Sermons upon Deuteronomy

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 ⟨p. 595⟩that the more liberal men be in succouring their neighbours, the more will God show himself liberal towards them again. And so far off are they from diminishing themselves by their giving to the needy; that it is as the opening of a window for Gods grace to rain in at, to the greater increase of their wealth. That is the cause why I said, that if there were but one drop of faith among us, we would be inflamed after another fashion to do good. But we be locked §10up, and every man withholdeth that which he hath, insomuch that when we should give, we think the earth must needs fail us. Whereby we show ourselves to have no trust in God. So then, let us mark well this text, wherein our Lord to soften our hard hearts and to induce us to compassion, saith that according to our pitying of the poor and needy, by relieving their necessities: he also on his side will have regard thereof, & multiply us a hundred fold more by his blessing,§20 than ever we could have increased ourselves by our own covetousness & nigardship. Insomuch that we shall set open a window (as I said afore) for Gods grace that is offered us, if we succour those that have need of our help.

Now he addeth a promise vnto it, to the ende we shoulde bee the better prouoked to doe that which hee biddeth vs. For although wee feele our slackenesse in doing our duetie to bee such, as our owne conscience findeth fault with it: yet doeth selfe profite so blinde vs and besot vs, that wee cannot bee wunne to open our purses, and to giue liberally of the things which seeme to belong vnto vs. Now then, God perceiuing vs to be so wedded to our owne profit, that a man can not wring any thing from vs, but by maine force: addeth here, that if wee vse liberalitie towardes those yt are vnder vs, he on his side wil blesse vs, & increase vs the more for it. Surely, if there were any faith or rightbeleefe in ye world, shoulde not this promise inflame vs, & moue vs to pitie and compassion towardes those that are in distresse, to succour them and to helpe them? And although that mention bee made here peculiarly of bondseruauntes; and that God commaund some rewarde to bee giuen vnto them: Yet is it a generall lawe of courteous liberalitie. Seeing it is so, let vs marke, that if wee straine our selues to doe good to such as are in neede, wee ought to hope for Gods blessing, and