Sermons upon Deuteronomy

Now remaineth to be noted also, that whereas God promiseth such things, he hath mens harts in his hand: for he addeth the mean, which is, that he will cast our dread and our fear upon all our enemies. As if he should say, he will print his mark upon us, so as the wicked (be they never so full of rancour, and be they carried with never so great fury and rage) shall be abashed, dismayed, & utterly at their wits end. As to the worldwarde, they may well seem to have the hearts of Lyons: but God will make them to melt away like water, so as men shall see with their eyes, that there is not so much as one drop of courage in any man, but so far forth as God giveth it them. And as for us; although we be afraid, and have not so stout a courage by nature: yet will God change us, & give us invincible constancy, so as although we had bin men of war, and very valiant; yet should our manliness be nothing like to y• which he will make us to feel in our selves, so we go not presumptuously to work, but rest upon him, seeking to be upheld by his hand and favour. The matter therefore which we have to mark upon that place, is, first that whereas our life is as a warfare, yet must we not be afraid, because god hath promised to fight for us. Yea, but we have to do with an overmighty enemy: and it is not one devil alone that we have to withstand, but infinite legions of devils. What can we do then, seeing we be so frail, and are tempted so on all sides, & (to be short) our safety is set as it were to the spoil? For what have we to defend our selves withal? But we must have an eye to our god. I have told you heretofore, that it is not without cause that he entitleth himself to be the Gods of Hosts. It serveth to show that he will defend us in such sort, as our enemies shall be disappointed. Although they advance themselves with never so raging violence, & that we be scared at their first alarms, yet shall we always get the upper hand, by the help of him which hath all power in his hand. And indeed we know that God hath his Angels, whom he hath ordained for our safeguard.¹ He thinks it not enough to reach out his arm to help us, but he hath also uttered forth all his blessings, to fence us with them on all sides.

Now remaineth to be noted also, that whereas God promiseth such thinges, hee hath mens harts in his hand: for he addeth the mean, which is, that hee will cast our dread and our feare vppon all our enemies. As if hee should say, hee will print his mark vpon vs, so as the wicked (be they neuer so full of rancor, and bee they caried with neuer so great fury and rage) shalbe abashed, dismayed, & vtterly at their wits end. As to the worldwarde, they may well seeme to haue the heartes of Lyons: but God will make them to melt away like water, so as men shall see with their eyes, that there is not so much as one drop of corage in any man, but so farre forth as God giueth it them. And as for vs; although we bee afraide, and haue not so stoute a courage by nature: yet wil God change vs, & giue vs inuincible constancy, so as although we had bin men of warre, and very valeant; yet should our manlinesse bee nothing like to y which he will make vs to feele in our selues, so we goe not presumptuously to worke, but rest vpon him, seeking to be vphelde by his hand and fauor. The matter therefore which wee haue to mark vpon that place, is, first that wheras our life is as a warfare, yet must wee not bee afraid, because god hath promised to fight for vs. Yea, but we haue to do with an ouermightie enemie: and it is not one diuell alone that wee haue to withstand, but infinite legions of diuels. What cā we do then, seeing wee be so fraile, and are tempted so on all sides, & (to be short) our safetie is set as it were to the spoile? For what haue we to defende our selues withall? But wee must haue an eye to our god. I haue told you heretofore, that it is not without cause that he intitleth himselfe to be the Gods of Hosts. It serueth to shew that he will defende vs in such sort, as our enemies shalbe disappointed. Although they aduance themselues with neuer so raging violence, & that we be scared at their first alarmes, yet shal we always get the vpper hand, by the helpe of him which hath all power in his hand. And indeede wee knowe that God hath his Angels, whom he hath ordeined for our safegard.