Sermons upon Deuteronomy

To the intent that men should be provoked to serve him, and not that they should become proud, or father any thing upon themselves which God §60should accept for payment or admit for any recompense. And this we see even in Abraham himself.¹ For before he had done any thing at all God said unto him, I am thine abundant recompense: Abraham, I have given thee this land: I will be thy God, and the God of thy seed after thee: I will be thy defender. Ye see then that all the promises which are possible to be wished, were given of God unto Abraham before he had showed any sign of faith or of the fear of God. But when he was willing to have sacrificed his son Isaac: our Lord said I will bless my servant Abraham, because he hath feared me, and seeing he hath not spared his own son for the love of me, I will multiply my blessings upon him. And that was said afore. But God giveth so much the greater beauty to his goodness, of purpose to strengthen Abraham's heart, not that he intended to exalt Abraham's deserts that he might presume of himself: but to make him know, my God hath of his own mere mercy given me the thing that he promised me, I had the promise of it long ago, and now he showeth that he accepteth my service, inasmuch as he performeth the promise that he made to me of his own free goodness. Thus we see how we ought to take the texts of holy scripture, where god behighteth us recompense. We must not conclude thereupon that we deserve aught, or that our works are of any value, or that God is any thing bound unto us: but that he doth it to quicken us up & to hearten us the better to serve him, in as much as our labours are not lost before him, but are made account of and redound to our benefit. Now then we see what is the meaning of these words where Moses showeth the people that the Land had bin promised to their forefathers by oath, before they whom he speaketh to were borne.

To the intent that men should bee prouoked to serue him, and not that they should become proude, or father any thing vpon themselues which God §60shoulde accept for payment or admit for any recompence. And this wee see euen in Abraham himselfe.¹ For before hee had doone any thing at all God sayd vnto him, I am thine abundant recompence: Abraham, I haue giuen thee this land: I will bee thy God, and the God of thy seede after thee: I will be thy defender. Yee see then that all the promises which are possible to bee wished, were giuen of God vnto Abraham before he had shewed any signe of faith or of the feare of God. But when he was willing to haue sacrificed his sonne Isaac: our Lorde sayd I will blesse my seruaunt Abraham, bicause hee hath feared mee, and seeing hee hath not spared his owne sonne for the loue of me, I will multiplie my blessinges vpon him. And that was saide afore. But God giueth so much the greater beautie to his goodnesse, of purpose to strengthen Abrahams heart, not that hee intended to exalt Abrahams desertes that hee might presume of himselfe: but to make him know, my God hath of his own mere mercie giuen me the thing yt he promised me, I had the promise of it long agoe, and now he sheweth that he accepteth my seruice, in asmuch as he performeth the promise that he made to me of his owne free goodnesse. Thus we see howe we ought to take the textes of holy scripture, where god behighteth vs recompence. We must not conclude therevppon that wee deserue aught, or that our workes are of any valew, or that God is any thing bounde vnto vs: but that he doth it to quicken vs vp & to harten vs the better to serue him, in as much as our labours are not lost before him, but are made account of and redound to our benefit. Nowe then we see what is ye meaning of these wordes where Moses sheweth the people that ye Lande had bin promised to their forefathers by othe, before they whom he speaketh to were borne.