Sermons upon Deuteronomy

Now for a further declaration he addeth, that God doeth right to the fatherless, the widow and the stranger: & that God hath a care of the stranger to give him clothing & food. Yea & he telleth the Jews that they had bin strangers in the land of Egypt, & therefore they ought to be mindful still of that state of theirs, that they might use all manner of gentleness towards strangers. This serveth for the proof of the doctrine which I touched even now; that is to wit, that god hath no respect of persons. And in that respect doth Moses say, that the widows, fatherless, and strangers shall be vexed in this world, they shall have none to bear them out, men shall suffer the widows to be troubled, the fatherless shall be made a pray, strangers shall be laid open to all injuries, & no man shall withstand it. And why? For in as much as they bear no countenance in this world, nor have any kinsfolk or friends to maintain them: it seemeth that they may be put to the bearing of all things: that is the custom of the world. But contrariwise it is said here, that God is a defender of the fatherless, a maintainer of the widows, & a protector of strangers. This is utterly against the common custom of men. For (as I have said already) men are given to the pleasuring of such as may stand them in some stead again: Kinsfolk & friends will help one another: & in the mean while poor people are forsake. But see here how God dealeth the clean contrary way. When he sees men trust in their own stays, and in their own strength, he letteth them alone, as if he should say to them, Very well, try what ye can do of your selves. For commonly when means are proffered us in this world whereby to help us, we despise God, & we bear our selves in hand, that we may well enough forbear him. Not that we will so say; but for as much as few folk do call upon God when the world favoureth them: therefore doth God also make no account of them. Behold, it is the widow, the stranger, and the fatherless, that are constrained to make their moan unto him; and when they have looked about them, they find no favour nor help among men. They shall be dallied withal, and although some fair promises be made them, all is but holy water of the court as they term it: in so much that the poor souls wot not where to become.

Now for a further declaration he addeth, that God doeth right to the fatherlesse, the widowe and the straunger: & that God hath a care of the straunger to giue him clothing & foode. Yea & he telleth ye Iewes that they had bin straungers in ye land of Egypt, & therefore they ought to be mindefull still of yt state of theirs, that they might vse all maner of gentlenesse towards straungers. This serueth for the proofe of ye doctrine which I touched euen now; yt is to wit, yt god hath no respect of persons. And in yt respect doth Moses say, yt the widowes, fatherlesse, and straungers shal be vexed in this world, they shall haue none to beare them out, men shall suffer the widowes to be troubled, the fatherlesse shalbe made a pray, straungers shalbe laid open to all iniuries, & no mā shall withstand it. And why? For in as much as they beare no coūtenance in this world, nor haue any kinsfolke or friends to maintaine them: it seemeth yt they may be put to ye bearing of al things: yt is the custome of ye world. But contrariwise it is said here, yt God is a defender of the fatherlesse, a maintainer of the widowes, & a protector of straungers. This is vtterly against ye cōmon custome of men. For (as I haue said alreadie) men are giuen to ye pleasuring of such as may stād them in some sted again: Kinsfolk & friends will help one another: & in the meane while poore people are forsake. But see here how God dealeth ye cleane contrarie way. When he sees men trust in their owne staies, and in their own strength, he letteth them alone, as if he should say to them, Very wel, try what ye can doe of your selues. For commonly when means are profered vs in this world wherby to helpe vs, we despise God, & we beare our selues in hand, that wee may well ynough forbeare him. Not that wee will so say; but for as much as fewe folke doe call vppon God when the world fauoureth them: therefore doth God also make no account of them. Beholde, it is the widowe, the straunger, and the fatherlesse, that are constrained to make their mone vnto him; and when they haue looked about them, they finde no fauour nor helpe among men. They shalbe dalyed withall, and although some fayre promises be made them, all is but holy water of the court as they terme it: in so much that the poore soules wote not where to become.