Sermons upon Deuteronomy

So then, first we be done to understand that the having of the knowledge of Gods will is an inestimable treasure. All of us are desirous to lead a happy life, but there is no mean for us to attain to it, unless God open us the gate to come unto him. If it be alleged, How then? Shall not men be blessed, if they endeavour to do well? Will not God accept all their service when he sees them go on with a good intent? Let us mark first of all, that men may (to their own seeming) have as great devotion as is possible, & yet they shall but err. To ween that we do well is not all that we have to do. We must be sure that the way which we take is no bypath, but the way that leadeth straight forth unto God. Ye see then that we cannot be sure of any blessing, that is to say, that our lives please God, and that the service which we do him is well liked of; until he have showed us what he requireth & what he alloweth. For so long as we walk after our own imagination, we go the clean contrary way; & in stead of going forward we go back. Mark that for one point. Again, for the second point, when we have done all, yet is God nothing beholden to us for it. What oweth he unto us? [Nothing.] Now then all that we can hope for is by reason of the promise that he maketh unto us, & by telling us that if we keep his law, we shall not lose our labour nor be disappointed, but we shall have a good reward at his hand. Gods saying so, is the ground from whence the blessing springeth that Moses speaketh here. And it is the same thing that S. Paul telleth us,¹ where he presupposeth that even before the law, men could not deserve any thing: & not without cause For if we had done all that which were possible for us to do, (as I said afore) were it possible for us to deserve aught at Gods hand? No: for we owe it him every whit of it, & he oweth nothing unto us. And so ye see why Moses sayeth here, that when the law was published, then was a blessing set before the people. As if he should say, Heretofore ye have known no rule, ye have been as the wretched infidels which go on at all adventure & have no certainty to trust unto. But now hath your God gathered you to him, & showed you the right way. Therefore the way for you to lead a happy life is to obey the will of your God.

So then, first we be done to vnderstand that ye hauing of the knowledge of Gods will is an inestimable treasure. All of vs are desirous to lead a happie life, but there is no meane for vs to attain to it, vnlesse God open vs the gate to come vnto him. If it be alleged, How then? Shal not men be blessed, if they indeuour to do wel? Wil not God accept all their seruice when he sees them go on with a good intent? Let vs marke first of all, that men may (to their own seeming) haue as greate deuotion as is possible, & yet they shall but erre. To weene that we do wel is not all that we haue to do. We must be sure yt the way which wee take is no bypath, but the way that leadeth straight forth vnto God. Ye see then that we cannot bee sure of any blessing, that is to say, that our liues please God, and that the seruice which wee doe him is wel liked of; vntil he haue shewed vs what he requireth & what he alloweth. For so long as we walke after our own imagination, wee go the clean contrarie way; & in stead of going forward wee go back. Marke that for one point. Againe, for the second point, when we haue done all, yet is God nothing beholden to vs for it. What oweth he vnto vs? [Nothing.] Now then al that we can hope for is by reason of the promise yt he maketh vnto vs, & by telling vs that if wee keepe his law, we shal not lose our labour nor be disappointed, but we shall haue a good rewarde at his hand. Gods saying so, is the ground from whence the blessing springeth that Moses speaketh here. And it is the same thing that S. Paul telleth vs,