Sermons upon Deuteronomy

And moreover, if any man should go about to alter the Religion, so as GOD should after a sort be driven from among us; it were meet that our zeal should in that case be kindled yet more. For if we be nice in having our own honour touched: what ought we to be when Gods kingdom is in danger of utter §60dispatch? If there be some wicked practise in a City, so as some treason, insurrection or alteration of the state is a brewing, and one having but some secret inkling of it told him in his ear, do conceive it; shall he not be taken as accessory, and be adjudged worthy of punishment? If it be proved against a man that some wicked treason was a practising; and he heard of the matter and yet discovered it not; he shall be punished as a traitor, and men will say he was well worthy of such punishment. And shall we be held excused of our silence, when an insurrection is made against GOD, and men go about to overthrow his holy temple, that he might not dwell any more among us, so as they endeavour to deface his majesty, and furthermore to cast up the salvation of mens souls as a pray to Satan, and we say nothing to it? Doeth not our dissimulation import both treachery and perjury against GOD? Yet notwithstanding there be some so far past shame, that they demand at every turn, Who is he that findeth fault with me? Whom have I wronged? Behold, he hath played the blasphemous and wicked wretch, in flushing out some matter so ugly against GOD, as he ought to be rooted out for it; and yet he says, Who complains of me? If he had stolen but fifteen pence, he should be whipped; and for the second or third offence, he should go to the gallows: and like a Church-traitor he hath trampled Gods majesty under foot, wherein he hath done worse than the thief that cuts a travellers throat, in a wood; and yet to his own seeming he is just still. And whereof cometh this, but of the foresaid laziness, that no man bethinks himself of his duty in that behalf? GOD doeth us the honour to make us maintainers of his trueth, as though he made us a solemn commission of it.

And moreouer, if any man shoulde goe about to alter the Religion, so as GOD shoulde after a sorte bee driuen from among vs; it were meete that our zeale shoulde in that case be kindled yet more. For if wee bee nice in hauing our owne honour touched: what ought wee to be when Gods kingdome is in daunger of vtter §60dispatch? If there be some wicked practise in a Citie, so as some treason, insurrection or alteration of the state is a bruing, and one hauing but some secret incling of it tolde him in his eare, doe conceiue it; shall hee not bee taken as accessarie, and bee adiudged woorthie of punishment? If it be proued against a man that some wicked treason was a practising; and hee heard of the matter and yet discouered it not; he shalbe punished as a traytour, and men will say hee was well worthie of such punishment. And shall we bee helde excused of our silence, when an insurrection is made against GOD, and men goe about to ouerthrowe his holy temple, that he might not dwell any more among vs, so as they indeuour to deface his maiestie, and furthermore to cast vp the saluation of mennes soules as a pray to Satan, and wee say nothing to it? Doeth not our dissimulation import both trecherie and periurie against GOD? Yet notwithstanding there be some so farre past shame, that they demaunde at euerie turne, Who is he that findeth faulte with mee? Whome haue I wronged? Behoulde, hee hath played the blasphemous and wicked wretche, in flushing out some matter so vglye against GOD, as hee ought to be rooted out for it; and yet hee sayes, Who complaines of mee? If hee had stolne but fifteene pence, he shoulde be whipped; and for the seconde or thirde offence, he should goe to the gallowes: and like a Churchtraytour hee hath trampled Gods maiestie vnder foote, wherin hee hath doone worse than the theefe that cuttes a trauellers throte, in a wood; and yet to his owne seeming he is iust still. And whereof commeth this, but of the foresaid lasinesse, that no man bethinks himself of his dutie in that behalfe? GOD doeth vs the honour to make vs mainteyners of his trueth, as though he made vs a solemne commission of it.