe euen pant in comming vntounto him, as folke scarce able to open their mouthes to call vppon him: yet when they hauehave ended their conflict against their tēptations, albeit that at the first they cannot get the vpper hande, yet shall they get the victorie in the end. But as for them that hauehave played the restie iades, they remaine pent vp in their miseries, without any remedie, because God doeth still set himselfe against them more and more vntill they become frantike, and gnash their teeth at him, and finally fall into vtter despaire. To be short, we see that which is spoken by the Prophet Esay, dayly accomplished: namely, that there is no peace for the wicked;Isa. 48.…. but that their mindes are tossed like the waues of the sea: when there is any storme, the waues bee troubled and the water is full of mudde: and euen so is it with them that despise God. Because they make warre against him, therefore must he also trouble them: Insomuch that euen without enemie, yea and without any body to fray them,… 28.1. they of themselues be frighted, and beate and bounce themselues, as if they were at warre within themselues, so as there is no calmenesse at all in them, but all is full of trouble and disorder. For whereas the faithfull be inlightened in the middest of their darkenesse, and GOD doth still resort vntounto them to giuegive them some litle sparke of light, in such wise as they may beholde him▪ and albeit they attaine not thereunto at the first, yet notwithstanding they still streine themselues and holde on their way thitherwarde: in steede of this, the misbeleeuers are troubled at the very heart roote, and can none otherwise conceiue, but that they must needes perish in despaire: and when they bee at the last cast, then fall they to spiting of God, and blaspheme him with open mouth. To be short, here wee see that the grieuousest curse that God can sende vponupon men in this transitorie life, is that they cannot rest vppon him, to acknowledge him to bee the keeper of their life: but contrariwise: are cast vp at aduenture, by reason whereof they bee euer in doubt of their liues, and bee so caried away with mistrust, that they wote not where to become. When men be in this case, it is the greatest curse that can light vponupon them. Not without cause therefore doth Moses declare heere for a conclusion as it were in way of summing vp the rest of all the curses which wee hauehave heard of heertofore, that there is nothing so dreadfull, as when men are become blockish, yt there is in them no vnderstanding, as who woulde say▪ God maketh not any more reckening of them as of his creatures, but they may well perceiue that hee doeth not guide nor gouerne them any more. When men are come to this point, and that their life, (notwithstanding that it bee allowed of men,) is neuerthelesse hainous and detestable before God, and moreouer they hauehave no tast of his fatherly louelove, nor of the care that he hath of other men, but they be as in the dungeon of despaire: when men (I say) bee come to such an extremitie, it were better for them that they had beene borne before their time, and that they had neuer enioyed this present life. And euen that is the verie cause why wee heare it threatened that they shal say, O ye mountaines fall vponupon vsus; and that they shall wish that the bottom lesse pittes had swallowed them vp.… 13.30. And why? For they finde that all creatures bee against them, when they hauehave no more accesse to God. When men perceiue once that hee will not maintaine them, but sheweth himselfe to bee armed against them: then do they vnderstand that al creatures be their enemies, and it gr…eueth them to behold the sunne: then be they so possessed with feare, that they wishe there were no worlde at all: or rather that they were rooted out of it.
Nowe sith wee heare so horrible threatnings, let vsus learne to walke in the feare of our God: for there is no other way to liue in rest, and to bee comforted in the middest of our sorrowes and aduersities, but to come with a free will to yeelde our selues obedient to our God, and to doe him such reuerence as is due vntounto him. For when we acknowledge him to be our iudge, wee will not play the Rebels; but bee willing to bee reclaimed, that we bee not in the ende comprehended and wrapped vp in the number of them that hauehave resisted him. Yee see then howe the way that wee shoulde keepe is that we must willingly hearken vntounto God when hee menaceth vsus, and that wee must bee moued thereat, and bee touched therewith to the quicke: and that thereuppon wee endeauour to serue him, and to obey his worde. For it may well bee that we shall sometimes bee vexed with feare and vnquietnesse: but yet will GOD deliuer vsus from them. It is certaine that wee shalbe weakened by that meane, and it is good for vsus so to bee: but yet howe soeuer wee fare, God will so keepe vsus that wee shall not fall into vtter despaire. Moreouer, when wee somtimes feele any vnquietnesse in our selues, and wee hauehave nor power to call vppon God, but are tormented with distrust: let vsus vnderstande that it is the fruite of our sinnes, and let vsus desire God to make vsus to perceiue that we hauehave not kept touch with him as wee ought to hauehave done, and that therefore hee casteth vsus into that vexation and distresse. But let vsus not so tempt our God, as he shoulde proceede to this rigour that is here mentioned: namely, wee shoulde hauehave no power to commit our life into his handes. So then, whereas heere is mention made of a trembling heart, let vsus consider wherein our true rest doth remain, namely euen in this yt God is our father, and that wee be his children. Likewise whereas mention is made of daseling or sunken eyes; let vsus vnderstande that we must looke vpwards, as often as wee be in any feare: and that there is no other remedie to qualifie our griefes, but to lifte vp our eyes to heauen. For as long as men looke downewarde, what shall they finde there but an infinite masse and m…se of miseries able to scare them out of their wittes, so as they shall not knowe where to become? Let vsus therefore seeke vntounto this meane: that is to lift vp our eyes to heauen, knowing that God hath his hande streatched foorth, to vpholde them that returne vntounto him. Where mention is made of a sorrowfull minde; let vsus vnderstande that it is the proper office of GOD to set our heartes at libertie, to the end that no temptation may vtterly vanquish and ouerwhelme vsus. And this shalbe treated of yet more fully.
Let vsus come to that which Moses addeth; Namely, that in the morning they shall say▪ What is hee that will make mee see the night: and at euening, howe shall wee attaine to the morning? For thy life (saieth hee) shalbe hanging before thee, as at a threede. Heere we see yet better that which hath beene saide afore. For what is the cause that men bee thus in a continuall feare, but that they cannot commende their life into the hand of GOD? In verie deede and to speake properly, the liues of vsus all are euermore, as it were hanging at a Threede, but yet the despisers of God doe most peculiarly finde it so; and well worthie, for that they hauehave warred against him that shoulde hauehave set them in rest and safetie. Their life is as it were hanging by a threede, because that in steede of life there is euermore this feare of death in their heartes, and reason good. For what is the life of man? A smoke that passeth and vanisheth away. And moreouer let vsus see howe many deathes beset vsus on all sides. So then as long as wee remaine in our naturall state, without hauing respect to GOD, our life is alwayes, as it were hanging at a Threede. Yea surely. Though wee bee neuer touched outwardly, how manie diseases beare wee in vsus? A man needes not to goe out of himselfe, nor to seeke farre, to learne to howe many miseries and wretchednesse hee is subiect: for euen in his owne selfe hee shall foorthwith finde an infinite number of deathes. Seeing then that it is so, let vsus knowe, that vntill wee hauehave learned to rest vsus in the prouidence of God, our life must of necessitie bee as it were flittering before our eyes, and altogether vncertaine: and to bee short we beare it continually as it were in our hands: according as it is saide in Iob and in the hundred and nineteenth Psalme.Iob. 13.14. Psal. 119.109
Nowe when it is saide that wee carrie our life in our handes, it is to shewe, that where as life shoulde beare the man, the man beareth the life: that is to say, the life is left vp to the hazarde of all misfortune. Euen so it is with al men naturally, and as we hauehave alreadie saide, the verie faithfull are not free from it, and that doe wee see by example in Iob, and Dauid. Notwithstanding, the despisers of God are they that feele most howe their life hangeth by a Threede. And wherefore? For God euen spite of their teeth inforceth them to perceiue the perils that beset them: they see it is good reason, that all manner of creatures shoulde become their enemies, by reason whereof they start when they heare but the falling of a leafe, and they bee afraide when no bodie pursueth them, as it is saide in an other place of the Prouerbes.Prou. 28.1. Thus doeth God open the eyes of them that are puffed vp with pride, and are drunken with the delightes of this worlde, and specially which hauehave hardened themselues in stubbornnesse against him. Hee openeth their eyes, that they may knowe howe their life is lesse than nothing, and that all these shadowes, leasings, and vaine hopes whereupon men are wont to rest, are but baites to beguile them. See heere I pray you whereunto they come which doe skorne God and his worde, and are wholly giuen to this worlde, reposing their trust on earthly meanes and on the creatures▪ Needs they must at the last be caught with such feare as will teach them double and trebble to vnderstand their owne state.
Nowe when Moses hath spoken thus, hee addeth what they then say. Who shall assure vsus to see the morning? Howe shall wee ende the day? When men vnderstande once howe fraile they bee, and with howe many perils and miseries they bee enuironed: then hauehave they no more happinesse. In deede wee can well say, that there is nothing more certaine than death, no… any thing more vncertaine than the houre thereof: but in the meane while wee regarde it not, vntill God doe wring vsus, and driue vsus thereunto by force. For then they which did beare themselues in hande that their life should last without ende: (as we see howe men deceiue themselues by fancying an immortalitie in this worlde, imagining that they shall liue a hundred yeares after they bee deade,) [doe finde the contrarie.] And therefore because men are so blockish, God doeth still constreine them to beholde present death continually pinching them and holding them at a bay. Thereupon they bee in continuall feare; and albeit that they vtter nothing with their mouthes, yet doe they say thus in their heartes, Who can assure mee to see the morning? To bee short, to their thinking, the very earth sinketh vnderunder them. And albeit that this doth not alwayes appeare, yet notwithstanding the despisers of God doe feele that this threatening is not in vaine nor without effect. Wherefore let vsus not linger the time vntill God doe execute such iudgement vppon vsus, but let vsus rather preuent it, by hauing that same willing feare which is spoken of in this wise:Prou. 28.1… Blessed is the man (saieth Salomon) which feareth in his heart, that is to say, which calleth vppon himselfe, and taryeth not vntill God inforce him whether hee will or no. When euerie of vsus doeth stirre vp himselfe, it is the greatest benefite that wee can hauehave. Therefore where as the worldlings make themselues dull heades, and wander away after their owne vaine imaginations, and …ling beyonde the moone as they say to the intent to liue in peace and rest without feeling of any griefe or trouble, whereas they (I say) would thus fall asleepe; let vsus looke to our selues, and gather our wittes into some feare, and let eueryevery of vsus quicken vp himselfe. And if wee doe not stirre vp our selues in this manner, then must God needes torment and vex vsus, and make vsus a liuely portraiture of that which is mentioned heere. For in verie deede, after that the despisers of God hauehave plaide the madde beasts, and bleared out their tongues at all manner of doctrine, and set light by all threatenings, and like chafed bulles hauehave rushed against God and all his iudgementes: they must at the last feele themselues vexed and troubled with vnquietnesse: as wee see howe the great Tyrants that make all the worlde to shake vnderunder them, hauehave their part hereof without measure: insomuch that where as they make others to drinke a little glasse of feare and terrour, they themselues must drinke vp a whole potte full, and suppe vp the dregges,Esa. 51.… according to the phrase of the Prophets, when they speake of the greatest punishment that God sendeth: Namely that when those whom God chastiseth, hauehave drunke more than their fill, in swallowing vp great store of sorowes; then they which hauehave liued at their ease and in pleasure, must drinke the leeze, which is the bitterest, and will make them to burst. And in deede, we hauehave an example of a heathenish Tyrant, who hath verie well prooued and declared that all his whole life was a continuall torment, yea euen by his owne witnesse. For being flattered of one that saide vntounto him, O syr, howe happie is your state? Yea (quoth hee) and I will make thee to vnderstande it thy selfe. And thereuppon hee made him a feast, and when hee had set him at ye table, he put a sworde ouer his heade, hanging by one onelyonly hayre, to shewe vntounto him, what manner of state that was, which hee had counted so happie. The man seeing himselfe in that perplexitie, saide: Let this kingly state be taken away from mee: for I had leuer die a hundred times than to be in such vnquietnesse and perplexitie. This I say, was the confession of a heathen Tyrant: as if GOD shoulde hauehave helde him vponupon the Torture, that it might bee a generall lesson against all such as make warre with God, and trouble the worlde with terrour: they must spite of their teeth bee made afraide themselues, and finde no rest. After many tossings and turmoylings, hell must euermore waite for them, they must see their graues open which they are to fall into, and they must beholde the great gulfes readie to swallow them vp, and in the meane while can hauehave no recourse nor refuge to God, but doe stil flee from him, where as he is the onelyonly person to whom they shoulde hauehave sought for succour.
Nowe ouer and besides that which wee hauehave saide already, namely, that we ought to preuent this threate, by fearing God of our owne accorde: let vsus vnderstande, that forasmuch as we be all wretched sinners, and there is not one, be hee neuer so well and rightly minded, which ought not to vnderstande that hee is greatly indaungered vntounto God: yet when wee hauehave our Lorde Iesus Christ,… 1.14. who is our peace, and when wee can by his meane rest vppon the fatherly goodnesse of God: then may wee be sure that he holdeth vsus for his children, and that hee watcheth ouer vsus, and procureth our welfare. And that is the cause why Sainct Paul saith expresly,… 5.1. that when we be once iustified by faith, then we be at peace with God. He saieth that we must be iustified by faith, that is to say, that wee must hauehave imbraced the grace which is offered vntounto vsus by the Gospel: knowing that God forgiueth vsus our sinnes, and is mercifull vntounto vsus; in that hee beareth with vsus for our Lorde Iesus Christs sake. Vntill we come to this, we must needes be alwayes in doubt and in perplexitie: but hauing knowledge once that God hath buried all our sinnes, so as wee put our trust in the death and passion of our Lorde Iesus Christ; then wee bee at peace, yea in peace and not in dulnesse like as the vnfaithfull and the despisers of God may hauehave some peace for a certaine time, as we hauehave saide afore: but forasmuch as they forget themselues, and do still followe on their wicked traine, they vtterly besot, and bewitch themselues. But Sainct Paul saieth that wee hauehave peace with God, that is to say, that we acknowledging our selues vndone without him, may boldly preace vntounto him and say: Seeing GOD is my father and hee hath shewed himselfe so gracious to mee in this present life, as to giuegive me some rest heere: surely there is a more blisfull rest prepared for mee, when as our Lorde Iesus Christ shall come to meete vsus, for to guide vsus, and to bring vsus vp, that wee may seeke our God; as in deede that is the place which wee must come vntounto, if wee intende to hauehave a place to rest vsus in. And in that respect is it that the Prophets in likewise speaking of the kingdome of our Lorde Iesus Christ, doe alwayes say, that euerie man shall then sleepe vnderunder his owne figge tree and vnderunder his owne vine:Mich. 4.4. and nothing shall make him afraide. Nowe then concerning the threatenings which Moses hath set downe heere; the Prophets as true expounders of Moses, and as renuers and bringers of the Lawe to rememberance againe, hauing shewed vntounto the people the vnbeliefe and rebellion which they sawe in them, and hauing shewed the vengeance of God which was readie to light vponupon them for it, did bring those back againe vntounto Iesus Christ, which erst were altogether vnreformable. And albeit that it behoued them to suffer smart for a time because of their sinnes; yet doe they giuegive them hope that God will make a couenant with them, and that then they shall sleepe eueryevery man in his vyneyarde and vnderunder his figge tree: doing them to vnderstande that although they slept not in a locked chamber, but lay in ye middest of the fields, yet they should be safe ynough because they were vnderunder the protection of their God, by reason whereof they might sleepe at ease and in safetie.
Forasmuch then as wee hauehave such assurance, wee ought to bee well setled in our mindes: and sith wee hauehave vnderstanding of the reconciliation that is made in our Lorde Iesus Christ, wee hauehave nowe good cause to rest vsus in our God, and to be still and quiet; howbeit, so as we forget not so great a benefite. And wee see that our Lorde Iesus Christ is minded to raigne among vsus. Let vsus therefore suffer our selues to bee gouerned by his hande, and as Ewes and Lambes let vsus followe our shepeherde, and then shall wee do that which our Lorde hath appointed for vsus, so as nothing may hinder vsus, but that we may attaine vntounto him. Although wee see thinges turmoyled in this worlde, so as all goes to hauocke, yet shall wee bee able to take breath againe, and to say; Yet hath my God still shewed mee the way: insomuch that whereas other men hauehave beene posted to and fro, I hauehave euermore stoode fast: and although I hauehave beene diuerse wayes troubled and vexed, yet doe I knowe Lorde that thou doest euermore gouerne thy people. Thus yee see that being stayed in our Lorde Iesus Christ, wee may bee assured that GOD will neuer faile vsus. Seeing it is so, let vsus returne vntounto him, and pray him to defende and delyuer vsus from all euill. The way then for vsus to bee sure of our life, is, that although wee see nothing but continuall warre, yet wee must inforce our selues to fight, and perseuere vntill we hauehave obtained the victorie, and if hee take vsus away to himselfe, hee will then bee the keeper of our soules. He will guide vsus in this present life, so as both day and night wee shall feele his grace. When the euening commeth, albeit that the night doe bring neuer so much feare with it, yet shall we be in safetie. Why so? For God is that while our fortresse, and we shall not be forsaken of him. Therefore let vsus tar…e vntill the morning. Thus doe wee euer more referre our life vntounto him. And although we be not senselesse, yet shall we hauehave continually whereupon to stay vsus when wee see our owne infirmitie. As for example, when a man perceiueth that hee is not able to stande, but his legges quake and fol…er vnderunder him; hee either leaneth to some thing, or sitteth downe in a chaire, or else stayeth himselfe vponupon some staffe; euen so is it with vsus. For wee hauehave not the strength of Gyants, wee bee not of such power as to be able to defie our enemies, for wee see well that wee bee too too weake. But in the meane while wee ceasse not to stay vppon God, and that is our refuge. Neither hauehave we this affiance for this present life onelyonly; but wee hauehave it also for the life to come: insomuch that although our Lord doe put vsus into the handes of our enemies, yet will he not misse to be our sauiour euen in the middest of death. Let vsus not doubt, but that he will safely conuey vsus not onelyonly from the morning to the euening, and from the euening to the morning; but also that euen in the middest of the darkenesse of death, we shall alwayes be lightened with his goodnesse, and hee will shewe vsus that the life which hee hath promised to his people, shall neuer faile. Therefore doth Dauid vse this maner of speach. Lorde (saieth he) thy staffe or else thy shepeherdes hooke. He taketh the similitude of a sheepeherd, that hath his staffe or his hooke. Lorde (saith hee) so long as I see thy staffe before me,Psal. 23.4. I am safe, insomuch that if wee were to goe into the darkenesse of death, yet being in that dark and yrksome dale, yea euen in such sort as I might seeme to be cast into hell: I woulde not ceasse to reioyce. After this manner must we practise this doctrine.
Nowe lastly it is said, that God will cary his people by the waie▪ concerninge the which it was said: Thou shalt neuer see it againe: & that they should bee caried in shippes: and that being come into Egypt, they should bee set to sale as slaues, & yet no body should buy them. They should not be esteemed, but as a people vtterly cast away, and eueryevery body shoulde disdaine them. Now this was al one as if God should hauehave meant to cut them off, saying, Remember how I meruelously deliuered you out of the lande of Egypt, when I made you to passe through the wildernesse, and in like wise to goe through the red sea, or the sea of Bulrushes, (which they call ye red sea: but properly it is the sea of bulrushes, because of the Bulrushes that growe in it) for I caused that arme of the sea to shrinke back, that you might passe on drie foote. But nowe shall you returne thither in shippes; you must passe againe that way, yea, albeit that I forbade you, and inioyned you expresly, that you should not goe that way any more: yet shall you returne thither spite of your teeth. In deede at the other time that you were in Egypt, you sorowed for the oppression which you suffred, and I tooke pitie of you, and tooke you out of it. But as this time, when you shall require any bodie to buy you to bee their slaues, and to yeelde your life to the most miseries that may bee: you shall hauehave no buyer at all. As if hee had saide, Seeing you hauehave despised the deliuerance that was wrought for you, and hauehave forgotten such a benefite▪ it shalbe well knowen that you bee an vnhappie and a cursed people, and that I hauehave forsaken and refused you vtterly▪ This threat coulde not bee but exceeding terrible to the Iewes. And when the Prophetes expounded Moses, wee see likewise howe the people g…ashed their teeth against them. Howbeit, no whit were they meekened thereby, but rather they doubled their coufusion: insomuch that it was alwayes cast in their teeth that their iniquities proceeded to such extremitie as was intollerable. It is saide, that, notwithstanding all the manaces of the Lawe were pronounced vntounto them, yet they regarded them not, but helde on still, and became so much the more hardharted, as though they had ment of set purpose to make warre against God. Soothly it is a horrible thing and against nature, that they which were the housholde of God, the holy generation, the children of Abraham, and which from the beginning had beene trained vp in the doctrine of the lawe, and had had the sayings alwayes laide before them which were written by Moses, so as their eares were continually beaten therewith: shoulde yet notwithstanding far… neuer the better for it, but still goe on from euill to worse. Was not that a horrible thing? Yes verily: and yet wee see the like example. Let vsus make our benefite thereof, and beware that we wax not so hardharted, least wee be possessed of Sathan, and forsaken of God, so that whatsoeuer is tolde vsus & shewed vntounto vsus, we be touched with no manner of feare, but become like wilde bores which of their owne wilfulnesse doe cast themselues into death. Let vsus take heede that we prouoke not our God in that manner.
And moreouer whereas it is saide heere, that God woulde bring this people whom he had redeemed, into a double captiuitie and more reprochfull than was the first: let vsus repaire vntounto that redemption which was once wrought by our Lorde Iesus Christ: and that we may be partakers thereof, let vsus freely serue him which purchased vsus so deerely. And seeing that our God hath redeemed vsus in the person of his sonne, to such a state that now we be franke and free from the bondes of sinne and Sathan, let vsus hencefoorth feare him and serue him all the dayes of our life, according as Zacharie speaketh in his song,Luk. ….75. recited by Sainct Luke. Seeing then that the case standeth so, let vsus learne to walke in such obedience to our God, as hee may make the redemption auailable which is wrought by our Lorde Iesus Christ; and let vsus serue him in all holinesse and righteousnesse, that wee bee not bereft of the fauour which hee hath purchased for vsus as wee see this people were, who after they had beene setled in the lande of Chanaan, were put out againe for their vnthankfulnesse. Therefore let vsus bee well ware that God dispossesse vsus not of the grace which he hath bestowed on vsus: but let vsus learne to take such profite thereby, as all the whole may yeelde fruite to his glory, to the intent he may make vsus to vnderstand, that as well in life as in death, hee is euermore our Sauiour and our redeemer, and yt we may make our boast that he hath not redeemed vsus in vaine, but with condition, that we shoulde henceforth liue in libertie in despite of the diuell and of death, according as wee hauehave example thereof in Sainct Paul.
Nowe let vsus fall downe before the maiestie of our good God, with acknowledgement of our sinnes, beseeching him to touch vsus more and more to the quicke, that being striken with such a feare, as may make vsus to see that of our selues we bee deade and forlorne; we may yet for all yt not faile to flee for refuge to his merciemercy. Let vsus therfore seeke the way thither, which is, that we acknowledge ourselues to be recōciled by Iesus Christ, and that hee is our peace vntounto the ende, according as he doeth continually declare and testifie vntounto vsus by the doctrine of his Gospell.Eph. 2.14. And that in the meane while it may please our good God, to giuegive vsus the spirite of mieldnesse and meekenesse, to the ende wee rebell not against him any more, nor hauehave our affections any more, striuing and rebelling against his Lawe, but rather that wee may commit ouer our selues to his guiding, and bee confirmed in the assurance which hee hath giuen vsus, that hee holdeth vsus for his people; so as he may shew by effect, that hee watcheth ouer vsus, and that hee will continue with vsus to the ende to preserue vsus both in life and in death. That it may please him to graunt this grace not onelyonly to vsus, but also to all people and Nations of the earth. &c.