Sermons upon Deuteronomy

But woe worth us if we despise the law and make no account of it, seeing it hath bin published with such warrantise as Moses reporteth in this text. Behold, the law is avowed by God himself: and what surer warrant should men require than that? Could God devise to warrant his law more than he hath done? no: and yet notwithstanding, after the hearing of the doctrine & contents thereof, we do but nod our heads at it, or rather we be not moved nor touched at all with it: nay we see there is nothing but coldness in us, & a great number of us do even spite it and gnash our teeth at it. Now then if we rebel against God after he hath so warranted the truth of his law: what excuse shall we have? It is not a fighting against the majesty of GOD? Yes verily. And therefore all the despisers of GOD, may well pretend what excuse they list: but yet are they convicted of open war making against GOD, and against his eternal majesty, and against his divine and heavenly power. Why so? For God in publishing his law, came as near men as he could, and as near as they could away with. In deed God showed not himself as he is: for we be not of capacity to receive such knowledge of him: but it is certain that he showed himself according to the small ability and slenderness of men, specially at the publishing of his law. And I mean not only the Law, but also the prophets, which were added as an appurtenance thereunto, because they be the expounders thereof. Again what proof is there of the Gospel? God did not only shake the earth at that time: but also (as faith the prophet Haggai,¹ and as is alleged by the Apostle in the Epistle to the Hebrews) he did shake both heaven and earth, so as there was a greater majesty uttered at the preaching of the Gospel, than at the publishing of the law. Now then, sith it is so (saith the Apostle) that the Law which bringeth nothing but terror unto men, was so magnified: what ought the Gospel to be? For the law was but a shadow & figure of the things which we have now showed us perfectly in the Gospel.² In the Gospel God showeth himself face to face,³ to the intent that we should be transformed to his glory.

But wo worth vs if we despise the law and make no account of it, seeing it hath bin published with such warrantise as Moses reporteth in this text. Behold, the law is auowed by God himselfe: and what surer warrant shoulde men require than yt? Could God deuise to warrant his law more than he hath done? no: and yet notwithstanding, after the hearing of ye doctrine & contents therof, we do but nod our heads at it, or rather we be not moued nor touched at al wt it: nay we see there is nothing but coldnesse in vs, & a great number of vs do euen spite it and gnash our teeth at it. Now then if wee rebell against God after hee hath so warranted the truth of his lawe: what excuse shall wee haue? It is not a fighting against the maiestie of GOD? Yes verily. And therefore all the despisers of GOD, may well pretende what excuse they list: but yet are they conuicted of open warre making against GOD, and against his eternall maiestie, and against his diuine and heauenly power. Why so? For God in publishing his law, came as neere men as he could, and as neere as they could away with. In deede God shewed not himselfe as hee is: for wee bee not of capacitie to receiue such knowledge of him: but it is certaine that he shewed himselfe according to the small abilitie and slendernesse of men, specially at the publishing of his lawe. And I meane not onely the Lawe, but also the prophets, which were added as an appurtenance thereunto, bicause they be the expounders thereof. Againe what proofe is there of the Gospell? God did not only shake the earth at that tyme: but also (as faith the prophet Aggeus,