Sermons on Deuteronomy, Sermons · Sermon 173
On Thursday the xxiij. of Aprill, 1556 The CLXXIII. Sermon which is the first vponupon the one & thirtith Chapter.
THen Moses went and spake these wordes vntounto all Israel,
2 Saying vntounto them, This day am I sixe score yeres olde, and I can no longer goe in and out: And the Lorde also hath sayde vntounto mee, Thou shalt not passe ouer this Iordan.
3 The Lorde thy God will passe ouer before thee: It is hee that shall destroy this people before thy face, and thou shalt possesse them. Iosuah is hee that shall goe ouer before thy face, euen as the Lorde hath spoken.
4 And the Lorde will doe vntounto them as hee did to Sehon and to Og the kinges of the Amorrhytes, and to their countries, the which hee hath destroyed.
5 And the Lorde will deliuer them before thee, to the intent you may doe vntounto them according to all the commaundement which I hauehave commaunded you.
6 Be of good comfort, and take courage, feare not neither be dismayed before their face: for the Lorde thy God goeth with thee, hee will not leaue thee nor forsake thee.
7 And Moses called Iosuah, and sayde vntounto him in the presence of all Israel: bee of good comfort, and take a good heart to thee: for thou shalt goe in with the people into the Lande, which the Lorde hath sworne to their fathers to giuegive them: and thou shalt diuide it vntounto them for their inheritaunce.
8 And it is the Lorde that goeth before thee: it is hee that is with thee: hee will not forsake thee nor leaue thee, therefore hauehave no feare nor dread.
HERE it is shewed vsus, howe Moses was not cōtented to serue God & the people vntounto ye which hee was apointed all the days of his life: but also did his endeuour, that the remembrance of the name of God might continue among the people, and also that all things might be gouerned accordingly, euen after his death. Also hee gaue them to vnderstande, that Gods calling of him was not to the ende that the people should bee so entreated for a certaine time: but that as the lawe was giuen for a witnesse that God had chosen the children of Abraham; so hee would guyde them euen to the comming of the Redeemer, according whereunto hee went through with his calling. That is the very thing, which we hauehave here chiefely to obserue, when Moses by the commaundement of God ordayned Iosuah to bee his successour to gouerne the people. And therewithall hee sheweth that hee had faithfully trauayled all his life, and that it was not for any want of good will, that hee gaue ouer the charge that was committed vntounto him: but because hee was altogether forworne with weakenesse. For if Moses shoulde hauehave withdrawen him to bee at rest, the people might hauehave beene in dout, and also much discouraged thereby: but whereas hee declareth that hee neuer ceassed vntill hee had finished his course: therein hee sheweth the way and example vntounto all men, that none ought to turne heade; but that so long as God doeth prolong their liues, they ought to goe on foorth whither soeuer hee calleth them, and to bee firme and constant without swaruing aside or changing. Moreouer hee sheweth vsus, that wee must not shrinke away for any mans death, because God continueth euermore in his state. And although yt they by whom he meant to be serued doe perish, yet must not his right be thereby diminished: and that is a poynt worthie to be remembred. For wee see what happened in that people; notwithstanding that they had beene forewarned thereof, yet fell they away after the death of Iosuah, and God was driuen to afflict them by the handes of their enemies to bring them backe againe. But felt they once agayne the fauour of God? By and by they fell to their olde byasse againe, and remembred not a whit that they were deliuered, but returned to their idolatrie againe.1. Samuel … The booke of the Iudges is full of these thinges. When God had raised vp Samuel who was the excellentest of all others: yet could not they abyde him, but desired a king, and the State was fayne to bee changed after their appetite. Wee see therefore that this people were so wretched, that they continued not any longer in the seruice of God, nor in the obedience of his lawe, than a man of courage and stoutnesse had the gouerning of them. Therefore it is sayde here, that although Moses was olde and short lyued, yet was it not for them to looke eyther this way or that way, but to consider that the liuing God had chosen and elected them for his people, and promised them to hauehave care of their welfare: and that seeing hee had taken them into his sauegarde, hee woulde neuer forsake them, so they did sticke vntounto him, and were faithfull vntounto him, and turned not away. And thus wee may gather a good admonition out of this place: that is to saye, that hauing both our eyes and our wittes fastened vppon the worde of God, wee must hauehave a right continuance in ye faith, albeit that things do change as touching the worlde. In deede, if wee hauehave good folke to leade vsus, wee bee so much the lesse excusable, if wee profite not thereby. For if God stretch out his hande vntounto vsus, and giuegive vsus gouernours which bee as his messengers, edifying and gouerning vsus faithfully; it is good reason that wee shoulde strayne our selues somuch the more: for wee hauehave one generall rule, to cause the meanes that God giueth vsus to bee auaylable, euen by turning them to our profite. It is a singular thing, when hee giueth vsus such men as hauehave the vertue of his holy spirite, which also bee so endued with whatsoeuer is for our benefite, as wee may vnderstande that hee offereth him selfe vntounto vsus in their persons: It behooueth vsus I say, to bee so much the more moued at such times to serue God. But howsoeuer it bee, let vsus content our selues with the doctrine; and albeit that men do dye and fayle vsus, let vsus neuerthelesse vnderstande, that God is alwayes the same,…12. … and that his trueth cannot change. For it is sayde of men, that they bee but a shadowe; but the worde of GOD continueth for euer. And that not onelyonly in it selfe, but it must also hauehave a rooting in vsus, euen an incorruptible roote, as saith Saint Peter. Let vsus learne therfore, that if the people of Israel were exhorted to continue in the faith and seruice of God after the death of Moses, wee also must doe the like at this daye.
And Moses in so dooing doeth make it manifest, that hee beareth no enuie towarde Iosuah, as many do, who seeke their own renown, and would not that others should do any thing, for feare least their owne prayse shoulde bee stayned, and that men should not talke ynough of them. Moses had not this cursed ambition, that hee shoulde hinder the procurement of the peoples welfare by the aduauncing of Iosua, but as much as in him lay hee did put him in authoritie, yea euen to perfourme a farre greater matter than was graunted to him selfe to doe. For God tolde him before,… 10.12. … 32.51.…. that hee should not enter into the lande that was promised to the people. In deede hee sawe it: but hee was shut out, because hee honoured not God, when the people murmured for want of drinke. Because hee did not then sufficiently glorifie God: but was troubled and vexed in his minde, hee was depriued of that honour, and God did disgrade him in that behalfe. And yet for all that, Moses omitted not to take Iosuah, and appoynted him to bee his successour, willing him to doe his duetie in setting the people in possession of their inheritance. Seeing then that were perceiue that Moses did willingly submit himselfe, let eueryevery of vsus learne to hauehave no respect to himselfe, nor to vaunt himselfe, nor to seeke our owne credite in this worlde, of purpose to bee renoumed both during our life and after our death: but let vsus content our selues, that God doeth acknowledge, that wee were willing to serue him, so as the Church might feele the profite of our labour, and bee edified thereby. When wee bee at this poynt; let vsus referre our selues to our God, and beare no enuie to those whome hee rayseth vp in our steed. For wee knowe, that if GOD doe not worke continually amongest men, the grace that hee hath put into them will quickly vanish; (such is our fra…ltie:) and then all that wee hauehave profited shall bee nought woorth. Is it our desire that GOD shoulde continue that which hee hath wrought by vsus? It is necessarie then that hee hauehave alwayes people to serue him. Let eueryevery one therfore endeuour to discharge his duty without enuie, and without spyting: let the master hauehave his honour and preheminence, and let vsus bee cohelpers one to another, and doe our endeuour to ayde such as wee see to bee acceptable to God. Thus much is here shewed vsus by the example of Moses.
Nowe hee sayeth vntounto the people, I am an hundred and twentie yeares olde, I can no longer goe and come: and the Lorde hath sayde that I may not enter into this lande. First of all▪ hee alleageth his weaknesse, for that hee was so olde, so brused and broken: that hee was no longer able to satisfie so difficult a charge. I can not goe and come (sayeth hee). Nowe hereof I gather that which I hauehave touched, namely, that whilest Moses was lustie, or had in him any strength at all, hee spared not himselfe, knowing well that the same was not giuen him for himselfe, but for the common benefite, and welfare of all the people: hee then practised that which Saint Paul speaketh of, namely, not to liue to himselfe.Rom. 14.7. 2. Cor. 5.13. Nowe in deede wee bee not all so excellent as hee was: yet neuerthelesse this rule is common to all the children of GOD, that is, that no body is created for his owne particular behoofe; but that we must looke to our vocation, that wee may followe it,Rom. 12.1. and offer vp our selues in sacrifice to God, & eueryevery man liue and continue according to his abilitie and measure without ydlenesse. And let vsus not flatter our selues, as to saye, I am excused: for it is not for vsus to take our leaue, and to giuegive ouer, and to discontinue when wee our selues list. EueryEvery man (I say) must goe on euen to the ende, without beeing wearie: and when it shall please GOD to deliuer vsus out of this world, then are we discharged, and not afore.
Nowe when hee sayeth that God depriueth him of going into the lande; hee alleageth a matter not honourable to him selfe: but doeth call to remembrance the fault that he had committed. Hee doeth not here accuse God, neither fretteth hee at the punishment whereof he speaketh; but he acknowlegeth his offence with meeknes. Seeing that Moses, a man so excellent which was as it were an Angel amongst mortall creatures, was contented to testifie his fault, and often times to rehearse that he was not worthie to enioy the heritage which God had promised to Abraham, in so much that although hee had deliuered the people, and had doone so many noble actes, & had published the Lawe, and was reputed gouernor of ye Church of God euen vntill ye comming of our Lord Iesus Christ: yet notwithstanding euen after all this, hee was not ashamed to lay foorth his owne fault, and to declare that God would not admit him to the promised heritage: what ought wee to do▪ So then whensoeuer God punisheth vsus, let vsus not seeke vayne shiftes to couer our vncleannesse: but let vsus rather bee well contented, that the punishmentes which God hath sent vsus, may profite & serue for instruction to all our neighbours. Hee sayeth moreouer, The Lorde thy God will goe before thee, and destroy all these people before thy face, and thou shalt doe vntounto them, as thou didst vntounto Sehon & Og kings of Bazan & of the Amorites. Here Moses confirmeth the matter which we hauehave touched, to wit, that although hee be not present in person, when the people should enter into the lande of Chanaan, yet was God of right to be esteemed more than mortall men, so as the people ought not to bee afrayde though they sawe not Moses any more, nor aske, where is hee that hath led vsus? Be contented (saith he) to hauehave the Lorde to goe with you. Hereby wee bee yet better warned to yeeld God his due honour, which is, to rest in him alone, although wee bee bereft of all meanes heere beneath. In deede it is a thing to bee desired, that wee might euer bee gouerned by such rulers as are led by the Spirite of God: for it is a priuiledge and fauour, that cannot bee sufficiently esteemed, and it is also a signe and token that hee is amongest vsus: Therefore it were greatly to be wished. Neuerthelesse, although wee bee depriued therof, and that God taketh them away by death, whereby his blessing, to the outward shew, is so much the lesser: yet, let vsus looke vp higher and by fayth behold howe he is present to them which seeke him, and that he hath his hand euermore stretched out to helpe them, so as his power shalbee strong ynough, albeit that hee shewe them nothing visibly. That is the thing which we hauehave to remember where Moses sayeth, The Lorde thy God wil… goe before thee. It is certaine that as touching my selfe I shal not be there any more, but shoulde you therefore bee dismayed and fayntharted? What is God? Wote ye not that he hath all in his owne power? What am I? I am but a shadowe. Now God hath put a certaine droppe of his power in me, and you hauehave perceiued the experience thereof: and although the same hauehave profited you, what is it in comparison of his helping of you with the whole fulnes of his power? Nowe then, looke that you measure not Gods power by a mortall man: neither bee yee so grosse headed and witlesse, as to say that you be discouraged because I am no more with you, and that yee bee alreadie vanquished: for that were a cursed blasphemie. But vnderstand, that God is not diminished: when then creatures be perished, hee is able to rayse others: and without raysing vp of any at all, he is sufficient himselfe: for hee hath no neede to borowe from any where else. Now then the verie office and propertie of faith, is to rest vsus in God and to staye vppon him, so as although all the worlde fayle vsus, yet wee assure our selues that God wil worke mightily ynough, without being ayded by any other partie. Moreouer, for the better confirming of the people in hope, Moses telleth them that they had seene alreadie after what maner God had wrought in his peoples behalf. You hauehave had (sayeth hee) victorie against Og the king of Bazan, and against Sehon the king of the Amorrhites, and you know that God did then fight for you. (For in deede the people had beene at that time, as it were vtterly forlorne, and were driuen of force to confesse that the victorie came not of themselues, but that God through his grace did vanquish these two mightie kings.) Seeing therefore that GOD hath alreadie shewed himselfe a father towards you, feare not but that he will continue so hereafter. Thus should wee bee confirmed in hope, by our former experience & feeling of the fauour and helpe of our GOD. When he hath once made vsus to tast his goodnesse; let vsus thereby bee so much the more assured. That is the thing which Moses meant to teach vsus in speaking here of Sehon and Og. Now hee addeth farther, that the Israelites shoulde doe vntounto all the nations whom God would deliuer into their handes, according as it is commaunded them here. It shoulde seeme at the first sight, that the people ought much rather to hauehave vsed merciemercy, than so to hauehave rooted them out vtterly.Deut. 7.16. But (as wee hauehave seene heretofore) God had sayde vntounto them: You shall spare none, neither litle nor great; all the race of them must bee rooted out: for I will not hauehave any of them remaine vntounto you. Nowe it seemeth to bee a kinde of crueltie, that notwithstanding that they yelded them selues, and craued merciemercy, yet they shoulde neuerthelesse be al kild. Yea, but yet for al that, seeing God had spoken it, the people were of dutie to execute it, & not to be wise to the contrarie, nor to glose vponupon the worde of God, or to reply vntounto it at all. Wee see then that when men will needes swim betwixt two streames, and make a medly betweene the worde of God & their own fancies; they marre all. There is nothing better than to followe that which God sheweth & cōmandeth vsus. For if we take vponupon vsus to be too forecasting, hee will laugh our presumption to scorne▪ & in the ende we shalbe accursed. Let vsus marke then, that seeing it was Gods will that all those people (to wit, the Chananites, Pherezites, & their like) shoulde bee rooted out: it was the duetie of the Israelites to doe that which was giuen them in charge: for there was none but GOD him selfe that coulde bee Iudge thereof. Yet notwithstanding, it is certaine yt God dealt not excessiuely in punishing those people: for hee had long time patiently wayted for their amendment; euer since the time of Abraham had they bin vnrefourmable; they had bin spared foure hundred yeres. But were they therby any whit amended? Nay, they were become worse than euer they were: was it not reason then,Gen. 15.16▪ yt after god had so lōg borne wt them, he shold lay his hand vponupon them at ye last? [Yes verily;] & therfore let no bodie murmur in this behalf against god, as thogh his vēgeāce were too rough. And in very deed it is a wonderous thing yt men cannot content thēselues with the iustice of God how moderately soeuer he vse it When we perceine any ouer great iniquitie (specially if it touch our selues, & that we receiue damage & hurt thereby) we cry vntounto God: & be greeued if he bestirre him not at the first dash, & we think that he is as it were asleepe. What say we? Is it possible that God should suffer so long? If hee looke downe, how can he be so patient? We will needes hauehave God to take weapon in hande at our pleasure: and when hee doth any execution if it like vsus not, we say: Howe nowe? What rigorous dealing is this?… 34.6. God sayth, that he is long suffering, full of goodnesse, slowe to wrath, and inclined to merciemercy: howe is it then that he dealeth thus roughly with men? Nay, wee thinke that he is cruell, and we will also condemne him in that point. Seeing then that wee be so vntowarde, and that in steede of iudging rightly of the workes of God, we wrappe vp all in confusion: let vsus learne to like well of all his dooinges, without any gainesaying: and when we perceiue not the cause, let vsus make this conclusion, that howsoeuer the case stande, all that euer proceedeth of him, is rightfull, & that there is nothing in him but infinite wisedome and vprightnesse. And moreouer let vsus also shut our eyes close against all conceites, which may hinder vsus and make vsus vnable to serue GOD, yet let vsus not range hither and thither: but let it suffice vsus to hauehave the worde from his mouth, and to holde vsus to that which he hath commaunded. That is the thing which we hauehave to gather out of this text, where Moses telleth vsus that the people of Israell must do vntounto all their enemies, according as God hath commanded them.
Nowe thereupon he sayth, That they shoulde not be dismayed nor afraide, but that they shoulde bee courageous and behaue themselues manfully. Whereupon is all this exhortation grounded? VponUpon the promise which he made, namely, The Lord thy God will goe before thee. We must therefore marke that men shall neuer take good courage, what soeuer is sayde vntounto them, vnlesse they bee assured of the helpe of God, and that he will be on their side, and giuegive good successe to all their enterprises. It is certaine that men be too bolde to do thinges, and to attempt more than is lawfull for them: but they do euer go about it carelesly, and without discretion. And as a madde bedlem, notwithstanding yt he bee brought lowe with his long sicknes & feele not his own weakenesse: yet is he much stronger and rageth in such wise, as he cannot be ruled, and worketh more trouble than if he were in perfect health: euen so is it with men when they hauehave no promise of God, but be chafed in their owne rashnesse and presumption. They dare doe wonders: but in respect to doe well, we neuer take courage therin, vnlesse we be assured of the will of God: and to be short, we can neuer build but vponupon his promises. We must therefore remember that Moses, before he exhorteth the people to bee valiant & to behaue themselues stoutly, sayde vntounto them, Thy God wil be with thee, feare them not. And why so? For thou art sure that thou canst not quaile, because thy God gouerneth thee. Howbeit, forasmuch as wee doe not at the first take sure holde of the promises of God, neither are they so certainely settled in our heartes, as is to be wished; Moses doth also adde a confirmation, and sayth: Nay, the Lord thy God will not leaue thee, neither shalt thou euer be forsaken of him. It was ynough that he hadde sayde afore▪ Thy God will goe before thee, hee will giuegive thee victorie against all thine enemies; thou hast alreadie had experience of his helpe: It shalbe alwayes the same: this may seeme to hauehave beene ynough. But yet that which Moses addeth vntounto it is not superfluous, because of the vnbeleefe of men: who notwithstanding that God doe assure them, doe yet still doubt and be wauering, vnlesse they hauehave a newe confirmation. Whereby we perceiue that it is no light matter to giuegive credit to the promises of God, and to holde vsus to them, as many do suppose, but that is because they neuer tryed it. They that thinke themselues to bee most faithfull, hauehave neuer tasted what faith is: according as we see a great manie fooles, which speake of warre, and thinke to deuour all at one bitte, whereas in deede they neither knowe nor hauehave seene any thing. Euen so is it with thē that hauehave a speculatiue faith: they make themselues ye ablest folk in the world, they boast themselues to be as faithfull as any can be founde: but they that knowe what faith is, doe vnderstande that there is nothing more harde, than for vsus to stay ourselues vppon God; and in that behalfe wee must bee faine to imprison our senses, and to take the bit in our mouth (as they say) and to enforce our selues; yea and that God also on his side doe worke in that behalfe, as we doe see that he doeth. For it is no superfluous talke, when hee setteth his promises before vsus, and putteth vsus so often in minde of them. For it is a token that they beare no great sway with vsus, or rather that they enter not into our hearts to settle there, as were meete they shoulde. Thus yee see what Moses meant, in saying, That the Lorde will neuer forsake his people.
Moreouer, vnderunder this worde, he sheweth vntounto vsus, that Gods offering of his grace vntounto vsus is not for a day, but that hee will continue it vntounto the end, conditionally that we also do receiue it with the like condition. In deede it is true that in this place he treateth but of the Land of Canaan: but we knowe that it was a pleadge of the eternall life, and of the inheritaunce that is prepared for vsus in heauen. Now he sayth expresly, Thy God wil neuer leaue thee, neither will he euer forsake thee. Wee see therefore that our Lorde meaneth not to encourage vsus for a day, but he meaneth that we should depende vppon him to liue and to die, and that we should be fully resolued, that when he hath begonne, he will performe his worke towarde vsus, and that he wil not leaue vsus at the halfe way, (as they say). And this is to bee well noted, because that although men imbrace Gods promises, yet are they sometimes or other in dout, and wot not where to become: and specially when any temptation commeth vponupon them, then be they so scarred, that to their seeming, God is loth to doe them good, or el…e that he will not continue to doe them good. Seeing then that we be thus tossed with doubtes and troubles, we hauehave so much the more neede to remember the lesson that is here deliuered vntounto vsus: namely, yt God doth offer vsus his grace, with such condition as it shall neuer faile vsus. But we see how this doctrine hath bin peruerted specially in the popedome. They be not ashamed to say, that we must stande alwayes in doubt of continuaunce to the end, and that we wote not what God intendeth to doe heereafter; insomuch that it is a principall article of their faith which they holde in the Popedome. Neither meane I that it is the ignoraunt sort of the simple people only which do say so, but that it is the resolution of all the Monks and Freers; who affirm it to be the principal article of their faith, that men must stande alwaies in doubt whether God wil saue them or not. Seing then yt the deuil hath borne such a sway, somuch the more ought we to be confirmed in this doctrine, where it is sayde, The Lord thy God will not leaue thee, neither shalt thou euer be forsaken of him.
Now when Moses had thus spoken to the people: then hee called also Iosuah and confirmed him. And moreouer in the person of Iosuah, we may perceiue the thing yet better which I hauehave sayd afore; namely, yt it sufficeth vsus not to be once certified of the grace of God; but that because of our weakenes, we hauehave neede to be vpholden & maintained, least wee fall away or swarue aside. For behold, here is Iosuah whom God had chosen to be gouernor of his people to set them in ye possession of their promised inheritaunce. And yet notwithstanding for all that he had hearde his duetie and office at the mouth of Moses, yet was God fain to giuegive him new reuelations after the death of Moses, & to vse the like words vntounto him againe. And how so? Was he so short witted, that ere three dayes to an end, he had quite forgottē what had bin said vntounto him before God and the sanctuarie? He was there present, and a solemne ceremonie was vsed thereabout, & was it because that Iosuah had forgotten his duetie? No: But he was a fraile man: and God knowing him to be so, did confirme him, and encourage him. And if this needed to bee done to Iosuah; what needeth to be done to vsus? Therefore let vsus beware of the presumption that blindeth vsus, in that we thinke we neede not to sette our mindes continually vppon the worde of God as there be many doe, which hauing hearde some one sermon, do suppose that they bee clarkes good ynough, not considering that the thinges which they hauehave heard will soone vanish away, and be quite and cleane gone ere three daies to an end, vnlesse they doe still beate vponupon it. So then, let vsus be well aduised that wee exercise ourselues in the promises of God, and when they be often laide afore vsus, let vsus not thinke the time to be lost in hearing them: but let vsus vnderstand that our Lordes intent is to emprint them in vsus, to the ende we should sticke vntounto them, and be so throughly grounded in them, as Satan may neuer hauehave power to turne vsus away, by any meanes whatsoeuer. That is a thing which we hauehave yet farther to remember.
Nowe let vsus come to that which Moses spake vntounto him. Moreouer thou shalt go before the people (sayeth hee) and therefore bee of good courage and behaue thyselfe manfully. When hee sayeth vntounto him, that he shall goe before the people, he stablisheth his authoritie in the name of GOD. Wherby he maketh it manifest, that it is not for men to thrust in themselues; accordingly also as the Apostle saith, yt no man ought to vsurpe honour vntounto himselfe,Hebr. 5.4. but hee yt is called to it must vndertake and discharge the same: let vsus then learne to hold vsus in such modestie & simplicitie, as yt none of vsus auaunce himselfe aboue measure, ne passe his boundes, as who would say, I will do this or that, not knowing whether he be appointed of God or not, but let euerie man be contented to doe that which is his charge, let a man gouerne his owne houshoulde; and sith he is but a priuate person, let him not vsurpe vppon that which is not permitted vntounto him. Let the minister of the worde preach, and exhort, and accōplish his dutie, let the magistrate in like wise looke whereunto hee is called, let euerie of vsus, keep his degree & his order: and let there be no confused mingling among vsus. That is the thing which we must remember. Very large doctrine might be gathered out of this article, but I will not stande much thereuppon; for it hath beene often spoken of, & it is sufficient for me to touch these matters in fewe wordes, for when they be once hearde, euerie man may thinke vponupon them afterwarde. And greatly shall they hauehave profited in Gods schoole, which can holde thēselues in quiet, and not attempt more than God hath cōmanded them, but simply followe their owne vocation. That is the thing which we hauehave to marke in this place, where Moses ordaineth Iosuah in his steede, howebeit speaking, as in the person of God, and by his authoririe.
Moreouer he sheweth that when God calleth vsus to any charge, he doth also giuegive vsus the ability to accomplish that which he cōmandeth vsus. And this is a necessary doctrine. What is the cause yt men be so feareful, that if they see but a shadow, by and by they be amazed and at their wits end how to do the thinges which they knowe to belong to their office? They see wel ynough wherunto God hath called them; and yet for all that they shrinke away their shoulders: and what causeth that? Euen that cursed distrust of ours, in that we consider not that God doth guide vsus, and that he hath his hande euermore stretched out to helpe vsus, so we walke simply, and doe out endeuour to obey him, and followe him quietly, hauing regarde to our office and calling. And so it is a lesson whereof we can not be too mindful, which is ment in these wordes: Thy God will not forsake thee. And well ought we to put the same in vre. For it is a Testimonie, that God will neuer giuegive them ouer, whom hee setteth a worke, but that he wil giuegive them power, & blesse them, & make the successe of their trauaile to be good and happy, if they stay vponupon him and leane vntounto him. Yea and wee see that in the epistle to the Hebrues,Hebr. 3.5. the Apostle extendeth the same yet further, where he saith, Let your heartes be farre from couetousnesse, and know ye that it is written, The Lorde wil not forsake you. Whereby he sheweth vsus, that whereas we vse so many wicked trades; and whereas treason, crueltie & malice doe leade vsus into such extremities, that we fling ouerthwart the feeldes, and walking in bypathes doe followe our owne disordered lustes: the welspring of all these vices is that we put not our trust in God; neither is it throughly wel sealed in our heartes with any certaine assurednes that the Lorde is neere vntounto vsus, and that he will neuer forsake vsus. And therefore seeing we hauehave no stay, but be so wauering & carryed away with vnquietnes, yea & set on fire, and our lustes be as a thousand fornaces continually burning within vsus, because we hauehave not our trust in God; let vsus learne to cōmit ourselues to his prouidence, & to holde ourselues assured yt hee will not faile vsus: & then shall we finde the thing yt is tolde vsus heere: namely, yt euerie man in his vocation may be assured yt God will be alwaies present with him. Is a man charged with a houshold? Then will he be full of care, & if he hauehave a nūber of children, hee grudgeth, saying, Alas what shall I say? If I had but one or two children, I could deale as wel as they yt hauehave no charge at all: but now yt I hauehave so many hanging on my shoulders; alas what shall I do? True it is, yt a father ought in deede to take care for his children: but what manner of care should yt be? It must moue him to call vponupon God to hauehave recourse to his helpe, to hold his family in order, that thinges go not to hauocke; it must cause him to instruct his children to liue in sobrietie, and to bee contented with a litle, & not to lauish out yt which they hauehave: but labour that God may blesse thē. Such is the care that a father ought to hauehave. And this kinde of care hindereth him not to rest vponupon God, yt hauing tasted this promise; namely, Thy God will not forsake thee, he do alwayes his dutie, and gouerne well his houshold. And euen so it is of all others. Although they see neuer so great difficulties (as there be many which in their vocation, notwithstanding yt they be priuate persons, do finde thē selues greatly pulled backe) yet must they euer hauehave recourse to this ankerhold; Thy God is aboue, he will guide thee, care not: so thou folow him, his helpe shall neuer faile thee. Much more reason is it therfore, yt such as be in higher office and hauehave a heauier burthen to beare, shold hauehave recourse to this promise when they see troubles, and many grudginges against thē, and perceiue the world inflamed with malice▪ & to say, What will our Lord sleepe in heauen? The thing yt was spoken to Iosuah, was it spokē only for one yere? No: but in ye person of him God meant to assure vsus, yt when we walke in our dutie, and go directly to work as he hath cōmanded vsus, hauing regard to obey him rather than to please the world, he is with vsus and will assist vsus. Seeing it is so, let vsus march on, and not care for any thing that can happen vntounto vsus. This (I say) is the true vse of this doctrine.
Moreouer, although we hauehave this assurance, that God will accomplish & performe the worke that he hath begun, yet doth it not follow therfore, yt we also should not inforce ourselues. For these two thinges are ioyned together, namely, thy God will neuer giuegive thee ouer; and therfore be thou of good courage, & behaue thyselfe valiantly. It is not ment then, ye God leadeth vsus as it were sleeping, and as though it were no harde matter for vsus to do him seruice, when it pleaseth him to imploy vsus to any charge & office▪ No no: for we must labour therein, till wee pant againe, & sometime it shall seeme vntounto vsus yt God is farre frō vsus & thinges shall be doutfull & disordered, yt we wot not what shall become of vsus: but then let vsus cheere vp our selues. After yt maner must wee trust in the prouidence of our God. And when we be so stayed thereupon, it is not meant yt we should therfore let things fall out as they may, as wee see many doe, which take occasion to waxe cold. God (say they) will prouide, & in the mean while they neglect their owne duetie. It is not ment that we should shut our eyes, saying, God will prouide for it. Truely although all things in the world were as far out of order as could be; yet ought we to be well assured, howsoeuer we fare: but yet on the other side we must serue God after such maner as he hath appointed vsus to be his instrumentes, yea and yt in such wise as if it be his will, that we must suffer much, yt then wee must hauehave patience & not be ouerthrowē nor broken therby. The thing thē in effect which we hauehave to beare in mind cōcerning this place, is yt we must labour all our life long in such wise, as eueryevery one may keepe himselfe within his owne boundes & limites, and yt we attempt not rashly more than God giueth vsus leaue to do. And moreouer yt we must not be afraid to do, & to employ vsus to those things which our duty requireth, assuring ourselues yt God is neere vntounto vsus, and that we shall feele his power at our neede, and yt hee will not forsake vsus. When men thinke yt all is lost, & doe mocke vsus, & count vsus as people past hope of recouery, let vsus not dout but yt our Lord will accō plish that which is heere promised: and therfore let vsus euermore holde on with patience, waiting for the performaunce of that which wee heare spoken of heere.
Now let vsus fall downe before the maiestie of our good God, with acknowledgement of our faults, beseeching him to make vsus to feele them more & more, and yt in likewise by acknowledging the frailety yt is in vsus, we may seeke to arme vsus so with his promises, as we may be fensed vntil the end, not only to sustain one cōbat or two▪ but also to fight all the daies of our life, & to remaine inuincible against al maner of tēptations: And yt forasmuch as it behoueth vsus to depend altogether vponupon him; we may be so stayed thereupon, yt when things do happen vntounto vsus contrary to our mindes as in respect of the world, we may not therby be abashed or dismaied, but trust that he only is as good as all other helpes, & therupō cōmit our selues vntounto him, endeuoring to glorifie him: and yt seeing it is his will to gouerne vsus by the hand of our Lord Iesus Christ, we may be pliable and obedient vntounto him; that being assured that he is our good and faithful guide, & that he will not faile vsus, we may euermore take the more courage to giuegive ouer ourselues, and wholly to offer ourselues vntounto him. That it may please him to graunt this grace not onelyonly vntounto vsus, but also to all people and Nations of the earth, &c.