Sermons upon Deuteronomy

Now must we apply the foretouched things to our benefit, and use, First therefore let us learn, that to serve God well, we must not only be desirous to do well, and go forward therein to effect: but also rid our hearts from all evil affections and corrupt thoughts, so as all our senses may tend to the giving of our selves all wholly unto God. Let us not show our selves to have been drawn aside to reel one way or other: but let us be throughly stayed, to run forward without stopping or stunting, yea even to run forward in the way that GOD showeth us, so as there may be nothing but perfect pureness in us. And when we once know that well: then must we take warning to stand upon our guard. For we see how men run astray and dispense with themselves. And what is the cause thereof? It is for that they make their reckoning without their host, as we say. For they construe Gods law after their own fancy, bearing themselves in hand that it is enough for them, so they had none evil intent with them, nor rested upon the thing with determinate purpose. Tush say they, God imputeth none of all this. And thereupon they walk ⟨p. 244⟩for ward in lewd lusts, with a towel of their own tying before their eyes, that they may not discern their own secret deceiving of them selves. But yet when men have spoken so, they cannot scape the hand of the heavenly judge. And therefore let us look to the restraining of our lusts. For God hath condemned not only the wicked intents and purposes: but also all the lusts that provoke us & thrust us forward unto evil. Wherefore let us live in the greater awe,§10 and let every man hold himself short, even because there is no part in us which is not infected with sin. Let us make a trial of all the powers of our soul, and we shall find that sin is shed throughout, like as when a poison is soaked into a mans body, it infecteth him throughout, and so is there as it were an universal leprosy which hath overgrown the whole man, both bones, and marrow, and thoughts, and affections, and all that ever is of him.

Nowe must we apply the foretouched things to our benefite, and vse, First therefore let vs learne, that to serue God well, we must not onely be desirous to doe well, and go forwarde therein to effect: but also ridde our hearts from all euill affections and corrupt thoughts, so as al our senses may tende to the giuing of our selues all wholly vnto God. Let vs not shewe our selues to haue beene drawen aside to reele one way or other: but let vs bee throughly stayed, to runne forwarde without stopping or stunting, yea euen to runne forwarde in the way that GOD sheweth vs, so as there may be nothing but perfect purenesse in vs. And when we once knowe that well: then must wee take warning to stande vppon our garde. For we see howe men runne astraye and dispence with themselues. And what is the cause thereof? It is for that they make their reckening without their hoste, as wee say. For they conster Gods lawe after their owne fancie, bearing themselues in hand that it is ynough for them, so they had none euill intent with them, nor rested vppon the thing with determinate purpose. Tush say they, God imputeth none of all this. And thereupon they walke