Sermons upon Deuteronomy

And first of all we must mark well this sentence, as I said afore. Behold, God telleth us that although the Amorites and their neighbours were given to all evil, and were past amendment, so as there was no more hope to bring them to any good: yet notwithstanding he bare with them and made as though he saw them not. He saw that they despised him, and were given to all idolatry, and therewithal made no conscience to steal and rob and to commit all manner of wickedness: and yet for all that, he said he would not destroy them, [but bear with them yet further.] How long? not for half a score years, or for twenty years, or for a whole hundred: but even until four hundred years were past & run out. Was not that a tarriance long enough? Now in the end of the term, when GOD had showed that not only he himself knew, but also it appeared openly by experience to the whole world, that those nations were utterly past hope of recovery, and grew worse and worse under pretence that God handled them not according to their ⟨p. 304⟩deserts: was it not meet that at length horrible vengeance should light upon them? They had of all that long time heaped up the treasure of Gods wrath upon their heads by abusing his patience: and therefore ought the rigour that he used against them, to seem too excessive? Can we say that he was moved with oversuddeine choler? Nay. Then let us learn to restrain our selves in this case, and to keep our mouths shut, that we utter not a word against GOD, but so §10bridle our minds as we imagine not any thing of him but all Justice and uprightness, confessing that whatsoever he appointeth to be done, cannot be but rightful, and that it becometh us to be contented with his only will.

And first of all wee must marke well this sentence, as I sayd afore. Beholde, God telleth vs that although the Amorrhytes and their neighboures were giuen to all euill, and were past amendement, so as there was no more hope to bring them to anie good: yet notwithstanding hee bare with them and made as though hee sawe them not. Hee sawe that they despised him, and were giuen to all idolatrie, and therewithall made no conscience to steale and rob and to commit all maner of wickednesse: and yet for all that, hee sayd hee would not destroy them, [but beare with them yet further.] How long? not for halfe a score yeeres, or for twentie yeres, or for a whole hundred: but euen vntil foure hundred yeres were past & run out. Was noy yt a taryance long enough? Now in the end of the terme, when GOD had shewed that not onely hee himselfe knew, but also it appeared openly by experience to the whole world, that those nations were vtterly past hope of recouery, and grew woorse and woorse vnder pretence that God handled them not according to their