Sermons upon Deuteronomy

Moreover, let us mark that whereas Moses telleth the people that God heard him for that time: it is to the end they should not abuse Gods goodness, but understand their offence to have been so horrible, that if they did so any more and tempted GOD again afterward: they should find no mercy. The intent then of Moses in this place, was to hold the people in awe. Truly we ought to be fully persuaded of this, that if GOD find us repentant for our sins, he will ever be ready to forgive all that we have committed. Let us but only make towards him, and he will reach us his hand. Yet is it not meant that we should take leave to do evil under colour that GOD is so merciful to wretched sinners, that as soon as they return unto him, he preventeth them and is ready to receive them and embrace them aforehand. This (say I) must not make us the more inclined to do evil: but we must understand that when God hath forgiven us once, we must no more fall back again. For then do we tempt him and abuse his patience, which is the next way to shut us out of the gate of salvation, and to disappoint our selves utterly of all the mercy which he was minded to have used towards us. True it is that although we shall have offended twenty or thirty times, yet doth God tell us that he will have pity upon us. But I speak as now of those that take liberty to offend, and say, seeing I have found God so gentle and pitiful, I shall surely be received of him at all times. Surely when men stand so upon Gods mercy, and under pretence thereof, do either become negligent, or else give over themselves to all naughtiness: it is all one as if they renounced all the promises of their salvation. Therefore let us mark well the saying that is set down here. God (saith Moses) heard me. And how? for that time: to the end that the people should think thus with themselves, Alas, it is a wonder that ever we obtained pardon, and it must needs astonish us still, that God would rid us out of such danger as we were fallen into, considering how deadly and over deadly the fall was. Now then seeing that God hath showed himself so friendly towards us: let us beware that we provoke not his wrath any more. For if we fall back again,

Moreouer, let vs marke that whereas Moses telleth the people that God heard him for that time: it is to the ende they shoulde not abuse Gods goodnesse, but vnderstand their offence to haue beene so horrible, that if they did so any more and tempted GOD agayne afterwarde: they shoulde finde no mercye. The intent then of Moses in this place, was to holde the people in awe. Truely wee ought to bee fully perswaded of this, that if GOD finde vs repentaunt for our sinnes, hee will euer bee ready to forgiue all that wee haue committed. Let vs but onely make towardes him, and hee will reache vs his hande. Yet is it not ment that we should take leaue to doe euill vnder colour that GOD is so mercifull to wretched sinners, that as soone as they returne vnto him, hee preuenteth them and is ready to receaue them and imbrace them aforehand. This (say I) must not make vs the more inclined to doe euill: but wee must vnderstand that when God hath forgiuen vs once, we must no more fall backe againe. For then do we tempt him and abuse his patience, which is the next way to shutte vs out of the gate of saluation, and to disappoint our selues vtterly of all the mercy which hee was minded to haue vsed towardes vs. True it is that although we shall haue offended twentie or thirtie times, yet doth God tell vs that he will haue pittie vpon vs. But I speake as nowe of those that take libertie to offend, and say, seeing I haue found God so gentle and pittifull, I shall surely bee receiued of him at all tymes. Surely when men stande so vppon Gods mercie, and vnder pretence thereof, doe eyther become negligent, or else giue ouer themselues to all naughtinesse: it is all one as if they renounced all the promises of their saluation. Therefore let vs marke well the saying that is set downe heere. God (sayth Moses) heard mee. And howe? for that tyme: to the ende that the people shoulde thinke thus with themselues, Alas, it is a wonder that euer we obteined pardon, and it must needes astonish vs still, that God woulde rid vs out of such danger as wee were fallen into, considering howe deadly and ouer deadly the fall was. Now then seeing that God hath shewed himself so friendly towardes vs: let vs beware that wee prouoke not his wrath any more. For if wee fall backe agayne,