Sermons upon Deuteronomy

And hereby we be warned to look nearly to our selves, that every of us may put forth the good things which God hath committed unto him. Here is mention made but only of Corn, Wine, and such other things. Then if God have enriched a man, he must see that he suppress not Gods blessing, by keeping it close. For we see there are Cormorants which have no care of otherfolkes poverty: they think they may scrape all that they can come by, and that no man ought to have any part of their goods. On the contrary part it is declared here, that accordingly as every man hath received abundance at Gods hand, so must he impart unto his neighbours: for that is the end which God aimeth at. And if we think not of it, we must come to account for it: and we shall find at length, that God will impute it to us for theft, when we shall have devoured his goods after that fashion, without having any pity upon the needy to succour them. In like case is it with spiritual gifts. For according as every man is of ability and skill to succour his neighbours, so is he bound to discharge himself and to put himself forward. Otherwise GOD will show us to what purpose he had bestowed his benefits upon us, and that we have failed in our duty. That is the thing which we have to bear away in that Moses allegeth Gods blessing to stir up the Jews to offer sacrifice the more largely, after as God shall have increased them, knowing that he bindeth them thereby unto him.

And hereby wee bee warned to looke neerely to our selues, that euerie of vs may put forth the good thinges which God hath committed vnto him. Here is mention made but onely of Corne, Wine, and such other thinges. Then if God haue inriched a man, hee must see that hee suppresse not Gods blessing, by keeping it close. For wee see there are Cormorantes which haue no care of otherfolkes pouertie: they thinke they may scrape all that they can come by, and that no man ought to haue any parte of their goods. On the contrarie part it is declared here, that accordingly as euerie man hath receiued aboundance at Gods hande, so must hee impart vnto his neighbours: for that is the ende which God ameth at. And if wee thinke not of it, we must come to account for it: and wee shall finde at length, that God will impute it to vs for theft, when wee shall haue deuoured his goods after yt fashion, without hauing anie pitie vppon the needie to succour them. In like case is it with spirituall giftes. For according as euerie man is of abilitie and skill to succour his neighbours, so is hee bounde to discharge himselfe and to put himselfe forwarde. Otherwise GOD will shewe vs to what purpose hee had bestowed his benefites vppon vs, and that wee haue fayled in our duetie. That is the thing which wee haue to beare away in that Moses alleadgeth Gods blessing to stirre vp the Iewes to offer sacrifice ye more largely, after as God shall haue increased them, knowing that hee bindeth them thereby vnto him.