Sermons upon Deuteronomy

Now it is true that gods writing of his law in two tables of stone (as I have declared already heretofore specially in the first place) was to the intent that his doctrine should abide sure. For he had an eye to the common trade among men, who upon the making of leagues & alliances, are wont to have them engraven in stone or brass. After the same manner it was Gods will that his law should, for the better continuance thereof, be graven in two stones. Ye see then how God doth as it were pass a solemn covenant. Nevertheless we must therewithal also come to the figure: namely, that the writing of the law after that fashion in a couple of stones, served to show that it was not enough for folk to have the law given them, & to understand it: unless it were engraven in their hearts. For we must come to the similitude that is made by the prophets. For although God showed his law to be sufficiently authorised by vouchsafing to engrave it so in these stones: yet did he give an inkling that that would nothing boot, verily because the true tables wherein it behoveth us to write the doctrine of God, are our harts; howbeit not as they be by nature. For what manner of ones are they? Even of stone as it is said of them in Ezekiel. So then, let us mark that the letter of the law is nothing worth,¹ until god work in us by his holy spirit. And that is the cause why he hath promised to make a new covenant,² not after the manner that he made it with the fathers: for, that continued not, saith he. And why? He showeth that the blame & fault thereof is in men, be cause they turn away & run at rovers as soon as God hath called them, & never follow him at all. Although they pretend to make great account of his grace: yet is there no steadiness in them, but rather utter lightness; for by and by they fling away after their own wicked affections. The covenant of God then, yea though it were written in stones, could not hold them in. And why so? Not for that God abode not faithful on his part, or that he persisted not to show that his choosing of Abraham's linage was not in vain: but for that they were bereft & disappointed of that great benefit, & dispossessed of Gods freebestowed

Now it is true yt gods writing of his law in two tables of stone (as I haue declared already heretofore specially in the first place) was to ye intent yt his doctrine should abide sure. For he had an eye to ye cōmon trade among men, who vpon the making of leags & alliances, are wont to haue thē ingrauen in stone or brasse. After ye same maner it was Gods wil yt his law should, for ye better continuance therof, be grauen in two stones. Ye see then how God doth as it were passe a solemn couenant. Neuerthelesse wee must therwithall also come to the figure: namely, yt the writing of the law after yt fashion in a cupple of stones, serued to shew yt it was not ynough for folke to haue ye law giuen thē, & to vnderstand it: vnlesse it were ingrauen in their hearts. For we must come to ye similitude yt is made by ye prophets. For although God shewed his law to be sufficiently authorised by vouchsafing to ingraue it so in these stones: yet did he giue an incling yt that would nothing boote, verily because ye true tables wherein it behoueth vs to write the doctrine of God, are our harts; howbeit not as they be by nature. For what maner of ones are they? Euē of stone as it is said of them in Ezechiel. So then, let vs marke that ye letter of ye law is nothing worth,