Sermons upon Deuteronomy

Now first of all it is said, Thou shalt not hearken to the Prophet when he saith unto thee, Let us go and serve other gods which thou hast not known. It behoveth us to weigh well all these words of Moses; For here he speaketh to all believers. He speaks not only to the great doctors that have been at the University all their life long, but also to the unlearned. Although then that we be no clerks, yet let us learn that we must have this constancy of faith, of not following the wiles of Satan to be withdrawn from our God when he hath been so gracious unto us, as to communicate himself to us. We must not say, Alas, I have no learning, nor fineness of wit, to be so cunning; every man hath not like measure. I grant that every man is not of ability to enter into disputation against sophisters, and against such as are full fraught with malice to deceive the simple: but yet, all men from the most to the least ought to have this invincible steadfastness of sticking unto God and his trueth when they once know it. There is no excuse in that case. For it is not in vain that God hath set down this general law for all his Church. And it is certain also that he will give us power, so we resort to him, and seek to him for succour. For what is the cause why so many folk are seduced, but only their own fond presumption, or their negligence, or else their contempt of Gods word? For ye shall see some stand so much in their own conceits, as (to their own seeming) no man is able to overmatch them: and yet for all that, they are but silly beasts. Our Lord therefore doth blow away their pride, as men may perceive: and experience showeth that God punisheth many folks pride, which had too great an overweening of themselves. Now then, what is to be done? Let us humble our selves & pray God to govern us so by his holy spirit, & to give us such wise done, ⟨p. 530⟩as we may not be taken tardy when the devil goes about to make a breach into us to enter at. If we go that way to work, let us assure our selves that God will guide us, and that we shall never be caught in Satan's snares. But there are many that keep on their race without care, as though they were privileged from all dangers. But let us for our part keep good watch, and have such a care to ward our selves, as the deceivers (when they come) may not find us asleep.

Now first of all it is said, Thou shalt not hearken to the Prophet when he sayth vnto thee, Let vs go and serue other gods which thou hast not knowen. It behoueth vs to wey well all these woordes of Moses; For here he speaketh to al beleeuers. He speakes not only to the great doctors that haue beene at the Vniuersitie all their life long, but also to the vnlearned. Although then that we be no clerks, yet let vs learne that we must haue this constancie of faith, of not following the wyles of Satan to bee withdrawen from our God when he hath beene so gracious vnto vs, as to communicate himselfe to vs. Wee must not say, Alas, I haue no learning, nor finenesse of witte, to be so cunning; euery man hath not like measure. I graunt that euery man is not of abilitie to enter into disputation against sophisters, and against such as are full fraught with malice to deceiue ye simple: but yet, all men from the moste to the least ought to haue this inuincible stedfastnes of sticking vnto God and his trueth when they once knowe it. There is no excuse in that case. For it is not in vaine that God hath set downe this generall law for all his Church. And it is certaine also that he will giue vs power, so wee resort to him, and seeke to him for succour. For what is ye cause why so many folke are seduced, but onely their own fond presumption, or their negligence, or else their contempt of Gods worde? For yee shall see some stand so much in their owne conceits, as (to their own seeming) no man is able to ouermatch them: and yet for all that, they are but sillie beastes. Our Lorde therefore doth blow away their pride, as men may perceiue: and experience sheweth that God punisheth many folkes pride, which had too great an ouerweening of themselues. Now thē, what is to be done? Let vs humble our selues & pray God to gouern vs so by his holy spirit, & to giue vs such wise dōe,