Sermons upon Deuteronomy

Now furthermore it behoveth us to mark, that the cause of their railing, was for that they knew not Gods power, notwithstanding that it was apparent to them. For although they had felt it enough, & more than enough to have con firmed them withal: yet nevertheless, as soon as they heard speaking of the tallness of their enemies, of their walled cities, & of their strong holds: by and by their hearts failed them and they were utterly dismayed. And why? Surely God had given them proof of his mighty power, to the intent they should have trusted to him as I have said heretofore. But what for that? They shut their eyes at all those things, and therewithal fell to grudging as soon as they heard of any distress. And even so do we. For when God calleth us, or commandeth us to go: we will see aforehand whether there be any lets or no. How shall I go, say we? for there is this let and that let: and as for me, I have no strength at all. And in the mean season we consider not that God is strong enough for us, and that it is his power which maketh us to walk on, and to overcome all that ever the devil trumpeth in our way. Now then, we can never yield God his due honour, to trust in him, to put our selves into his hand, and to hope that he will help us and give us the upper hand of all things that may turn us out of the right way: except we have an eye to the benefits we have received before. And so we see that Moses rehearseth not here a single story, that we might the better know what God hath willed us to do: but rather that he setteth before our eyes what we be, together with the vices that are but too common among among us, to the end we should learn to put our trust in Gods strength. What is to be done then? We see our own frailty, howbeit not so much as were requisite: but yet, that which we see ought to make us hang down our heads. Nevertheless, when we know once that there is no power in us to follow Gods will: let us step to the remedy, let us not be out of hart for it, neither let us do as they do which think themselves quit because they have not wherewith to stead the turn, saying, oh sir, I am of flesh and blood, I am a man. And ⟨p. 35⟩what is that to say, but that thou art in sin, and unclean? but many men say so, to the intent to wash their hands of it.

Now furthermore it behoueth vs to marke, that the cause of their rayling, was for that they knewe not Gods power, notwithstanding that it was apparant to them. For although they had felt it enough, & more than enough to haue cō firmed thēwithal: yet neuertheles, as soon as they heard speaking of the talnesse of their enemies, of their walled cities, & of their strong holdes: by and by their hearts failed them and they were vtterly dismaid. And why? Surely God had giuen them proofe of his mightie power, to the intent they should haue trusted to him as I haue sayd heretofore. But what for that? They shut their eyes at all those thinges, and therewithal fell to grudging assoone as they heard of any distresse. And euen so doe we. For when God calleth vs, or commaundeth vs to goe: we will see aforehand whether there be any lettes or no. How shall I goe, say wee? for there is this let and that let: and as for me, I haue no strength at all. And in the meane season we consider not that God is strong enough for vs, and that it is his power which maketh vs to walke on, and to ouercome all that euer the deuill trumpeth in our way. Now then, wee can neuer yeeld God his due honor, to trust in him, to put our selues into his hand, and to hope that he will helpe vs and giue vs the vpper hand of all thinges that may turne vs out of the right way: except we haue an eye to the benefits we haue receiued before. And so we see that Moses rehearseth not here a single storie, yt we might the better know what God hath willed vs to doe: but rather that he setteth before our eyes what we be, together with the vices that are but too common among among vs, to the end we should learne to put our trust in Gods strength. What is to be done then? We see our owne frailetie, howbeit not so much as were requisite: but yet, that which we se ought to make vs hang downe our heads. Neuerthelesse, when we knowe once yt there is no power in vs to follow Gods will: let vs step to the remedie, let vs not be out of hart for it, neither let vs doe as they doe which thinke themselues quit because they haue not wherwith to stead ye turne, saying, oh syr, I am of flesh and bloud, I am a man. And