Sermons upon Deuteronomy

And it is said, that all that ever is in the City must be brought together on a heap, and set on fire, & be taken as a cursed thing, and be made a sacrifice unto God. Here Moses showeth how hateful a thing idolatry is, and consequently whatsoever overthroweth the true service of God and the pure religion: and that is done to move men so much the more. But [you will say, that] when such a fault is committed, the City it self, the cattle, and the houses are not to be blamed for it. And why then will GOD have all to be destroyed? It is to the end that folk should learn to abhor idolatry the more, that we might understand that the wicked folks whom Satan driveth to give themselves to idolatry are so little to be borne with, that we must even abhor the very place where they have dwelled, yea and the very sight of them, and think with ourselves, behold, this is a place wherein Gods wrath hath been provoked, and that was enough to have sunk us all to hell. We see then whereat God aimed. For he knew that we see now with our eyes; namely that we have not such zeal to maintain his glory, as we ought to have, we pass not for it, every man is occupied about his own gain, and about the things that concern himself. Now because we be so cold, God on the other side quickeneth us up, and telleth us that the corrupting of his service is a great misdeed, yea and so horrible a thing, as might make the hairs to stand stiff upon our heads. That is one point which we ought to mark.

And it is sayde, that all that euer is in the Citie must be brought together on a heape, and set on fire, & be taken as a cursed thing, and be made a sacrifice vnto God. Heere Moses sheweth howe hatefull a thing ydolatrie is, and consequently whatsoeuer ouerthroweth the true seruice of God and the pure religion: and that is done to moue men so much the more. But [you will say, that] when such a fault is committed, the Citie it selfe, the cattell, and the houses are not to be blamed for it. And why then will GOD haue all to be destroyed? It is to the ende that folke shoulde learne to abhorre ydolatrie the more, that wee might vnderstand that the wicked folkes whom Satan dryueth to giue themselues to ydolatrie are so little to be borne with, that we must euen abhorre the verie place where they haue dwelled, yea and the verie sight of them, and thinke with ourselues, beholde, this is a place wherein Gods wrath hath beene prouoked, and that was ynough to haue soonke vs all to hell. Wee see then whereat God aimed. For hee knewe that we see nowe with our eyes; namely that we haue not such zeale to maintaine his glorie, as wee ought to haue, we passe not for it, euerie man is occupied about his owne gaine, and about the thinges that concerne himselfe. Nowe because we be so colde, God on the other side quickneth vs vp, and telleth vs that the corrupting of his seruice is a great misdeede, yea and so horrible a thing, as might make the hayres to stand stiffe vpon our heades. That is one point which wee ought to marke.