Sermons upon Deuteronomy

And what cometh of it when we go about to enrich our selves after that fashion by craft & wicked practises? When we will needs attain to some ambition or dignity, what will be the end of it? Our Lord will curse it every whit. It seemeth then that we intend to prosper even as it were in despite of God. And we be so carried away by our affections, and so driven by the headiness of them, that God cannot hold us back, neither by bridles, nor by ropes, nor by chains. Lo here a great mischief, that although our Lord allure us never so sweetly to him, & labour to win us to him by promising us reward: yet notwithstanding we be so full of mischief, that to our seeming, all his promises are vain & nothing worth; they move us not a whit. But as for the allurements of Satan, they draw us to them, insomuch that we bear our selves in hand, that although God be against us and our enemy, yet we shall not fail to prosper, so the world laugh upon us, and that there be some likelihood of advancement. Mark that for one point.

And what commeth of it when we go about to inrich our selues after that fashion by craft & wicked practises? When wee will needes attaine to some ambition or dignitie, what will bee the ende of it? Our Lorde will curse it euerie whit. It seemeth then that we intende to prosper euen as it were in despite of God. And wee bee so caried away by our affections, and so driuen by the headinesse of them, that God cannot holde vs backe, neither by bridles, nor by ropes, nor by cheynes. Loe here a greate mischiefe, that although our Lorde allure vs neuer so sweetely to him, & labour to win vs to him by promising vs rewarde: yet notwithstanding we bee so full of mischiefe, that to our seeming, all his promises are vaine & nothing worth; they moue vs not a whit. But as for the allurements of Sathan, they drawe vs to thē, insomuch that we beare our selues in hand, that although God bee against vs and our enemie, yet wee shall not faile to prosper, so the worlde laugh vppon vs, and that there bee some likelihood of aduancement. Marke that for one point.

Furthermore, we see that even the wickeddest fail not to stand in their own conceits. As for example, we see nowadays that in the Popedom men make a shield of these texts, to show that God is beholden to us, that our works are desertfull, and that we be able to purchase Gods grace, yea and even everlasting salvation; so as not only God must needs prosper us in this world, but also the heritage of the heavenly kingdom becometh as a conquest unto us. The world (say I) beguileth it self in this behalf. And who be they that speak so boldly of it? Even the greatest despisers of God. As for example, ye shall see a sort of these Friarly flatterers dispute of deserts with full mouth; and yet for all that, they be men without God, without religion, wicked out of measure, and scorners of God. Also let us take the greatest pretenders of holiness among them, and we shall find them full of pride and stateliness, full of malice and envy against their neighbours, and burning with covetousness. They make a fair outward show of holiness, but inwardly, there is no soundness at all. Their life bewrayeth that they be rank rebels against God, and that they do but turn the best side outward in all their devotions: and yet in the mean while, all their talk is of Merits, Merits.