Sermons upon Deuteronomy

On the contrary part, as for those that make themselves idols, bearing themselves in hand that they be come already to the highest top of perfection: they burst themselves with pride, and do but shroud a secret filthiness within, whereby they bewray that they know not yet what it is to love God and to serve him. For otherwise they should never be so blinded with mad self-trust, as to bear themselves in hand that they be throughly righteous. Seeing then that although we endeavour never so much to serve God, we shall go limping and drag our legs after us: let us be sure that God shall never be in danger or debt to any of us, but rather we shall be condemned in all our works. We may well allege, I was willing, and I did mine endeavour: but that is not all that we have to do. For the will shall always be found very weak, so as if we have one good affection, there shall be a dozen evil ones for it. And so by that means all of us should be disappointed of the hope that God giveth us by his promises, if they should be taken so rawly & according to the naked letter where it is said: If ye serve me, I will do ye good. But now let men strain themselves as much as they list: when they come to their audit there will be so many abatements, as will show that all Gods promises can stand them in no stead. And therefore they must come to the second remedy, which is that God supplieth our defaults: and that although all our works deserve naught else but condemnation, yet notwithstanding God accepteth them and taketh them for good, of his own fatherly goodness: and not of any duty that he is bound unto. Then let us not be so blind as the wretched papists, who when they hear that God addeth any condition to his promises, do by & by step up with their ergoes, and fall to descanting of their own free will and deservings. But contrariwise, let us assure our selves that when God speaketh to us in such order of speech as is showed us here, although he come to us with gentleness: yet doth it nothing avail us, until he use his own mere mercy to save us throughout, not for any desert of ours, but because it pleaseth him so to do. Mark that for a special point.

On the contrary part, as for those that make themselues idols, bearing themselues in hand that they bee come already to the highest toppe of perfection: they burst themselues with pride, and doe but shroude a secret filthinesse within, whereby they bewray that they knowe not yet what it is to loue God and to serue him. For otherwise they should neuer bee so blinded with mad selfetrust, as to beare themselues in hand that they bee throughly righteous. Seeing then that although we indeuer neuer so much to serue God, we shall go limping and dragge our legges after vs: let vs bee sure that God shall neuer bee in daunger or det to any of vs, but rather wee shall be condemned in all our workes. We may well alledge, I was willing, and I did mine indeuer: but that is not all that wee haue to doe. For the will shall alwayes be found very weake, so as if wee haue one good affection, there shall be a dosen euil ones for it. And so by that meanes al of vs should be disappoynted of the hope that God giueth vs by his promises, if they should be taken so rawely & according to the naked letter where it is sayd: If yee serue mee, I will doe yee good. But nowe let men streine themselues as much as they list: when they come to their audit there will bee so many abatements, as wil shewe that all Gods promises can stand them in no stead. And therefore they must come to ye second remedie, which is that God supplieth our defaultes: and that although all our workes deserue naught else but condemnation, yet notwithstanding God accepteth them and taketh them for good, of his owne fatherly goodnesse: and not of any duetie that hee is bounde vnto. Then let vs not bee so blinde as the wretched papistes, who when they heare that God addeth any condition to his promises, doe by & by step vp with their ergoes, and fall to descanting of their owne free will and deseruinges. But contrariwise, let vs assure our selues that when God speaketh to vs in such order of speach as is shewed vs here, although hee come to vs with gentlenesse: yet doth it nothing auaile vs, vntill he vse his own meere mercie to saue vs throughout, not for any desert of ours, but because it pleseth him so to doe. Marke yt for a special poynt.