Sermons upon Deuteronomy

Moreover he putteth them in mind also,§50 to consider what a fatherly care God had of the land of Canaan, sith it was his pleasure to rain so upon it, not for once a year only, but yearly from the beginning of the year to the end of it. That is the effect of the things that Moses intended to say here. And thereby we be done to understand, that Gods bringing of us into distress and necessity, is to provoke us to repair unto him, and to look up to his goodness, so as we should not only have cause to give him §60thanks for his benefits; but also be driven to call upon him by being held at the staves end, and thereupon daily resort unto him. After the same manner, we see nowadays how we have need of fair weather; and that not for four or five days in a year: but as often as seed is to be laid into the ground, or the land is to be tilled; or else we see men could not put the plough into the ground, nor sow their corn: if they should, it would rot immediately, and never take root in the earth. Again the grapes would rot upon the vines and never ripen. Nevertheless, when corn is laid into the ground, it requireth rain; and it is marred if there follow an unmeasurable drought. Afterward in summertime when harvest cometh, the time must be fit for it, and likewise for dressing of vines and for mowing of grass. To be short, all the year long God calleth us to him, by making us to have need of him. And although we were not provoked at all; yet the very wit and understanding that he giveth us by nature, may cause us to see that he calleth us daily to come unto him, and to put our whole trust in his goodness. This is the thing in effect which we have to remember upon this text.

Moreouer hee putteth them in minde also,§50 to consider what a fatherly care God had of ye land of Chanaan, sith it was his pleasure to raine so vpon it, not for once a yeere onely, but yerely from the beginning of the yere to the ende of it. That is the effect of the thinges that Moses intended to say here. And thereby wee be done to vnderstand, that Gods bringing of vs into distresse and necessitie, is to prouoke vs to repaire vnto him, and to looke vp to his goodnesse, so as wee should not onely haue cause to giue him §60thankes for his benefites; but also bee driuen to call vpon him by being held at the staues end, and thereupon dayly resorte vnto him. After the same maner, wee see nowadayes how wee haue neede of faire weather; and that not for fower or fiue dayes in a yeere: but as oftē as seed is to be layde into the ground, or the lande is to be tilled; or else we see men coulde not put the plough into the ground, nor sowe their corne: if they should, it would rotte immediately, and neuer take roote in the earth. Againe the grapes would rotte vppon the vines and neuer ripen. Neuerthelesse, when corne is layde into the ground, it requireth rayne; and it is mard if there followe an vnmeasurable drought. Afterward in sōmertime when haruest commeth, the time must be fit for it, and likewise for dressing of vines and for mowing of grasse. To be short, all the yeere long God calleth vs to him, by making vs to haue neede of him. And although wee were not prouoked at all; yet the very wit and vnderstanding that he giueth vs by nature, may cause vs to see that hee calleth vs dayly to come vnto him, and to put our whole trust in his goodnesse. This is the thing in effect which we haue to remember vppon this text.