Sermons upon Deuteronomy

Now hereunto he addeth also, That they may prosper, and that is may go well with them and with their children. Whereof he showeth, (as I have touched already) that all the miseries and griefs which we endure in this world, are chastisements for our sins. And we cannot wite our unhappiness upon any thing else than our own faults. True it is that every man covets to live at ease and in prosperity: we need no teaching to desire that: for our own nature leadeth us thereunto. But in the mean while it should seem that we have conspired our own mischief. For the mean of prosperity is to obey our God. And then will he bless us in such sort, as we shall feel the fruits of his grace and favour in all respects. But what? We be loth to yield him his due obedience: and therefore must we also be bereft of his blessing, and rejected as unworthy to be of the number of his creatures. And so let us mark, that here our Lord meant to rebuke men, and to show them that they themselves are to be blamed for all the adversities and miseries which they endure in this world, and that they must wite the same upon their sins. But yet moreover he meant therewith to draw his own to him, by setting the reward before them. As if he should say, Go to, I deserve well to be served at your hand without looking for any thing at my hand for it: for seeing you be my creatures, is it not reason that you should be subject to me? Ought not all your life to be given unto me? Yes: but yet intend not I that you shall serve me for nought, I will forbear mine own right, which is that you should be bound to do whatsoever I command you, without looking for any thing: and I tell you that I am ready to bless you, and to make you to prosper if you serve me. Our Lord then in saying so, showeth that his meaning is to win his servants to him by gentleness, & as it ⟨p. 264⟩were to break their harts, that they may be the willinger to serve him, seeing he goeth not to work with such rigour as he might, but forbeareth his right, and rather playeth the father, telling us that if we behave our selves like children towards him, he will be gracious and liberal towards us, and although he owe us not any thing, yet will he not fail to reward us for the service that we yield unto him.

Nowe herevnto he addeth also, That they may prosper, and that is may goe well with them and with their children. Whereof hee sheweth, (as I haue touched alredie) that all the miseries and griefes which we indure in this world, are chastisements for our sinnes. And we cannot wite our vnhappinesse vpon any thing else than our owne faultes. True it is that euery man couets to liue at ease and in prosperitie: we neede no teaching to desire that: for our owne nature leadeth vs thervnto. But in the meane while it shold seeme that we haue conspired our owne mischiefe. For ye meane of prosperitie is to obey our God. And then will he blesse vs in such sort, as we shal feele the fruits of his grace and fauour in all respects. But what? We be loth to yeeld him his due obedience: and therefore must we also bee bereft of his blessing, and reiected as vnworthy to be of the number of his creatures. And so let vs marke, that here our Lorde ment to rebuke men, and to shewe them that they themselues are to be blamed for al the aduersities and miseries which they indure in this worlde, and that they must wyte the same vppon their sinnes. But yet moreouer hee ment therewith to drawe his owne to him, by setting the reward before them. As if he shoulde say, Go to, I deserue well to be serued at your hand without looking for any thing at my hande for it: for seeing you bee my creatures, is it not reason that you should be subiect to me? Ought not all your life to bee giuen vnto me? Yes: but yet intende not I that you shall serue mee for nought, I will forbeare mine owne right, which is that you shoulde bee bounde to doe whatsoeuer I commaunde you, without looking for any thing: and I tell you that I am readie to blesse you, and to make you to prosper if you serue me. Our Lorde then in saying so, sheweth that his meaning is to winne his seruants to him by gentlenesse, & as it