Sermons upon Deuteronomy

& although we perceive not that he hath drawn his sword, bent his bow, & made ready his arrows against us:¹ yet let us not tarry till the fire of his vengeance be kindled upon us, but consider that the sentence thereof shall be executed upon all the despisers of his majesty, though they feel nothing of it for a time. Thus ye see how we be forbidden to tempt the Lord in the time of prosperity. To be short, let us learn to fear God while he beareth with us. For if we say with these mockers, what I pray you? Doth not God show himself gracious & favourable towards us, in that he doth us so much good? It is all one as if we scorned his power and should say, yea, it is true that men threaten us with Gods punishments, but where be they? we perceive no likelihood of them. When we speak after that manner, it is a defying of him, as though we would say, Let us tarry a while & see what he can do. Yea, it is moreover as good as a bereaving of him of his power, and a making of him to be an idol: and is not it (in effect) a denying that he is the judge of the world? Wherefore to the intent we may not tempt God, let us learn to live humbly and warily. Although we be at our ease & rest, & although there be no show or likelihood that god will send any adversity or affliction upon us: let us not measure his power by our perseverance, nor after that which we see: but even when his scourges seem to be very far of from us, let us be as much afraid of them, as if we felt the stripes of them already. Thus ye see in effect how we ought to put this text in practise.

& although we perceiue not that he hath drawen his sword, bent his bow, & made readie his arrowes against vs:¹ yet let vs not tary till ye fire of his vengeance be kindled vpon vs, but consider that the sentēce therof shalbe executed vpon all ye despisers of his maiestie, though they feele nothing of it for a time. Thus ye see how we be forbidden to tempt the Lord in the time of prosperitie. To be short, let vs learne to feare God while he beareth with vs. For if we say with these mockers, what I pray you? Doth not God shew himselfe gracious & fauorable towards vs, in that hee doth vs so much good? It is all one as if we scorned his power and should say, yea, it is true yt men threaten vs with Gods punishments, but where be they? wee perceiue no likelihood of them. When we speake after yt maner, it is a defying of him, as though wee would say, Let vs tary a while & see what he can do. Yea, it is moreouer as good as a bereauing of him of his power, and a making of him to be an ydoll: and is not yt (in effect) a denying that he is the iudge of the world? Wherfore to ye intent we may not tempt God, let vs learn to liue humbly and warely. Although we bee at our ease & rest, & although there be no shew or likelihood yt god wil send any aduersitie or affliction vpon vs: let vs not measure his power by our perceiuerance, nor after yt which we see: but euē when his scourges seeme to be very far of from vs, let vs bee as much afraid of them, as if wee felt the stripes of them alredy. Thus ye see in effect how we ought to put this text in practise.