Sermons upon Deuteronomy

Now then, seeing that God was so sore grieved with the murmuring of that people, in that they abode not the travel patiently which he had laid upon them: let us note that there will be never the more excuse for us nowadays if we bow not down our shoulders to bear the burden meekly, without striving against God. First there is this earthly wayfaring, whereunto God hath made us subject in this world. Although God gave many men rest, so as they never go from home nor (as ye would say) out of their nests: yet are we misadvised if we pass not through this world as birds upon a bough, & be not as strangers in it. For else God disclaimeth us & giveth us over. Sith it is so: they that settle themselves in this world as though they should never go out of it, do banish themselves from Gods kingdom: and show that the kingdom of heaven belongeth not unto them. And let them not beguile themselves by protesting that their intent is not so: for God hath avowed it to be so, and the Apostle saith expressly,¹ that forasmuch as the fathers were as poor strangers here beneath: therefore did God also vouchsafe to call them his children. Now then as for them that are ashamed to be called strangers in this world: they must go seek their inheritance with the devil: for they have neither part not portion with God. And now must we apply the things to our benefit which it pleaseth God to send us. We see what miseries do commonly hem us in, insomuch that even the tenderest sort & such as seem to have the world at will, are most feeble & weak, and are troubled with a number of griefs & vexations. Howbeit let every man look upon himself, and according as God dealeth with us, so let us patiently receive the afflictions that he sendeth us. If our state be hard and cumbersome, let us not think that if we murmur at it, our murmuring shall vanish away into the air, but that we must come to a reckoning for it before God. For if God send not down fire from heaven after the same manner that he did visibly punish the Jews for their murmuring: it is so much the worse for us. For if he wink at it, & punish us not out of hand: his vengeance must needs be the sorer & more terrible. And therefore let us learn to live under obedience to our God. Although we be not handled as we would be in this earthly and flightful life, but are fain to be trotting up and down:

Now then, seeing that God was so sore greeued with the murmuring of that people, in that they abode not the trauell patiently which hee had layde vppon them: let vs note that there will be neuer the more excuse for vs nowadayes if we bow not downe our shoulders to beare the burthen meekely, without striuing against God. First there is this earthly wayfaring, whereunto God hath made vs subiect in this worlde. Although God gaue many men rest, so as they neuer goe frō home nor (as ye woulde say) out of their nests: yet are we misaduised if we passe not through this world as birdes vpon a bough, & be not as straungers in it. For else God disclaymeth vs & giueth vs ouer. Sith it is so: they that setle themselues in this world as though they should neuer goe out of it, doe banish themselues from Gods kingdome: and shewe yt the kingdome of heauen belongeth not vnto them. And let them not beguile thēselues by protesting that their intent is not so: for God hath auowed it to bee so, and the Apostle sayth expresly,