Sermons upon Deuteronomy

let not the great ones which have superiority use any lordliness in reigning after their own will, but let them govern their subjects as their household with all gentleness & courtesy, in such sort as God who is the father of all, may have highest preeminence, & be honoured as he deserveth. Thus ye see in effect, that the thing which we have to mark in this sentence, is that every of us should look to himself, & yield them right which are not able to demand it, but are after such a sort in our subjection, as they cannot open their mouths to complain of us. Let us not •arie till their complaint & cry mount up to heaven; but let us prevent that, & let us of our selves be inclined to pity & gentleness. That is the thing which our Lord aimed at in this sentence.

let not the great ones which haue superioritie vse any lordlines in reigning after their own will, but let them gouerne their subiectes as their houshold with all gentlenes & curtesie, in such sort as God who is the father of all, may haue highest preheminence, & bee honored as he deserueth. Thus ye see in effect, yt the thing which we haue to marke in this sentence, is that euery of vs should look to himself, & yeeld them right which are not able to demaund it, but are after such a sort in our subiection, as they cannot open their mouthes to complaine of vs. Let vs not •arie til their complaint & crye mount vp to heauen; but let vs preuent that, & let vs of our selues be inclyned to pitie & gentlenes. That is ye thing which our Lord aimed at in this sentence.

Now he addeth a promise unto it, to the end we should be the better provoked to do that which he biddeth us. For although we feel our slackness in doing our duty to be such, as our own conscience findeth fault with it: yet doeth self profit so blind us and besot us, that we cannot be won to open our purses, and to give liberally of the things which seem to belong unto us. Now then, God perceiving us to be so wedded to our own profit, that a man can not wring any thing from us, but by main force: addeth here, that if we use liberality towards those that are under us, he on his side will bless us, & increase us the more for it. Surely, if there were any faith or right belief in the world, should not this promise inflame us, & move us to pity and compassion towards those that are in distress, to succour them and to help them? And although that mention be made here peculiarly of bondservants; and that God command some reward to be given unto them: Yet is it a general law of courteous liberality. Seeing it is so, let us mark, that if we strain our selves to do good to such as are in need, we ought to hope for Gods blessing, and