Sermons upon Deuteronomy

Moses addeth that at the same time he received two tables, even two tables of stone, the two tables that were written with the finger of GOD, the tables of the covenant which God had made with us saith he. This served to make the Jews the more ashamed, of their exceeding great unfaithfulness towards GOD. For if I and another were to make a bargain, and in the mean time while the party were causing the covenant and conveyance to be engrossed, I on the other side should practise some devise to betray him while he trusted me: what a villainy were that? Should I not be a double false caitiff? Yes: for if a man conclude a bargain, and afterward break it or tear the writings in pieces, he shall be punished. But if the one party go through with good and faithful meaning, and the other party mar all with craft and treachery, under pretence of quietness and friendly dealing: what is to be said of that? Even after the same manner dealt the Jews. For God taketh Moses aside. And to what purpose, but to work the welfare of his people, and to assure them that their religion was a true warrant of their salvation, and that they walked not at all adventure as all other nations of the earth did? Thereupon he maketh an authentical instrument of the law that he had given them, that the remembrance thereof might continue for ever, and not be such a doctrine as should be forgotten, Now while God was thus working the welfare of his people: they recompensed him so evil, that they fell to utter defying of him, and would needs have a new God. We see then how Moses meant to enhance their evil dealing, that they might be the more ashamed, by knowing the horribleness of the crime which they had committed. And the same belongeth to us also at this day. For we see that God ceaseth not to renew the remembrance of his covenant. True it is that he published his law once for all, and likewise his Gospel. But yet for all that, we have both his law and his Gospel in writing also, and moreover it is daily preached unto us. Now then, if we provoke Gods wrath and anger, by falsifying our faith which we gave and promised in baptism: doeth it not make us the more unexcusable? Yes surely. ⟨p. 391⟩And therefore to hold our selves the better in awe & fear of God:

Moses addeth that at the same tyme hee receiued two tables, euen two tables of stone, the two tables that were written with the finger of GOD, the tables of the couenant which God had made with vs sayth hee. This serued to make the Iewes the more ashamed, of their exceeding great vnfaithfulnesse towardes GOD. For if I and another were to make a bargayne, and in the meane tyme while the partie were causing the couenaunte and conueyaunce to bee ingrosed, I on the other side should practise some deuise to betray him while hee trusted mee: what a villanie were that? Shoulde I not bee a double false catife? Yes: for if a man conclude a bargayne, and afterward breake it or teare the writinges in peeces, hee shalbe punished. But if the one partie goe through with good and faithfull meaning, and the other partie marre all with crafte and treacherie, vnder pretence of quietnesse and friendly dealing: what is to bee sayd of that? Euen after the same maner dealt the Iewes. For God taketh Moses aside. And to what purpose, but to woorke the welfare of his people, and to assure them that their religion was a true warrant of their saluation, and that they walked not at all aduenture as all other nations of the earth did? Thereuppon he maketh an autenticall instrument of the lawe that he had giuen them, that the rememberaunce thereof might continue for euer, and not bee such a doctrine as should bee forgotten, Now while God was thus working the welfare of his people: they recompensed him so euill, that they fell to vtter defying of him, and would needes haue a newe God. Wee see then howe Moses ment to inhaunce their euill dealing, that they might bee the more ashamed, by knowing the horriblenesse of the crime which they had committed. And the same belongeth to vs also at this day. For we see that God ceasseth not to renewe the remembraunce of his couenaunt. True it is that hee published his lawe once for all, and likewise his Gospell. But yet for all that, wee haue both his lawe and his Gospell in wryting also, and moreouer it is dayly preached vnto vs. Now then, if wee prouoke Gods wrath and anger, by falsifying our faith which we gaue and promised in baptisme: doeth it not make vs the more vnexcusable? Yes surely.