Sermons upon Deuteronomy

Howbeit, there withal there is also the conclusion which Moses maketh: namely when as he saith, Fear not, be not dismayed. And hereby he doth us to understand, that although we be armed and fenced with Gods promises, so as we ought to be sufficiently resolved, that he will guide us unto the end: yet shall we have many occasions to make us grudge and repine, so as we might swerve aside from the right way, or utterly forsake it, if we had not constancy to overcome all the stops and lets that the devil thrusteth in our ways: for of nature we be fearful. True it is that in many things we be but too hardy. When any fond thing is to be attempted foolishly: in that case men need not to be heartened, for they be but too bold already, to attempt this and that, & to mount above the clouds as thee say. But when GOD should be followed whithersoever he calleth us: our eyes run here and there, up and down, we be at our wits end, yea and if a fly do but whisk before our eyes or a straw stir at our feet: by and by we are at a stop. Now seeing we have this vice in our nature, let ⟨p. 27⟩us determine to fight on all sides against this fond fearfulness, to the end we be not held back from following God whithersoever he commandeth us, but that we may overcome all the temptations of Satan, though he be never so wily in forging and framing of innumerable occasions in that behalf, to turn us away from our calling. And therefore let us mark this warning given to the Jews by Moses. For it is a warning to us as well as it was to them,§10 that it is unpossible for us to come thither as god calleth us, if we overcome not this fearfulness and dismayedness, that is to say, if we fight not against all the encumbrances that satan can set before our eyes to make us afraid. Therefore it standeth us on hand to be armed with strength from above. Thus you see how we ought to apply this strain to our instruction.

Howbeit, there withall there is also the conclusion which Moses maketh: namely when as hee saith, Feare not, bee not dismayed. And hereby hee doth vs to vnderstande, that although we bee armed and fenced with Gods promises, so as wee ought to bee sufficiently resolued, that hee will guide vs vnto the ende: yet shall wee haue manie occasions to make vs grudge and repyne, so as we might swarue aside from the right way, or vtterly forsake it, if we had not constancie to ouercome all the stoppes and lettes that the diuell thrusteth in our wayes: for of nature we be fearefull. True it is that in many things we be but too hardie. When any fond thing is to be attempted foolishly: in that case men neede not to be hartened, for they be but too bold already, to attempt this and that, & to mount aboue the cloudes as thee say. But when GOD shoulde be followed whithersoeuer hee calleth vs: our eyes runne heere and there, vp and downe, wee bee at our wittes ende, yea and if a flye doe but whiske before our eyes or a strawe stirre at our feete: by and by wee are at a stoppe. Nowe seeing wee haue this vice in our nature, let