Sermons upon Deuteronomy

And as touching this promise, it was restrained for that time to the people of Israel. But nowadays, forasmuch as Gods promises are common to all men because he hath showed himself to be the father indifferently of all men: let us understand that our Lord declareth here in general, that if we fear him and keep his commandments, he will bless us and make us to prosper: And this promise must be referred to the circumstance of the place. For we see how covetousness provoketh us to catch what we can from our neighbours, because we be ever afraid of want. O (say we) If I may not have mine own, what a thing were it? True it is that our Lord doeth indeed permit every man to have his right: but yet must not every man be so given over to himself and to his own profit, that he should have no regard to spare those whom he holdeth as his underlings. For whosoever hath no regard of him that standeth at his mercy; surely he can find in his heart, not only to live upon the parties labour, but also even to suck his blood. If I bereave a man of the mean whereby he should follow his little trade, so as he is brought utterly under foot: it is all one as if I maimed him in his body, so as I made him to pine away all his life after. So then let us mark well, that as touching this promise, our Lord had an eye to the eagerness which every of us hath to draw to himself. And why do we so? Because we be afraid least we should want. And therefore our Lord saith, No, make more account of my blessing than of all that ever ye can gather. When ye have used all the craft and force ye can devise to fish to your selves by hook & by crook, and when ye have gathered never so huge a heap of goods together all that shall not boot you so much as my blessing, that I multiply you and give you so much as shall suffice to maintain you withal. And although ye have not so great store of things at once, as you could find in your hearts to wish: yet will I make the things available which ye have in your hands. And if it be but little, yet shall it be so enlarged, that ye shall live at your case, Now we see what Gods meaning is.

And as touching this promise, it was restreined for that time to ye people of Israel. But nowadayes, forasmuch as Gods promises are common to all men because hee hath shewed himselfe to be the father indifferently of all men: let vs vnderstand that our Lorde declareth here in general, that if we feare him and keepe his commandements, hee will blesse vs and make vs to prosper: And this promise must bee referred to the circumstance of the place. For wee see howe couetousnesse prouoketh vs to catch what wee can from our neighbours, because we be euer afraid of want. O (say we) If I may not haue mine owne, what a thing were it? True it is that our Lorde doeth indeede permit euery man to haue his right: but yet must not euery man bee so giuen ouer to himselfe and to his own profite, that he should haue no regarde to spare those whom he holdeth as his vnderlings. For whosoeuer hath no regard of him that standeth at his mercie; surely he can finde in his heart, not onely to liue vppon the parties labour, but also euen to sucke his bloud. If I bereaue a man of the meane whereby hee should followe his little trade, so as he is brought vtterly vnder foote: it is all one as if I maimed him in his body, so as I made him to pine away all his life after. So then let vs marke well, that as touching this promise, our Lord had an eye to the eagernesse which euery of vs hath to draw to himselfe. And why do wee so? Because we be afraide least we should want. And therefore our Lord saith, No, make more account of my blessing than of all that euer ye can gather. When ye haue vsed al the craft and force ye can deuise to fish to your selues by hooke & by crook, and when yee haue gathered neuer so howge a heape of goods together al that shal not boote you so much as my blessing, that I multiplie you and giue you so much as shall suffice to maintaine you withall. And although yee haue not so greate store of thinges at once, as you coulde finde in your heartes to wish: yet will I make the thinges auailable which yee haue in your handes. And if it bee but little, yet shall it be so inlarged, that yee shall liue at your case, Now wee see what Gods meaning is.