Sermons upon Deuteronomy

And afterward he addeth, that the right way for men to make themselves clean, is to give to the poor, and not to busy themselves about a sort of pelting trifles as the world doeth continually, who think to dally with God, and would give him rittlerattles to play with as if he were a babe, but they cannot beguile him so. Therefore according to Jesus Christs exhortation, if we mean that the meats which we take should be sanctified unto us, let us look that God be honoured by them, and let us bear well in mind how it is of his only free goodness that we be nourished by them. And forasmuch as we can neither do him good nor harm, neither hath he need of any thing: let us show our good will towards his poor servants: For they be his bailiffs whom he sendeth to us, to receive the fines and other duties that we owe him for all his benefits. Thus ye see in effect what we have to gather upon that saying.

And afterwarde hee addeth, that the right way for men to make themselues cleane, is to giue to the poore, and not to busie themselues about a sort of pelting trifles as the worlde doeth continually, who thinke to dally with God, and woulde giue him rittlerattles to play with as if hee were a babe, but they cannot beguile him so. Therefore according to Iesus Christes exhortation, if wee meane that the meates which we take shoulde be sanctified vnto vs, let vs looke that God bee honoured by them, and let vs beare well in minde howe it is of his onely freegoodnesse that wee bee nourished by them. And forasmuch as wee can neither doe him good nor harme, neither hath hee neede of any thing: let vs shewe our good will towardes his poore seruauntes: For they bee his bailifes whome hee sendeth to vs, to receiue the fines and other dueties that wee owe him for all his benefites. Thus yee see in effect what wee haue to gather vppon that saying.

Now it is said further, that if the people do the things that are right and just before God, they shall be blessed, both they and their children. Hereby we be still warned, that if we will direct our life aright, we must not follow our own good intents as they call them, but hearken what God saith unto us, and rest simply upon his will, as shall be declared more at large to morrow by Gods will. Nevertheless Moses warneth the people here as he doth in many other places, that they must not demean themselves after their own fancies, but in any wise give ear unto God. If thou do that which is good and righteous sayeth he; And in whose sight? In the sight of men? True it is that we ought to live in such sort as we give no cause of offence to any body, so as if any speak evil of us, they may have their mouths stopped. But yet must not men be made judges of their lives; that authority must be reserved unto GOD. And that is the cause why the scripture meaning to betoken an angelical perfection, sayeth that such a man hath walked before God. For if we should fashion our selves after the world, what a thing were it? We see how the greatest multitude live out of all order, and so should we make evil custom a Law. When whoredom, drunkenness, outrage, violence, and blasphemy reigned; we would bear our selves in hand that such things were permitted us. And why? Because they be grown into custom.