Sermons upon Deuteronomy

Furthermore for as much as we come not to such mildness of our one accord: let us have an eye to our sins, and not tarry till God open his books of account as he will do at the last day, for then it will be too late for us to yield our selves guilty. But let us bethink us of our sins now while he summoneth us by his word, and while he warneth us aforehand. Let every of us submit himself as a wretched offender before his Judge, and let us acknowledge our selves to be justly accused, yea even of infinite faults, before God. And when we have bethought us of one offence, let the same minister occasion to us to bethink us of another. And to be short, let us both generally and particularly practise this lesson of considering what we be, yea even without flattering of our selves, that all the good which we receive at Gods hand may be fathered upon him, and the honour which he reserveth to himself remain whole and undiminished unto him. Let us not covet to enrich our selves with the things which we have borrowed of him: let us not seek to attire and deck our selves with his feathers: but let us acknowledge that it is of his own free goodness that he vouchsafeth to show himself so liberal, though he be not bound thereto. And for our parts, seeing we cannot bring any desert unto him, but we be guilty in all cases and all respects: he of his inestimable mercy must be fain to bear with us, or else we would be deadly enemies to him still, & he should be driven to thunder down upon us. Thus ye see what we have to mark generally upon this text.

Furthermore for as much as wee come not to such myldenesse of our one accorde: let vs haue an eye to our sinnes, and not tary till God open his bookes of account as he will doe at the last day, for then it wil be too late for vs to yeeld our selues giltie. But let vs bethinke vs of our sinnes now while he summoneth vs by his word, and whyle hee warneth vs aforehande. Let euery of vs submit himselfe as a wretched offender before his Iudge, and let vs acknowledge our selues to bee iustly accused, yea euen of infinite faults, before God. And when we haue bethought vs of one offence, let the same minister occasion to vs to bethinke vs of another. And to bee short, let vs both generally and particularly practise this lesson of considering what wee bee, yea euen without flattering of our selues, that all the good which wee receyue at Gods hand may bee fathered vpon him, and the honour which he reserueth to himselfe remaine whole and vnminished vnto him. Let vs not couet to inriche our selues with the thinges which wee haue borrowed of him: let vs not seeke to attyre and decke our selues with his feathers: but let vs acknowledge that it is of his owne free goodnesse that hee vouchsafeth to shew himself so liberal, though he be not bound thereto. And for our partes, seeing we cannot bring any desert vnto him, but we be guiltie in all cases and all respectes: he of his inestimable mercy must be faine to beare with vs, or else wee would be deadly enimies to him stil, & he should be driuen to thunder down vpon vs. Thus yee see what wee haue to marke generally vpon this text.