Sermons upon Deuteronomy

Besides this foresaid condemning of ourselves, we must also quicken up our selves, and say, what doest thou wretched creature? doest thou give thy self to do well sith god exhorteth thee so earnestly? In the meanwhile thou seest that thou hast much ado even to begin. Thus ye see how we ought to bear this text in mind, that it may inflame us with the love of God, seeing we be yet so far off from the perfection which he requireth and commandeth. Again let us mark well, that our Lords opening of all the abilities of our soul here, is to make us look better to the good turns that he hath done us, to yield him homage for the same, and to apply them to his honour. For what a thing is it that we have the gift of consulting, the choice of discerning between good and evil, and the ability to conceive things so as we can say we will do this or that? Lo here an excellent gift wherewith we be endued. Now then seeing we have will to choose, so as we can say, go to, I find this to be good: and again, seeing we have a soul which beareth Gods image printed in it, and seeing we have so many goodly virtues, wherethrough we excel all other creatures ought not the consideration thereof to provoke us the more to serve God, and to honour him with those so precious gifts which he hath put in us? Yes: and therefore let us learn, that when our thoughts are set upon vain and wicked things, and when our desires run at rovers and rebel against God: we unhallow so holy a treasure, as we deserve well to be utterly cast up at Gods hand, because of our unthankfulness. Now then whereas Moses speaketh here of the thoughts and the will: and our Lord Jesus Christ addeth one word more, that is to wit, mind, Soul, and will: let us understand that hereby we be warned, that if we submit not our selves wholly unto God, it happeneth for want of considering the good things that he hath bestowed upon us. For if we feel him liberal, as he showeth himself towards us: surely it will draw us wholly unto him.

Besides this foresayd condēning of ourselues, wee must also quicken vp our selues, and say, what doest thou wretched creature? doest thou giue thy selfe to doe well sith god exhorteth thee so earnestly? In the meanwhile thou seest yt thou hast much adoe euen to begin. Thus ye see how wee ought to beare this text in minde, that it may inflame vs with the loue of God, seeing we be yet so farre off from the perfection which hee requireth and commaundeth. Againe let vs marke well, that our Lordes vppening of all the abilities of our soule here, is to make vs looke better to the good turnes that he hath done vs, to yeelde him homage for the same, and to apply them to his honor. For what a thing is it that wee haue the gift of consulting, the choyce of discerning betweene good and euill, and the abilitie to cōceiue things so as we can say we wil doe this or that? Lo here an excellent gift wherwith wee be indued. Now then seeing wee haue will to choose, so as wee can say, go to, I finde this to bee good: and againe, seeing wee haue a soule which beareth Gods image printed in it, and seeing we haue so many goodly vertues, wherethrough wee excell all other creatures ought not the consideration thereof to prouoke vs the more to serue God, and to honour him with those so precious giftes which hee hath put in vs? Yes: and therefore let vs learne, that whē our thoughtes are set vppon vaine and wicked thinges, and when our desires runne at rouers and rebell against God: we vnhallowe so holy a treasure, as wee deserue well to bee vtterly cast vp at Gods hand, because of our vnthākfulnesse. Now then whereas Moses speaketh here of the thoughts and the will: and our Lord Iesus Christ addeth one word more, that is to wit, minde, Soule, and will: let vs vnderstand that hereby we be warned, that if we submit not our selues wholy vnto God, it happeneth for want of considering the good thinges that hee hath bestowed vppon vs. For if wee feele him liberall, as hee sheweth himselfe towardes vs: surely it wil drawe vs wholy vnto him.