Sermons upon Deuteronomy

And herewithall let us mark, that the mercy which God commandeth, is to have pity of such as are going to destruction. Let that serve for one point. So as if it lay in us, we should be mindful how to draw them out of the ditch. And when we see them utterly wilful, so as there is no hope nor mean to bring them back again: we must be sorry for them, for as much as we see they be wretched damned creatures. Mark that for another point. Again, let us bear with such as fall to repentance. But when we see folks hardhearted and desperate, so as they have conspired to fight against God to the uttermost: what mercy were it to maintain that? Lo here another blasphemy, which is when men will needs be more pitiful than God. He is the wellspring of all goodness,¹ and he saith that we be evil, and that although we have the greatest show of goodness that is possible to be had: yet is it but a spark of the great and infinite perfection that is in him. But now, behold, there are new Divines which will needs have men to be merciful. And how? Although a man be wicked, and the world seeth that he is full of venom against God, and ceaseth not to do evil, but the more he is borne withal the more he is still inflamed with malice: Yet [say they] why should he not be borne withal still? Let them asked that of God, and he will tell them that there is no place for his mercy, but where ⟨p. 306⟩there is repentance.² True it is, that it is in him to give repentance. But howsoever the world go, when his will is to utter his goodness towards any man, he toucheth his heart that he may return unto him. Now then, shall we look upon such as are fully bent to blaspheme God to the uttermost, and yet in the mean while talk to them of mercy still? Ought we not rather to spit in the faces of such villains, which mock God and his word to the full? Yes: and therefore let §10us bear simply in mind, that we must follow the things which God commandeth, and that it is not for us to allege any thing at all in that behalf.

And herewithall let vs marke, that the mercy which God commandeth, is to haue pitie of such as are going to destruction. Let that serue for one point. So as if it lay in vs, wee should bee mindefull how to drawe them out of the ditch. And when wee see them vtterly wilfull, so as there is no hope nor meane to bring them backe againe: wee must be sory for them, for as much as we see they bee wretched damned creatures. Marke that for another poynt. Againe, let vs beare with such as fall to repentaunce. But when wee see folkes hardharted and desperate, so as they haue conspired to fight against God to the vttermoste: what mercie were it to mayntayne that? Lo heere another blasphemie, which is when men wil needes be more pitifull than God. He is the welspring of all goodnesse,