Sermons upon Deuteronomy

Of these things doth Moses here put the people in remembrance, to do them to understand, first that if they dallied any more with God by seeking §60any change, or by attempting any thing against the commandment of his word: they should feel his vengeance in likewise as they had seen it light upon Coree, Dathan, & Abiram, and their partakers. Besides this, he telleth them of their spitefulness, how they had provoked God again, even after they had felt his justice: to the intent they should no more return to such doings, because that if they abused Gods patience & bearing with them for that one time, he would in the end use the greater rigour against them. And so ye see what the intent of Moses was. Now hereby we be warned to consider well with our selves, that whensoever any fault or offence is committed among us, & God hath laid his hand upon us for it: we ought to bear it so printed in our hearts, as it may make us to keep his commandments, as Moses addeth afterward. For it is not enough for us to know the bare story: but we must also apply the same to our instruction. So that if god have corrected us gently, we must acknowledge his fatherly goodness towards us. And from thenceforth let us not provoke him any more, but to the intent we may keep our selves from offending, let it suffice us to know that he cannot away with sin. That (say I) is the thing whereof we be warned in this text. And here withal let us also have such humility printed in our hearts, as to be continually sorry for the faults that we shall have committed. And if our God have bin so gracious as to execute his wrath upon some others, let us be well ware that we wrap not our selves in the same con damnation with them, by taking their part. Nay, let us shun them a great way off, and let us have nothing to do with them, if we intend not to provoke the wrath of our God. That is the effect of the matter which Moses speaks of here. And it is written for our sakes, to the intent that every of us should have an eye to himself.

Of these things doth Moses here put ye people in rememberāce, to do them to vnderstand, first yt if they dalyed any more with God by seeking §60any chaunge, or by attempting any thing against the commandemēt of his word: they shold feele his vengeance in likewise as they had seene it light vpon Coree, Dathan, & Abiram, and their partakers. Besides this, he telleth them of their spitefulnes, how they had prouoked God againe, euē after they had felt his iustice: to ye intēt they should no more returne to such doings, because yt if they abused Gods patience & bearing with them for yt one time, he wold in ye end vse ye greater rigor against thē. And so ye see what ye intent of Moses was. Now hereby we be warned to consider wel with our selues, yt whensoeuer any fault or offēce is cōmitted among vs, & God hath laid his hand vppon vs for it: wee ought to beare it so printed in our hearts, as it may make vs to keepe his commaundements, as Moses addeth afterward. For it is not ynough for vs to know ye bare storie: but we must also apply ye same to our instruction. So yt if god haue corrected vs gently, we must acknowlege his fatherly goodnes towards vs. And from thencefoorth let vs not prouoke him any more, but to ye intent we may keepe our selues frō offending, let it suffice vs to know yt he cannot away with sin. That (say I) is ye thing wherof we be warned in this text. And here wtal let vs also haue such humilitie printed in our hearts, as to be cō tinually sory for the faults yt we shall haue committed. And if our God haue bin so gracious as to execute his wrath vppon some others, let vs bee wel ware yt we wrap not our selues in ye same cō demnation with them, by taking their part. Nay, let vs shun them a great way off, and let vs haue nothing to doe with them, if wee intende not to prouoke ye wrath of our God. That is the effect of the matter which Moses speaks of here. And it is written for our sakes, to the intent that euery of vs should haue an eye to himselfe.