Sermons upon Deuteronomy

And herewithal let us mark also, that here God meant to show the reason why he differreth and delayeth the performance of the things that he determineth, and bringeth them not to pass out of hand. Truly he is not bound to do it. Should God give us an account of his doings? If he work not after our liking, is he bound to tell us why? Ought not we rather to stoop to him, and to say, Yea Lord, we be ignorant, yea and even stark blind, and it belongeth to thee only to be wise? Forasmuch as there is nothing but folly and vanity in us: rule thou us according to thy providence. It were mere that we should deal after that fashion: but we see how God yieldeth to our rawness. For inasmuch as we be ticklish, and cannot find in our hearts to be contented with his pleasure, and to rest wholly upon it: here he showeth us a reason for it. So then let us mark well the inestimable goodness of our God, in abasing himself so far, as to show us the reason why he doth things, according as Moses telleth the people of Israel here. For he hath an eye to your benefit, least the wild beasts should devour you: for they would multiply, & there be not folk enow of you to manure the whole land, but there would be divers places which should lie ⟨p. 351⟩uninhabited. Know ye therefore that whereas your God destroyeth not all your enemies out of hand, it is for your benefit, and it were not expedient for you that it should be otherwise. And so in effect Moses telleth the people here, that Gods delaying to give them full victory, was to their benefit and welfare. Therefore let us mark well, that if God make not such hast as we would have him, he hath an eye to our welfare, so as he procureth the thing that is best for us, though §10we perceive it not at the first. True it is that we ween our selves to be wise and well advised: and thereupon we take upon us to judge that God is over slow, and we would fain thrust him forward strait ways by the shoulders to cause him to make more haste. But (as I said) that is because we know not what is good for us, but we imagine that we be beguiled every turning of a hand. God therefore must be wise for us, and see more clearly than we do, and dispose §20things, not after our liking (for that were enough to mar all:) but after as he himself knows to be good.

And herewithal let vs marke also, that here God ment to shew the reason why he differreth and delayeth the performaunce of the thinges that he determineth, and bringeth them not to passe out of hand. Truely he is not bound to doe it. Should God giue vs an account of his doings? If he worke not after our liking, is hee bounde to tell vs why? Ought not wee rather to stoope to him, and to say, Yea Lord, we bee ignoraunt, yea and euen starke blinde, and it belongeth to thee onely to be wise? Forasmuch as there is nothing but follie and vanitie in vs: rule thou vs according to thy prouidence. It were meere that we should deale after that fashion: but we see howe God yeeldeth to our rawnesse. For inasmuch as wee bee tiklish, and cannot finde in our heartes to bee contented with his pleasure, and to rest wholly vpon it: here he sheweth vs a reason for it. So then let vs mark wel ye inestimable goodnes of our God, in abasing himself so far, as to shewe vs the reason why he doth things, according as Moses telleth ye people of Israel here. For he hath an eie to your benefite, least ye wild beasts should deuour you: for they would multiply, & there be not folke ynow of you to manure ye whole lande, but there would be diuers places which should ly