Sermons upon Deuteronomy

Let Satan do the worst he can, and let all the powers of hell embattle themselves against us: and yet shall we never be overcome. Where now shall we find this strength? So then it may seem that GOD dallieth with us, when he promiseth us the things which we cannot conceive, ne reach unto by our own understanding. But what? We must mount up higher, and we must submit our selves to him with such humility and subjection, as to acknowledge that he is able to perform his promise towards us in all things whatsoever he hath spoken. And how? We know not that: that passeth our capacity: but let us have our eye upon God. For ⟨p. 372⟩[…] ⟨p. 373⟩[…] ⟨p. 374⟩the chief honour that he requireth at our hands, and the very sacrifice that he requireth,¹ is that we should acknowledge his word to be the very undoubted trueth, notwithstanding that our wit and imagination tell us the clean contrary. And that is the cause why the Prophet Habakkuk sayeth that he will go up into his tower to keep watch.² When the case concerneth faith, we must not stay here beneath upon the earth, neither must we look but before §10our noses as they say: but we must learn to go up into our tower, that is to say, to discharge our selves of all worldly incumbrances, and to consider, that if we have not pitched our anchor in heaven as the Apostle sayeth,³ we shall be tossed with such storms and whirlwinds, as will swallow us up. Look me upon them that sail on the sea. If they spy a storm, they cast Anchor, for that is their trust. Though there come never so great waves, and although §20their vessel be weatherbeaten and driven to and fro, yet doeth their Anchor preserve them. And he useth this similitude, to show us that our anchorhold must reach up into heaven, and that we must conclude boldly, that Gods saying of the word is enough. For he is not variable as mortal men are. Again, he is not lavish in promising fondly, without knowing whether he be able to perform or no. But if he speak a thing and perform it not