Sermons upon Deuteronomy

And he speaketh expressly of the stars of the sky, because of the promise. For God speaking to his servant Abraham, showed him in a vision the multitude of the stars, which is infinite. Even as they be past reckoning (saith god) so also shall thy seed be. Now then the meaning of Moses in this text is, that Gods saying so was not in vain, & that Abraham was not disappointed of his hope in resting altogether upon that promise: for we see the thing performed before our eyes. And this is well worth the noting. For if God have done us any good, we will indeed for manners sake say it was he that did it: but to be throughly persuaded of it in our hart, that is a very hard thing. Therefore is it requisite in respect of such rudeness, that we should be condemned by Gods word, to the end we may the better consider of his hand & power. As for example: if we had never read any whit of holy scripture, & yet notwithstanding god should have delivered us from some adversity: to say the truth, our own natural wit would put us in mind, to think our selves indebted to God for the same: But when we be exercised in the holy scriptures, and have seen there that God reserveth to himself the issues of death, & that it is in him to succour us, yea even after a strange fashion when all seemeth to be utterly forlorn; so as if we call upon him, he will hear our sighs: the performance therefore maketh it the easier for us to conceive his goodness, because we be taught aforehand, the same things which we come to find by experience. For why? The word that went afore, is as a lamp to give us light. Of our own nature we be as it were blind. True it is that God enlighteneth us by his holy spirit: but yet are we still in darkness & cannot see two fingers breadth afore us. But when God teacheth us by his word; it is as a lamp to guide us & show us our way. Therefore let us mark well that to profit our selves by the benefits that God bestoweth upon us, it is good, yea & needful for us to be put in mind of his promises, & to compare them together God had promised it; & now he hath performed it: here we see a testimony that he is always faithful in his sayings, & that a man may safely rest upon his truth.

And he speaketh expresly of the stars of the skie, because of the promise. For God speaking to his seruāt Abrahā, shewed him in a vision ye multitude of the stars, which is infinite. Euen as they be past reckening (saith god) so also shal thy seed be. Now then the meaning of Moses in this text is, yt Gods saying so was not in vain, & that Abraham was not disappointed of his hope in resting altogether vpon yt promise: for we see the thing performed before our eies. And this is wel worth the noting. For if God haue done vs any good, we wil indeed for maners sake say it was he yt did it: but to be throughly persuaded of it in our hart, that is a very hard thing. Therefore is it requisit in respect of such rudenes, yt we should be cō demned by Gods word, to the end we may ye better consider of his hand & power. As for example: if we had neuer read any whit of holy scripture, & yet notwithstanding god should haue deliuered vs frō some aduersitie: to say ye truth, our own naturall wit would put vs in mind, to think our selues indetted to God for ye same: But when we be exercised in the holy scriptures, and haue seene there yt God reserueth to himself the issues of death, & that it is in him to succor vs, yea euē after a strange fashion when al seemeth to be vtterly forlorne; so as if we call vpon him, he will heare our sighes: the performance therfore maketh it the easier for vs to conceiue his goodnes, bicause we be taught aforehand, the same things which we come to find by experience. For why? The word yt went afore, is as a lampe to giue vs light. Of our owne nature we be as it were blind. True it is that God inlighteneth vs by his holy spirit: but yet are we still in darknes & cannot see two fingers bredth afore vs. But whē God teacheth vs by his word; yt is as a lampe to guide vs & shew vs our way. Therfore let vs marke well yt to profit our selues by the benefits yt God bestoweth vpō vs, it is good, yea & nedful for vs to be put in mind of his promises, & to compare thē together God had promised it; & now he hath performed it: here we see a testimony yt he is alwaies faithful in his sayings, & yt a man may safely rest vpō his truth.