Sermons on Deuteronomy, Sermons · Sermon 189
On Thursday the xviii of Iune, 1556. The CLXXXIX. Sermon which is the twelfth vponupon the two & thirtith Chapter.
44 Then went Moses, and rehearsed all the words of this song in the eares of the people, he and Hosea the sonne of Nun.
45 And when Moses had made an end of speaking all these wordes:
46 He sayd vntounto them: set your mindes vponupon all these wordes, which I protest against you this day: commaund you your children to keepe them, and to do all the wordes of this lawe.
47 For it is no vayne worde towards you: but it is your life. And by this word you shall prolong your dayes in the land whereinto yee goe ouer Iordan to possesse it.
I HaueHave told you heretofore how it was no very pleasant thing to the children of Israel, to heare ye contentes of this song which I hauehave expounded. For therein God accuseth them to hauehave bin vnthankfull to him from the beginning: insomuch that whereas he had vttered all the treasures of his goodnes towardes them; they had abused the same most wickedly, and bin vnfaithfull to him, and that, not for once and away, but by shewing themselues alwayes vnreformable. Now, this might well hauehave greeued them: but yet was Moses faine to shewe them the will of God. And so we see that they which are set in office to teach the people, must not sooth them vp nor seeke to please them, according to the saying of S. Paul that men shall hauehave itching eares,2. Tim. 4.3. desirous to bee fed with winde: but they whom God hath placed in the office of Shepheardes, must not bend themselues that way. Although then we see men spiteful against Gods word, and to conceiue an vtter mislyking of the thinges which we bee commaunded to declare vntounto them: yet must we follow our commission, and discharge our selues faithfully of our dueties. For although men lyke not to be reproued: yet is it for their benefite neuerthelesse. As for example, a sicke person will perchance refuse a medicine: but yet must he receiue it, for it is for his health. Lykewise although the people of Israell were stubborne: yet notwithstanding they did patiently abide this doctrine which was rough and hard, as we see. And hereby wee be done to vnderstand, that if we cannot abide that God should blame vsus for our sinnes, & reproue vsus sharply when we hauehave deserued it; we be wors than those to whom God hath spoken heretofore. Now God calleth them a cursed and froward generation: and what shall then become of vsus? So then, if wee be not plyable to submit our selues to God willingly, at leastwise when we hauehave done amisse; Or if he finde such frowardnes in vsus that wee hauehave neede to bee handled roughly: let vsus beare it with all mieldenesse and meekenesse. Thus much concerning that poynt where it is reported that Moses spake or vttered all the wordes of the song in the hearing of the people.
Now here is yet thus much more, that therein wee may see howe God spake by the mouth of Moses. For it had not bin possible for that doctrine to hauehave bin retained, except the maiestie of God had matched with it. Had a mortall man handled the people as Moses did, vnauthorised from aboue: surely it had bin the next way to hauehave raysed a great sedition against him. Therefore it behooued God to shew that he had giuen power to Moses, and that he held the people in awe. And that serued to shewe that the Lawe was not coyned here beneath: but that God was the very author thereof, and therefore is to bee receiued with such reuerence as is due to thinges that proceede from him. That is an other thing which wee hauehave to remember vppon this text.
Hauing rehearsed the song, now he addeth an exhortation. Set yee your mindes (saith he) vppon all the wordes of this Lawe. Here he sheweth to what purpose and intent Gods will was to hauehave the sayd song published: namely; that the people might know their owne naughtinesse, wherein they had continued a long time, and be reclaymed from it, and learne to mislyke of their stubbornnes, and thereupon to meeken their hartes that they might liue in obedience to God. And this belongeth vntounto vsus, as whereof we may gather a generall rule: which is, that whensoeuer our Lorde entereth so into protestation & pleading against vsus, discouering our vices and bewraying the corruption that is in vsus: it is to the end to drawe vsus to repentance, that knowing in what plight we be, we should humble our selues, and therewithall bee more ready to receiue the worde of God, that whereas we were hardhearted and full of venim before, so as there was no entring into vsus to be found: our hearts might be disposed both to heare & to beleeue his sayinges, and to bee obedient to him in all cases. The end (say I) whereunto all the rebukes which God giueth vsus, in exhorting and quickening of vsus vp, ought to serue to make vsus the better disposed to heare his worde, because he seeth that naturally wee would rather goe backeward than foreward. This thing is declared heere expresly by Moses, who hauing finished his song, sayeth, Set your hearts vponupon all the words of this lawe. Nowe the maner of speech which he vseth, betokeneth that they should be attentiue or giuegive good eare. And not without cause: according to his former discourse, where he sayth that he wakeneth men after that fashion. For wee see what negligence is in vsus. Although wee pretend some zeale of profiting in Gods schoole: yet notwithstanding the doctrine is no sooner preached, but that not onelyonly the one halfe of it, but also the most part of it slippeth from vsus: in so much that euen they that hauehave profited best, doe scarsely beare away the thirde part: and some others scarce one word. To be short, wee bee so light headed, that our wittes are continually rouing here & there, and we be at no stay to apply our selues wholly to the doctrine which is preached vntounto vsus in the name of God. But although wee vnderstand the thinges that are spoken, and can say them by heart: yet are not our heartes and affections euer the more giuen vntounto them. Therefore wee must not thinke it ynough for vsus to bee able to talke of it: but wee must hauehave an inward harkening vntounto God, and euerie of vsus must talke of it to himselfe, cheawing as it were his cudde, that is to say, musing vponupon it in his minde by himself, as if he shoulde say; It standeth mee in hand to marke this wel: but whereas we should indeuour after that manner to print the things in our memorie which hauehave bin taught vsus in the name of God: we let it all slip away. For as much then as wee see such fault in our selues: wee ought to marke this text the better where it is sayde; Set your heartes thereon. As if Moses should say that Gods word requireth a singular affection, so as if we will vnderstand it well, wee must not heare it as some other thing of another mans telling: for it is a kinde of wisedome that surmounteth all our wittes. Therefore it standeth men in hand to straine themselues in this behalfe: but on the contrarie part we see the coldnesse that is in vsus, in so much that when we hauehave once tasted a little thereof, wee passe not any more for it. Come wee to the hearing of Gods woorde? Doe wee reade it alone by our selues? Then let this warning alwayes stand before our eyes, that Gods woord is worthie to be receiued with such reuerence, as we should lift vp our minds on high & labour and indeuour to rid our selues of al things that may hinder vsus from giuing our selues wholy thereunto. Thus ye see what Moses meant by this speech of se…ting their heartes.
And he speaketh not of some one part alone, but of All the woordes of the Lawe. Whereby hee doeth vsus to vnderstand, that we must not so part stakes with God, as to perfourme some one saying slightly, and to let the rest alone: but that wee must doe our indeuour in all cases, to bee throughly learned in all the thinges which our Lord knoweth to be auailable to our saluation. For it is certaine that there neuer scaped any superfluous word out of the mouth of God. Wee must not thinke that Gods speaking is after the maner of men, who to attaine to some one good sentence, doe vse many fetches about and many interminglings: so that if one good saying be rehearsed▪ a man must let passe three or foure other for it. But as I sayd afore, Gods speaking is in such wise, that all is profitable euen to the last word. And therefore not without cause doth Moses heere exhort the people of Israel to set their heartes vponupon all the woordes of the Lawe. True it is that wee can neuer hauehave the full vnderstanding of Gods worde, but wee shall hauehave doone much when wee hauehave knowen some part of it.1. Cor. 13.12 And wee heare what Saint Paule sayeth, who comprehendeth himselfe also in the number of those which see and knowe but onelyonly in part, vntill wee may behold Gods glory face to face. But yet must wee receiue all, euen to yeeld our selues obedient to God without exception, so as wee may bee quiet in all thinges which he speaketh vntounto vsus. Then let vsus not doe as many folke doe, which receiue Gods worde alonely so farre foorth as it is to their owne liking, and as for the rest they let it alone. There are other some which beate their braynes about some one point, because their minde inclineth that way; and as for all the residue, they thinke it belongeth nothing to them. But let vsus pray God to graunt vsus the grace, that when wee once knowe any one peece of his will, wee may continually growe more and more in vnderstanding, and that wee perceiue (as sayeth Saint Paul) that all scripture is profitable.2. Tim. 3.16 For he sayeth not that there wee shall finde wherewith to edifie our selues: but he sayeth that it is profitable to all thinges, so as there is there not only some thing that may doe vsus good: but also that if we search throughout the things which our Lorde declareth there, wee shall finde from the very beginning, that nothing is set downe there without cause, but that GOD had alwayes a regard to giuegive vsus good instruction in all thinges which he hath spoken. And so ye see to what purpose Moses exhorteth heere the people to set their mindes vponupon all these wordes.
But nowe if wee consider howe many thinges there are to drawe vsus away from it, and to thrust vsus out of the way, yea and to pluck vsus backe that we might not profite in Gods woorde: it may well teache vsus further, howe greatly wee ought to straine our selues to bee quiet and peaceable, that our Lorde may bee heard, and wee giuegive heede to the thinges which hee vouchsafeth to teache vsus. Howebeit we bee farre off from such perfection. For hardly can a man abyde steadfast one minute of an houre, without the comming of some toy in his head to turne him away. A hundred of them will come vntounto vsus in one houre: and how many moe then in a whole day? Yea and sometimes the conceite of our foolishe imaginations doth so cary vsus away; that we wote not where we be. But beholde, our Lorde God woulde fayne assure vsus of his sayinges: there is such a couenant passed betweene him & vsus, that it is not heard for vsus to hearken vntounto him; insomuch that if we will giuegive care vntounto him, we shall finde that his doctrine is not vnprofitable to vsus. And ought not this to prouoke vsus to fight against all such imaginations as trouble our mindes and make vsus to wander away? Yes: and so wee see how greatly this exhortation ought to preuaile with vsus, considering that we be so fickle minded and lightheaded, as experience proueth.
Nowe after this, Moses sayeth that the people must commaund their children. Heerein it is shewed vsus, that it is not ynough for vsus to profite eueryevery man himselfe in Gods schoole: but that when we our selues hauehave learned, we must also indeuer to bring others into the right way of saluation; specially wee to whom God hath committed the charge of such as want learning and instruction. As for example; fathers and mothers shall yeeld an account for their Children, bicause God giueth them with this condition, that they shall be brought vp in his feare. Lykewise Maysters and Mistresses hauehave to aunswere for their menseruauntes and womenseruauntes; and if they …ay the brydle in their neckes, they must not thinke that our Lorde will let their negligence scape vnpunished. Therefore let vsus take warning by this text, that such as hauehave children must hauehave a care to teache them, and to make it knowen that God is the father of all their whole ofspring, if they themselues wilbe taken to bee the children of God. Lykewise they that hauehave menseruauntes and maideseruauntes must vnderstand that their house must bee so dedicated to the seruing of God, as he may hauehave all souerainty in the same. After that maner ought we to take paines in the behalfe of those which are committed to our charge. For the more we see that the world fayleth in that behalfe, the more carefull ought wee to bee to doe our duetie therein. For it wil bee no excuse for vsus to alleage yt it was a common vice, but it will rather turne to our sorer condemnation, bycause one corrupteth and marreth another. Nowe then, let vsus learne to hauehave the zeale that is commaunded vsus here; namely that where God hath graunted vsus the grace to be drawen to ye knowledge of his truth; then to consider, that we must also indeuour to make all other men partakers thereof, that after our death Gods word may hauehave his course still, and not be buried with vsus. For wee bee mortall creatures, and as touching this world we doe but passe away, and that very swiftly. But we knowe that Gods truth indureth for euer:Esa. 40.8. and therefore wee must so deale as that Gods woorde may continue and bee knowen, and bee receiued of men from hand to hand, euen after that wee be departed out of this worlde. And those which hauehave any charge ought to bende themselues cheefely heereunto, according to this saying of Saint Peter concerning the same matter. I will cause you (sayeth he) to hauehave a remembraunce of my doctrine after that God shall hauehave taken mee out of this worlde.2. Pet 1.15. Although I liue not to speake to you any more with my mouth; yet to discharge my duetie, I must so deale yt when my mouth shalbe shut and I shalbe no more conuersant with you heere belowe to teach you, yet the same doctrine which I hauehave brought vntounto you may hauehave his course still, so as you may keepe it to your benefite and edification. For although fathers and mothers bee bounde to teache their children, and maisters and mistresses to teache those that are vnderunder them, and likewise the ministers of Gods woorde according as the Lorde hath called them to speake in his name, are bounde to shewe the right way and to giuegive good example to other men: yet notwithstanding we ought all generally to indeuour that all folkes may hearken to God, and receiue his word, and that not for two or three dayes onelyonly, but for euer. Thus yee see to what purpose Moses hath saide heere, that Fathers must trayne vp their Children in all the woordes of the Lawe.
Nowe hee saieth consequently, To doe them and keepe them. Heere Moses repeateth that which hee had spoken afore: namely that our Lordes speaking vntounto vsus, is not to the end wee shoulde alowe of his sayinges, and confesse the same to bee true, rightfull, and iust: but to trye our obedience. Gods word then must reforme our lyfe: for to that end and purpose is it spoken vntounto vsus. Neuerthelesse, wee see howe many a one doe thinke themselues well discharged when they hauehave but ducked downe with their heades, in token that they gainesaie it not. And they thinke GOD to bee beeholden to them if they blaspheme not his doctrine, and shewe not themselues to bee enemies to it, but confesse the same to bee good and holy, for they wilnot hauehave GOD to vrge them any further. But that were too easie a market. For if GODS woorde were preached but onelyonly to the ende it shoulde bee receiued and confessed with the mouth: to what purpose shoulde it serue when in the meane while euerie man might take the brydle in his necke, and liue as though wee neuer had any rule of GOD? Were it not an vnhallowing and defiling of the holy thinges, and a disfeating of the power of GODS woorde? Let vsus beare well in minde therefore, that if wee come hither to Sermons, and yet continue still lyke our selues, so as our lyfe bee not aunswerable to that which hath beene taught vsus heere: wee shalbe dubble to blame, bycause it is but a mocking and skorning of the doctrine of saluation, when wee let it slip away, and hauehave but our eares beaten with it, without any touching of our heartes or any reforming of our liues thereafter. What is to bee doone then? Wee must vnderstande that GODS woorde is not named a Garde without cause, for as much as men are lyke wretched beastes without discretion, vntill God hauehave shewed them howe they ought to walke. Yee see then that it is our Gard or defence. And therefore if wee keepe Gods word, we also shalbe kept and garded thereby, and we shal hauehave our bonds certaine, so as we shal neuer erre while we liue: and moreouer we shall hauehave wisedome to iudge betweene good aud euill.
And that is the cause why Moses saith, Let your children keepe the woorde; and againe, let them obserue it. True it is that wee can neither keepe Gods woord nor doe it; vntill hee hauehave written it in our heartes. But Moses presupposeth that God will shedde out his holy spirite vppon the people, so they shut not the doore against him, but bee readie to receiue the grace which our Lorde had promised them, as wee hauehave seene heretofore,… 30.14 where he sayth; Behold, the worde is nygh thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart. And not without cause doth Saint Paul say that this worde is the same which is preached in the Gospell,… ▪ 10▪16. bycause Gods speaking there is not to make a noyse in our eares onelyonly, but also to ingraue the doctrine in our heartes by his holy spirit, which is brought vntounto vsus. So then let vsus marke well, that whereas Moses treateth heere of the keeping of Gods worde, God also doeth bynde himselfe to his people, with condition that hee will gouerne them by his holy spirite, and write his worde in their heartes: and moreouer when hee hath so touched them, hee will also be fauourable to them in bearing with their infirmities and in forgiuing their sinnes. And after that manner doe wee perfourme GODS woorde: not that wee can accomplish it and do it throughly: for wee bee so farre vnable to perfourme the lawe, that wee cannot so much as thinke one good thought.… Cor. 3.5. Nay rather wee drag backe from that which God commaundeth vsus: wee bee enemyes to all righteousnesse and vpright dealing. God therefore must bee fayne to bow vsus, and to giuegive vsus such teachablenesse as we may bee readie to heare his worde. And moreouer when hee hath graunted vsus the grace to hauehave such zeale and affection, hee must also beare with vsus in that we hauehave not done our indeuour to do the things which he hath appointed vsus; & whereas we be disobedient, and therefore hee might iustly punishe vsus, yet notwithstanding hee must bee faine to receiue vsus to merciemercy, and to giuegive vsus our pardon for our Lord Iesus Christes sake. And although the fathers of olde tyme had not so great and so euident teaching as we hauehave nowadayes by the Gospell: yet did they knowe that our Lorde had promised them both the grace of his holy spirite and also his merciemercy, to the forgiuing of thei… sinnes. For the sacrifices which were offered in those dayes, were not ordayned without cause. It was not a trifling matter, that the people came to the temple to offer sacrifices: but it was a sure president that God receyued them to merciemercy; in so much that when the bloud of any beast was there shed, it was a figure which ought to leade them vp to a higher thing. For there was alwayes a heauenly patterne which Moses had seene vppon the Mount.Exod. 25.40 & Hebr. 8.5. So then, let vsus not thinke as the Papistes doe, that Moses vpholdeth heere the Freewill of men, of purpose, therewithall to set foorth their deseruinges, as though men coulde by their owne power and pollicie obtayne Paradise, and were able to serue GOD and to doe the commaundements of the Law: Moses went not that way to worke: but hee knewe what promyse had beene made to the people, and that all thinges tended to the Couenaunt which GOD had made with them, notwithstanding that the time of the full opening thereof was not yet come as it was promysed afterwarde by Ieremie,Esa. 61.1.23. Ier. 31.33. Ezec. 11.19. & 36.26. Esay, and all the rest of the Prophetes, where it is sayd that GOD woulde make a newe Couenaunt with his people, which was that hee woulde write his Lawe in their heartes, and chaunge their stony heartes into heartes of flesh. True it is that this belongeth to the Gospell: neuerthelesse, it was figured also vnderunder the Lawe, and the fathers that liued in those dayes, had some taste thereof so farre as was expedient for them.
Nowe seeing that our Lorde hath nowadayes multiplyed his grace towardes vsus, and made our state more excellent than the state of them that liued vnderunder the Lawe: surely wee be lesse to bee excused than they, for it is certayne that it maketh our offences and disobedience the more heynous. Therefore let vsus bethinke our selues, and let vsus market well that seeing God doeth offer vsus the liuing waters whereof Ezechiel speaketh,Ezec. 36.25 that is to say, seeing he sheadeth foorth the giftes of his holy spirit to make vsus to walke according to his will: wee must assure our selues that if wee shut the gate against him, we shalbe much more worthy of blame than those which yet neuerthelesse were condemned vnderunder the lawe. And therefore let this waken vsus, and make vsus more willing to heare Gods word, to the end to keepe it, seeing he not onelyonly speaketh to vsus by the mouthes of men, but also prepareth vsus to draw vsus to him by the inward power of his holy spyrite, and on the other side spareth vsus, and falleth not to examining of our liues with rigour, but accepteth our dooinges as a father doeth his childrens, notwithstanding that there bee much infirmitie and many vices in vsus. And to the ende this word may hauehave the more force, Moses sayeth that he not onelyonly spake or vttered it, but also that he witnessed or protested it to the people, as wee hauehave seene afore. And not without cause doeth hee repeate it heere againe. For we be so lasie and shouthfull in receiuing Gods worde, as is pitie to see. Therefore it is requisite that there shoulde alwayes bee some protestation, to make vsus thinke the better thereon.De…c. 30.…9. Hee sayde heeretofore, I call heauen and earth to witnesse against you this day, that if the doctrine which I bring vntounto you doe fall to the grounde, and that yee make no account thereof: the very Sunne and Moone and all other creatures shall cry out against you for vengeaunce of such contempt and negligence.
So then he addeth now, God hath made mee a teacher, and I for my part will discharge my duetie, and that not with a colde and dead vtteraunce of the thinges which I hauehave receiued, but by protesting to you on Gods behalfe as though I were a publike notarie & had a proxie from him, assuring you that sith your God hath graunted you the grace to heare his word, if you bee negligent in receiuing it, yee must make a dreadfull account for it. Hereby we bee warned to receiue Gods worde with such reuerence, as the Angels of heauen may bee witnesses of our fayth, zeale, and constancie. Let vsus goe with open heartes and mindes lifted vp to God, that wee may bee taught by him. And if wee doe so, wee shall bee turned away from all the impedimentes of the world, in so much that God shall no sooner hauehave spoken the word, but wee shall bee agreed to yeeld to his teaching, and we shall not bee zealous for a small time onelyonly, but when we hauehave once begun, wee shall holde out to the ende. For woe to vsus if wee turne head in the middes of our way, and start aside when we hauehave begun well, so as the diuell may finde ye meanes to leade vsus astray. Alas, what shall it boote vsus to hauehave beene come into a good trade? So then, let vsus marke well this worde Witnesse, which is set downe here by Moses, to doe vsus to vnderstand that our Lorde speaketh not to vsus to leaue our vnthankfulnesse vnpunished when wee hauehave despised the thinges …hat are tolde vsus in his name, but that there shall be alwayes this solemne witnessing or protestation▪ vnlesse we benefite our selues by his teaching of vsus.
Now Moses addeth consequently, That the worde is not vaine towardes them. This peece of text is misunderstoode if it bee taken for an exhortation. And yet for all that, it should seeme, that Moses exhorteth the people, when he saith: Let not Gods woord bee vaine towardes you, beware that yee receiue it not as a thing of no price, nay rather consider what a Maiestie it hath, when God appeareth to men by his worde which is his liuely image. But in the Hebrewe tongue wherein the Prophet spake, it is thus: The worde shall not bee vaine towardes you. For so is it, worde for worde in the Text: when he sayeth, towardes you, he meaneth, that in respect of the people, the word shall not bee in vaine. And this will well bee perceiued by the saying of Esay in his fiue and fiftith Chapter▪ Isa. 55.10.which text is misexpounded likewise. But the right expounding of the one will bee a key to open the right vnderstanding of the other. It is sayd in Esay, my word shall not returne emptie vntounto mee, but it shall yeeld his fruit there as I send it vntounto. Some hauehave thought that our Lord meant there, that whensoeuer his worde is preached, it shall not bee in vaine, but that it shall yeelde profite by giuing fayth to the hearers. But the Prophet Esay ment not so by those wordes. What did he then? Hee confirmed or warranted Gods promises, to the intent that men should not doubt of the performance of the thinges contained in them. As for example, God promiseth vsus to prosper vsus by his blessing, to take vsus into his keeping, and to defend vsus against all the troubles and vexations of the world; so that if men persecute vsus, he will bee as our bucklar: if wee bee threatened and assaulted on all sides, he will bee our fortresse; in time of dearth he will hauehave a care to feede vsus; against all the assaultes of Satan, hee will gard vsus by the power of his holy spirit: to be short, Gods promises are infinite. And yet for all that, wee bee so weake hearted, that we conceiue not what he saieth, but rather wee thinke that wee shall be disappointed if wee trust to his promises. There needeth not any thing to tosse vsus too and fro, for to our seeming all Gods promises are but deceites. For this cause he sayeth; No, like as the Raine falleth not in vaine, but moysteneth the earth, and the earth being moystened yeeldeth forth hir fruite, so as the raine hath as it were a secret vertue to giuegive nourishment to men: therefore like as yee see that in the order of nature, the raine ingendreth such a kinde of fruitefulnesse in the earth; so assure you your selues that my word shall not bee in vaine, but I will make it to yeelde profite, that is to say I will perfourme all my promises. Therefore bee bold to trust vntounto mee, that I will performe and bring to passe al that euer I hauehave spoken by my Prophetes. So in this text Moses sayeth, The word shall not be voide towards you, that is to say, so you receiue it, thinke not that God will leaue you with your mouthes open like silly hungerstaruen folke, so as yee should hang lingering and not knowe what shall become of you: for your God will make you to feele by proofe that hee hath not promised you aught in vaine. Now, when our Lorde speaketh after that manner, shall wee cast doubtes yet stil, and stand scanning whether his sayings shall be performed or no? His worde shall not bee voyde towardes you: that is to say, ye shall finde the effect thereof, and hold ye hardily vntounto this, that God will worke with such force, as yee shall peceyue that when his worde is preached vntounto you, it is as much as if he himselfe were present, to put the thing in proofe and execution, which hee hath declared. Thus wee see now the meaning of Moses, to the intent that the people shoulde take some tast of Gods word and receiue it with all reuerence. He telleth them that when God speaketh, it is not sound that vanisheth away in the aire: but that in that word lyeth and consisteth all our happinesse and chiefe welfare, and that wee hauehave wherewith to content our selues, when our Lord vouchsafeth to direct his worde so vntounto vsus. For why? Wee shall not bee foaded with vaine hope; but we shall feele in deede how our Lorde meant to trie our faith in such wise for a time, as that he wil yet neuerthelesse performe all that euer he hath spoken.
Now Moses confirmeth this exhortation yet better, by this which he addeth: It is your life and your welfare by it shall your dayes be prolonged in the land which you goe to possesse. Hereby we may easily gather that Moses made not an exhortation to the people, [to shewe] that the woorde is not vaine: but rather that he made them a promise, that the woorde shoulde hauehave force and vertue continually as it were without interruption. It is your life sayeth he, and through the power thereof shall you prolong your dayes. Hee sheweth then, that vntill such time as our Lorde had giuen his Lawe to the people, they were as wretched folke that wist not where to hauehave any rest, no more than all other men vppon the earth. True it is that Gods creating of vsus and his setting of vsus in this world, is to the ende wee looke at him, put our trust in him, and hope for al good thinges at his hand. But what? We be so earthly, that we can by no meanes come nigh him. And indeede he is too farre off, and though wee thinke vponupon him, yet vntill he giuegive vp his word and vtter his fatherly louelove towardes vsus, alas wee must needes euer tremble and bee abashed. Let vsus marke well then, that we shal neuer hauehave any assurednesse, vntill our Lorde hauehave giuen it vsus by his woorde. For our lyfe is but a lingering, wee bee turmoyled with continuall …roubles and vnquietnesse, and (which more is) wee must needes finde GOD our deadly enemie, vntill he hauehave taught vsus by his word. And I pray you, can wee hauehave any sparke of lyfe, when we perceiue that God is against vsus? Now surely men deceiue themselues if they weene to hauehave Gods fauour, vntill they be grounded and setled vppon his woorde. And therefore not without cause doeth Moses say that the word is our life. For thereby wee bee doone to vnderstande howe wretched our state is, vntill our Lorde hauehave drawen vsus to him, and communicated himselfe to vsus by meanes of his word.
Nowe when we once knowe that Gods word bringeth vsus such benefites, to wit, that we knowe that God wilbe fauourable to vsus, that he quickeneth vsus, and that it sheweth vsus wherein our ioy and felicitie consisteth: wee must knowe also that it serueth vsus for a Seale, & that our Lord will hauehave vsus to take it as a gage, as though the thing were done already. And therefore whensoeuer God speaketh, let vsus hold vsus to him. For hee is no vnsaier as mortall men bee: hee is not free of promise, and a performer of nothing: therefore let vsus boldly sticke to his word, and sith it is our life, let vsus assure ourselues that it wil not deceiue vsus, nor beguile vsus if we trust vntounto it. For why? It shall not returne void from vsus: that is to say, when we hauehave once admitted it in, it wil take such roote, as Gods power shall euer be at hande to vsus, and God shall sooner renounce himselfe than not performe his promises. True it is; that we shal not see it out of hand: but yet must we be fully resolued thereof, and patiently tarry til ye fit time be come for our lord to shew that he ment not to iest or to dally, in telling vsus that he would be liberall vntounto vsus. Now sith it is so, let vsus learne to be the more desirous to receiue Gods worde, in respect of the profite that it bringeth vsus. For God thinketh it not ynough to shew vsus the maiestie that is in his word, to the intent we should be humbled to obey it: but his mind is also to allure vsus that we might be in louelove with it. And to that ende doeth Moses speake it heare. He had magnified the word sufficiently heretofore, shewing that it proceedeth from God, and that heauen and earth shall beare witnes against vsus if we refuse it: but now he addeth another reason to induce men the better to heare God, yea and to heare him desirously, namely; that God will prolong their dayes in the land which they go to possesse, at leastwise if they suffer themselues to be taught by him. And why? For we be all poore silly soules without hope of saluation, if we continue in the state of al mākind. All the life which men weene thēselues to hauehave in this world, is but as a way to hell vntill God hauehave turned vsus to the better, and hauehave taught vsus what is saide in his woorde. As touching that which he addeth, saying, That they shall lengthen their daies when they bee passed ouer Iordan: I will treate thereof to morow if it please God.
Now let vsus fall downe before the Maiestie of our good God with acknowledgement of our faultes, praying him to make vsus so to feele them more and more, as wee may learne to turne againe vntounto him, and make the great number of exhortations auailable which moue vsus dayly so to doe: and that when he layeth before vsus our sinnes and threatneth vsus with his wrath, we may be so conuicted, as we may not continue hardened in euill, but returne vntounto him, and pray him to bee so gratious vntounto vsus, as not to suffer Satan to hauehave dominion ouer vsus: but rather to make vsus indeuour to reform ourselues in such sort, as that our hearing of his word may cause vsus to amend and bring vsus backe to him, and frame out whole life according to his will. That it may please him to graunt this grace, not onelyonly to vsus but also to all people and Nations of the earth, &c.