Sermons upon Deuteronomy

but rather he is to be counted a despiser of GOD, and an upholder of the devil, which seeketh nothing else but the •urning of all things upside down in the world. For our part, let us learn to have Gods honour in such estimation, that whereas we revenge the wrongs done to men, we think it much more reason that the party should be punished which violateth the majesty of him that hath created and fashioned us. And the matter concerneth not only the honour of God, but also the salvation of our own souls: for they be things inseparable. And that ought well to whet us on the more, not to bear with the errors and deceits of false prophets. See how GOD witnesseth the infinite Love that he beareth us, in that he matcheth our salvation with his own glory, so as men can not touch the one without hurting of the other: insomuch that if a man deface the honour of GOD, the salvation of man is assailed therewithal. In respect whereof GOD sayeth unto us, suffer me not to be misused among you, nor your selves to be enticed to shrink from my obedience: But if there be any wicked man among you, that goeth about to egg you away, beware ye nourish not such a plague. Doeth not our Lord in so saying show, that we can not serve to his honour, nor maintain him in his estate, but that in so doing we procure our own welfare? And therefore these dalliers and mockers that ⟨p. 537⟩would have us to bear with all manner of false doctrine, and that it should be Lawful for every man to spew out whatsoever he listeth, (besides that they show themselves traitors to GOD, and utter defacers of his majesty if it lay in them to do it:) do also bewray themselves to be enemies of mankind, and desirous to bring their souls to ruin and destruction, so as they be worse than murderers. Let us mark then that if Gods honour §10be precious in our sight, and that the salvation of our own souls be deer unto us; we must not nourish heresies, nor abuses, nor any other of Satan's trumperies; but every of us in his own state and calling, must procure the purging of Gods Church from all evil, that we may worship him with one common consent, that his doctrine may be received, and that there may be no division among us.

but rather hee is to bee counted a despiser of GOD, and an vphoulder of the deuill, which seeketh nothing else but the •urning of all thinges vpside downe in the worlde. For our parte, lette vs learne to haue Gods honour in such estimation, that wheras we reuenge the wronges doone to men, wee thinke it much more reason that the partie shoulde bee punished which violateth the maiestie of him that hath created and fashioned vs. And the matter concerneth not onely the honour of God, but also the saluation of our owne soules: for they be thinges inseparable. And that ought well to whette vs on the more, not to beare with the erroures and deceites of false prophetes. See howe GOD witnesseth the infinite Loue that hee beareth vs, in that hee matcheth our saluation with his owne glorie, so as men canne not touche the one without hurting of the other: insomuch that if a man deface the honour of GOD, the saluation of man is assayled therewithall. In respect whereof GOD sayeth vnto vs, suffer mee not to bee misused among you, nor your selues to bee inticed to shrinke from my obedience: But if there be any wicked man among you, that goeth about to egge you away, beware yee nourishe not such a plague. Doeth not our Lorde in so saying shewe, that wee can not serue to his honour, nor mayntaine him in his estate, but that in so dooing wee procure our owne welfare? And therefore these dalyers and mockers that