Sermons upon Deuteronomy

Now there is also a second point: which is, that Moses intended to stir up the people to honour God and to obey him, because they had bin delivered by his mighty hand. Therefore it is all one as if he should say, Bethink your selves well of the good which your GOD hath done for you: for he hath showed himself to be your redeemer: he hath smitten the realm of Egypt, a people that did set greatly by themselves, yea and which was rich and wealthy, and where was nothing but all manner of pomp and glory to the worldward: and yet notwithstanding, your God hath loved you so dearly, that he hath not spared the Egyptians for your sakes, but he hath smitten them with plagues, and poured out such vengeance upon them, as is horrible to think of: He hath stretched out his strong arm to bring you to this land which he promised to your fathers. Seeing then that God hath showed himself so gracious and liberal towards you, and prevented you of purpose to be your father: is it not reason that you should give your selves to him all your life long, and endeavour to serve him, and at leastwise show that ye have not forgotten his so great and inestimable benefits? Yes. And so we see that forasmuch as the Jews might be negligent in keeping Gods law: Moses renewed the remembrance thereof, and set their deliverance before them, that they might be the better minded, and consider that they were bound, at leastwise to serve GOD in such wise, as they might acknowledge themselves to be the same people whom he had once delivered after a marvellous fashion, and with wonderful power. Like as at this day, if a man should speak to us of the Christian religion and say, Behold, our GOD hath vouchsafed to make us partakers of the redemption which he wrought in the person of his Son: and therefore it is good reason that we should be gathered here together under his word, to take him for our father and Savour, because he hath chosen us to be his people.

Now there is also a second poynt: which is, that Moses intended to stirre vp the people to honor God and to obey him, because they had bin deliuered by his mighty hand. Therefore it is all one as if hee should say, Bethinke your selues well of the good which your GOD hath done for you: for he hath shewed himselfe to be your redeemer: hee hath smitten the realme of Egypt, a people that did set greatly by themselues, yea and which was rich and wealthie, and where was nothing but all maner of pompe and glory to the worldward: and yet notwithstanding, your God hath loued you so dearely, that he hath not spared the Egyptians for your sakes, but hee hath smitten them with plagues, and powred out such vengeance vpon them, as is horrible to thinke of: Hee hath stretched out his strong arme to bring you to this land which hee promised to your fathers. Seeing then that God hath shewed himselfe so gratious and liberall towardes you, and preuented you of purpose to be your father: is it not reason that you should giue your selues to him all your lyfe long, and indeuour to serue him, and at leastwise shew that yee haue not forgotten his so great and inestimable benefites? Yes. And so wee see that forasmuch as the Iewes might bee negligent in keeping Gods lawe: Moses renewed the rememberaunce thereof, and set their deliuerance before them, that they might bee the better minded, and consider that they were bound, at leastwise to serue GOD in such wise, as they might acknowledge themselues to bee the same people whome hee had once deliuered after a maruellous fashion, and with wonderful power. Like as at this day, if a man should speake to vs of the Christian religion and say, Beholde, our GOD hath vouchsafed to make vs partakers of the redemption which hee wrought in the person of his Sonne: and therefore it is good reason that wee shoulde bee gathered here together vnder his worde, to take him for our father and Sauour, because hee hath chosen vs to bee his people.