Sermons upon Deuteronomy

And by the way let us mark, that Gods will was to hold the people of old time in obedience that they might know how it is not for men to take such liberty and licence as they list, but that they must receive it at his hand. To be short, let us not attempt any thing in all our whole life, except we know it to be acceptable to our God. When we have leave of him, then may we well go forward: but if he say it not; then let us be still. And indeed although this prohibition were not put in writing; yet had God put a difference afore between clean beasts and unclean beasts, as we may easily perceive by that which is written of Noah.¹ God commanded him to make sacrifice after the flood. And whereof? Was it of all beasts in general? No: Neither had he reserved so great a number of the unclean beasts as of the clean, and that was by reason of sacrificing. Then was there a difference already even at that time. And whereof proceeded that? Had men devised it of their own brain? No. And therefore let us mark how God reserved to himself the prerogative of putting difference between the beasts that were clean and the beasts that were unclean, to the intent that men should know that it is not for them to live as they list, & to have the bridle loose in all things; but that it behooveth them to look upward to hearken what God giveth them leave to do. And when he giveth them leave; then let them use their liberty, or else let them keep themselves still. Ye see here a doctrine that is as profitable as that which we have touched already: for we see how men burst forth into such disorder, & with so great headiness, that they have no mind at all to use Gods benefits according to his meaning. Ye shall not find one among a thousand that will consider with him self whether God giveth him leave to do a thing or no. But men rush out into all disorder, as though they had leave to do what they list. Now then seeing we be so lewd and unkind that we fall to thrusting our groynes into things like swine, and consider not from whence the benefits ⟨p. 558⟩come: good cause have we to remember this doctrine, wherein it is showed us that even from the beginning of the world, GOD did put a difference between the clean beasts and the unclean. And let us understand, that although the ceremony continue not any longer nowadays;

And by the way let vs marke, that Gods wil was to holde the people of olde time in obedience that they might knowe howe it is not for men to take such libertie and licence as they list, but that they must receiue it at his hande. To bee short, let vs not attempte any thing in al our whole life, except wee knowe it to be acceptable to our God. When wee haue leaue of him, then may we well goe forwarde: but if hee say it not; then let vs be still. And indeede although this prohibition were not put in writing; yet had God put a difference afore betweene cleane beastes and vncleane beastes, as we may easily perceiue by that which is written of Noe.