Sermons upon Deuteronomy

We see then that the meaning of this text is, that we must forget all the follies that have beguiled us, and not allege custom or continuance of time, but receive the doctrine of the holy scripture like little children. A young child will not say, thus and thus have I been taught; for he knoweth yet nothing at all: But he receiveth that which is put to him, and is the readier to learn, because he is not inured aforehand with any manner of misteaching. But if a child have been mistaught and nursled in his fondness: then if a man go about to amend him, O (says he) I was taught so, and a man shall not be able to make him pronounce one syllable aright, nor to speak one word to any purpose. And why so? Because he hath bin trained by an Ass, who hath framed him to his own fashion, and he hath learned the right trick of him. After the same manner it is with a great number of folk that have been brought up in cursed popery: always they hold still some relics of it, saying, Yea sir, but can such a thing be evil? There is ever some replying against God. But as for us, let us practise that which is said in the four & fortieth Psalm:¹ My daughter, forget thine own people and thy fathers house, and thy husband will take pleasure in thee. We know that in that place our spiritual marriage with Jesus Christ is described under the person of Solomon. And first of all we be commanded to forget all that ever is of our own. For by our people and by our fathers house, is meant all that ever we have of nature, all things that we have loved afore, and all the pleasures & delights wherewith we have been held back. Al these things must be thrust under foot, or else the Son of God will never like of us, whose calling of us to him is to make us all one with himself. Also we must put the same thing in ure which I have alleged heretofore out of Saint Peter:² namely that we must be like new borne babes. For when a child beginneth at his Absey he is easy to be taught and suffereth himself to be over ruled: even so in all things, let us learn this lesson which God teacheth us in his doctrine, & let all our wisdom be to obey him. That is the thing which we have to mark in this text where it is said, thou shalt not deal so with thy God: for God will not be weighed in the balance nor ruled by the measure of Idols;

We see then that the meaning of this text is, that wee must forget al the follies that haue beguiled vs, and not alledge custome or continuance of time, but receiue the doctrine of the holy scripture like litle children. A yong childe will not say, thus and thus haue I beene taught; for he knoweth yet nothing at all: But he receiueth that which is put to him, and is the readier to learne, because he is not inured aforehande with anie maner of misteaching. But if a childe haue been mistaught and nusled in his fondnes: then if a man go about to amend him, O (sayes he) I was taught so, and a man shal not be able to make him pronounce one syllable aright, nor to speake one worde to any purpose. And why so? Bicause he hath bin trained by an Asse, who hath framed him to his owne fashion, and hee hath learned ye right trick of him. After the same maner it is with a great number of folke that haue been brought vp in cursed poperie: alwayes they hold stil some relikes of it, saying, Yea sir, but can such a thing be euil? There is euer some replying against God. But as for vs, let vs practise yt which is saide in the foure & fortith Psalme: