Sermons upon Deuteronomy

Moses having spoken after that fashion, addeth now, that the Law must be so dear unto us, as to take it for our chief treasure. And forasmuch as we be too much subject to the seeking of the corruptible things of this world, and forget God out of hand, and withdraw our selves too far from him: he saith, that men must have Gods law continually in their sight, and make as it were a Headroll thereof, as if a woman were attired after the ancient manner, with borders on her head, bracelets on her arms: or as if a man should make borders of them about his house, or engravers upon the doors of his house, so as Gods glory might be every where. And whereas he speaketh here of frontlets and bracelets, and of painting and engraving of Gods law upon door posts: it is to show that whereas men give themselves to vain glory in decking and attiring of themselves, and the same turneth them away from God: they must make all their deckings of Gods Law: that must be their Jewels. Like as if a man or a woman have a costly Jewell upon their finger, and take pleasure therein: in stead thereof they should have Gods Law continually before their eyes, so as a man should no sooner look upon himself, no though it were but upon his nails, but it should come to his mind to think, Thou hast a maker who fashioned thee, and whose will it is that thou shouldest serve him by yielding thy self wholly to his obedience. Although thou be a silly unprofitable creature: yet will thy God be glorified in thee. Thus ye see how we must make all our deckings of Gods Law. Again, in stead of the beautifying of houses, with things of goodly show and furniture, to the end it may be said, this is the house of some man of estimation: the Law of God must be written upon it. Now we see what the meaning of Moses was.

Moses hauing spoken after that fashion, addeth now, that the Lawe must bee so deare vnto vs, as to take it for our chiefe treasure. And forasmuch as wee bee too much subiect to the seeking of the corruptible thinges of this world, and forget God out of hand, and withdrawe our selues too farre from him: hee sayth, that men must haue Gods lawe continually in their sight, and make as it were a Headroll thereof, as if a woman were attyred after the auncient maner, with borders on her head, bracelets on her armes: or as if a man should make borders of thē about his house, or ingrauers vppon the doores of his house, so as Gods glorie might be euery where. And whereas hee speaketh heere of frontlets and bracelets, and of painting and ingrauing of Gods lawe vpon doore postes: it is to shewe that whereas men giue themselues to vaine glory in decking and attyring of themselues, and the same turneth them away from God: they must make all their deckinges of Gods Lawe: that must bee their Iewels. Like as if a man or a woman haue a costly Iewell vpon their finger, and take pleasure therein: in steade thereof they shoulde haue Gods Lawe continually before their eyes, so as a man should no sooner looke vpon himselfe, no though it were but vpon his nayles, but it shoulde come to his minde to thinke, Thou hast a maker who fashioned thee, and whose will it is that thou shouldest serue him by yeelding thy selfe wholly to his obedience. Although thou bee a sillie vnprofitable creature: yet will thy God bee glorified in thee. Thus yee see howe we must make all our deckinges of Gods Lawe. Againe, in stead of the beautifying of houses, with thinges of goodly shewe and furniture, to the ende it may bee saide, this is the house of some man of estimation: the Lawe of God must be written vpon it. Now wee see what the meaning of Moses was.