Sermons upon Deuteronomy

For is it reason that he which sitteth in the seat of Justice, should punish a thief for doing wrong but to the value of five shillings: and in the mean while let a traitor to GOD go unpunished? Gods name is thereby blasphemed,¹ his trueth which is his image is trampled under foot, and it is much more than if a man should rend some [princes] Coat armour in pieces. In so doing the living image of GOD is scorned, and as it were spitted at, and the salvation of mens souls hindered: and shall the Magistrates sit still at it like idols? They must punish a thief for the value of fifteen pence; and behold, this is such a traitor as goeth about to confound heaven and earth together, and must the same go unpunished? What a dealing were that? Doeth not even nature teach what is to be done in this behalf? And as for those that say that we should let the evil weeds grow still, do they not show themselves to be grown out of kind like monsters, and that they be more intolerable than if they were stark mad? For it should seem that their meaning is to defy the whole order of nature, and men see that they not only speak against GOD, but also poison mens souls, and bewray themselves not to have one drop of settled discretion. Now then let us mark, that sith God hath declared that in the reign of his Son, even kings should be called to the knowledge of the trueth, and become a part of his Church: It behoveth them to give example to their people, and it is good reason that they should employ their whole power and authority to maintain the good doctrine, and to cause GOD to be honoured and served, and to drive away all idolatry and superstition, and to see that it be not Lawful for any man to spew out blasphemies against GOD. That is the thing which we have to mark upon this place.

For is it reason that he which sitteth in the seate of Iustice, shoulde punishe a theefe for doing wrong but to the valewe of fiue shillinges: and in the meane while let a traytour to GOD goe vnpunished? Gods name is thereby blasphemed,¹ his trueth whiche is his image is trampled vnder foote, and it is much more than if a man should rende some [princes] Cotearmour in peeces. In so dooing the liuing image of GOD is skorned, and as it were spitted at, and the saluation of mennes soules hindered: and shall the Magistrates sit still at it like ydolles? They must punish a theefe for the valewe of fifteene pence; and beholde, this is such a traytour as goeth about to confounde heauen and earth together, and must the same go vnpunished? What a dealing were that? Doeth not euen nature teache what is to be doone in this behalfe? And as for those that say that we should let the euill weedes growe still, doe they not shewe themselues to be growen out of kinde like monsters, and that they bee more intollerable than if they were starke madde? For it shoulde seeme that their meaning is to defie the whole order of nature, and men see that they not onely speake against GOD, but also poyson mennes soules, and bewray themselues not to haue one droppe of setled discretion. Nowe then let vs marke, that sith God hath declared that in the reigne of his Sonne, euen kinges shoulde bee called to the knowledge of the trueth, and become a parte of his Church: It behoueth them to giue example to their people, and it is good reason that they shoulde employ their whole power and authoritie to maintaine the good doctrine, and to cause GOD to be honored and serued, and to driue away all ydolatrie and superstition, and to see that it bee not Lawefull for anie man to spewe out blasphemies agaynst GOD. That is the thing which we haue to marke vpon this place.