Sermons upon Deuteronomy

Now furthermore Moses showeth how we may keep Gods commandments:¹ that is to wit, by having the things which have bin treated of heretofore. And they be manner of speeches which import so profitable doctrine, that it is good to renew the remembrance of them, when the text offereth occasion thereof. Moses therefore meant to do us to understand, that to abstain from doing of evil, & to keep the things, contained in the law to outward show, is not all that we have to do. As for example, if a man have not blasphemed the name of God, if he have not led a disordered life, if he have not bin an adulterer, a thief, a quarreller, or a perjured person, but have lived honestly: all this will not suffice him. For why? Such service may be by constraint, so as the party shall not obey of his own free will, nor delight in submitting himself to Gods righteousness, to frame his life thereafter. That is the cause why Moses beginneth here with love. As if he should say, that the beginning of good obedience to Godward, and of living according to his Law: is to determine with our selves to delight in nothing more, than to yield our selves to him with all obedientnes, & to make that our whole pleasure, accordingly as we see how David protesteth, that Gods Law was more sweet and pleasant unto him honey:² and not only that he did set more store by it, than by gold & silver: but also that he embraced it with such love, as he gave not himself to the pleasures of the world, nor was carried away with wicked affections to do evil: but gave himself wholly to well doing, and to walk according to Gods will. So then, to offer willing sacrifices unto God, let us remember what is said in this text, and what hath bin treated of already heretofore: namely that before there is any speech of the keeping of Gods commandments, Love is set down in the first place, because we have need to give our selves first unto GOD, and to have our hearts (as ye would say) fast tied and knit unto him, ere we can endeavour to behave our selves: according to his law and righteousness.

Nowe furthermore Moses sheweth howe wee may keepe Gods commandements:¹ yt is to wit, by hauing ye things which haue bin treated of heretofore. And they be maner of speeches which import so profitable doctrine, yt it is good to renue ye remembrance of them, whē the text offereth occasion therof. Moses therefore ment to do vs to vnderstand, that to abstaine frō doing of euill, & to keepe the things, contained in the law to outward show, is not all yt we haue to doe. As for example, if a mā haue not blasphemed the name of God, if he haue not led a disordered lyfe, if he haue not bin an adulterer, a theefe, a quareller, or a periured person, but haue liued honestly: all this will not suffice him. For why? Such seruice may be by constraint, so as the partie shall not obey of his owne free will, nor delight in submitting himselfe to Gods righteousnesse, to frame his life thereafter. That is the cause why Moses beginneth here with loue. As if he should say, that ye beginning of good obedience to Godward, and of liuing according to his Law: is to determine wt our selues to delight in nothing more, thā to yeld our selues to him with al obedientnes, & to make that our whole pleasure, accordingly as wee see how Dauid protesteth, that Gods Law was more sweete and pleasant vnto him honnie: