Sermons upon Deuteronomy

Now for a conclusion let us come to this saying, That thou mayest drive out all thine enemies before thee. Herein Moses doth the people to wit, that no let can hinder them from possessing the land, so they serve their God. True it is that the land of Canaan had people in it at that time to keep possession of it, & we perceive how the spies brought word that they were Giants, and such as would have swallowed up the people of God. It should seem therefore to have bin impossible for them to have set foot within the land. But God told them that although his people were barred from all entrance to mans understanding: yet would he open them the way by his infinite power, so they inclined to serve him. Now remaineth that we apply this to our own use. First of all let us mark, that whensoever God calleth us to his service, his promising of reward unto us, (not only in this transitory life, but also in the kingdom of heaven) is not to puff us up with self-weening, or to make us to believe that we have deserved aught: but only to quicken up our slothfulness: and because we be so lazy in serving him, his intent is to spur us forward by that means. Therefore let us take courage: and seeing we loose not our labour in employing our selves in Gods service, let us go to it diligently and lustily. And whereas he behighteth us reward: let us assure our selves it is not because our works deserve it,¹ but because that he of his own infinite goodness taketh them in good worth, and giveth that title unto them. Let that serve for one point.

Now for a conclusion let vs come to this saying, That thou maiest driue out all thine enemies before thee. Herein Moses doth the people to wit, that no let can hinder them from possessing the land, so they serue their God. True it is that the land of Chanaan had people in it at that time to keepe possession of it, & we perceiue how ye spies brought word yt they were Giantes, and such as would haue swallowed vp the people of God. It shold seeme therfore to haue bin impossible for thē to haue set foote within ye land. But God told them yt although his people were barred from al enterance to mans vnderstanding: yet would he open them the way by his infinite power, so they inclined to serue him. Now remaineth that wee apply this to our own vse. First of all let vs mark, that whensoeuer God calleth vs to his seruice, his promising of reward vnto vs, (not onely in this transitorie lyfe, but also in the kingdome of heauen) is not to puffe vs vp with selfweening, or to make vs to beleeue that wee haue deserued aught: but onely to quicken vp our slouthfulnesse: and bicause wee bee so lasie in seruing him, his intent is to spurre vs forewarde by that meanes. Therefore let vs take courage: and seeing wee loose not our labour in imploying our selues in Gods seruice, let vs goe to it diligently and lustily. And whereas he behighteth vs reward: let vs assure our selues it is not bicause our workes deserue it,