Sermons upon Deuteronomy

yet are we slothful still, and when we should steppe one pace forth, whereas the same should be done in less than a minute of an hour, we must have a whole hour to do it in. Nay we §60fall to kicking, or else by that time that we have gone one pace, ofttimes we stumble, or retire back, or else take such foul falls as is piteous to see. Therefore it is not for nought that God saith here Take heed that ye do them. As if he should say, in deed my law is given you to the intent you should put it in execution and obey it: but yet think not you that it is so easy a matter to be done. What is to be done then? Prepare your selves to walk after my commandments, think upon them, put to your endeavour, be diligent therein, take a taste & savour of them, keep good watch for fear of being turned away, and take very good heed to your selves. Thus we see in effect, that our Lord exhorteth us here to labour earnestly, when the case standeth upon walking in obedience towards him. And why? For the things that he requireth of us are not so easy to be don. And besides that, we be so ill disposed thereunto, as is pity to see: insomuch that if we be not spurred and driven by force, we cannot go forward. Therefore it standeth us in hand to awake, and to take heed, and to stand continually upon our guard, that we may perform the things that our Lord hath commanded us. Now afterward he addeth, that this must be done without bowing to the right hand or to the left, so as men walk throughout in the way that he hath showed them. ¹In deed this text shall be expounded more at length in the twelfth chapter: but yet must we not pass it over without knowing what God meant by it. In forbidding us to bow to the right hand or to the left, he showeth us that he will have us to hearken to him in all things without exception. And this importeth two things: namely that we must neither put any thing to his law, nor take any thing from it. As concerning putting to, it is as if we would go to the right hand: for they yt ad to Gods law, do it upon an imagination that the keeping of the things contained there, is not all that they have to do, & therefore that it is good to put somewhat more to it. Lo how men would give place to their own fancies, so as if any thing come in their heads, they think that God forgot that, and that it were good to be done.

yet are we slothfull still, and when we should steppe one pace forth, whereas the same shold be done in lesse than a minute of an houre, we must haue a whole houre to do it in. Nay we