Sermons upon Deuteronomy

By the way, we must call to mind what hath been declared heretofore:¹ namely that as concerning this text, where Moses showeth the mean how to fulfil the law aright: it is not meant that we must but only have our eyes, hands & feet well ruled; but that we must begin at the reformation of our harts. Thou shalt love thy God (sayeth he) & serve him. And how? With all thy soul, & with all thy heart. Then let us learn, that if we do the things by compulsion which are commanded us; it is nothing worth: we may not think that it shall pass in account. And in deed there are divers that bear countenance fair enough afore men, so as they cannot be accused of theft, murder, or whoredom: but in the mean while they be full of wicked lusts, so as they be ready to burst with them, & it is a corsie to them to obey God, neither find they any taste in his commandments. And therefore all is but hypocrisy, all is but a fair pretence & show to the worldward, & (to be short) all is but vanity and leasing till the heart be won unto God, & until we be fully minded & bent to do as God commandeth us. That (say I) is the end that we must begin at, if we will accomplish the law throughly. Wherefore let us not beguile our selves any more as the hypocrites do, with desire that men only should be contented. Let us understand that we have to do with the heavenly Judge who admitteth no eyeservice,² but looketh to the trueth of the heart. Therefore let us give our selves to God with hearty affection, & not content our selves so with the outward works, that the intent of doing well should not also be grounded in our harts.

By the way, we must call to minde what hath beene declared heretofore:¹ namely that as concerning this text, where Moses sheweth ye meane how to fulfill the law aright: it is not meant that we must but onely haue our eyes, hands & feete well ruled; but that wee must begin at the reformation of our harts. Thou shalt loue thy God (sayeth he) & serue him. And howe? With all thy soule, & with all thy heart. Then let vs learne, yt if we do the things by compulsion which are cō manded vs; it is nothing woorth: we may not thinke that it shall passe in account. And in deed there are diuers that beare countenance faire ynough afore men, so as they cannot be accused of theft, murther, or whoredome: but in ye meane while they be full of wicked lustes, so as they bee readie to burst with them, & it is a corsie to them to obey God, neither finde they any taste in his commandements. And therfore al is but hypocrisie, all is but a faire pretence & shewe to the worldward, & (to be short) all is but vanitie and leazing till the heart be wonne vnto God, & vntill we be fully minded & bent to do as God cō mandeth vs. That (say I) is the ende that wee must beginne at, if we will accomplish the lawe throughly. Wherefore let vs not beguile our selues any more as the hypocrites do, with desire that men only should be contented. Let vs vnderstand yt we haue to do wt the heauēly Iudge who admitteth no eyeseruice,