Sermons upon Deuteronomy

Therewithal, whatsoever worldly thing we want, let us wait for it to have it by the blessing of God. If we held this rule: surely all covetousness, all fleecing, all fraud, and all other like things would soon be amended. We should need none other medicine to heal all our diseases than this, namely that we could lift up our eyes to heaven to say, God is our Father, he will provide all that we want, it is he to whom we must trust for all things that belong to the maintenance of this present life, and at a word, his blessing is the wellspring of all riches. If we were well persuaded of this: we should not need anymore, either precepts of the Law to forbid us theft, or any other warnings and advertisements. This only one word would suffice us. But what? We ask GOD our daily bread, protesting that it is his peculiar office to feed us: and yet in the mean while we fall to filching, deceiving, and malicing: and is not that an utter scorning of God? I say with my mouth, give me my daily bread: and in the mean season I go and seek it at the devils hand. For if we use unlawful means, so as we beguile one and fleece another: at whose hand fetch we our welfare? Is it at Gods hand? Are we not companions with thieves and robbers? So then, it is certain ⟨p. 234⟩that our whole seeking is to be enriched by the Devil, when we give our selves so to craft and extortion. And moreover the same is a sure token of our unbelief, and that we look not for any thing by Gods blessing, ne think him rich enough to find us. Lo at what point we be. Nevertheless these things ought to profit us. When we hear that our Lord curseth thest and robbery, and that he abhorreth it: let us likewise hate and abhor it, assuring §10our selves that he judgeth not after the fancy of man, but will have us to live in such uprightness, as every man may have his right, and no man be hindered or impeached in his goods and substance, and therefore we must still have the more stay of our selves. Again, forasmuch as we be so inclined unto evil: let us seek means to hold us in awe of our God, and to restrain us from stealing as I have showed you before. And sith we know that he §20hath knit us together: let us keep that Law and rule of equity. Furthermore let us not covet to be rich:

Therewithall, whatsoeuer worldly thing wee want, let vs waite for it to haue it by the blessing of God. If wee helde this rule: surely all couetousnesse, all fleecing, all fraude, and all other like thinges woulde soone bee amended. Wee should neede none other medicine to heale all our diseases than this, namely that we coulde lifte vp our eyes to heauen to saye, God is our Father, hee will prouide all that wee want, it is hee to whom wee must trust for all things that belong to the mayntenaunce of this present lyfe, and at a woord, his blessing is the welspring of all riches. If wee were well perswaded of this: wee shoulde not neede anymore, eyther preceptes of the Lawe to forbid vs theft, or any other warnings and aduertisementes. This onely one woord woulde suffice vs. But what? Wee aske GOD our dayly breade, protesting that it is his peculiar office to feede vs: and yet in the meane whyle wee fall to filching, deceyuing, and malicing: and is not that an vtter scorning of God? I say with my mouth, giue me my dayly bread: and in the meane season I goe and seeke it at the diuels hand. For if wee vse vnlawfull meanes, so as wee beguile one and fleece another: at whose hand fetch wee our welfare? Is it at Gods hande? Are wee not companions with theeues and robbers? So then, it is certaine