Sermons upon Deuteronomy

Now he addeth, Howe thou diddest anger thy God in the wilderness. I have told ye briefly already, that the people were so much the less to be excused, for that they having known the wonders which GOD had wrought at their coming out of Egypt, ceased not to be so malicious and froward, as to spit out their poison against GOD. If they had done it afore, truly yet they had been worthy of blame: but yet had their sin been more tolerable. But now had God uttered his mighty arm in delivering those wretches out of the cruel bondage wherein they were: and yet notwithstanding, even after Gods working in that wise, and after they had seen the apparent signs of his majesty, they cease not to strive against him still: and must it not needs be that the devil possesseth them, and that they be as good as bewitched with their own malice? So then it is not without cause that Moses noteth here the place of the wilderness, to the end that the people might be the more humbled, and feel the greatness and hugeness of the offences which they had committed, forasmuch as they were all at one point as if GOD had not uttered himself unto them at all. For it may fall out that silly souls which never tasted of Gods trueth nor of his works, shall overshoot themselves and be carried away. But seeing that GOD came so near unto the Jews and told them, I am your Saviour, I take you into my protection, I will make you to feel my power as though I came down from heaven in mine own person, and ⟨p. 383⟩dwelt visibly among you: I say when God speaketh after that fashion, and bindeth himself by his deeds, and yet for all that there is nothing in them but rebellion▪ must it not needs be a desperate frowardness? Yes verily. And it is as a warning to make us look to our selves. For seeing that GOD showeth himself familiarly to us for our welfare: he bindeth us so much the more unto him, as hath been declared heretofore. Therefore let us look that §10we provoke him not when he hath made us to feel his goodness: but let us be the more obedient unto him, knowing that his intent in vouchsafing to succour us, is that we should be moved thereby to honour him and serve him the better. And on the other side we shall be the more blameworthy, when GOD shall have visited us by his grace.

Nowe he addeth, Howe thou diddest anger thy God in the wildernesse. I haue tolde yee breefly alreadie, that the people were so muche the lesse to be excused, for that they hauing knowen the wonders which GOD had wrought at their comming out of Aegypt, ceassed not to bee so malitious and frowarde, as to spitte out their poyson against GOD. If they hadde done it afore, truely yet they hadde beene worthie of blame: but yet had their sinne beene more tollerable. But nowe hadde God vttered his mightie arme in deliuering those wretches out of the cruell bondage wherein they were: and yet notwithstanding, euen after Gods working in that wise, and after they had seene the apparaunt signes of his maiestie, they cease not to striue against him still: and must it not needes be that the deuill possesseth them, and that they bee as good as bewitched with their owne malice? So then it is not without cause that Moses noteth here the place of the wildernesse, to the ende that the people might bee the more humbled, and feele the greatenesse and hougenesse of the offences which they had committed, forasmuch as they were al at one poynt as if GOD had not vttered himselfe vnto them at all. For it may fall out that sillie soules which neuer tasted of Gods trueth nor of his workes, shall ouershoote themselues and be caried away. But seeing that GOD came so neere vnto the Iewes and tolde them, I am your Sauiour, I take you into my protection, I will make you to feele my power as though I came downe from heauen in mine owne person, and