Sermons upon Deuteronomy

And herewithall it behoveth us to consider of whom he speaketh. He sayeth not only, if a man go about to abolish all religion, as we see some worldlings do, which could find in their hearts like a sort of dogs and swine, that men should make a mockery of all the service of God; he speaketh not of such kind of men: But his saying is, if a man go about by superstitious §10means to turn thee from me to the serving of idols; although it be of the gods that are most renowned in the world, in the serving and worshipping of whom, the people that are about thee do think themselves to do well: If any man labour to turn thee from my word, to make thee follow after those gods: let him be rooted out.

And herewithall it behoueth vs to consider of whome hee speaketh. Hee sayeth not onely, if a man goe about to abolish all religion, as wee see some worldlings doe, which coulde finde in their heartes like a sort of dogges and swyne, that men shoulde make a mockerie of all the seruice of God; hee speaketh not of such kinde of men: But his saying is, if a man go about by superstitious §10meanes to turne thee from mee to the seruing of ydolles; although it bee of the gods that are moste renowmed in the worlde, in the seruing and worshipping of whome, the people that are about thee doe thinke themselues to do well: If any man labour to turne thee from my worde, to make thee followe after those gods: let him bee rooted out.

Now then, we see, that God punisheth, not only those that would abolish all religion:§20 but also those that would corrupt his trueth. And therefore for the better understanding of this law that is given us here, let us mark at a word, that it is not for us to say, There is no God, it is but folly for men to trouble themselves about any devotion, for we shall gain nothing by it: but [we must consider,] that if a man be never so devout, and think to do never so well, yet if he turn himself to the superstitions of the Heathen like a renegate,