Sermons upon Deuteronomy

And therewithal let us mark also, that if the good which God doth to men in the things that concern this transitory life, do proceed of his mercy: much more reason is it that the immortal heritage cannot be gotten by our own strength, but that God must be fain to give it us of his own mere liberality or free gift. And whereof speaketh Moses in this place? He saith, God will bless thy Cattle, God will bless thy Corn, Wine, and Oil. All these are transitory things: and how is it that God prospereth us in them? By his mercy, saith he. And he showeth expressly that Gods covenant proceedeth not from any other spring, nor hath any other root than that▪ no not even in cases concerning this flightfull life and these transitory things. Now if in promising to prosper us in our Cattle, in our Lands, & in the bread which we eat, God have not an eye to any worthiness of ours, but only vouchsafeth to show himself a liberal & kindhearted father towards us: what will he do in cases concerning the making of us partakers of the heavenly glory? I beseech you, can we allege any deserts in that behalf? No: for then should Oxen & kine be of more estimation with him ⟨p. 323⟩than mens souls. Therefore let us mark well the things that I have touched: namely that we may well understand aforehand how greatly God loveth us, by his promising of reward & recompense for our works. For he doth it not of any duty, but to win us by gentleness and lovingness. Yet notwithstanding let us understand moreover, that the same shall never boot us a whit, unless our Lord proceed yet further in showing himself liberal towards us: namely that §10after he hath received us to mercy, even us which were utterly lost & damned, he do also love us for our Lord Jesus Christs sake, and thereupon bear with all the imperfections that are in us without intending to impute them to us, so as our works may please him, although they deserve it not. For that is verified even in these base things beneath. When we take our repast of the bread wherewith we be sustained: we must acknowledge that the same cometh of that mere goodness §20of our God.

And therewithall let vs marke also, that if the good which God doth to men in the thinges that concerne this transitory lyfe, doe proceede of his mercie: much more reason is it that the immortall heritage cannot bee gotten by our owne strength, but that God must be faine to giue it vs of his owne meere liberalitie or free gift. And whereof speaketh Moses in this place? He sayth, God will blesse thy Cattell, God will blesse thy Corne, Wine, and Oyle. All these are transitory thinges: and how is it that God prospereth vs in them? By his mercie, saith he. And he sheweth expresly that Gods couenant proceedeth not from any other spring, nor hath any other roote than that no not euen in cases concerning this flightfull lyfe and these transitorie thinges. Now if in promising to prosper vs in our Cattell, in our Landes, & in the bread which we eate, God haue not an eye to any worthinesse of ours, but onely voutsafeth to shew himselfe a liberall & kindehearted father towardes vs: what will hee doe in cases concerning the making of vs partakers of the heauenly glory? I beseech you, can wee alledge any desertes in that behalfe? No: for then shold Oxen & kine be of more estimation wt him