Sermons upon Deuteronomy

When the holy scripture speaketh of those virtues,¹ exhorting §30men to be mild,² & not to grow proud, but rather to live quietly with their inferiors: it saith that they be singular gifts of the holy ghost. Again, we see they be very rare gifts. For how do most men behave themselves when they be advanced: [Mildly?] Nay contrariwise we see they be intolerable, as who should say they came out of the clouds. But let them beware that they tumble not down: for there is no loftiness so high, which God cannot cast down, if §40men stand in their own conceits and forget themselves. Nevertheless, the world sees that this is too common, and there is a double unthankfulness in it. For first they consider not that the wealth which they have, cometh from above: but their hearts are hardened in that behalf. And secondly they fall not to consider with themselves afterward, that they be not worthy of it, to the end they might humble themselves & thank God for it. But contrariwise they §50be so malicious, as they could find in their harts that all the grace of God in the world were suppressed. We see this apparently in those which cannot abide to offer God the sacrifice of praise that Moses speaks of here: that is to wit, to give over themselves unto him with all humility, & not to challenge any virtue at all to themselves.

When the holy scripture speaketh of those vertues,¹ exhorting §30men to be mielde,² & not to grow proud, but rather to liue quietly with their inferiors: it saith that they be singular gifts of ye holy ghost. Againe, we see they be verie rare gifts. For howe do most men behaue themselues when they bee aduaunced: [M••ldly?] Nay contrariwise we see they be intollerable, as who shoulde saye they came out of the cloudes. But let them beware that they tumble not downe: for there is no loftines so high, which God cannot cast downe, if