Sermons upon Deuteronomy

Howbeit, for as much as we see men given to follow their own fancies, which notwithstanding do but tend to their own destruction: we must remember by this text of Moses, that until such time as we be sure that the God whom we worship is the true God: we shall ever be entangled in some one thing or other. And albeit that we do our endeavour to serve him, at leastwise to our seeming:§60 yet is it nothing, it is but feigning, and that hope or trust is but a besotting of our selves. Well may we have some opinion: but as for to have a settled faith, so as we may glory that our salvation is laid up in God, and that he will keep it safely because he hath taken us to himself: it is unpossible that we should have any such certainty, unless we can say with Saint Paul, I know whom I have believed, and he will be a faithful keeper of that which I have committed unto him. So then, let us put such difference between the living God, and all the idols which men have forged of their own brain: as he may be known alone above all others. And that we may so do, let us learn to devise nothing of our own head. For as soon as we father any thing upon God which is not in his own word: it is all one as if we did set up an idol: for by that mean we disguise him. Therefore we must so stick to the living God, to the end we may be his people, and hearken quietly to so much of his will as he showeth us by his word: as it may suffice us to have so much knowledge of him as he hath revealed by his word, without seeking any further. For as for those that are so bold as to take leave to say, I ween this is good, and why should not God take this or that in good worth? and in the mean while have no warrant of the holy scripture: I say they forsake the living GOD, and turn away after idols. For what else are the imaginations of men, but very idols to deface the true Majesty of the only God? Thus much concerning this place.

Howbeit, for as much as we see men giuen to follow their own fansies, which notwithstanding doe but tend to their owne destruction: we must remember by this text of Moses, that vntill such time as we be sure that the God whō we worship is the true God: wee shall euer bee intangled in some one thing or other. And albeit that we doe our indeuor to serue him, at leastwise to our seeming:§60 yet is it nothing, it is but faining, and that hope or trust is but a besotting of our selues. Wel may we haue some opinion: but as for to haue a setled faith, so as we may glorie that our saluation is laide vp in God, and that he will keepe it safely bicause he hath taken vs to himself: it is vnpossible that we should haue any such certaintie, vnlesse wee can say with Saint Paule, I knowe whom I haue beleeued, and he will be a faithfull keeper of that which I haue committed vnto him. So then, let vs put such difference betweene the liuing God, and all the idols which men haue forged of their owne braine: as he may be knowē alone aboue all others. And that we may so doe, let vs learne to deuise nothing of our own head. For as soone as wee father any thing vpon God which is not in his owne word: it is all one as if wee did set vp an idoll: for by that meane we disguise him. Therefore wee must so sticke to the liuing God, to the ende we may bee his people, and hearken quietly to so much of his will as he sheweth vs by his worde: as it may suffice vs to haue so much knowledge of him as he hath reuealed by his word, without seeking any further. For as for those that are so bolde as to take leaue to say, I weene this is good, and why should not God take this or that in good worth? and in the mean while haue no warrant of the holy scripture: I say they forsake the liuing GOD, and turne away after idoles. For what else are the imaginations of men, but verie idoles to deface the true Maiestie of the onely God? Thus much concerning this place.