Sermons upon Deuteronomy

Now whereas it is said, Beware thou bring not cursedness into thy house: hereby we be put in mind that in stead of going forward and of profiting our §30selves we not only go back, but also work our own overthrow, when we use unlawful means & such as displease God. And that is a very notable rule. Trueth it is that the matter which Moses speaketh of here, is idolatry, & he saith that whosoever they be which take to themselves the gold & the silver that hath served to that purpose: they shall defile their houses & provoke Gods wrath, and in stead of gathering treasure to their profit, they shall but rake up a fire to consume all that they §40have in the end. That is Moseses meaning. But we both may and ought to gather a generaller doctrine upon this matter: namely that whereas it is said, that it is a bringing in of cursedness into our houses: it serveth to show us that when men imagine to benefit themselves by it, they do but provoke Gods wrath against themselves & throw themselves headlong into destruction. As how? They that heap up goods by hook & by crook, they that pill & poll, they that eat up & §50devour, they that filch all that come in their way, they that use craft and subtlety to rake other mens goods unto them: do bear themselves in hand that they work wonders, & that they shall build them houses, and make immortal monuments not only of wood & stone, but also of everlasting renown, so as their children shall have whereof to triumph after their decease. But yet for all their gathering & heaping up of goods, what do they? they do but pile up a stack of wood and §60coal, whereunder lieth Gods wrath as a fire hidden within it. In deed it shall not kindle at the first day: but in the end the flame will burst out, so as all shall be consumed anon after. Now if we did mark this well, surely we would not bring Gods curse into our houses as we do, and as most men do. What is to be done then?

Now whereas it is sayd, Beware thou bring not cursednese into thy house: herby we be put in minde yt in stead of going foreward and of profiting our §30selues we not onely go backe, but also worke our owne ouerthrow, when we vse vnlawfull meanes & such as displease God. And yt is a very notable rule. Trueth it is that the matter which Moses speaketh of here, is idolatrie, & he sayth yt whosoeuer they be which take to thēselues the golde & the siluer yt hath serued to that purpose: they shal defile their howses & prouoke Gods wrath, and in stead of gathering treasure to their profit, they shall but rake vp a fire to consume all yt they