Now Moses having told the people, that this Law was the Law of the living God; addeth now further, that he is great, strong, and terrible. For we see how men take leave to despise God, and oversotte themselves so much in their pride and presumption, as they cannot be brought to any subjection. To the end therefore that men should not dally with such a Lord, he saith expressly that the God which willed his Law to be published unto them at that time, is great,§40 mighty, & dreadful. His terming of him Great, is to show what honour is dew to him. His terming of him strong or mighty, is to withhold men from standing against him. And his terming of him terrible or dreadful, is to make us know that if he do but touch us with his hand, we must needs be undone. Therefore let us beware we despise him not: and when he calleth us before his Majesty, let us tremble and quake for fear, that we may come with right humility. Thus §50do we now see Moseses meaning. And therefore let us mark, that if we will direct our lives aright, we must have pure doctrine, that our religion may be grounded upon Gods truth, so as we may be sure that the doctrine which we profess, is infallible, & therewithal we must beware that when we know God, we set not light by him, but that our knowing of him do bring a lowliness with it, so as we submit our selves wholly to the honouring of him that is so high and incomprehensible,§60 before whom the very Angels themselves do tremble.1 Ye see then how the thing which we have to mark, is that men shall never know God, until they have gotten such feeling of the infinite glory that is in him, as maketh them to stoop, yea & to make none account at all of themselves, that they may give over themselves wholly to the honouring & serving of him. But this is very ill put in ure. For even they that make greatest boast of their profiting in the Gospel, can skill to babble well enough, & they bear themselves in hand that they be jolly fellows, when they can prattle at pleasure, though it be without any reverence at all. And we see how the holy scripture is shamefully abused now adays by a number of mens discoursing of it as it were but of a fable, or to show the fineness of their wit, by ranging into curious and unprofitable questions.
Now Moses hauing tould the people, that this Lawe was the Lawe of the liuing God; addeth now further, that hee is great, strong, and terrible. For wee see how men take leaue to despise God, and ouersotte themselues so much in their pride and presumption, as they cannot bee brought to any subiection. To the ende therefore that men should not dally with such a Lord, he sayth expresly that the God which willed his Lawe to bee publshed vnto them at that tyme, is great,§40 mighty, & dreadfull. His terming of him Great, is to shew what honour is dew to him. His terming of him strong or mightie, is to withhold men from standing against him. And his terming of him terrible or dreadfull, is to make vs knowe that if he doe but touch vs with his hand, wee must needes be vndone. Therefore let vs beware we despise him not: and when he calleth vs before his Maiestie, let vs tremble and quake for feare, that we may come with right humilitie. Thus §50do we now see Moseses meaning. And therefore let vs marke, that if we wil direct our liues aright, wee must haue pure doctrine, that our religion may be grounded vppon Gods truth, so as wee may be sure that the doctrine which we professe, is infallible, & therewithall we must beware that when we know God, we set not light by him, but yt our knowing of him doe bring a lowelines with it, so as we submit our selues wholly to the honoring of him yt is so high and incomprehensible,§60 before whom the very Angels themselues doe tremble.1 Ye see then how the thing which wee haue to mark, is yt men shal neuer know God, vntill they haue gotten such feeling of the infinite glory that is in him, as maketh them to stoope, yea & to make none account at al of themselues, that they may giue ouer themselues wholly to the honoring & seruing of him. But this is very yll put in vre. For euen they that make greatest boast of their profiting in the Gospell, can skill to babble well ynough, & they beare themselues in hand yt they be iolly fellowes, when they can prattle at pleasure, though it be without any reuerence at all. And we see how the holy scripture is shamefully abused nowe adayes by a nomber of mens discoursing of it as it were but of a fable, or to shew the finenesse of their wit, by raunging into curious and vnprofitable questions.
- 1Job. 41.16.Iob. 41.16.
