Sermons upon Deuteronomy

But surely we should continue still in our sins to the end, yea and rot away in them▪ were it not for his raising up of the promised David, that is to say, of our Lord Jesus Christ. For by his means we recover that which we had lost by our own sins, and so ye see how Jesus Christ setteth us in possession of the heritage that was promised us by the Law. Yet notwithstanding we should be disappointed of it, and it could not belong unto us, unless that Jesus Christ had as well made us partakers of the benefits of God his father in his own person, as redeemed us in our own persons. Now then, we recover all this in him, whereas erst we were quite & clean bereft and cut off from the enjoying thereof. Therefore let us mark well, that whereas God made so many & so large promises to the Jews in his law, upon condition that they should keep his commandments: he meant to show that the same took no place, until the kingdom was stablished in the person of David. And therefore we must not allege as the beastly Papists do, who say: Tush, God promiseth us this and that, if we keep his commandments; therefore it followeth that we win Gods favour by our own deserts, and that we purchase the kingdom of heaven, and are able to attain salvation by our own obedience; for God hath an eye to yield unto every man according to his desert. They show full well, that they never understood one syllable of the holy scripture. And even this text without going any further, is enough to bewray their beastliness & ignorance. True it is that God promised his people that they should enjoy the land which he had appointed unto them: but the performance thereof was to be deferred to the reign of David. Whereupon let us mark how it is our Lord Jesus Christ which maketh the promises of the Law available towards us, so as we shall not be disappointed of the things that are contained therein. And indeed, that is the very cause why the promise is made expressly to David & Solomon, as it had bin made before to all the people. And this serveth well to make the doctrine yet plainer which I come to treat of. For there are two sorts of promises in the holy scripture. The one is; He that doth these things, shall live in them. The other is, He that believeth in the son whom the father hath sent, shall be saved. Lo here two promises, between that which it behoveth us well to put a difference:

But surely we should continue stil in our sins to the end, yea and rot away in them▪ were it not for his raising vp of the promised Dauid, that is to say, of our Lorde Iesus Christ. For by his meanes wee recouer yt which we had lost by our owne sinnes, and so yee see how Iesus Christ setteth vs in possession of the heritage that was promised vs by the Lawe. Yet notwithstanding we shoulde be disappointed of it, and it coulde not belong vnto vs, vnlesse yt Iesus Christ had as wel made vs partakers of the benefites of God his father in his own person, as redemed vs in our owne persons. Nowe then, wee recouer all this in him, whereas erst we were quite & cleane bereft and cut off from the inioying thereof. Therefore let vs marke well, that whereas God made so many & so large promises to the Iewes in his law, vpon condition that they shold keepe his commaundements: he ment to shew that the same tooke no place, vntill the kingdome was stablished in the person of Dauid. And therefore wee must not alledge as the beastly Papists doe, who say: Tush, God promiseth vs this and that, if we keepe his commaundements; therefore it followeth that wee winne Gods fauour by our owne desertes, and that wee purchase the kingdome of heauen, and are able to attaine saluation by our owne obedience; for God hath an eye to yeeld vnto euery mā according to his desert. They shew fulwell, that they neuer vnderstoode one sillable of the holy scripture. And euen this text without going any further, is ynough to bewray their beastlines & ignorance. True it is that God promised his people that they should inioy ye land which he had appointed vnto them: but ye performance thereof was to bee deferred to the reigne of Dauid. Wherupon let vs marke how it is our Lord Iesus Christ which maketh ye promises of ye Law auailable towards vs, so as wee shall not be disappointed of ye thinges yt are conteined therin. And indeed, yt is the very cause why ye promise is made expresly to Dauid & Salomon, as it had bin made before to al ye people. And this serueth well to make ye doctrine yet plainer which I com to treat of. For there are two sorts of promises in ye holy scripture. The one is; He yt doth these things, shal liue in thē. The other is, He yt beleeueth in ye son whom ye father hath sent, shalbe saued. Loe here two promises, betweene yt which it behoueth vs welto put a differēce: