Sermons upon Deuteronomy

It is all one as if a man being feced by his master to do him service, knoweth not whether there be a master in the house or no, but falls to singing and playing, and eateth & drinketh at his hours, and sleepeth when he listeth, without having any care or regard of his master. Doeth not the servant that forgetteth his master after that fashion, deserve to have men to spit in his face? Now then, if Judges consider not of whom they hold their estate and dignity: their unthankfulness or rather blockishness is too too shameful & beastly. Again, if Judges knowing themselves to be set up of God, do nevertheless shrink from their duty for fear of men, and be stopped and held back from doing the things which they know they ought to do, because men are against them: what yield they unto God? what estimation have they of his power? And yet for all that, God hath taught them their lesson, and promised them to stand by them, and to be their defence. Seeing it is so, ought they not to make a buckler of his invincible power, and to fight lustily though all the world should step up against them? Is not God mighty enough to aid them and succour them, if they trusted thereunto, so as they would rest upon it, and pluck up a lively courage and constancy to go on in the right way? Yes: but else, if they be moved by such temptations to swerve from their duty: let them assure themselves that God will leave them destitute of his power. Thus then we see, that this strain (as I said afore) importeth a very profitable doctrine.

It is all one as if a man being feced by his maister to doe him seruice, knoweth not whether there bee a maister in the house or no, but falles to singing and playing, and eateth & drinketh at his houres, and sleepeth when he listeth, without hauing any care or regarde of his maister. Doeth not the seruaunt that forgetteth his maister after that fashion, deserue to haue men to spitte in his face? Nowe then, if Iudges consider not of whome they holde their estate and dignitie: their vnthankefulnesse or rather blockishnesse is too too shamefull & beastly. Againe, if Iudges knowing themselues to bee set vp of God, doe neuerthelesse shrinke from their duetie for feare of men, and bee stopped and held backe from doing the things which they knowe they ought to do, bicause men are against them: what yeelde they vnto God? what estimation haue they of his power? And yet for al that, God hath taught them their lesson, and promised them to stande by them, and to bee their defence. Seeing it is so, ought they not to make a bucklar of his inuincible power, and to fight lustily though al the world should step vp against them? Is not God mightie ynough to ayde them and succour them, if they trusted thereunto, so as they woulde rest vpon it, and plucke vp a liuely courage and constancie to goe on in the right way? Yes: but else, if they bee moued by such temptations to swarue from their duetie: let them assure themselues that God wil leaue them destitute of his power. Thus then wee see, that this streine (as I saide afore) importeth a very profitable doctrine.