D. Because that this first benefit is common to all men, & to all creatures according to their nature, in as much as he is creator of them all, he addeth unto it also this title, to make him more amiable and favourable unto us: to ⟨p. 424⟩the end that by that mean he may make his doctrine more acceptable unto us, & that he may make us the more willing to receive it as the doctrine of our father,1 who by the same procureth nothing but only our commodity and salvation. And therefore he doth not only say God, but thy God: which is a manner of speech, that according to the phrase of the holy Scripture, carieth with it favour & grace. For first, the name of God, the which Moses here doth use, doth signify in Hebrew, force, & forces, to declare unto us that he hath the power to aide and help us, and that he is not only God for him self, to wit, that he will keep in him self the good things that in him are, and not to bestow & distribute them: but that his very office is to bestow them upon men, to show him self gracious & favourable towards them. When he doth the contrary, being provoked thereunto by their frowardness & wickedness, he doth by his prophets call that work,2 a strange work. Wherefore when he calleth him self the God of any people, he declareth thereby that he is not only their God, as he is generally the God ⟨p. 425⟩of all creatures, as Creator of them: but that he is their God, not severe & rigorous, as a judge toward evil doers: but courteous, loving, favourable & merciful, as a good father to his children. When then he sayeth, Thy God, he doth then put them in mind of that which he spake before, that he had chosen this people as his own inheritance, & as a precious Jewell among all the rest.3 And therefore it is not without cause said by the Prophet, he hath done so to none other nation. And therefore he saith by Isaiah, And now saith the Lord thus, which hath created thee Jacob, & who hath fashioned thee Israel, fear not, for I have bought thee,4 I have named thy name, Thou art mine. When thou shalt pass by water, I will be with thee, & the floods shall not swallow thee up: When thou shalt pass through the fire, thou shalt not be burnt: For I am the Lord thy God, the holy one of Israel, thy Saviour, &c.
D. Bicause that this first benefite is cōmon to all men, & to al creatures according to their nature, in as much as he is creatour of thē all, he addeth vnto it also this title, to make him more amiable and fauourable vnto vs: to ⟨p. 424⟩the end that by that meane he may make his doctrine more acceptable vnto vs, & that he may make vs ye more willing to receyue it as the doctrine of our father,1 who by the same procureth nothing but onely our cōmoditie and saluation. And therefore he doth not onely say God, but thy God: which is a maner of speach, that according to the phrase of the holy Scripture, carieth with it fauour & grace. For first, the name of God, the which Moyses here doth vse, doth signifie in Hebrewe, force, & forces, to declare vnto vs that he hath the power to aide and helpe vs, and that he is not onely God for him selfe, to witte, that he will kéepe in him selfe the good things that in him are, and not to bestow & distribute them: but that his very office is to bestow thē vpō men, to shewe him self gratious & fauourable towardes thē. When he doth ye contrary, being prouoked thereunto by their frowardnesse & wickednesse, he doth by his prophets call that worke,2 a straūge worke. Wherefore when he calleth him selfe the God of any people, he declareth therby that he is not only their God, as he is generally ye God ⟨p. 425⟩of all creatures, as Creatour of them: but yt he is their God, not seuere & rigorous, as a iudge toward euill doers: but curteous, louing, fauourable & merciful, as a good father to his childrē. When then he sayeth, Thy God, he doth then put thē in minde of that which he spake before, that he had chosen this people as his own enheritance, & as a precious Iewell among all the rest.3 And therefore it is not without cause sayd by the Prophete, he hath done so to none other nation. And therefore he sayth by Esaie, And now saith the Lord thus, which hath created thée Iacob, & who hath fashioned thée Israell, feare not, for I haue bought thée,4 I haue named thy name, Thou art mine. When yu shalt passe by water, I will be with thee, & the floudes shall not swallow thée vp: When thou shalt passe through ye fire, thou shalt not be burnt: For I am ye Lord thy God, the holy one of Israell, thy Sauiour, &c.
- 11. Tim. 2.
- 2Isaiah. 28.Esaie. 28.
- 3Exod. 34. Num. 1. Psalm. 12.10 Gene. 25.
- 4Deut. 4. Exod. 19. Psalm. 147. Isaiah. 4.23.Deut. 4. Exod. 19. Psalm. 147. Esaie. 4.23.
