Sermons upon Deuteronomy

Again, it is as it were a burying of God, when men know not that it is he which giveth them the food for their sustenance. If we be not fully persuaded of that; then is God disappointed of the honour that belongs to him, so as we acknowledge him not for our father and fosterer, but become so brutish that we mind no more the life which is prepared for us in the kingdom of heaven. But his taking of such fatherly care of us in this world, is to lead us up higher thereby. And so we see that unless we be sure that God giveth us leave to eat and drink according to his blessing; we be but as brute beasts, and much worse than they. Again, on the other side, who gives us authority to devour Gods benefits? Shall we wretched creatures which offend God without ceasing, presume to do it of our own heads, without considering that we have those things of his free goodness, and that they belong not to us otherwise than of Gods good will, who vouchsafeth to show him self liberal towards us? Surely then do we raven all things to us without any right or title. Therefore are we blame worthy every way for our eating and drinking, till we know that GOD is the giver of all. And hereby we be done to understand further, that in our eating and drinking we must not observe the traditions of men, but content ourselves with the testimony of Gods good will. And thereunto also doeth the holy scripture refer us by condemning the fond toys that men devise of themselves, as when they say, it is not Lawful to eat flesh upon such a day, this must be done and that must be done. And what authority have men to bid and forbid such things? For the Pope and all his rabble are not able to make a silly fly: and shall they forbid us to eat beef, mutton, or any other of the things that were made for our sustenance? What else is their usurping of such authority, than a robbing of GOD of his sovereignty over us? Now then let us have an eye to the will of our GOD. And sith we know that he hath given us all meats without exception: let every of us use them soberly, and be contented to be ruled by his word: for to him only doeth it belong to lay Laws upon us, and it is not for any mortal man to presume so far.

Againe, it is as it were a burying of God, whē men knowe not that it is he which giueth them the foode for their sustenance. If wee bee not fully persuaded of that; then is God disappointed of the honour that belongs to him, so as wee acknowledge him not for our father and fosterer, but become so brutish that wee minde no more the life which is prepared for vs in ye kingdome of heauen. But his taking of such fatherly care of vs in this world, is to leade vs vp higher thereby. And so wee see that vnlesse we bee sure that God giueth vs leaue to eate and drinke according to his blessing; wee bee but as brute beastes, and much worse than they. Againe, on the other side, who giues vs authoritie to deuour Gods benefits? Shall wee wretched creatures which offend God without ceassing, presume to do it of our own heads, without considering that wee haue those things of his free goodnesse, and that they belong not to vs otherwise than of Gods good will, who vouchsafeth to shewe him selfe liberall towardes vs? Surely then doe wee rauin all things to vs without any right or title. Therefore are we blame worthie euerie way for our eating and drinking, till wee knowe that GOD is the giuer of all. And heereby wee bee doone to vnderstande further, that in our eating and drinking wee must not obserue the traditions of men, but content ourselues with the testimony of Gods good will. And thereunto also doeth the holy scripture referre vs by condemning the fond toyes that men deuise of themselues, as when they say, it is not Lawefull to eate flesh vpon such a day, this must be done and yt must be done. And what authoritie haue men to bid and forbidde such thinges? For the Pope and all his rable are not able to make a silly flye: and shall they forbidde vs to eate beefe, mutton, or any other of the thinges that were made for our sustenance? What else is their vsurping of such authoritie, than a robbing of GOD of his soueraignetie ouer vs? Now then let vs haue an eye to the will of our GOD. And sith wee knowe that hee hath giuen vs all meates without exception: let euerie of vs vse them soberly, and bee contented to bee ruled by his worde: for to him onely doeth it belong to lay Lawes vpon vs, and it is not for any mortall man to presume so farre.