Sermons upon Deuteronomy

Here we see in effect two things. The one is Moses his confirming of the Israelites still in the doctrine that we have heard; which is, that all of them should learn to glorify God for their welfare, acknowledging themselves beholden to him for §40all good things, so as they have not any worthiness or deservings to vaunt themselves of, but must exalt their God & utterly abase themselves. Mark that for the one point. And out of this proceedeth the other point; which is, that such as have had such experience of Gods goodness towards themselves, & are taught aforehand to glorify god, must take courage to serve him the more frankly, & offer themselves to God with a more zealous will, to be quietly governed & overruled §50by him. Thus ye see the two points that are to be gathered upon that text. Yea & let us mark well, how it is not without cause that Moses standeth so much upon that doctrine. For we see how the unthankfulness of men is so great, that they labour continually to deface Gods goodness, by reason of the cursed root of pride & loftiness which cannot be quite & clean taken from us. Men then do always bear themselves in hand, that they be somewhat worth, & thereupon they stand in their own §60conceits, yea even as it were in despite of God. Although God lay on sure load upon our heads with beetles; yet cease we not set up our bristles still, & to grunt at him, & to think there is yet some virtue or power in us. For this cause Moses thinks it not enough to have said once or twice, you must father all your welfare upon the only favour of God: but he returneth eftsoon to the confirming of the same doctrine, to the intent that mens cackling might be the better stilled, and that such as deceive themselves through their vain imaginations, might learn to conclude in the end, that it is not for us to look for any valour or worthiness in our selves, but that we must yield God that which belongeth peculiarly unto him, namely, that his calling of us, his choosing of us, & his maintaining of us; & likewise our having of his word, & our retaining of some order in the Church, come altogether of him, so as we cannot say we have gotten them by our own skill, cunning or strength. Thus much concerning the first point.

Here we see in effect two things. The one is Moses his confirming of the Israelites still in the doctrine yt we haue heard; which is, yt all of them shoulde learne to glorifie God for their welfare, acknowledging themselues beholden to him for