Sermons upon Deuteronomy

Whereby we be done to understand, that dainties do keep us from the dew consideration of Gods benefits, to be ravished by them. For although it be said, Thou shalt be merry before thy God:¹ yet are we continually held back in this world, when we have some allurement to withdraw us from God. For if our flesh have her likings, then are we overtaken in such sort, that we sty not up aloft to behold well the spiritual grace of God. Thus ye see that the cause why the bitter herbs were put to the sacrifice, was to make men to consider the better after what manner the people had been delivered, being erst in so extreme anguish as they were not able to endure any more.

Whereby we be done to vnderstande, that deinties doe keepe vs from the dewe consideration of Gods benefites, to be rauished by them. For although it bee sayde, Thou shalt be merrie before thy God:¹ yet are we continually helde backe in this worlde, when we haue some allurement to withdrawe vs frō God. For if our fleshe haue her likinges, then are wee ouertaken in such sorte, that we stye not vp aloft to beholde well the spiritual grace of God. Thus yee see that the cause why the bitter herbes were put to the sacrifice, was to make men to consider the better after what manner the people hadde beene deliuered, beeing erst in so extreeme anguish as they were not able to endure any more.

1. 1De•.

Besides this,¹ they were also forbidden to admit any heathen man to it, unless he were circumcised. True it is that God commanded that the bondmen being strangers borne should eat thereof. Yea, but that was not before they were first incorporated into his Church by receiving the sign of circumcision. Hereby it is done us to understand, that it was a peculiar token given of God to his own people. For Sacraments are peculiar to the Church. They be no things for men to put to unholy uses, nor to leave at at adventure. For our Lord will have us to be gathered together under his name. When we use the Sacraments, let us think thus with our selves, Behold here is a treasure that God hath kept and laid up for us as for his children. And in deed, if a man should nowadays admit as many to the Lords Supper as would offer to come to it: were it not a defiling of the Sacrament? And yet there are a number to be seen, which would have all men indifferently both tag and rag to be admitted to it: but such folks never wist yet how to use the Sacraments aright. For (as shall be declared hereafter) the Supper of our Lord Jesus Christ is to us at this day the same that the Paschal Lamb was, to the people of the Jews. Wherefore let us mark in few words, how our Lord hath showed that this Sacrament was a warrant given of him to his people, that he took them to be his Church, and therefore that it ought not to be set forth at adventure to all comers. True it is that Circumcision likewise was a Sacrament: but there was diversity of respects between the one and the other. For by circumcision, folk were received into the number of Gods people, so as it was an entrance into the Church as Baptism is at this day: by means whereof such as by nature are not numbered in the company of Gods children, are received and incorporated into them by Baptism. And so stood the case with the Jews for circumcision: But as for the Paschal Lamb, that was to be kept to the Jews themselves.