Sermons upon Deuteronomy

Now let us come to the third point, which is: that he spake from the middest of fire, Clouds, and whirlwind. In deed this hath bin expounded already heretofore: Howbeit forasmuch as it is repeated by Moses: let us mark that it is not superfluous. And in deed, it cannot be told us too often, that Gods word ought to carry a majesty towards us, to make all our wits to stoop and to submit themselves to it. And why? First we see there is such pride in men, as they cannot bow their necks. It is true that they will not say that they intend to resist God or to bid him battle: but whatsoever they say, are they pliable and meek as they ought to be? No: they come far short of it. Again, there is a blockishness in us, so as we dote upon these worldly things. We cannot raise up our wits to apply them to the hearing of God. We cannot attain to that spiritual wisdom, because our wits are occupied afore hand about the affairs and cares of the world, and we need nothing to hold us here beneath. Therefore it is greatly for our benefit, that our Lord should touch us to the quick, to the intent we may yield such reverence to his word, as it may not dye, partly through our stubbornness and partly through our blockishness: that is to say because we be partly so dull, gross, and earthly, and partly so forepossessed with vanities, that we mount not upward, but are held down here in these corruptible things. And therefore not without cause did God speak from the middest of fire, clouds, and whirlwind, when he went about to set forth his Law. For it was expedient that the people should be touched with some fear, so as they might say, it is not for us to dally with our God. Seeing he appeareth to us with so great and terrible majesty: what should we do but tremble under him, and yield him such subjection as he may rule us as sheep, and we all of us bow down our necks and hold down our heads, suffering him to wield us at his will, and giving our selves in such wise unto him, as we may be abashed when he speaketh, and have none other desire, but only to serve and honour him, and to submit our selves wholly to his guiding? Lo here the cause why God did so magnify his law at the setting forth thereof.

Now let vs come to the third poynt, which is: that hee spake from the middest of fyre, Clowdes, and whirlewinde. In deede this hath bin expounded already heretofore: Howbeit forasmuch as it is repeated by Moses: let vs marke that it is not superfluous. And in deede, it cannot bee tolde vs too often, that Gods worde ought to carry a maiestie towardes vs, to make all our wittes to stoope and to submit themselues to it. And why? First wee see there is such pride in men, as they cannot bowe their neckes. It is true that they will not say that they intend to resist God or to bid him battell: but whatsoeuer they say, are they plyable and meeke as they ought to bee? No: they come farre shorte of it. Againe, there is a blockishnesse in vs, so as wee dote vppon these worldly thinges. Wee cannot rayse vp our wittes to apply them to the hearing of God. Wee cannot attaine to that spirituall wisedome, because our wittes are occupyed afore hand aboute the affaires and cares of the world, and we neede nothing to holde vs here beneath. Therfore it is greatly for our benefite, that our Lord shoulde touch vs to the quicke, to the intent we may yeelde such reuerence to his worde, as it may not dye, partely through our stubbornnes and partely through our blockishnesse: that is to say because we be partly so dull, grosse, and earthly, and partely so forepossessed with vanities, that we mount not vpwarde, but are helde downe heere in these corruptible thinges. And therefore not without cause did God speake from the middest of fire, clowdes, and whirlewinde, when hee went aboute to set forth his Lawe. For it was expedient that the people shoulde bee touched with some feare, so as they might say, it is not for vs to daly with our God. Seeing he appeareth to vs with so greate and terrible maiestie: what should wee doe but tremble vnder him, and yeelde him such subiection as hee may rule vs as sheepe, and wee all of vs bowe downe our neckes and holde downe our heades, suffering him to wealde vs at his will, and giuing our selues in such wise vnto him, as wee may bee abashed when hee speaketh, and haue none other desire, but onely to serue and honor him, and to submit our selues wholy to his guiding? Lo here the cause why God did so magnify his lawe at the setting forth thereof.