Sermons upon Deuteronomy

Howbeit forasmuch as the vice that is spoken of here, is common among us, and all of us are (as ye would say) attainted with it: we have so much the more need to be earnest in putting this lesson in ure. We see that if men be against us, by and by we overshoot our selves, and we cannot serve God. And how so? If I should do all that God commandeth me, all the world would hate me: I shall be pointed at with mens fingers, I shall have as many enemies as I have neighbours about me. Hereupon we shrink in our horns by and by, and we bear ourselves in hand that we be excused before God. And this happeneth in manner continually. Yea verily, and forasmuch as the world is froward, we have good cause to be afraid when we intend to live in such uprightness and soundness as God commandeth. Sith we see it is so, let us return to that which is said here: namely that to obey GOD, we must not pass what we our selves are, nor what our own credit and power is: but we must arm our selves with this promise. It is God that commandeth me to do it, and he seeth well enough what dangers and distresses are in it, he will stand by me and reach me his mighty hand. It behoveth me to rest upon that, and to conceive a steadfast trust, to overcome all things that may turn me away from the doing of my duty. That is the thing which we have to remember upon this lesson of Moses. And in deed how should we do without that? For we see how vices have their full scope nowadays, and he that intendeth to serve God purely, may well say he is as a sheep among wolves. But what for that? We have a good Shepherd, who hath promised to defend us. Let us put our trust in him, and in the mean season walk on in the way that he hath showed us. Else, I beseech ye what would become of the poor Christians that are detained among the enemies of the faith? If they should pass for the dangers wherein they be, how durst they open their mouths to honour God? Should they not needs either give themselves over to all evil, or else at leastwise be fain to strike sail? Yes surely. But when they consider thus. Our God is the keeper of our souls, and seeing we be under his protection, let us wait till he reach us his hand at our need:

Howbeit forasmuch as the vice that is spoken of heere, is common among vs, and all of vs are (as yee would say) attainted with it: wee haue so much the more neede to bee earnest in putting this lesson in vre. We see that if men be against vs, by and by we ouershoote our selues, and we cannot serue God. And how so? If I should doe al that God commaundeth me, all the world would hate mee: I shalbe pointed at with mens fingers, I shal haue as many enemies as I haue neighbours about me. Heereuppon wee shrink in our hornes by and by, and we beare ourselues in hand that wee bee excused before God. And this happeneth in maner continually. Yea verily, and forasmch as the world is frowarde, we haue good cause to be afraid when we intend to liue in such vprightnesse and soundnesse as God commaundeth. Sith we see it is so, let vs returne to that which is said heere: namely that to obey GOD, wee must not passe what wee our selues are, nor what our owne credite and power is: but we must arme our selues with this promise. It is God that commaundeth me to doe it, and hee seeth well ynough what daungers and distresses are in it, he will stand by me and reach me his mighty hand. It behoueth me to rest vppon that, and to conceiue a stedfast trust, to ouercome all thinges that may turne me away from the doing of my duety. That is the thing which we haue to remember vppon this lesson of Moses. And in deede how should we doe without that? For wee see howe vices haue their full scope nowadaies, and he that intendeth to serue God purely, may wel say he is as a sheepe among wolues. But what for that? Wee haue a good Shepheard, who hath promised to defende vs. Let vs put our trust in him, and in the meane season walke on in the way that he hath shewed vs. Else, I beseech ye what would become of the poore Christians that are deteined among the enemies of ye fayth? If they should passe for the daungers wherein they bee, how durst they open their mouthes to honour God? Should they not needes either giue themselues ouer to all euill, or else at leastwise be faine to strike sayle? Yes surely. But when they consider thus. Our God is the keeper of our soules, and seeing wee bee vnder his protection, let vs wait till hee reache vs his hande at our neede: