Sermons upon Deuteronomy

Now furthermore Moses saith expressly▪ that if there were any hard case, it should be brought unto him. And afterward he addeth for a conclusion, that he had commanded them all the things which they ought to do. As touching the hard cases, Moseses reserving of them to himself, was neither for desire of praise nor for pride, but because they belonged to his vocation: he knew that God had ordained him to the same purpose. And therefore let us not be afraid to keep still that which God hath given us, if we execute the charge that he hath committed unto us. For why? like as a man must not esteem of himself, so must he not surmise, oh, this is hateful, it may be ill taken, it is subject to slander: but we must follow that which God commandeth us. And therefore let us not take any thing upon us of our own head, that is to say, let us not be rash to say, this belongeth to me, for ambition tickleth us continually, and every of us would have I wot not what a privilege: wherefore let us beware of such folly. Yet notwithstanding like as there should no such boldness reign in us, as to usurp or take any thing upon us: so on the contrary part, when GOD will have any office or charge laid upon us, it becometh us to take it. True it is that men may chance to speak evil of us for it, but we must overpass that, and keep on our pace still. That is the thing which Moses hath showed us here by his own example.

Nowe furthermore Moses saith expreslie▪ that if there were any harde case, it should be brought vnto him. And afterwarde hee addeth for a conclusion, that hee had commaunded them all the things which they ought to doe. As touching the harde cases, Moseses reseruing of them to himselfe, was neither for desire of praise nor for pride, but because they belonged to his vocation: hee knewe that God had ordeined him to the same purpose. And therefore let vs not bee afraide to keepe still that which God hath giuen vs, if wee execute the charge that hee hath committed vnto vs. For why? like as a man must not esteeme of himselfe, so must hee not surmise, oh, this is hatefull, it may be ill taken, it is subiect to slaunder: but wee must followe that which God commaundeth vs. And therefore let vs not take any thing vppon vs of our owne heade, that is to say, let vs not bee rashe to say, this belongeth to mee, for ambition tickleth vs continually, and euerie of vs would haue I wote not what a priuiledge: wherefore let vs beware of such folly. Yet notwithstanding like as there shoulde no such boldnesse reigne in vs, as to vsurpe or take any thing vppon vs: so on the contrarie part, when GOD will haue any office or charge laide vppon vs, it becommeth vs to take it. True it is that men may chaunce to speake euill of vs for it, but wee must ouerpasse that, and keepe on our pace still. That is the thing which Moses hath shewed vs heere by his owne example.