Sermons on Deuteronomy, Sermons · Sermon 169
On Saturday the xi. of April, 1556. The CLXIX. Sermon which is the first vppon the thirtith Chapter.
29 The secretes of the Lorde &c.
The thirtith Chapter.
WHen all these thinges bee come vppon thee, whether it bee the blessing or the curse, which I hauehave set before thee: and that thou remember them in thine heart, among all the nations, to the which the Lorde thy God shall hauehave cast thee out,
2 And doest returne vntounto the Lorde thy God, and obey his voyce, according to all that I commaunde thee this day, thou and thy children, withall thy heart and with all thy soule:
3 Then will the Lorde thy God bring againe thy Captiues, and hauehave merciemercy vponupon thee: and he will gather thee againe from all people, among whom the Lord thy God hath dispersed thee.
4 Notwithstanding that thou were cast out into the farthest parts of ye hauen: from thence will the Lorde thy God gather thee, and from thence will hee fetche thee.
5 And the Lord thy God will bring thee againe to the land which thy fathers possessed: and thou shalt possesse it, and he will doe thee good, and cause thee to growe much greater than thy fathers
WE must remember well what was treated of yesterday: to wit, that when GOD doeth imparte himselfe vntounto vsus by his worde, wee must bee attentiue to receyue the doctrine that is conteyned in the same. For although that all that is declared vntounto vsus in holie Scripture, be a farre higher wisedome than our wittes are able to attayne vntounto: yet would not GOD that it shoulde bee kept hidden or secrete. Wherefore? For if we resort vntounto him with lowlinesse, yeelding our selues as scholers, he will doe the office of a teacher, in such wise as his will shal bee altogether open vntounto vsus, nothing of all that is profitable for our saluation shall bee darke vntounto vsus, so we suffer ourselues to be instructed of GOD. But there bee two thinges which we must obserue: the one is, that wee bee not possessed afore hande with ouerweening, as a great sort bee, which thinke thē selues wise enough to iudge, & receiue no more of Gods worde than is to their owne liking. Let vsus beware of such diuelish pride: and let vsus subdue all our wittes to GOD. And wee must also vnderstande, that wee shoulde neuer conceyue the thinges which are deliuered vntounto vsus in his name, and from him, vnlesse hee himselfe inlightened vsus: for wee bee blinde wretches, and there is nothing in vsus but rudenesse and beastlinesse. GOD therefore must in this case worke by his holy spirite. On the other side, when wee reade the holy scripture, or come to heare the word declared vntounto vsus: let vsus seeke to be edified thereby, and not goe about to satisfie our owne lustes and foolish appetites, as manie people doe, which vnhalowe the worde of GOD: for they trouble themselues with manie vnprofitable questions, and thinke that they hauehave doone much, when they shewe them selues subtill. But GOD woulde that his woorde shoulde profite vsus, and that it shoulde bee expressed in our life. Let vsus remember those two pointes, and then wee shall see by experience, that our LORD protesteth not in vaine by his Prophete Esay,Isa. 45.19. that where hee saith, Seeke mee, it is in good earnest, and that hee will bee founde: and that when hee speaketh, it is his will that wee shoulde vnderstande his doctrine.
Nowe if this were spoken in the time of the lawe, much more reason is it, that it shoulde bee verified at this daie. For wee know that Iesus Christ hath declared himselfe vntounto vsus more familiarlie by his Gospell. Therefore let vsus not be afraide, that things be too obseure for vsus. For beholde our God allureth vsus to profit in his schoole, and saith that it belongeth to vsus and to our children, and that the things which hee hath reuealed vntounto vsus, are directed vntounto vsus, to the intent we should aduise ourselues to walke according to his will. This is a thing that ought to encourage vsus to seeke God, so farre foorth as is lawfull for vsus, according to the measure that he appointeth. And heerein wee see what the malice of the Pope and of al his is in shutting out al the world from the word of God: like as at this daie they do yet still exercise the same tyrannie, maintaining that the holie Scripture was made for none but Monkes, Friers, and Clergie men▪ so seemeth it to them. And yet hauehave they no care thereof. For they hauehave a diuinitie by themselues, which is as it were but a brawling of beggers. As for holie Scripture they leaue it at their heeles. Albeit tha… they despise it, yet they take out some worde, as it were by peeces and gobbets, and in the meane while suffer not the people to enter into the kingdome of GOD. They hold the keye to keepe the gate fast shutte, and like as they list not to enter themselues;Matt. 6.23. so woulde they hauehave all others to bee shutte out. They say it is a daungerous matter to deale with holie Scripture, that it is a nose of waxe, that men may turne it which way they list, and that there bee so high secretes therein, as men may thereby enter into a bottomelesse pitte. In deede they hauehave made a playne mockerie of Gods worde; for they hauehave falsifyed it in such wise, as men can scarcelie know the meaning thereof. If wee shoulde hearken vntounto them, it is but a hodge podge, yet neuerthelesse wee see that it is the certayne and infallible trueth of GOD.
And moreouer, albeit that the doctrine thereof bee high, and that wee are not able to attayne thereunto by our owne vnderstanding, yet will GOD neuer fayle them, that yeelde themselues lowelie and apte to learne. Hereby therefore wee see, howe the diuell reigned altogether in the Popedome, seeing they vnderstoode not what Moses meaneth in this place: namely that the doctrine of GOD which is deliuered vntounto men, is not a hidden nor an obscure matter, but open and manifest, and that it is the lampe which must giuegive vsus light, and the true myrrour wherein wee may beholde the face of our GOD,Psa. 109.105 and whereby wee may bee transformed to the likenesse of his glorie: yea in verie deede, so wee resorte vntounto it with such vnfayned zeale and affection, as I hauehave tolde you of. But there are but fewe that vnderstande the thing which is heere declared: and in deede, the greater part of the worlde is not worthie thereof: for wee see manie that doe continuallie holde on, and bee deafe eared, in somuch that although GOD speaketh loude and shirle; yet they doe wilfully despise him. Nowe then, let him that is ignoraunt bee ignoraunt still; See how Saint Paul skorneth all such as will needes bee wildeheaded,1. Cor. 14.38 and not submit themselues quietlie to the obedience of Gods worde. Goe too, sayth hee, will you bee ignoraunt? Then bee ignoraunt. And wee see howe in an other place, hee sayth, that they which woulde not beleeue the trueth nor regarde the light of lyfe and saluation,2. Thess. 2.… must needes be cast into horrible darkenesse: as we see many bee, which make a ieste of GOD. When they come to heare his woorde, what reuerence yeelde they vntounto it? It is rather a vayne curiositie: GOD must bee fayne to punishe such foolke, and to depriue them of the fruite which all the faithfull receyue, that is to say, that they submitte themselues vntounto him, seeking nothing but the profite by hearing Gods worde and beholding the force which it hath in woorking.
Now therfore when we see yt the word of God is after a sorte vnprofitable vntounto many people, and also a sauor of death vntounto the misbeleeuing which disdaine to be partakers of the grace that was offered them;…. 2.16. let vsus not starte aside for all that, but let vsus heare our God, and in like wise be afrayde to bee punished, for our despising of such a treasure. Let vsus benefite our selues by the doctrine of saluation. As how? Euen by yeelding our selues quietlie vntounto GOD (as I said afore) to be instructed by him who sheweth him selfe to bee a teacher of the little ones and lowlie ones: and seeking nothing but to bee edified through faith in the feare of his name, and in all godlinesse that wee may bee mooued to call vppon him and labour to serue him. When wee be so minded; let vsus not doubt, but that hee will vtter vntounto vsus that power of his which is shewed vntounto vsus in this text.
And nowe Moses addeth a comfort to them that are afflicted, when they hauehave offended God and that hee vseth rigour towarde them, and that is verie necessarie. For the lande of Chanaan was as a speciall earnest pennie and pawne to the Iewes, that GOD had chosen and adopted them for his people, they were separated there from the rest of the worlde, it was a lande that GOD had dedicated and reserued to himselfe, as if hee had saide, Here shal my name bee called vppon. The lande of Chanaan was, as it were, a mirrour of the kingdome of heauen, and of the euerlasting inheritaunce. When the Iewes were banished from that land, it was, as if God shoulde hauehave rooted them out of his house, and saide, I doe refuse you, and I renounce you: and that was enough to bring them in dispaire. On the otherside, God promised to keepe them euermore with a fatherlie care, and to cause them to prosper continually. Therefore when they sawe themselues ouerwhelmed with many miseries, yea almost infinite, it was a kinde of driuing of them into dispaire, yea euen into vnmeasurable dispaire, as if God had forgotten them. Finally GOD saide that hee woulde bee their heade and their king; and that they shoulde be as a bodie gathered together vntounto him. Nowe when they bee dispersed vnderunder the Painyms and the infidels, vnderunder the wicked and the despisers of the lawe, among people vnholie and vncleane: the raygning of such kinde of people ouer the Iewes, made it seeme vntounto them that God had forsaken them, and that his whole adopting of them was lost; so as they should all hauehave perished in their afflictions, vnlesse they were comforted. And that was the thing which Moses amed at. Hee sheweth them, that although God be harde and rough to them for a time, yet doeth hee not faile to remember that hee had chosen them for his people of porpose to vse merciemercy towarde them, yea, when the time serueth for it: howbeit not ouerhastily; but after that hee had well …amed them, so as in steede of rebelling agaynst him, they hauehave chaunged their minde to obey him. Nowe wee perceiue what is the meaning of Moses; And this is the more expressely and largelie shewed vntounto vsus, according as the Promise concerning ye redeemer came more to light. For when God saide to Dauid, that the redeemer of the worlde which was promised vntounto Abraham shoulde come of his seede,2. Sam. 7.14 he confirmed and ratified that which we heare in this Text, saying, If thy seede do fal away and forget my lawe, and goe astray: I will (saith he) visite their iniquities, but it shall bee with the rodde of a man: I will punishe them, but it shall bee with measure, & I will neuer take away my merciemercy from them. This is a more large declaration of that which is sayd here, to wit, that God must needes so punishe the Iewes, after hee had long suffered their misbehauiour. And when they had shewed themselues vnreformable, hee must punishe them, howbeit in such wise, as there should yet bee reserued some merciemercy. And wherefore? Because he hath not respect vntounto them simplie, but vntounto him selfe and to his owne trueth. Nowe wee must note that when God made his couenaunt with Abraham, as we hauehave alreadie saide, the same was not for the woorthinesse that was in that people, neither was it for their desertes; but God grounded himselfe vppon his owne free goodnesse onelyonly. Albeit that the people shewe themselues vnworthie, yet notwithstanding must GOD remayne alwayes firme in his purpose: according as Saint Paul also speaketh,Rom. 11.29. saying, that the calling of GOD whereby hee did choose the linage of Abraham and sanctified it, is without repentaunce, and inchaungeable. It is true, that the hypocrites, (as it hath also beene treated of,) hauehave beene punished according as they were woorthie, and yet Gods continuall keeping of his promise profited them nothing at all. And why? See here howe it came to passe. God had chosen the linage of Abraham; that people fell away from him, and hee punished them: according as their malice did increase and augment, euen so were their punishments alwayes the sorer, vntill they came euen to the extremitie, insomuch as God seemed euen to hauehave forsaken them, and to hauehave cutte them off from his house. And when he hath doone so, then wrought hee after such a sorte, as there remaineth yet some seede hidden vnderunder the grounnde, and in time will hee make it manifest that hee forgetteth not what he had saide, namelie that in the seede of Abraham all nations of the earth shoulde bee blessed.Cen. 22.18. Loe heere a handfull of people whom God keepeth, euen after an incomprehensible maner. Anon after, out of this, he raised a great multitude of people vntill that Iesus Christ himselfe was come. Bee the wicked and the contemners of God and his lawe escaped thereby? No, God hath punished them. But nowe must we benefite our selues by this doctrine. For albeit that our Lorde Iesus Christ hath appeared for the saluation of the world: yet must the Church remayne vntill the ende: wee hauehave the promise that cannot fayle. But in the meane while wee see the thankelesnesse which is too common in the worlde, yea and it so ouerfloweth the worlde, that GOD must needes withdrawe his goodnesse, and exclude vsus from being partakers thereof, because wee hauehave thrust him farre from vsus. And that is the cause of the desolation which is to bee seene still in the Popedome at this day. The Papistes woulde shielde themselues against GOD and his worde, by alleadging that it is vnpossible that God should forsake his Church: yea, but in the meane while they doe not vnderstande howe they misbehaue themselues against him, and are gone away from him, and cannot fuffer him any way to come neere them. And why? Because they driue away the Gospel from them with swoorde and fire, so as Iesus Christ hath no place with them, nor accesse vntounto them. We see therefore, howe GOD at the first blushe seemeth to roote out those whome hee had called, and nothing is to bee seene but confusion, as if the Church were lost, and vtterly wyped out of the worlde. Yet notwithstanding God keepeth his owne, hee knoweth howe to accomplishe his promise; which is, that the state of the Church bee euer continuing: and we see the markes of it. For when it was to hauehave bin thought that there was no more trueth in the worlde, and that the seruice of GOD had beene altogether brought to nought, hee did set vp some doctrine againe. In deede the number of them that beleeue the Gospell is little: yet neuerthelesse it is a matter that exceedeth all expectation, and it woulde neuer hauehave beene thought, that hee would hauehave wrought after that fashion, against all hope: insomuch that (as it is said in the Psalme) it might bee saide that it is as a dreame,Psal. 126.1. if a man consider howe the Gospell hath beene set vp againe. Yet notwithstanding it falleth out that the wicked, & they that are wilfully bent to euill, gaine nothing by that which God doeth, for it is to their more confusion: but the faithfull hauehave wherewith to comfort themselues, when they see that God doeth chastice them; for they perceiue that hee doeth it not of purpose to forget his merciemercy, or for that hee meaneth not to vse it towarde them. Loe here a staffe to stay vsus by. when God chastiseth vsus for our sinnes. For one fillippe of his finger were enough to bring vsus to ruine, and to throwe vsus into the deepest doungeon of death. As soone as GOD doeth but blowe vppon vsus, (saith the holy scripture,) bee a man neuer so freshe and floorishing, by and by hee withereth and droopeth.Psal. 104.29 And what then shall become of vsus if wee bee smitten with his mighty hande? Must wee not needes bee worse than miserable? Here therefore wee bee admonished to stay our selues vppon some comforte, or else wee shall bee vtterly vndoone as soone as God giueth vsus any token of his anger. Hereby wee see howe profitable this doctrine is for vsus, where hee saith, that when God scourgeth thee, yet hee will not forget the promise which he swore to thy fathers: and albeit that thou bee thrust out into the vttermost partes of the worlde, yet neuerthelesse the Lorde will gather thee againe into this lande which he hath promised thee for thine inheritance. As often therefore, as God punisheth vsus for our sinnes, be it that ech of vsus hauehave his priuate disease or wretchednesse or any other token of the wrath of God: or else that wee be generaly scourged with the plague, with warre, with hunger, or with anie other affliction; first let vsus acknowledge our sins, and be sorie that we hauehave offended our God, and prouoked his wrath against vsus; and heerevpon let vsus also bee alwayes resolued in this point, that he will not so punish vsus, but hee will yet giuegive place to his goodnesse and pitie, and that we shall finde merciemercy at his hande, when we condemne our selues, and confesse our offences, and beseech him to receyue vsus into fauour, not for our desertes but in respect of the couenaunt which hee hath made with vsus, because hee hath chosen vsus to bee graffed into the bodie of our Lord Iesus Christ. And like as in olde time hee declared by circumcision, that the Iewes were a people sanctified vntounto him, euen so hath hee nowe giuen vsus baptisme, whereby he marketh vsus, as it were to be of his flocke, and wherein wee hauehave a warrant that the bloude of our Lorde Iesus is our clensing, so as wee bee thereby washed from all our vncleannesse. Hauing this, let vsus come boldlie to our God, for we hauehave here witnes that he wil receiue vsus.
But to the ende that this doctrine may bee the better vnderstoode, let vsus followe the order which is kept by Moses. When all these thinges (saith hee) bee come vppon thee, whether is bee the blessing or the curse. Hee setteth the blessing foremost, to shewe that the ende whereat GOD doeth alwayes ame, is to drawe vsus vntounto him by gentlenesse, and after a gratious and a louing manner. In deede if hee should deale with vsus according to our kinde, hee shoulde bee rough vntounto vsus at the first: but hee prooueth whether hee may winne vsus by faire meanes, and therefore hee doeth alwayes vtter his goodnesse towardes vsus, and maketh vsus to feele it. That is the cause why Moses saith, Thou shalt first see the blessings, and hauehave experience of them.Psal. 30.9. And in that respect also is GOD called gratious, liberall, long suffering, and slowe to anger. This word therefore must bee well weyed: for Moses sheweth what the nature of GOD is towarde vsus, to wit, that hee desireth nothing but to handle vsus gentlie as a father doeth his children, and that hee taketh not anie pleasure in dealing with vsus roughlie. Thus much for one point
And on the other side, hee meant to doe the Iewes to vnderstand, that seeing they had had experience as well of the one as of the other, that is to say, as well of Gods fauour and of the benefites which hee had promised them, as also of his punishmentes and corrections: the same ought to giuegive them the more light, and confirme them the better in the thinges which they hadde hearde, and that they had not beleeued. As for example. The Iewes were taught, that if they serued God and obeyed him, hee woulde keepe them as his flocke and hauehave a speciall care of them, and as it were dandle them in his lappe, and bestowe all his richesse vppon them, and finallie deale with them as they coulde wishe: And likewise they were threatened on the contrarie side, that if they transgressed the lawe of God, and were wilfull and frowarde against him, they shoulde be driuen to feele his hande against them; and like as they had fought against him, so hee also woulde fight against them, Thus yee see howe the threatenings are declared vntounto them as well as the blessinges; and they cared neither for the one nor for the other, but played the brute beastes, and tooke leaue to deale wickedlie: insomuch that when GOD chastised them, they regarded it not. Neuerthelesse, in the end it must bring them to consideration of themselues, when they make comparison after this manner; As howe? God hath verified it vntounto vsus, and shewed it as it were with his finger that he hath not said in vayne vntounto vsus, I wil blesse you if you walke in mine obedience.… We hauehave perceiued it by experience. Again, as touching the threatenings, hee hath put them in execution, and wee hauehave beene blockish for a time, but yet it behooueth vsus nowe to consider the matter. Thus ye see howe the blessinges beeing ioyned with the punishments serued the better to bring backe the Iewes vntounto God: and therefore they ought to hauehave touched them the neerer to the quicke. And that is the thing which Moses ment in saying, Gods chastising of you when you hauehave doone amisse, is not the onelyonly way whereby hee will instruct you. In deede hee will punishe you, but that is not the onelie meane whereby hee intendeth to teach you. For he wil first make you to feele his goodnesse and patience, and when you hauehave considered both twain of them, then is it time or else neuer to call your selues to rememberance, and not to continue still brutish and senselesse as you hauehave bin afore. That is the thing which we hauehave to mark in the first place.
Nowe lastlie hee saith, When God hath cast thee ou… among the strange nations, if thou return there vntounto thy hearte, (That is the worde which Moses vseth, but hee taketh it for remembrance) so as thou turne againe with al thine affection vntounto the Lorde thy God to obey him, hee will then hauehave pitie on thee. Whereas he saith that the people shall bee driuen out of the lande, it is the vttermost of all the punishementes whereof hee had made mention afore, according to that which we hauehave alreadie touched, namelie that the lande of Chanaan was as it were a warrant, that GOD tooke the Iewes for the householde people of his realme, of purpose to leade them from thence to the inheritaunce of the kingdome of heauen. Nowe on the otherside, when the Iewes were driuen out of the saide Lande, they were as people aliened from God. Alas [might they say] what a case is this? For our God which stretched out his hande to bring vsus out of the lande of Egypt, did promise vsus therewithall that we shoulde possesse all the lande that hee gaue to our father Abraham, and that it was vntounto vsus a token and a mark of his Adoption: but now be we depriued thereof, and that is a token that hee hath vtterlie forsaken vsus. Vppon this forewarning we hauehave to gather, that seeing God, (after meane punishmentes) did not onelyonly promise and offer his merciemercy vntounto the Iewes, but also euen when the rigour seemed extreeme, and the woundes incurable, yet hee lefte them some hope, howebeit not vntounto all,Deut. 28.62 Isa. 1.9. & 10.20. but vntounto such as were reserued for seede (like as wee hauehave seene here before, and is also treated of aswel in the first chapter of Esay as also in the tenth). The same may serue vsus to great purpose. For when our Lorde punisheth vsus but meanely, wee take courage to returne vntounto him: but if hee continue to punishe vsus a long while, and it seemeth that hee hath quite cast vsus off, and wee perceiue nothing but rigour: then wee be so beaten downe, that wee bee not able to open our mouth to call vppon him, and wee bee so caught with feare and sorowe, that wee hadde leauer to pine away in our miseries, than to returne vntounto him. To the ende therefore that wee may fare the better by it, because men bee so vntowarde to be brought vntounto God, when hee afflicteth them roughlie: let vsus marke wel what is saide in this place. Although that GOD doe smite stroke vppon stroke, although it seemeth that hee is determined to ouerthrowe altogether: yet notwithstanding hee doeth still call vsus backe vntounto him, and woulde not hauehave vsus to bee faintehearted. And therefore let euerie man stirre vppe himselfe, and although hee bee at his wittes ende as they say, so as hee woteth not where to become: yet let him not cease to take hearte in consideration of this promise and to say, No, although I were brought to the botome of the graue, yet doth my God call me backe to him, and telleth mee that seeing I am touched with repentaunce, he will hauehave merciemercy on mee to forgiue mee all my sinnes. This therefore is it that wee hauehave to marke further in this place.
Nowe Moses sheweth what is true repentaunce, saying: If thou doe turne vntounto the Lorde thy GOD with all thy minde. For euen the wickeddest, after God hath ouermaistered them, will not sticke to say, wee hauehave doone amisse, and they will seeme to bee chaunged. But as soone as God giueth them anie releasement, by and by they are worse than euer they were before. Or if they doe not shewe at the first dashe, that they bee rebellious against GOD, yet doeth their hypocrisie disclose it selfe at the last, and it will appeare that there was a hidden sore within, and that there was nothing but filthie matter. To bee short, there are verie fewe, that turne themselues to GOD, though they bee admonished by neuer so many afflictions. Therefore hath Moses in this place defined true repentaunce: and the same ought to serue vsus for manie purposes. Let vsus first of all marke, that when God doth punish vsus we think it enough to be smitten with one stripe or twain. O, say wee, In deede I hauehave offended: but seeing I doe acknowledge my sinne, shoulde God persecute mee yet still? Hee seeth yt I am a frayle & a wretched creature, what wold he hauehave more than the confession of my faulte? But we looke not on the otherside, that our heartes bee still hardened in wicked affections, and that it is become of vsus, (according as the Prophet complaineth) They turne vntounto mee,Psal. 81.8. howebeit no longer than whilest I doe punishe them: for afterwarde they are worse, or else they become as bad as they were afore. Seeing then that the case standeth so, let vsus learne, that when God, after hee hath punished vsus once, doeth hold on, and the plague increaseth vppon vsus; it is not without cause that hee doeth so. For hee perceiueth that there is yet a hidden naughtines in vsus, like as a Physition perceiueth well that although a disease bee mended in outwarde apparaunce, yet the roote thereof is not quite taken away. The sicke person coulde well find in his hearte to bee let a lone: but hee doeth still carrie the disease about him although hee feele it not. Let vsus therefore learne to yeelde our selues patiently to the corrections which God sendeth vsus. If they continue longer than wee woulde, and our affections cannot abide it: wee ought so much the more to turne vntounto him, specially with all our hearte as Moses saith. Therefore hee saith by his Prophete Ieremie, If you turne,Ier. 4.1. turne vntounto me, ye children of Israell. For hee seeth that this worde repentaunce is abused by men: for it rowleth in their mouth, and euerie man maketh a kinde of cloake thereof; as wee see the Papistes doe, which call it a dooing of penaunce, when folke make crosses, or take a crosse vponupon their backe, or besprincle themselues with holy water, or say amea culpa, or fast a certayne day, or trotte on pilgrimage, and doe all other such abhominations. Our Lord perceiuing that these are al but mockeries, saith, It is to mee, it is to me that you must turne. As if hee shoulde say, Am I a little babe, that you shoulde bring mee bables to please me, and to make me pastime withall? No: but knowe yee that I am the liuing GOD which searcheth the heartes and knoweth all the thoughtes of men: and though there be neuer so much doublenesse in you, you shall not be able to deceiue me. Assure your selues therefore that I am hee to whome you must conuert. And in that respect doeth Moses speake here of the whole heart. Let vsus consider then that to pacifie the wrath of God when wee hauehave prouoked it, euerie of vsus must enter into himselfe and so examine all our thoughtes, as wee may be no more giuen to our owne sensualitie; and that if we goe about to be wise in our conceytes, it shall come to nought, and God must hauehave the gouerning of vsus by his worde, and ouerrule our affections, that they may bee bridled, and for asmuch as they boile against God, and resist him, let vsus thrust them vnderunder foote: for we shall neuer bee able to dedicate our selues vntounto God, vntil we hauehave forsaken al our owne lustes, which be contrarie vntounto him. Thus you see how men must examine their heartes, to come to GOD indeede, and to hauehave a right and a true repentaunce, such as is heere mentioned by Moses.
And nowe he addeth afterwarde, If thou doe then call to remembrance. Wherein yet better than before, he sheweth the fruit of the chastisements which GOD doeth sende vsus. And that is alwaies to the ende to induce vsus to suffer afflictions patiently; for we be like litle children,Heb. 12.11. as ye Apostle saith in the Epistle to the Hebrewes. As long as a father holdeth the rodde in his hand, & scourgeth his childe, there is nothing but weeping & sobbing: and euen so it is with vsus. But if we could consider of the ende of our afflictions, to witte, that they be a furtherance to our saluation, and doe stand vsus in steede of medicines, (as we hauehave alreadie said) then were we too much vnthankfull if we coulde not finde in our heartes to bowe downe our neckes to him and say: Lorde conuert thou vsus at thy pleasure seeing thou knowest that we hauehave neede thereof, and makest it profitable to our saluation, and doest not shew thy selfe altogether a rigorous Iudge. Moses therfore prouoketh vsus thereunto by telling vsus, that although the people of Israel hauing beene afflicted, perceiued not at the first that their sins were the cause why they were cast into farre countries, and as it were rooted out of the Church, and by all likelihoode vtterly reiected of God: yet shoulde they at length beginne to perceiue it. And therefore let vsus learne to looke alwayes vntounto our GOD when he scourgeth vsus: and if we hauehave forslowed to do it, yet when he holdeth on still, let vsus then at leastwise remember him, seeing that he doth still visit vsus, and let vsus not be wilful stubborne.
But indeede this is not common to all: for there be many which continue frowarde, and are vtterly cut off from the Church, and from al hope of saluation. And therefore seeing that the world is vnreformable. Let vsus looke wel about vsus that we bee not comprised in the number of thē: and when God maketh vsus to feele his wrath, let vsus so feele it: as it cause vsus not to defie him, & to vomet our bleasphemies as many do; but to bring vsus in minde of our sinnes, and to make vsus ashamed of them; and moreouer, that therwithall wee may bee assured to finde mercy in our GOD: for without that, it is impossible that wee shoulde hauehave anie desire to turne vntounto him. As for those which thinke that God will not be mercifull vntounto them, albeit that they doe acknowledge their sinnes, yet will they squatte them downe in their filthinesse, and they can neuer be deliuered or dispatched from thē. And why so? Because they runne away from God, neither is it possible to make them to come neere him; for that they hauehave none vnderstanding of his fatherly goodnesse, nor bee ascerteyned that he is readie to receyue them vntounto him. Hereby wee see, howe the diuell hath reigned and yet doeth reigne in the Popedome. For they talk much of repentance, but the wretched sinners are still left in doubt. In deede they giuegive them many plaisters; howbeit not to purge away the inward vncleannes; but rather to qualifie, and to sweeten the sore on the outside, which inwardly continueth still: whereuppon they become drunken with this foolish opinion, of satisfying God, & that thereby they deserue and make full amendes. Thus the wretched Papistes doe their endeuour to reconcile themselues to God, but with what certaintie? None at all: all is haphazard. Againe they alleage the keyes of the Church; but those keyes, bee Pardons, Satisfactions, and Indulgences, and Merites before God, but no promise at all. Nowe contrariwise wee must vnderstande, that, for to hauehave true repentance, it is behouefull that God doe declare vntounto vsus his fatherly louelove, and that in making our repaire to him we bee fully certified that we shall not be disappointed, nor hauehave the gate shut against vsus. How so? Moses hath spoken obscurely of the Redeemer, for the time was not yet come that the plaine declaration should bee made thereof. At this day Iesus Christ doeth call vsus, and wee vnderstand what the Apostle saieth;… namely, that Gods Throne is not dreadfull and terrible vntounto vsus to make vsus afraide: but that it is a Throne of Grace vntounto vsus, to the which wee may boldly approch. Nowe then let vsus acknowledge the inestimable good which God hath doone vsus, in drawing vsus out of this maze of the Popedome, and in telling vsus, that hee is readie to receiue vsus to merciemercy, and to deale with vsus like a father, notwithstanding that we hauehave bin rebellious children towardes him. Thus did Moses meane in this place.
Yea and for a more confirmation thereof he addeth, Although thou wert dispersed into the vttermost coastes vnderunder heauen, yet the Lorde thy God will fetch thee from thence, and bring thee againe into this lande which he hath promised thy fathers, and there hee will increase thee more than euer thou wast. Moses doeth here shewe that wee must not mistrust God, albeit that there bee nothing but troubles, myseries and calamities, so as wee bee vtterly forlorne. Let vsus hauehave an eye to this comfort. For ye see here howe ye people of Israel was like a bodie torne in pieces, and driuen away as dust before the winde: and yet notwithstanding God doeth promise to gather them together againe. Nowe seeing hee hath wrought so with them; wee must vnderstand that he will doe the like toward vsus at this day, and that although we were dispersed, he will not fayle to holde vsus vnderunder his protection, so as we shall be gathered together againe, if Iesus Christ doe the office of a Shepeheard towarde vsus, and wee bee of his flocke. And hath he not in deede accomplished towarde vsus that which is spoken heere? Wee must consider, not onelyonly howe God hath gathered vsus in, when wee were vnderunder the tyrannie of the Pope; but moreouer howe he hath assembled vsus heere in a flocke: wee must vnderstand that wee bee heere vnited all together, as if wee were of one housholde. Whereas we were dispersed and aliened from our Lorde Iesus Christ, he hath now renuited vsus to himselfe. For as Paule saieth to the Colossians, his office is to gather all thinges together as well in heauen as in earth.Col. 1.21. So long as we bee cut off from the vnitie of faith, and aliened from Iesus Christ, wee bee like dust driuen with the wind…, and in such confused state hauehave wee beene, but God hath deliuered vsus from it. As often therefore as wee come into extremitie, let vsus vnderstande that God woulde hauehave vsus yet to turne vntounto him, and will giuegive vsus furtheraunce thereunto: wherefore let vsus plucke vp our heartes, following the exhortation that is giuen vsus heere.
And by the way Moses sheweth that GOD doeth it not for any recompence which he looketh for at the peoples hand, but for louelove of his owne free choise, and for his promise sake, by the which he bounde himselfe when he swore vntounto Abraham to giuegive vntounto him and his that land for their inheritance. Therefore when wee turne vntounto our God to aske him forgiuenesse of our sinnes, if wee woulde hauehave him mooued to shewe vsus merciemercy: wee must not come vntounto him vponupon presumption of our merites; we must not thinke to obtaine grace by our owne satisfactions, or by our good workes, or by any other meanes: but wee must be wholly grounded vponupon this, that it hath once pleased him to receiue vsus vntounto him, and also declared by his dooinges, that he will holde vsus for his children, seeing hee hath giuen vsus Iesus Christ, by whom wee obtayne forgiuenesse. When wee bee once grounded vppon this free merciemercy, let vsus not doubt, but that our Lorde is alwayes prest and readie to receiue vsus to merciemercy. But if wee doe swarue neuer so litle from that way, wee shall so stray, that in stead of approching vntounto God, wee shall goe further from him. That is the thing which Moses meant to signifie, in making mention of the othe, whereby God had sworne to their fathers that he woulde giuegive them the lande. Likewyse if at this day wee perceiue the Church to decrease, yea euen so farre as it may seeme to be nothing; let vsus vnderstande that GOD wyll multiplie it, seeing hee hath made that promise, at leastwise if wee returne vntounto him according as it is heere spoken. And seeing he hath iustified the knowledge of his merciemercy in the land of Chanaan, let vsus not doubt at this day, but that to bring vsus into the heritage of the kingdome of heauen, he will shewe himselfe much more stedfast, yea and vtter such power in our behalfe, that albeit wee see neuer so many lettes, as it were to shutte the way of saluation against vsus, from the which euen our owne sinnes doe turne vsus away; yet shall the goodnesse of GOD get the vpper hand, so wee bereaue not our selues of it altogether through our owne vnthankefulnesse. Seeing then that we doe heare such exhortations, let vsus enter into examination of our sinnes, and let euerie of vsus confesse howe many wayes hee hath offended his God, and let all of vsus in generall doe the lyke with one common accord. And when wee hauehave mourned and sighed for them, let vsus then pray vntounto our good GOD, to touche vsus so to the quicke, that wee may not onelyonly come and confesse our sinnes with our mouthes, and with certayne ceremonyes, but also returne to our GOD with heart and minde, so as he may asswage our plagues, griefes and afflictions, through his infinite goodnesse, which hee hath manifested vntounto vsus by his Gospell, and wee turne vntounto him with sure and infallible confidence, to obtaine fauour at his hand.
Nowe let vsus fall downe before the Maiestie of our good GOD, with acknowledgement of our faultes: beseeching him to cause his admonitions to profite in vsus more and more; and that seeing he hath once called vsus vntounto him, he suffer not his labour to bee lost in afflicting vsus so many wayes, but that wee may finally returne vntounto him: and that in so returning wee may yeelde foorth true righteousnesse and soundnesse, so as wee double not ne play the hypocrites. And that to accomplish this thing hee make vsus to feele and to acknowledge his fatherly goodnesse, that wee may bee altogether giuen ouer thereunto, and hauehave our eyes and all our senses so fixed on our Lorde Iesus Christ, as wee may vnderstand that it is by his meanes that wee must obtaine merciemercy of GOD, of the which wee bee vnworthie as touching our selues. That it will please him to bestowe this grace not onelyonly vponupon vsus, but also vponupon all people and nations of the earth, &c.