Sermons upon Deuteronomy

For it is said that God gathereth together the sins of the fathers unto the third & fourth generation, to let them fall upon their children. Then do we deserve to be destroyed and to perish, if God listed to use rigour towards us. For the said threat of the §50law is rightful, and might justly be executed upon our heads: and if he spare us, it is of his own mere goodness. For to what purpose should we put over the fault to our fathers, of provoking Gods wrath both against themselves and us: when we our selves continue in their wickedness? Ought not the vengeance to be double, when we on our part have cleaved to their sins as well as they? Thus ye see what we have to remember upon this place, where Moses doeth not only §60blame them that lived in his time for the things then presently committed: but also moreover charge them with all the transgressions that their fathers had committed, from their coming out of Egypt, unto that day. Now then the thing that we have to mark here in effect, is that men do not only mar themselves, by bearing themselves on hand that they be righteous, for want of considering their sins throughly: but also that they puff up themselves with pride, so as they will needs make God believe that black is white. And therefore let it provoke us to condemn our selves willingly according to this doctrine of Moses. So then, let us acknowledge our sins truly and unfeignedly, that we may so mislike of them, as there may not one drop of fond presumptuousness remain in us, but that we may be utterly cast down, and acknowledge that there is nothing but utter wretchedness in us, and that we be beholden to God for all goodness, so as we have it of his free gift, and not as in recompense of any reward for any merit or desert of ours, but only of his own free mercy which he hath used towards us. So far then must we come of necessity. And for performance hereof, let us evening & morning enforce and endeavour our selves to call to mind the faults that we have committed. And that we may enter into this trial and examination of our selves:

For it is saide that God gathereth together the sins of the fathers vnto the third & fourth generation, to let them fall vpon their children. Then doe we deserue to be destroyed and to perish, if God listed to vse rigour towardes vs. For the saide threat of the §50law is rightful, and might iustly be executed vpon our heads: and if he spare vs, it is of his owne mere goodnesse. For to what purpose should we put ouer the fault to our fathers, of prouoking Gods wrath both against themselues and vs: when we our selues continue in their wickednes? Ought not the vengeance to be dubble, when we on our part haue cleaued to their sinnes as well as they? Thus ye see what we haue to remember vppon this place, where Moses doeth not onely