Sermons upon Deuteronomy

that seeing I have appointed my Levites to be as messengers from me, and that my law is in their mouth, & their office is to bear abroad my doctrine: you may not be so given to disorder, but rather consider that I dwell among you, so as the very sight of my servants may do you to understand, that I am near at hand, & that you ought not to separate your selves from me. And hereby we be put in mind to behave our selves soberly and modestly, & that we have need to be exhorted daily thereunto by the word of God, for fear of starting out into unthriftiness; for we see what feebleness is in us. True it is that when we be once entered into a wicked trade, we shall soon be hardened in it: but to be constant in doing good, we shall have much ado. Therefore although we have some good disposition & desire to serve God: yet must he be fain to quicken us up still from day to day. Wherefore let us seek the mean; which is to resort to the doctrine that should be our guide, and to yield willing care to the warnings that are given to draw us unto God, & to confirm us in his fear & obedience. Yea and when we have bin at a sermon, and have heard the word that is preached to us in his name: let it serve to keep us in awe, & although we be tempted to unthriftiness, yet let it be as a bridle to rein us back unto God. Thus you see how we ought to use the means & remedies that God hath appointed unto us to redress the frailty that is in us. For otherwise we would start away by and by, and wonder that we should be so utterly strayed away from our God. That is the thing in effect which we have to remember upon the first sentence that is set down here.

that seeing I haue appointed my Leuites to bee as messengers from me, and yt my lawe is in their mouth, & their office is to beare abrode my doctrine: you may not be so giuen to disorder, but rather consider yt I dwell among you, so as the very sight of my seruants may do you to vnderstand, that I am neere at hand, & that you ought not to separate your selues from me. And hereby we be put in minde to behaue our selues soberly and modestly, & that we haue neede to be exhorted dayly thereunto by the word of God, for feare of starting out into vnthriftinesse; for we see what feeblenes is in vs. True it is yt when we be once entered into a wicked trade, we shall soone be hardened in it: but to be constāt in doing good, we shal haue much ado. Therefore although we haue some good disposition & desire to serue God: yet must he bee faine to quicken vs vp still from day to day. Wherfore let vs seeke the meane; which is to resort to the doctrine yt should be our guide, and to yeeld willing care to the warnings yt are giuen to draw vs vnto God, & to confirme vs in his feare & obedience. Yea and when wee haue bin at a sermon, and haue heard ye word that is preached to vs in his name: let it serue to keepe vs in awe, & although we bee tempted to vnthriftines, yet let it be as a bridle to reine vs backe vnto God. Thus you see howe we ought to vse the meanes & remedies yt God hath appointed vnto vs to redresse the frailtie that is in vs. For otherwise we would start away by and by, and wonder that we should be so vtterly strayed away from our God. That is the thing in effect which we haue to remember vpon the first sentence that is set downe here.