Sermons upon Deuteronomy

Now then seeing that God hath showed us visibly, that it belongeth to him to write his Law, that it may be well known: let us beseech him to vouchsafe to write it in us now adays by the power of his holy spirit, to the end we may hold it fast, as the devil may never wipe it out of our remembrances, do what he can.

Nowe then seeing that God hath shewed vs visibly, yt it belongeth to him to write his Lawe, that it may be well knowen: let vs beseech him to vouchsafe to write it in vs now adayes by the power of his holy spirit, to the end wee may holde it fast, as the diuell may neuer wype it out of our rememberances, doe what he can.

And herewithall Moses concludeth, that the Law was delivered unto him to be the preserver and keeper thereof, and to be the minister and dealer forth of it to the people, so as every man might acknowledge him for a Prophet. For otherwise he could not have executed his office, nor have builded Gods Church, except men had known that that charge had bin committed unto him. Likewise now adays, if we were not persuaded that it is Gods will, that his Gospel should be preached by the mouths of men, and that there should be Shepherds in his Church to bear abroad his word: who would vouchsafe to come together? Neither I, nor any other creature is of ability to train men to come to receive the things that are to be uttered by my mouth. When I speak here in the name of God, and men give ear to the doctrine, to submit themselves to it and to do him homage: it is more than all the laws and proclamations of kings and Emperors can do. Is the mortal man the doer thereof? No. But when we once know it to be Gods will, that this order should be in his Church, and that it should be kept unuiolably: namely that there should be shepherds to bear abroad his word and to expound the same, which should be as messengers to bring tidings of the forgiveness of sins in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to rebuke, reprove, comfort, and exhort: when we (I say) do understand it to be Gods will, that there should be such government in his Church: then are we ashamed to withstand him that hath created and fashioned us. So then, ye see now why Moses said in this text, that God delivered him his law for himself. Trueth it is that God gave it for all the people in general, as I said afore. Why then is Moses now the possessor of it? It should seem that God meant to bereave all his people thereof, and that none should be privileged but Moses, so as the law should be restrained unto him, and the residue be as it were shut out from it. But it is not so. For although the Law was given for all the people: yet was Moses made the protector of it. And look what God hath spoken of him: