Sermons upon Deuteronomy

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. ⟨p. 519⟩And what manner of deserts? Look upon their lives, and you shall see what they be. But first and foremost, how can our works deserve, but by Gods accepting of them of his own free goodness? For it standeth us in hand, not only that he bind himself unto us, as he doth notwithstanding that he need not except he listed; but also moreover, that he accept our works in good worth, forgiving the faults & blemishes that are in them. For we cannot bring any §10one work unto him which is not defiled with some imperfection, so as there is always some fault to be found in it. Now then we should be found blameworthy in all our virtues if God listed to examine them with rigour. And so what becometh of the promises, which tell us that our works are desertfull? Nay, let us mark that after our Lords binding of himself so freely unto us, he yieldeth us reward for the service that we have offered unto him, and then accepteth §20our works of his own free goodness. As how?

Furthermore, wee see that euen the wickeddest faile not to stande in their owne conceites. As for example, wee see nowadayes that in the Popedome men make a shielde of these textes, to shewe that God is beholden to vs, that our workes are desertfull, and that wee bee able to purchase Gods grace, yea and euen euerlasting saluation; so as not onely God must needes prosper vs in this worlde, but also the heritage of the heauenly kingdome becommeth as a conquest vnto vs. The world (say I) beguileth it selfe in this behalfe. And who bee they that speake so boldly of it? Euen the greatest despisers of God. As for example, ye shall see a sort of these Frierly flatterers dispute of desertes with full mouth; and yet for all that, they bee men without God, without religion, wicked out of measure, and scorners of God. Also let vs take the greatests pretenders of holinesse among them, and wee shall finde them full of pride and statelinesse, full of malice and enuie against their neighbours, and burning with couetousnesse. They make a faire outwarde shewe of holinesse, but inwardly, there is no soundnesse at all. Their life bewrayeth that they bee ranke rebelles against God, and that they doe but turne the best side outward in al their deuotions: and yet in the meane while, all their talke is of Merites, Merites.