Sermons upon Deuteronomy

Our nature (I say) is so bent to superstition, that if God forbid a thing, in deed we dare not do it with intent to resist him, but we seek some other byway, so as GOD shall be disappointed, and never have the thing that he demandeth. As for example, the Christians which bear that name, take not upon them the very superstitions of the Idolaters as they term them; but yet they follow the self same in deed with a little disguising of them, and so they bear themselves in hand that god espies them not at all. The Idolaters carried bread and drink to the graves of the dead, bearing themselves in hand that the souls were fed therewith; and they carried thither lights to the intent to glad them. Now the Papists have thought this to be too great an absurdity. But what for that? They offer up bread, & wine, and candles, and money at their Masses; and the souls departed (say they) shall find relief by it. Verily if it be replied that the superstition of the Papists is not all one with the superstition of the heathen: in deed there is some difference betwixt them. But to what end do they so, but to content GOD with some new exchange? For (as I said) it is a thing rooted in mans nature. And we ought to mark it well: for we would soon fall into it, if we were not restrained by Gods word, as by a short and rough bridle. And all cometh from out of this spring, that we will not serve GOD as he requireth, but by a sort of Ceremonies I wot not what. And when we have once made some show of devotion; we bear our selves in hand that he is well appeased, and that he ought not to press us any further. And thus ye see that the cause why men in all ages have toiled themselves so much in the serving of God, and have invented so many trifling things: is that they will needs pay him in such coin, because they were loath to deal uprightly and faithfully with him. God requireth our hearts:¹ & if he possess not them, all the rest is nothing worth. Now we be full of hypocrisy, and we be not willing to discover our back nooks which are full of dissimulation, malice, and rebellion, but would always keep them still to our selves. And yet in the mean season we pretend a marvellous holiness with our eyes, our feet, and our hands.

Our nature (I say) is so bent to superstition, that if God forbid a thing, in deede wee dare not doe it with intent to resist him, but wee seeke some other byway, so as GOD shall bee disappointed, and neuer haue the thing that hee demaundeth. As for example, the Christians which beare that name, take not vpon them the very superstitions of ye Idolaters as they terme them; but yet they followe the selfe same in deede with a little disguising of them, and so they beare themselues in hande that god espies them not at all. The Idolaters caryed bread and drinke to the graues of the dead, bearing themselues in hand that the soules were fed therewith; and they caryed thither lightes to the intent to glad them. Nowe the Papistes haue thought this to be too great an absurditie. But what for that? They offer vp bread, & wine, and candles, and monie at their Masses; and the soules departed (say they) shall finde releefe by it. Verily if it bee replyed that the superstition of the Papistes is not all one with the superstition of the heathen: in deede there is some difference betwixt them. But to what ende do they so, but to content GOD with some newe exchaunge? For (as I sayde) it is a thing rooted in mans nature. And wee ought to marke it well: for wee woulde soone fall into it, if wee were not restrayned by Gods woorde, as by a short and rough brydle. And all commeth from out of this spring, that wee will not serue GOD as he requireth, but by a sorte of Ceremonies I wote not what. And when wee haue once made some shewe of deuotion; wee beare our selues in hand that he is well appeased, and that he ought not to presse vs any further. And thus ye see that the cause why men in all ages haue toyled themselues so much in the seruing of God, and haue inuented so many trifling things: is that they will needes paye him in such coyne, bicause they were loath to deale vprightly and faythfully with him. God requireth our hearts: