Sermons upon Deuteronomy

But let us mark well, that the Church shall not always be visible so as we shall perceive it. It shall seem [now and then] that all is come to nought: Like as when God made the people to turn back again, he said unto them, Get ye into the wilderness towards the red Sea, as though they should have returned again into Egypt. Here is such a great confusion, as it might well seem that he minded not any more that the land of Canaan should be given for an heritage unto those to whom it was promised. Ye see then that for a time it seemed that God had falsified his promise, and that there was not any more hope that the children of Abraham should have entered into the place that was promised them. Even so shall it fall out with us, as in deed it is come to pass. For when God withdraweth his light out of the world: it will seem that there is no more any Church at all. If a man look round about him, he shall see that all is gone to havoc. And in good faith, what desolation was there in the time of Popery? Yea and even still at this day, a man might think that all should go to ruin and decay. But let us mark, that it is all one as if God should cause those to go back again which are not worthy to go forward: and that yet notwithstanding, he ceaseth not to hold on in such wise, as his Church shall still be maintained and preserved. Howbeit, not that the same can be discerned with the eye, or perceived by man: but we must shut our eyes, until our Lord do work after his own manner, that is to say wonderfully beyond all our expectation, and beyond all that we be able to conceive. Thus you see how we may comfort our selves in this, that although we see it is not possible but that God must not cast some horrible punishment ⟨p. 45⟩in these days upon mens wickedness: yet nevertheless he will always reserve some people to himself, so as the thing that he speaketh by his Prophet Joel shall be seen continually.¹ Though heaven and earth (saith he) do go together, though the sun be darkened, though the moon drop blood, though the stars lose their light, and though the earth remove: yet for all that whosoever calleth upon the name of the Lord, shall be saved: GOD will §10preserve them whom he hath chosen to call upon him:

But let vs marke well, that the Churche shall not alwayes be visible so as wee shall perceiue it. It shall seeme [nowe and then] that all is come to nought: Like as when God made the people to turne backe againe, he said vnto them, Get ye into the wildernesse towardes the red Sea, as though they should haue returned againe into Egypt. Here is such a great confusion, as it might well seeme that he minded not any more that the land of Chanaan shoulde bee giuen for an heritage vnto those to whom it was promised. Ye see then that for a time it seemed that God had falsified his promise, and that there was not any more hope that the children of Abraham should haue entered into the place that was promised them. Euen so shall it fall out with vs, as in deede it is come to passe. For when God withdraweth his light out of the worlde: it will seeme that there is no more any Church at all. If a man looke round about him, he shall see that all is gone to hauocke. And in good faith, what desolation was there in the time of Poperie? Yea and euen still at this day, a man myght thinke that all shoulde goe to ruine and decaye. But let vs marke, that it is all one as if God shoulde cause those to goe backe againe which are not woorthie to goe forewarde: and that yet notwithstanding, he ceasseth not to holde on in such wise, as his Churche shall still bee maintained and preserued. Howbeit, not that the same can bee discerned with the eye, or perceiued by man: but wee must shut our eyes, vntill our Lord doe worke after his owne maner, that is to say wonderfully beyond all our expectation, and beyond all that we bee able to conceiue. Thus you see howe wee may comfort our selues in this, that although wee see it is not possible but yt God must not cast some horrible punishment