Sermons on Deuteronomy, Sermons · Sermon 25
On Wednesday the xxix. of May. 1555. The xxv. Sermon, which is the seuenth vponupon the fourth Chapter.
23 24 Beware that ye &c.
25 When thou shalt hauehave begotten children, and childrens children, and shalt hauehave dwelt long in ye land: if then ye shal corrupt your selues, & make carued Images after the likenesse of any thing, and worke wickednesse in the sight of the Lord thy God, to prouoke him to wrath:
26 I call heauen and earth to record against you this day, that out of al doubt ye shall soone perish out of the land whither ye go ouer Iordan to possesse it: and yee shall not prolong your dayes therein, for ye shalbe vtterly destroyed.
WE hauehave seene heretofore the exhortation that Moses made, to the intēt that Gods seruice might not bee corrupted. Hee shewed that to worship GOD purely, there must no image at all be made, because it is not in any wise agreeable to his nature:Iohn 4.24. but men must worship him after another fashion. His seruice (say I) is spiritual: and therefore wee must rest wholly therevppon. For as soone as we swarue one way or other: it is but presumption, which God condemneth. That is the thing which Moses hath treated of hitherto. Now to confirme this doctrine the better: he setteth before the peoples eyes, the couenant that God had made with them: for when God manifesteth himselfe vntounto vsus, it is the principall meane whereby to hold vsus in the pure religion. Naturally we be blind wretches, and therefore it is verie easie for Satan to beguile vsus. And although there were none to deceiue vsus: yet doth eueryevery one of vsus wander away in our owne conceites and imaginations. Therefore there is nothing in vsus but darknes: and Gods maiestie is so high and incomprehensible a thing, as it is no maruell though we be at our wits end, before we can come nigh vntounto it. Then if we were not duly taught, ne had a grounded doctrine to shew vsus ye right path: what could we do but go astray? But now seing yt God hath shewed himself vntounto vsus, & that so familiarly as we may discern him from al the ydols that hauehave bin forged in ye worlde, & we are able to say yt it is he whom we ought to worship: there is no more excuse for vsus if we be caried to and fro. And our vnthankfulnesse is the more shamefull, if wee shut our eyes against the doctrine of saluation, and turne our backs vponupon God when he hath shewed himselfe to our face, and vouchsafed to bee knowen of vsus familiarlie. Now we we see what Moses ment. For his meaning is to set forth the greeuousnesse of the peoples sin, if it should so fall out that they shoulde turne away from the purenes which they had learned in the lawe. As if he should say, True it is that euen from the creation of the worlde most men hauehave not ceased to ouershoote themselues into a number of errors and follies: but that came to passe because they had not so special a teaching, as you hauehave, whereby they might hauehave had certeinetie of faith to rest themselues vponupon. Therefore the wretched infidels went astray: but yet was not their sin so greeuous and outragious. For although they were vnexcusable: yet had they not any such teaching as you. But as for you, yee hauehave had Gods couenāt, wherby ye were brought into his house: hee hath shewed himselfe as a father towards you, & taught you as his childrē: this is that holy band wherby god hath tyed him selfe to you: now then if you should turne backe againe, and become like those wretched beastes which neuer knew nor tasted of gods truth, what a thing were it? Might you pretende them for a shrowding sheete and say, other men do so as wel as we? Yea, but yet had not those othermen such teaching as you hauehave had. Nowe therefore acknowledge the grace that God hath bestowed vppon you, in shouling you out from all nations of the earth, & in coming so nigh vntounto you. And in deed ye same is the very cause why yt when the heathen are condēned in their supertitions: it is said on the contrarie part, that ye Lord dwelleth in Sion, & his maiesty is knowen there. After that manner doth the Prophet Abacucke speake in his second chapter:Abac. 2.20. and it is a doctrine that is rife ynough eueryevery where. As if it were saide, The world runnes at randon, and eueryevery man forgeth and setteth vp some God priuately to himselfe: but as for the God which hath shewed himself to bee the true liuing God: his voyce soundeth in mount Sion where the temple was builded. Thē sith it is so: although the whole world bee caried away & go wandering in the darke: yet must not we be remoued, forasmuch as he hath set vp his seat among vsus, and we know him by his voyce & by his word. And here we see why it is said in the Psalmes where Gods kingdome is spoken of in such wise as it was to bee stablished in the person of our Lord Iesus Christ,Psal. 97.1.3 5. & 115.3.4. as wel in the fourescore and sixteenth psalme as in other psalmes: The Lord reigneth, Let ye far countries reioyce therat, let all ydols be confounded, and let all that is set vp by men be throwen downe. For when wee hauehave the truth, which driueth away al darkness & ignorance, then hauehave we the verie meane to destroy al superstition. And to the same purpose also is there this like saying in Esay:Esa. 19.1. when the Lord reigneth, then shal al the ydols of Egypt fal. And why? For the wretched Infidels weene they doe well, and thinke they do God good seruice in following their fond superstitions. But when God is once set afore them: then his maiestie bereaueth them of all excuse, and he must needs as then be magnified. And that is ye cause why it is said in another place,Esa. 25.9. This is the Lord, this is the Lord. The prophet in the person of all the faithful, defieth the ydols with their abuses, because GOD should be knowen, accordingly as al things were accomplished at the comming of our Lord Iesus Christ. Now then the thing yt we hauehave to gather vponupon this t…xt, is that when we once knowe God by his word, wee must be so fully resolued and assured thereof, that although the whole wretched world run rouing after their owne abuses and superstitions, yet we must keepe on our way still▪ & that seing we hauehave a sure foundation which cannot be shaken, that is to wit gods infallible truth: wee must let those blinde wretches breake their necks, sith we cannot remedie it, and in ye meane while we must go forward still as the Lord commaundeth vsus, seing he hath reached vsus his hand to draw vsus to him. And although this was spoken to the Iewes by Moses: yet it perteineth euē now vntounto vsus. For wee see what fauor God hath shewed vsus aboue others. All the worlde is full of error and diuelish imaginations, & wretched men are become brutish in their ignorance. But what? Neither hath the doctrine of life bene preached vntounto them: neither hauehave they euer in good earnest vnderstood what God is. Indeede they can speake of him, but that is but at randon & without order. But wee hauehave the scripture declared vntounto vsus, and by that mean God communicateth himself to vsus, and allureth vsus so sweetly vntounto him, as he could not doe any more for vsus, except hee should take vsus into his lap, and yet we see he applieth himselfe to our infirmitie, he chaweth our morsels to vsus, he feedeth vsus with pappe, & speaketh to vsus like a nurse. Now when we see that our God manifesteth himselfe so familiarly vntounto vsus, there is no more excuse for vsus, wee may no more mingle our selues in the order or ran…ke of vnbeleeuers. For our state is cleane contrarie.Rom. … God is hidden from them: and yet shall they not faile to perish in their ignorance as they be worthie. But as for vsus, if we be so stubborne against God, that euen of a spitefull malice wee will not obey the things that he sheweth vsus, but wil play the wilde beastes with him, so as hee cannot reclaime vsus to himselfe: and that euen when we knowe him and do vnderstand that it is hee which ought to be honored, yet wee be so vnconstant and wauering still, as to turne away after our owne dotages: shall we not bee doublie condemned? Shall not horrible vengeance hang ouer our heades? Then let vsus beare in mind, that in asmuch as our Lorde hath made a couenant with vsus, that is to say, hath called vsus into his Church to be taught by his worde: that this is the onelyonly meane, wherewith wee may bee armed and fortified against all superstitions. This is one point. And let vsus also marke therewithall, that horrible condemnation hangeth ouer our heades, if we wander away, and hold not our selues to the simplicitie of Gods doctrine, but bee carried away hither and thither by our owne lusts. These are the two pointes which we hauehave to marke vponupon this text. Wherefore let vsus learne to make our profite and commoditie of the worde that is preached vntounto vsus for the same purpose. That is to wit, albeit that all bee full of corruption and errour, yet let not vsus bee shaken downe, nor bee wauering as manie men are, to saye, yea marie, but there is so much disagreement [that I wote not what to doe]. Let vsus not alleage this:…sa. 25.9. but let vsus say with the prophet Esay, Behold, this is our God▪ behold, this is our God. And by that means let vsus defie all that the diuell can set before vsus to turne vsus aside. Yea let vsus not make any reckoning at all of it. And why? Because the light that God giueth vsus, is strong ynough to driue away all darknesse, and the truth is strong ynough to beate backe all lies. Thus see yee I say what the power of faith ought to be: When wee hauehave well printed in rememberance the doctrine that is preached vntounto vsus, and yet notwithstanding continue still for all that in blindnesse, and bee still as reedes shaken with euerie winde: Let vsus vnderstande this that we knowe not God, nor yet euer vnderstood of what great value his couenaunt towardes vsus was, nor euer were knitte to him as we shoulde be: but that there was hypocrisie insteede of that protestation that we made to followe his worde. But let vsus marke herewithall, that our condemnation shalbe doubled, if wee runne astray after wee hauehave knowen the truth. For if Gods couenant cannot hold vsus in obedience: must it not needs bee that wee bee as cloudes? And what an vnthankefulnesse is that? Indeede many will say, I hauehave not beene sufficiently confirmed, I vnderstande it not: but those are fonde shiftes. We neede but to open our eyes and our eares seing wee hauehave Gods worde preached, and our Lorde will certeinely make it of power and force, so as we shal hauehave sufficient instruction by it, seeing he regardeth vsus especially, and therefore wee must needes be founde blameworthy if we swarue one way or other, after that God hath shewed vsus his truth. And this much then concerning the couenant that Moses speaketh of here.
Howbeit, to set forth the heynousnes of their crime the more, he addeth that hee taketh heauen and earth to witnesse, that if the people turne away from the lawe, and inuent or set vp any newe Religion, they shall perish out of hande, and not possesse the lande any long time, which should be giuen vntounto them. Now this serueth to waken such as are puffed vp with vaine presumption, vnderunder colour that God is gratious vntounto them, and hath giuen them some priuiledge aboue others. And it is well worthie to be noted. For although we cannot exceede measure in trusting in God: yet doe wee see that a greate number doe falsely abuse Gods name. If they bee once baptised and taken into the companie of the faithfull: it seemeth to them that God is greatly bounde vntounto them. Whereas they shoulde consider that they bee called of his free goodnesse, and ought to giuegive ouer themselues to walke in feare and warenesse: beholde, they be puffed vp with pride and vaine ouerweening, and beare themselues in hande through fond hypocrisie, that they bee scaped out of Gods hande, and in the meane while they doe but dalie with him. Ye see then what the pride of men is, howe that when God sheweth himselfe bountifull towardes vsus, and vttereth the great and infinite treasures of his merciemercy: they thinke still that hee is greatly beholden to them, and therevppon doe ouershoote themselues, and take leaue to doe amisse. According as wee see that the greatest strife which the Prophetes had against the Iewes,Ierem. 7.4. was for that they bragged of their hauing of Gods Temple, and of his sacrifices, and of such other thinges. Nowe according hereunto Moses saith in this place, It is true yt ye doe now enter into possession of the heritage which God promised to your fathers: it is true that therein you hauehave an excellent warrant of his preferring of you before al other nations: Surely it is a great and inestimable dignitie, that your God should purchase you with his owne hande, and driue out the inhabiters of a countrie to set you in their place, yea and that when you bee in that lande, you shalbe sure to be of his housholde, and that he dwelleth among you, and that his so doing is to take you vp into his euerlasting kingdome: Surely it is a singular benefite which your God hath vouchsafed vppon you: but yet for all that, deceiue not your selues to despise and reiect his worde, or to shrinke away from him, & to corrupt his seruice. For like as now he performeth the promise that he made to your fathers: so can he also driue you out againe, when he hath setled you there: and he can well ynough weede you againe out of his heritage, & so scatter you abrode that you shalbe dispersed eueryevery where. Now then, the more that your God doth presently increase his goodnes towards you: the more deligēt be you in seruing and louing of him, and hold your selues vnderunder his shadow, and beware that ye alter not any thing in the religion that hee hath ordeined for you. Marke that for one point.
And now furthermore, whereas Moses calleth heauen and earth to witnes: it importeth yet a greater vehemencie. True it is, that some take this for Angels and men. But yt is not the meaning of Moses, as we shal see by the like maner of speach hereafter in the 32. Chapter,Deut. 32.1. where he will say, Hearken O yee heauens what I say, and let the earth here the words of my mouth. And so saith the Prophet Esay,Esa. 1.2. Hearken ye heauens, and let the earth giuegive audience vntounto mee, for the Lorde hath spoken. Beholde I hauehave nourished children & brought them vp, and they hauehave despised me. When God calleth heauen and earth to witnes after that maner, it is to rebuke mens brutishnes so much the more. For we be created after Gods image, to hauehave reason & vnderstanding: & where to shoulde wee applie such giftes, but to knowe God and to giuegive our selues wholly vntounto him? Shall men hauehave wit ynough to comprehend the whole order of nature, and shall they in ye meane season despise the Lorde? It is all one as if a man shoulde thinke himselfe well forwarde, when hee hath toyled in traueiling and running all day long: and hath wandered all the while without keeping any path. And is not the knowledge of our God the finall ende of all our perfection? Yes, and therefore when God intēdeth to shew men that they bee more than blockish, and that they bee so marred as they bee not worthy to be taken any more for reasonable creatures: then doth hee direct his speech to heauen and earth. As if hee shoulde say, I hauehave not nowe any more witnes in ye world: for I chose these to be knowen of them: but herken you to me yee heauen and earth, hearken yee to me I say nowe yee that are vnreasonable creatures: for I shal finde more reason in you, than in those to whom I hauehave giuen witte and knowledge to discerne betweene good and euil, and to hauehave skil not only of this present life, but also of the immortalitie of heauen. So then, Moses calleth heauen and earth to witnes here, to doe vsus the better to vnderstand, that if men flatter themselues and play the brute beasts when they hauehave offended God, and think by that meanes to go quitte: they beguile themselues: for when men shall hauehave conspired together in naughtines, and that eueryevery man may say, I hauehave done as all others hauehave done: so as there remaineth no more but heauen and earth, although they hauehave no vnderstanding in them, yet shall they be sufficient witnesses. Why so? For shall they not bee able ynough to bewray our naughtines without speaking, seeing they were ordeined for our seruice? We hauehave seene alreadie what Moses saide heretofore of the Sunne, Moone and Starres. What is the Sunne? A right noble creature. And yet notwithstanding, what is he in effect, but our seruant? And the Moone that mounteth so high, is our handmaid, & God hath appointed al these things to our vse & commoditie. Seeing then that these creatures being without vnderstanding, doe knowe that the end whereto God hath applyed them, is to do vsus seruice: what a dealing is it, yt when we shal hauehave inioyed so many benefites, as namely that we shal hauehave receiued the light of the Sunne and the Moone, that the earth shal hauehave fed vsus with her owne bowels, and that we shall hauehave bin fraught full of a number of other good thinges: yet notwithstanding we fal to defiling of the world with our filthinesse and infection, so as Gods glorie is darkened by vsus, and wee ouerthrowe his seruice, and set vp ydols against him to deface and discredite his maiestie? Whither go we in so doing? Shall not the creatures aske vengeance against vsus, when wee shall hauehave so abused them, and defiled and berayed thē with our filthines as much as we could? Yes: and so we see nowe what the meaning of Moses was.
Nowe remaineth that we applie it further to our selues: And first and formost let vsus marke well, that if wee hauehave beene receiued into the Church, and God for a time hauehave admitted vsus to bee of his people and flocke, and hauehave bestowed many benefites vppon vsus, specially if we hauehave had any excellencie or preheminence aboue others: we must not be proude of it. For if we abuse Gods grace, hee can well ynough roote vsus out: and if we follow not his calling, hee can as well cut vsus off, as hee coulde adopt vsus. And in good sooth, if this befell to the Iewes which were the naturall branches (as Saint Paul termeth them) and which came out of this stocke of Abraham:Rom. 11.17. if that holy and high exalted linage was neuerthelesse so cut off vppon the sudden, and disinherited of the possession that God had giuen them: what shall become of vsus which are graffed in as it were against nature? For wee were wilde impes: wee came of the Gentiles, which were enemies to God,Eph…. … & separated from his Church, & had not any acquaintance with him. Seeing then that our Lorde gathereth vsus to him, not onelyonly by Baptisme but also by the holy supper, and wee hauehave his worde daily, wherein hee assureth vsus that hee is our father, that he will bee the keeper of our soules, and that he will take vsus for his people: let vsus learne to looke diligently about vsus, that we abuse not so great a benefite. But if wee minde to inioy it for euer: let vsus feare our God and walke in his obedience: and that (I tell you) is a thing which wee ought to beare in minde. For if wee thinke to holde God in our sleeue, and imagine him to bee bounde vntounto vsus because he hath once chosen vsus: hee will easilie shewe vsus that as hee came to vsus, so will he goe againe from vsus, if we will needs be ouerlustie. Wil wee then hauehave our Lorde to continue our shepherd still? Let vsus be pliable to him, so as wee liue quietly vnderunder his subiection. To bee short, let vsus alwayes beare in minde the threat which our Lorde Iesus Christ vttereth:Matt. … That is to wit, that the kingdom of God shalbe remooued far from vsus, when wee cannot profite thereby, and that it shalbe taken away from vsus, and giuen to a people that shall glorifie their God, when they hauehave bin taught by his word. Thus ye see what we hauehave to remember vponupon his point.
Furthermore let vsus marke well, what whereas it is saide here, that heauen and earth shall beare witnesse against vsus: it is to put vsus to the greater shame, in that the Angels neede not to come downe from Paradise, nor the Prophets and Apostles to rise from the deade, to giuegive euidence against vsus before God: but only the liueles creatures are sufficient witnesse for God to vse to condemne vsus with all. It is true that GOD coulde bring other witnesses also, as we see, that sometimes hee calleth foorth the heathen and infidels to make vsus the more ashamed.Ierem… For (as saieth the Prophet Ieremie) goe euerie where, and yet yee shall not see that the ydolaters bee so fickle, as those that hauehave beene duely instructed in the pure worde of God. Looke me vppon the wretched infidels, which bee headstrong in their follies. Although they hauehave no certaintie to leane vntounto (as also they cannot indeede hauehave any) & (which more is) their minds be so intangled in their owne dotages as they cannot winde themselues out: yet notwithstanding, say what a man can, they sticke still to the things that they hauehave learned. And although they keepe one course stil: yet doe they nothing but goe astray, without keeping either right way or path: & yet notwithstanding they be held stil to it wt this perswasion, yt they must not chaunge their God. But yet they neuer knew him for al that. And shal we thē be caried away at the first dash, which know the liuing God and hauehave bene taught his truth, and hauehave had so good warrant therof, as it is not for vsus to wauer any more? Shall we start away after wee hauehave beene trained vp in the pure doctrine of the Gospell? O what meaneth this? Looke mee vppon the Turkes, Paynims, Papistes, and Iewes. Notwithstanding that al these be bewitched at this day in their errours: yet shal they rise vp and bee found sufficient witnesses to make vsus a shamed before God, and to disappoint vsus of all starting holes. And why? For they go on still in their superstitions, whereas wee for our partes fall to reeling at euerie blast of winde, and the diuell plucketh vsus out of the place wherein wee were planted. Thus ye see what we hauehave to remember vponupon this place.
But aboue all thinges let vsus marke, that in as much as God hath bestowed infinite benefites vponupon vsus, and displaied his liberalitie towardes vsus after so many fashions: all that he shall hauehave bestowed vppon vsus shallserue to our condemnation, if wee doe him not homage for the same. To bee short, both heauen and earth shall be armed against vsus, and aske vengeaunce vppon vsus. And how shall we bee able to finde any excuse, when our Lorde shall raise such a crie to confounde vsus and put vsus to shame? Therefore let vsus nowe looke well to our selues, and let vsus walke in the way that he hath shewed vsus.
Now here is expresse mention made of Images and other likenesses: but vnderunder one kinde, Moses comprehendeth all. For it is a maner of speache rife ynough in the holy scripture, to marke out some one kinde of superstition, thereby to warne vsus that wee must keepe our selues from all superstitions in generall. And Moses himself doth euer obserue the same maner of speaking, as wee shal see in the next Chapter,Deut. 5.18. where he vseth to speake of the heinousest things, to the intent we shoulde the more abhorre them and mislike of them, to keepe our selues from them. And yet for all that the holy Ghost meant in this place by the mouth of Moses shortly to shew that whē God hath once made his couenant with vsus, wee must hold vsus in the simplicitie of his word, without mingling any superstition with it. Now that wee vnderstand the naturall sense of this text: let vsus looke that we make our commoditie therof. For although we hauehave no images either carued or molten: although wee hauehave no puppets either ingrauen or painted: yet faile wee not to be idolaters, if we sticke not to our God to keepe his worde throughout. For the matter that the Couenant it self importeth is not that we should confesse in wordes, that the God which gaue his Lawe by Moses is a lonely to bee worshipped: but that wee should vnderstand his will, after what manner he will bee serued, that wee should hauehave his promises printed in our heartes, that wee should knowe howe and by what meanes wee ought to worship him, and that we should keepe on our way to the inheritaunce whereunto hee calleth vsus. That is the thing that Gods couenāt importeth. And without that, in what case were wee? If wee should say, verie well, there is but one God which hath created heauen and earth, he hath reuealed himselfe vntounto vsus, and he hath giuen vsus his Lawe: and yet notwithstanding we knewe not his will, but euerie of vsus shoulde behaue himselfe as he lifted: to what purpose were this? It were better for vsus neuer to hauehave knowen Gods word, than after the knowing of it to despise it, and to take leaue to doe what wee list. Therefore let vsus beare well in minde, that Moses meant here to shewe the people generally, that seeing they had bene taught in the trueth, it behoued them to keepe themselues from all errours and leasings. And this is that which I hauehave said alreadie, that Gods word ought to suffice to gard vsus in such sort, as the diuell may not seduce vsus, doe the worst he can. Nowe then will wee be exempted from the threate and condemnation that is contained here? Let vsus giuegive ouer our selues wholly in all respectes to our God, let vsus hearken to his worde, and let vsus obey his voyce without any exception or gainesaying, so as his seruice remaine in such sort among vsus, as hee hath commaunded by his word. But let vsus compare the crime that Moses reproueth here, with other crimes that are lesse to bee excused. For although there was vnthankfulnesse and rebellion at yt time in all such as suffered themselues to be misled, after they had bene taught by Gods word: yet cōmitted they not so cursed sacriledge against God, as ye caitifs do in these dayes, which to the vttermost of their power do blot out al religion, and are so full of wickednesse, that they could finde in their hearts to confound heauen and earth togither, in working spite to the whole Maiestie of God. Take mee a man that hath bin taught in the Gospell, and afterwarde through lightnesse ouershooteth himselfe and turneth away from well dooing, howbeit with a minde to doe well againe: truely such as one is not to bee held guiltlesse, as I hauehave saide alreadie: but yet is he not worthie of so much blame, neither is his fault so heinous before GOD, as another that outrageth so farre as to scoffe and scorne at God and all his doctrine, and to play the mad bedlem, of purpose to thrust all Religion vnderunder foot, so as he could finde in his heart that men should liue like beastes: and for the bringing thereof to passe, speweth out blasphemies not onelyonly against the maner of the superstitions in Poperie, but also euen against the word of God. For is not such a one farre more horrible, than the ignoraunt wretch that is still snarled in some imagination, and thinkes he serueth God, though the same be but vanitie, as I said afore? But nowe let vsus looke to our owne time. God telleth the Iewes here, that he would not beare with them if they happened to ouershoote themselues in any superstitions, but would bereaue them of the inheritance that he had promised them. Wee at this day hauehave a more excellent benefite than that people had, and therefore shall wee be the more to blame, if wee yeeld not homage to our God, which hath esteemed and honored vsus so much, as to call vsus into his Church. But nowe how doe most men behaue themselues, after they hauehave bene taught by the Gospell? In deede wee meddle not with the superstitions of Papistrie, wee passe not for shrift, nor for Masses, nor for such other like trash: but what for that? Wee coulde finde in our heartes plainely and shortly to defie God, and that he shoulde hauehave no further audience among vsus than we lift our selues. After this maner doe a great sort deale euen to this day, who neuerthelesse will needes bee taken, not to be of the common sort of the faithfull, but as the pillars and vpholders of the Church. And yet hauehave they gone about to stoppe Gods mouth when any thing hath misliked them, or fallen out otherwise than they woulde hauehave it. O this must bee taken away. And wy? Beholde, GOD not onelyonly speaketh here of the things that hauehave beene inuented by men: but also holdeth vsus in awe, so as it is not lawfull for vsus to incounter him. He passeth not for them. And againe, let vsus see what their life is. We see that they mocke GOD to the ful, and that their desire is to hauehave their owne swindge in all thinges. And yet notwithstanding when the diuell raiseth vp such plagie folke to infect the whole flocke with their poison: wee see a great nomber, whose whole desire is to mingle themselues with them. For as soone as some leawd fellowe, or two or three maintainers of wickednesse, (which shewe them selues to bee readie to vpholde all disorder and offences) doe but steppe vp: it is as good as the displaying of a banner, and by & by al vnthriftes runne after it. And would God that the experience of it were not so great as it is seene to bee. But what? When wee bee tolde of it, we must repent yea and we must mourne before God, praying him to keepe vsus from such deadly plagues as are seene intermingled among vsus. And so let vsus marke well howe it is said here, that it can not bee that such as doe so peruert themselues, did euer know what Gods couenant is, or of how excellent value. For if his trueth ought so to restraine vsus that we be not led away by any of the wyles and slightes of Satan: how were it possible that men should so cast themselues into destruction, if they had knowen God in good earnest, & bene strengthened in his word? Although then that such folke professe the Gospel, yea and hauehave taken some smack of it,Hebr. 6.4.5. as saieth the Apostle: yet may we perceiue that it neuer entered into their hearts in good earnest. They be but hypocrites, which make countenance to serue GOD for a time, and afterward doe fleete away, as wee see these roisters doe which band themselues togither. As soone as they see any aide or support to vphold their wickednesse, they fall to practising and confederating, and they contriue all the drifts that they can possibly, to ouerthrow Gods Church. Therefore let vsus vnderstand, that although the Gospell be preached among vsus: yet are there many deafe folk which heare not what God saith to them: not that that shall seeme to lessen their fault, for they shall not faile to be taken for guiltie as wel as others.
Now here a man might demaund a question, wherfore Moses saith that they shal not liue in ye land that is giuen them,Deut. 31. but shall be shortly rooted out of it: for wee see that God is patient: and in deede it appeareth sufficiently. And therfore it seemeth at the first sight that the thing which Moses saieth here, shoulde not come to passe. God spared his people a long time. Although they gaue themselues to idolatrie and superstition: yet did God vse long patience towards thē, insomuch that the Prophets laboured to bring them backe againe whē they were reuolted. Although they were wilfull and hard hearted, yet did God assay to win them to him. Notwithstanding all this, it is said here that they shall soone be rooted out. Yea, but this soone or shortly must agree with that which is written in many other places:Num. 14… that is to wit, that although Gods wrath light suddainly vponupon offenders, & ouerwhelme them as a storme that commeth vnlooked for: yet doth he not faile to be patient, and to delay his vengance till mens wickednes bee growen ripe, yea and euen till it be starke rotten. Therfore it is to be vnderstoode that God punisheth not offenders out of hand, for he saieth that he is slowe to wrath, and he must needs keepe his owne nature. Neuerthelesse in vsing patience, and in bearing with them that hauehave doone amisse: he ouerthroweth them sooner then they would. Ye see then that this soone, shortly, by and by, or out of hand, must be referred to mens carelesnesse, who make their account that all shall go well with them, and beare themselues in hande that they hauehave made a couenant with death (as saith the Prophet Esay,Esa. 2….1…) and they be as drunken folkes in that behalfe, so as if God winke at them for a time, they thinke they bee scaped from his hand. See how the hypocrites abuse Gods goodnesse, bearing themselues in hand yt they shall neuer come to account for it. For this cause doth Moses say here soone or shortly. Not y• God forgetteth his owne nature (as I said,) or tarieth not a long time for the amendment of offenders: but that when all is done, his vengeaunce is alwaies in a readinesse,Psal. 2.… & there needeth no more but to kindle it, and by and by without any further tariance, yea before one finger cā be stirred, there needeth no more but to shewe forth his wrath, and we shall bee euerie one of vsus ouerwhelmed as it is saide in another song of Moses, or in the XC. Psalme.Psal. … Sith it is so, let vsus not thinke it straūge that Moses threatneth the people here, that they shall soone be rooted out.
And to the same purpose, (that is to say, for a further declaration thereof) serueth this also which he addeth: namely, When ye shall hauehave begotten children, yea euen a two or three descentes: if superstition doe then raigne among you, thy God can roote thee out. Hereby Moses sheweth, that long possession will stand vsus in no stead. For though we beare our selues on hand, that it is betweene God and vsus, as it is betweene man and man, yet it wil not preuaile. If a man hauehave bin a long time in authoritie & estimation, so as he be wel friended or of great kinred and aliance: he beares himselfe on hand that hee shall neuer bee put from it. But we see how the world passeth away, and small occasions will serue to ouerthrow euen them that are mounted highest. And therefore the Prophetes vpbraide them with their pride,Esa. 28.… which glorie in their owne credit and authoritie, saying vntounto them: ye beare your selues in hand that ye bee so fast setled, as ye can neuer be shaken downe: and yet if God doe but blowe vppon you, by and by you bee gone in the turning of a hand. Now according hereunto it is saide here, that if we thinke to claime any title against God by prescription (as they terme it,) that is to wit, time, bicause wee hauehave possessed his benefites a long time, imagining that we can neuer bee disseased or dispossessed of them, but that they must continue still in the same state, not onelyonly to vsus, but also to our children, euen to the third & fourth generation: both they and wee shall for all that bee bereft of them, and God will withdrawe his hand which he had erst stretched out to doe vsus good. So then let vsus mark, that whensoeuer God shall hauehave bin patient towardes vsus, it is not to be saide that he hath forgotten our transgressions: but his bearing with them, is for that it is not yet conuenient time to punish them. Therefore let vsus not trust to that: but let vsus alwayes beare in minde howe it is said here, that if wee serue not God, we shal soone be cut off. Although it please him to wink at things, and to tarie a time for vsus: yet shall his wrath come suddeinly vppon vsus, though it seeme not so to vsus. And when we shall say,1. Thes. 5.3. all is whist and still, imagining our selues to be safe and sure: then must we be ouerwhelmed by his hand. Let vsus consider this, that wee may walke warely and keepe good watch, and not tarie till the fire be kindled.
And for ye same cause is this saying set downe: Thy God is a consuming fire and a ielous God. When Moses speaketh after that maner, specially when he calleth him a ielous God: he sheweth that God cannot abide that men should mocke him and despise him, but that he will maintaine his owne honour, as good reason is that he should: and in so doing he sheweth vsus how dreadfull his wrath is. Behold then, here are two points which we must mark for a conclusion. Not yt we can lay them forth at length as at this time: but that it shall suffice to hauehave some foretaste of them. Let vsus marke then that the cause why God v̄ttereth himself vntounto vsus, is yt hauing once knowē his goodnes, & that he hath chosen vsus & called vsus by his word: we should couer nothing but to be quietly gouerned by him, and acknowledge yt it is he to whom al honour & praise belongeth, & therevpon apply our whole indeuours to the glorifying of his holy name. That (say I) is the end why our Lord hath once called vsus to his knowledge, and why he calleth vponupon vsus daily, and exhorteth vsus still to come vntounto him. But yet let vsus consider therewithall, that if wee doe not serue and glorifie him as he deserueth, and as wee bee bounde: wee shall feele him a consuming fire: that is to say, wee shall feele that it is no dalying with such a Maister: not that this is saide to make Gods Maiestie terrible vntounto vsus, so as wee shoulde bee afrayde to come at him: but rather that wee shall not bee a whit dismaied, if we take him for our Father. But if wee will not behaue our selues as children towardes him, but continue vnamendable: he will lay away the person of a Father, and shewe himselfe to bee our iudge: and that, not such a iudge as needeth to make long inquirie, & to call the hangman to put his iudgementes in execution: but if he do but cast forth the fire of his spirit, or but his breath, by and by the fyre is kindled as sayeth the Prophet Esay,Esa. 5.25. so as wee must needes bee consumed by it. So then, if wee will not hauehave the Maiestie of our God terrible vntounto vsus, but rather that wee may goe vntounto him: let vsus looke that wee glorifie him in all our life, and not giuegive him cause to kindle his wrath against vsus,Deut. 32.21. nor prouoke him vntounto ielousie. For then doeth he tell vsus that he will prouoke vsus to ielousie likewise,Rom. 10.…9. by casting vsus frō him & by taking another people in our place. Wherfore let vsus looke that wee persist in the vocation whereunto he hath called vsus, and that wee kindle not his vengeance against vsus. And seeing he hath once vttered his goodnesse and manifested himselfe vntounto vsus in our Lord Iesus Christ: let vsus not doubt but that he on his side will continue to make vsus feele the same still, if wee on our side continue in glorifying him.
Now let vsus kneel down before ye maiestie of our good God with acknowledgement of our faults, praying him to make vsus feele them better than we hauehave done, so as wee may bee sorie for them and depart from them by the power of his holy spirit. And so let vsus all say, Almightie God heauenly father, &c.