Sermons upon Deuteronomy

And hereunto also ought that to serve which Moses addeth, You would not (saith he) but were disobedient. To whom? He saith not singly unto God: but unto the mouth of God. This manner of speech might seem harsh at the first sight: but yet it importeth good doctrine. We know that men are always desirous to excuse themselves when they withstand God and encounter his word: and yet for all that they cease not to protest that they mean not to be against God. Their intent then is, that men should not think them to do that which they do. But here to cut off occasion of all starting-holes, the holy Ghost saith expressly, that we must yield to Gods mouth. And what is meant by this mouth of his? It is his uttering of his will unto us, when he speaketh to us by his ministers, by his Prophets, and by such as he raiseth up in his Church to govern h•s people. That then is the thing that we must take heed unto: for God will not show himself to us in visible manner. True it is that at the same time he gave signs & tokens, to the end it might be known that he himself spake by Moses: but yet in the mean while he used Moses as his instrument, & therewithal confirmed his law which was published at that time. After him came the Prophets, and them also did God use as his mouth: but in the Gospel we have his mouth open most of all. So then let us mark well, y• they which protest that their intent is to serve God, & in the mean while make none account of his word, as it is uttered and left in writing: are but hypocrites, yea even shameless hypocrites, because the deed it self proveth them liars. For whereas they on the one side say that their intent is to serve God: and God on the other side intendeth to try our obedience by setting his word before us: the same is a good trial to discern whether our saying that we be his servants, be so in good earnest or no. For thereby it appeareth, that they hearken not to his word, but rather reject it, & prefer their own opinions and fancies before it. And so ye see a point that ye ought to mark well.

And hereunto also ought that to serue which Moses addeth, You would not (saith he) but were disobedient. To whom? He saith not singly vnto God: but vnto the mouth of God. This maner of speache might seeme harsh at the first sight: but yet it importeth good doctrine. Wee know that men are alwayes desirous to excuse themselues whē they withstand God and incounter his word: and yet for all that they ceasse not to protest that they meane not to be against God. Their intent then is, that men should not thinke them to doe that which they do. But here to cut off occasion of all startingholes, the holy Ghost saith expresly, that we must yeeld to Gods mouth. And what is mēt by this mouth of his? It is his vttering of his will vnto vs, when he speaketh to vs by his ministers, by his Prophets, and by such as he raiseth vp in his Church to gouerne hs people. That then is ye thing that wee must take heede vnto: for God will not shewe himselfe to vs in visible maner. True it is that at the same time he gaue signes & tokens, to the end it might bee known that he himselfe spake by Moses: but yet in the meane while he vsed Moses as his instrument, & therewithall confirmed his lawe which was published at that time. After him came the Prophets, and them also did God vse as his mouth: but in the Gospell wee haue his mouth open most of all. So then let vs marke well, y they which protest that their intent is to serue God, & in the meane while make none account of his word, as it is vttered and left in writing: are but hypocrites, yea euen shamelesse hypocrites, bicause the deede it selfe proueth them liars. For whereas they on the one side say that their intent is to serue God: and God on ye other side intendeth to trie our obedience by setting his word before vs: ye same is a good triall to discerne whether our saying that we be his seruantes, be so in good earnest or no. For thereby it appeareth, that they hearken not to his word, but rather reiect it, & preferre their owne opinions and fancies before it. And so ye see a point that ye ought to marke wel.