Sermons upon Deuteronomy

And by the way God showeth here, that his sending of his word unto us, is to the intent to be joined unto us, and that we also should be united unto him: so as he requireth nothing but obedience, that we might be his children, and he show himself to be our father. And so Gods intent in causing his word to be preached unto us, is to gather us as it were under his wings, that we may be defended and saved, yea verily so we come unto him quietly, and suffer our selves to be ruled by his word, and be subject thereunto. But it is true (as I said afore) that it is not in our own power to do this, but God must give us that grace, and he giveth it not to all men. Nevertheless it is not for us to be inquisitive of Gods secrete purpose in that behalf, why he reformeth the one sort by his holy spirit, and letteth the other sort go on still in their corruption, without bringing of them back. We must not enter into that maze: but it must suffice us that God listeth to make men unexcusable, in saying, I would fain it were so. As if he should say, that after we have once been taught by his word, we have no more excuse: God is not to blame if we be not saved. Why so? For we shall perceive that to walk as he hath commanded us, is the way to attain to all goodness. And therefore let us lay the blame of all our miseries [upon our selves:] and if God afflict us and punish us with adversity, let us understand that we have no cause to grudge or complain of him, for we be faulty, because we have not followed his law. That is the thing in effect, which we have to mark upon this text. Yet notwithstanding, it is true that we must have recourse to his aide, knowing that we of our selves are too weak to perform his law, in so much that we be never able to come at it, no nor any thing near it. But yet if we live not as becometh us, we must always yield our selves guilty, knowing that the fault remaineth in our selves, so as if God do beat us with his rod, we can not say it is undeserved on our part. For why? Seeing we have Gods word, we have matter of record that he is desirous to be at one with us, and to do the duty of a father, and to maintain us in all prosperity, if we bury not his grace, ne withhold the thing that is due on our part.

And by the way God sheweth here, that his sending of his worde vnto vs, is to the intent to be ioyned vnto vs, and that wee also should bee vnited vnto him: so as he requireth nothing but obedience, that we might be his children, and he shewe himselfe to bee our father. And so Gods intent in causing his word to bee preached vnto vs, is to gather vs as it were vnder his winges, that wee may bee defended and saued, yea verily so wee come vnto him quietly, and suffer our selues to bee ruled by his woord, and bee subiect thereunto. But it is true (as I said afore) that it is not in our owne power to doe this, but God must giue vs that grace, and he giueth it not to all mē. Neuerthelesse it is not for vs to bee inquisitiue of Gods secrete purpose in that behalfe, why he reformeth the one sort by his holy spirit, and letteth the other sort goe on still in their corruption, without bringing of them backe. Wee must not enter into that maze: but it must suffice vs that God listeth to make men vnexcusable, in saying, I would faine it were so. As if he should say, that after we haue once beene taught by his word, wee haue no more excuse: God is not to blame if wee be not saued. Why so? For we shall perceiue that to walke as he hath commaunded vs, is the way to attaine to all goodnesse. And therefore let vs lay the blame of all our miseries [vpon our selues:] and if God afflict vs and punish vs with aduersitie, let vs vnderstande that wee haue no cause to grudge or complayne of him, for wee be faultie, bicause wee haue not followed his lawe. That is the thing in effect, which wee haue to marke vpon this text. Yet notwithstanding, it is true that wee must haue recourse to his aide, knowing that wee of our selues are too weake to performe his lawe, in so much that we be neuer able to come at it, no nor any thing neere it. But yet if we liue not as becommeth vs, we must alwayes yeelde our selues guiltie, knowing that the fault remaineth in our selues, so as if God doe beate vs with his rod, we can not say it is vndeserued on our part. For why? Seeing we haue Gods word, wee haue matter of record that he is desirous to bee at one with vs, and to doe the duetie of a father, and to maintaine vs in all prosperitie, if wee burie not his grace, ne withhold the thing that is due on our part.