Sermons upon Deuteronomy

Furthermore let us understand that we must consider, that the Law was not invented at the pleasure of men, neither was it founded by them: but God was the giver thereof, who holdeth us under his government, and it is his trueth which we follow, so as we hold not any whit of things invented by men. That is the thing whereon we must rest, that we may not be always wavering and doubtful. And hereby we know how wretched the state of the papists is: for they be stubborn and wilful in their own imaginations. If a man ask them of whom they hold their superstitions: they allege their fathers, they allege long antiquity, they allege the common fashion of the whole world: but in the mean while they have no certainty that their doings please God, or that he alloweth them, whereas in very deed the thing that God leadeth us unto is that we should be sure that have not ne hold not any thing that is brought us at all adventure: but that the doctrine of our faith is the pure truth. Seeing then that God commandeth us so to do: let us assure our selves that to live as becometh us, we must have this certainty that we be governed by Gods word, & that the same is the rule of our faith, & that the religion which we stick unto is the true religion. Now therefore we may profit our selves by this text, sith we see that the meaning of Moses was, that the people should know, that the Law was not devised by men, but that God was the author of it. And even at this day the Law must bear this sway with us▪ that we must know to what purpose it was given. Besides this, although there be nothing set down here concerning the end whereunto Gods ordinances do tend▪ yet must we look thereat. For all things are not spoken in one place: we must take things in such order as God hath ⟨p. 300⟩set them down. In other places he will teach us what mark it behoved the people to shoot at in keeping the law:¹ but here the case concerneth the continual serving of God with reverence, so as the people may know themselves to be wholly at his devotion, and that therewithal he reserveth to himself the authority of governing his people and of holding them in subjection. Those are the things which we have to bear in mind.

Furthermore let vs vnderstand that wee must consider, that the Lawe was not inuented at the pleasure of men, neither was it founded by them: but God was the giuer thereof, who holdeth vs vnder his gouernement, and it is his trueth which we followe, so as wee holde not any whit of thinges inuented by men. That is the thing whereon wee must rest, that we may not bee alwayes wauering and doubtfull. And hereby wee knowe how wretched the state of the papistes is: for they bee stubborne and wilfull in their own imaginations. If a man aske thē of whō they hold their superstitiōs: they alledge their fathers, they alledge long antiquitie, they alledge ye common fashion of ye whole world: but in ye meane while they haue no certeintie yt their doinges please God, or yt he alloweth thē, whereas in very deed the thing yt God leadeth vs vnto is yt we should be sure that haue not ne holde not any thing yt is brought vs at al aduenture: but yt the doctrine of our faith is ye pure truth. Seeing then that God commaundeth vs so to doe: let vs assure our selues yt to liue as becommeth vs, wee must haue this certeintie yt wee be gouerned by Gods word, & that ye same is ye rule of our fayth, & that ye religion which wee sticke vnto is ye true religiō. Now therefore we may profite our selues by this text, sith we se yt ye meaning of Moses was, yt the people should know, yt the Law was not deuised by men, but that God was the author of it. And euen at this day the Lawe must beare this sway with vs yt wee must know to what purpose it was giuē. Besides this, although there be nothing set down here cōcerning ye end wherunto Gods ordinances doe tend yet must we looke thereat. For all things are not spoken in one place: wee must take things in such order as God hath