Sermons upon Deuteronomy

For of whom is it long now, that you be unhappy, that he curseth you, that he refuseth you, and that he persecuteth you? cometh it not of your own fault? yes: You your selves then, are to be blamed for this, that you §60be not beloved of your God. It should (say I) be laid to our reproach, if God pardoned not the faults that are in our works. So then let us mark that his love is always free in our works, howbeit that he will not be mocked, nor have his goodness abused, nor abide that men should take liberty to do evil when they see him so gentle and freehearted towards them: but contrariwise will have us to be answerable again on our side, so as we give not deaf ear to him when he speaketh to us: but that when he hath bin so gracious to us as to declare his will unto us, we also should show that his so doing is not in vain, & that he is not disappointed of his purpose. But what? We see how stubborn men are for all that: and whatsoever God tell them or show them, although they have their ears beaten daily with such warnings, yet notwithstanding they continue still like themselves in their wilfulness. Behold, God promiseth to bless us, so we serve him. Now there is no man but he would fain prosper. We could well find in our hearts that God should stead all our necessities, and that he should give us meat and drink: we could find in our hearts to be clothed at his cost. But in the mean while, who is he that bethinketh himself thus: this is the mean whereby I must enjoy Gods blessing? Nay we draw clean back, and it should seem that our whole seeking is to bereave our selves thereof, and to cut off God by that way, or rather so to stop the entries & issues of his grace, as it may never come at us. Behold, God will have us first of all to live uprightly, faithfully & in his fear; & thereupon he promiseth to bless us. On the contrary part, men give them selves to filching, stealing, robbing, & cruelty, seeking by all means to pick out one another's eyes. There is no mention of the fear of God: to be short, they would that all might go to havoc. In so doing we renounce Gods blessing, so far as in us lieth, and it seemeth to us that we cannot take a better way to prosper, than by serving the devil. Wherein it appeareth in how cursed plight we be. And whence springeth it, but of that we give no credit to Gods promises?

For of whom is it long now, that you be vnhappie, that hee curseth you, that he refuseth you, and that he persecuteth you? commeth it not of your owne fault? yes: You your selues then, are to be blamed for this, that you