Sermons upon Deuteronomy

Have not we the temple where he is worshipped? We see then that the Jews did falsely abuse Gods name, to advance themselves against him and his word. And this is reported of the Jews: but yet we may see the like in our selves. For all they to whom God hath done so much honour as to give them his word and to manifest himself unto them, do imagine that they have him as it were in their sleeve: & yet for all that, in stead of profiting themselves by Gods so gentle alluring of them unto him, they set themselves against all good doctrine, they cannot find in their hearts to bear any yoke, they will needs be as wild beasts, and yet in the mean while they will needs have God to avow them to be of his flock. But here we see, that although God had as then set up his seat among the Jews, and made a covenant with them to be their Saviour unto the end: yet when he saw they were not meet to have him, but that they drew clean back, and ceased not to spite him: he found the means to punish them, yea and that in such sort, as all those things went to nought, and yet he himself abode soothfast, notwithstanding their destruction. And therefore let us not deceive our selves. When God hath once taken us to him to be of his household, and adopted us to be his children: let us not sooth our selves in our vices, but consider how it standeth us on hand to walk so much the more awfully, when God hath showed himself so bountiful towards us, and that forasmuch as he hath uttered his goodness in such wise, it is good reason that we on our part being so much beholden unto him, should look well about us and endeavour to give our selves wholly to his service, and be so loth to offend him, as we may also be afraid to be bereft of the grace that he hath once bestowed upon us. Mark that for one point.

Haue not wee the temple where he is worshipped? Wee see then that the Iewes did falsely abuse Gods name, to aduaunce themselues against him and his word. And this is reported of the Iewes: but yet wee may see the like in our selues. For all they to whom God hath done so much honour as to giue them his word and to manifest himselfe vnto them, doe imagin that they haue him as it were in their sleeue: & yet for all that, in stead of profiting themselues by Gods so gentle alluring of them vnto him, they set themselues against all good doctrine, they cannot finde in their heartes to beare any yoke, they will needes bee as wilde beastes, and yet in the meane while they will needes haue God to auow them to be of his flocke. But here wee see, that although God had as then set vp his seat among the Iewes, and made a couenant with them to bee their Sauiour vnto the ende: yet when he sawe they were not meete to haue him, but that they drew cleane backe, and ceassed not to spite him: he found the meanes to punishe them, yea and that in such sort, as all those things went to nought, and yet he himself abode soothfast, notwithstanding their destruction. And therfore let vs not deceiue our selues. When God hath once taken vs to him to be of his houshold, and adopted vs to be his children: let vs not sooth our selues in our vices, but consider how it stādeth vs on hand to walke so much the more awefully, when God hath shewed himselfe so bountifull towardes vs, and that forasmuch as he hath vttred his goodnes in such wise, it is good reason that wee on our part being so much beholden vnto him, should looke well about vs and indeuour to giue our selues wholly to his seruice, and be so loth to offend him, as we may also be afraide to be bereft of the grace that he hath once bestowed vpon vs. Marke that for one point.