Sermons upon Deuteronomy

But now let us see what our unthankfulness is. For hath there passed any day since our coming into the world, wherein God hath not assisted us a thousand ways? yea and did we not find him a father, before we knew him, yea and even before we came out of our mothers womb? How should the child be nourished in the mothers womb when he is there as in a grave, unless God uttered a wonderful goodness therein? Be we once entered into the world? behold, we be hemmed in round about with miseries. Could we pass over one minute of an hour, if God showed not himself to have a continual care of us? Now then seeing that our God hath uttered himself unto us so many ways: is there any excuse for us if we be still in doubt and distrust of him, so as we cannot lean unto him? Again let every man look upon himself [how God hath dealt with him particularly.] For besides the common course of this worldly life, and the things that are ordinary to all men, every man ought to consider thus: Go to, I have bin in such a danger and in such a necessity, and god hath helped me. How hath he wrought with me unto this day? Hath it bin long of my self that I have not bin undone and destroyed a hundred thousand times? was it through mine own power, that I have bin preserved? No. Then must it needs be that I had his help to save me, during the time that I was as good as senseless. And afterward he showed me the like favour again, when I had not yet any discretion to acknowledge it and to honour him for it. Now if I have received so many benefits of him: ought I not to hope that he will continue to do so to me still hereafter? Let every man then bethink him of the benefits that he hath received at Gods hand, as well for his soul as for his body: and then shall we be sufficiently convicted, that he hath poured out the riches of his goodness upon us, and that in such sort, as we may well trust in him, that he will never forsake us nor put us out of mind. After this manner must we put this text in ure, where Moses speaketh to the Jews and saith thus: consider what you have found at the hand of your God unto this hour. How hath he dealt with you? how mightily hath he overmastered the land of Egypt, and delivered you from the bondage wherein you were?

But nowe let vs see what our vnthankefulnesse is. For hath there passed any day since our comming into the worlde, wherein God hath not assisted vs a thousand wayes? yea and did we not finde him a father, before we knew him, yea and euen before wee came out of our mothers wombe? How should the childe be nourished in the mothers womb whē he is there as in a graue, vnlesse God vttered a wōderful goodnesse therin? Be we once entered into the world? behold, wee be hemmed in round about with miseries. Could we passe ouer one minute of an houre, if God shewed not himselfe to haue a continuall care of vs? Now then seeing that our God hath vttered himselfe vnto vs so manie wayes: is there any excuse for vs if wee be still in doubt and distrust of him, so as wee cannot leane vnto him? Againe let euery man looke vpon himselfe [how God hath dealt with him particularly.] For besides the common course of this worldly lyfe, and the thinges that are ordinarie to all men, euery man ought to consider thus: Go to, I haue bin in such a daunger and in such a necessitie, and god hath helped me. How hath he wrought with me vnto this day? Hath it bin long of my selfe that I haue not bin vndone and destroyed a hundred thowsand times? was it through mine own power, that I haue bin preserued? No. Then must it needes be that I had his helpe to saue me, during the time that I was as good as senselesse. And afterward he shewed me the lyke fauour againe, when I had not yet any discretion to acknowledge it and to honor him for it. Now if I haue receiued so many benefites of him: ought I not to hope that he will continue to doe so to me still hereafter? Let euery man then bethinke him of the benefites that he hath receiued at Gods hand, as well for his soule as for his body: and then shall wee be sufficiently conuicted, that he hath powred out the riches of his goodnesse vppon vs, and that in such sorte, as we may well trust in him, that he will neuer forsake vs nor put vs out of minde. After this maner must wee put this text in vre, where Moses speaketh to the Iewes and sayth thus: consider what you haue found at the hand of your God vnto this houre. How hath hee dealt with you? how mightily hath he ouermaistred the lād of Egypt, and deliuered you from the bondage wherein you were?