Sermons upon Deuteronomy

Now at the first sight a man might well say it was a virtue worthy of commendation, that he punished those whom God had commanded him. Verily and so was it, if he had held on that trade still. But for as much as he destroyed one sort and spared another sort: it is said that God will punish the manslaughter that Jehu had committed. And how may that be? Is it manslaughter to have executed the commandment of God? Yea, after the manner that he went to work. He is said to be a manslayer, because he had not an eye to the thing that God commanded him. For he should have gone through as he began. But he stayed in the midst of his way. For as for those whom he punished, he punished them in respect of his own peculiar profit. He had no regard of Gods honour, so the Crown of the kingdom continued with him. Therefore is he justly accounted for a manslayer and not a judge. And therefore let us beware that we take not more liberty than God giveth us. For he can well skill to moderate his own doings, though we take not upon us to be more pitiful than he. And if we make our hand of his honour, we must pay dearly for it when we come to our reckoning before him. But if this seem strange unto us: let us go a little by degrees, & see if nature might not be a schoolmistress good enough for us, if we were not blinded by our wicked affections. If a man have children, he knoweth well enough that it is his duty to teach them, and to chastise them when they do amiss. For if he bear with his children, and dare not touch them, but cockereth them, and in the mean while they be of evil nature: may it not be said that he is worthy that his children should pick out his eyes, and pluck his nose from his face? And on the contrary part, if children were teachable & meek of themselves: it were not meet that they should be touched. But when a father perceives his children to be curst and unruly: if he spare them then, men will say that he marreth them, and that he sendeth them to the gallows, and that he is the cause of their undoing. Now let us compare a father with a Judge. Whereas a father ought to chastise his children with rods: a judge hath an office that passeth yet further. Therefore he must have an eye thereunto: and if he do not, he is worthy to have his eyes put out with the mischief, as Moses speaketh here of these people, saying:

Now at the first sight a man might well say it was a vertue worthie of commendation, that he punished those whom God had commanded him. Verily and so was it, if he had held on that trade still. But for as much as he destroyed one sort and spared another sort: it is said that God will punish the māslaughter that Iehu had committed. And how may that be? Is it manslaughter to haue executed the cōmandement of God? Yea, after the maner that he went to worke. He is said to bee a manslear, bicause he had not an eye to the thing that God commanded him. For he should haue gone through as he began. But he stayed in the middes of his way. For as for those whom he punished, he punished thē in respect of his owne peculiar profit. He had no regard of Gods honour, so the Crowne of the kingdome continued with him. Therefore is he iustly accoūted for a manslear and not a iudge. And therefore let vs beware that we take not more libertie than God giueth vs. For he can well skill to moderate his own doings, though we take not vpon vs to be more pitifull than he. And if wee make our hand of his honor, we must pay dearely for it when we come to our reckening before him. But if this seeme straunge vnto vs: let vs go a litle by degrees, & see if nature might not be a schoolemystresse good enough for vs, if we were not blinded by our wicked affectiōs. If a mā haue children, he knoweth well ynough that it is his duetie to teach them, and to chastise them whē they doe amisse. For if he beare with his childrē, and dare not touch them, but cockereth them, and in the meane while they bee of euill nature: may it not bee saide that he is worthie that his children should picke out his eyes, and pluck his nose from his face? And on the contrarie part, if children were teachable & meeke of themselues: it were not meete that they should bee touched. But when a father perceiues his children to bee curst and vnruly: if he spare them then, men will say that he marreth them, and that he sendeth them to the gallowes, and that he is the cause of their vndoing. Now let vs compare a father with a Iudge. Whereas a father ought to chastise his children with roddes: a iudge hath an office that passeth yet further. Therefore he must haue an eye thereunto: and if he doe not, he is worthy to haue his eyes put out with the mischiefe, as Moses speaketh here of these people, saying: