Sermons upon Deuteronomy

And yet nevertheless it is said expressly, That the Jews in keeping this feast should be merry, & also make other men merry with them. Whereby we see that we ought not to be sad, though our Lord make us to waste away by little & little. Or rather he showeth us that he will not have us to make any oversumptuous building here below, but that we should be contented with our lodgings of boughs which will soon rot. Sith it is so, we must not be sorry, but rather rejoice in our God. And it is a very profitable point and well worthy to be noted. For it may be that some man will be sufficiently warned to depart out of this world, in that he sees himself sick, or in that some strange mishaps befall him: by reason whereof he thinks upon death over often, and doth nothing but mourn, desiring to be dispatched at the first push. Such are to be seen: but yet for all that, their departing is not without sorrowing. For what joy can they have, except they know that God draggeth them through the world of purpose to lift them up to heaven to the company of the Angels? If they know not that, surely they shall have their harts always distressed with anguish and grief, accordingly as we see how the unbelievers repine, and never commit themselves to GOD, but murmur and grudge against God. And although their mouth speak not, yet have they no gladness nor rest in their harts. Then let us learn to keep the feast of Tabernacles after such a sort, as we may be merry in the Lord: that is to wit, as it may not grieve us that our bodies should consume away by little and little, until they be turned again into rottenness; or that our Lord should cut us quite off from our bodies, & utterly dispossess & bereave us of all that ever we have in this world. For why? He doth it to draw us up to heaven. Therefore let us go joyfully, and let our hart be enlarged to give our selves wholly to our God. That (say I) is the thing which we have to do.

And yet neuertheles it is said expresly, That the Iewes in keeping this feast should be merry, & also make other men merry with them. Whereby we see yt we ought not to be sad, though our Lord make vs to waste away by litle & litle. Or rather hee sheweth vs yt he will not haue vs to make anie ouersūptuous building here below, but yt we shold be contēted with our lodgings of boughs which wil soon rot. Sith it is so, we must not be sory, but rather reioyce in our God. And it is a very profitable point and well worthy to bee noted. For it may be yt some man wil be sufficiently warned to depart out of this world, in yt he sees himself sick, or in yt som strange mishaps befal him: by reason whereof he thinkes vpon death oueroften, and doth nothing but mourne, desiring to be dispatched at the first push. Such are to bee seene: but yet for al that, their departing is not without sorowing. For what ioy can they haue, except they know that God draggeth them through ye world of purpose to lift them vp to heauen to the companie of the Angels? If they know not that, surely they shal haue their harts alwayes distressed with anguish and greefe, accordingly as we see how the vnbeleeuers repine, and neuer commit themselues to GOD, but murmur and grudge against God. And although their mouth speake not, yet haue they no gladnes nor rest in their harts. Then let vs learne to keepe ye feast of Tabernacles after such a sort, as we may be merrie in the Lord: that is to wit, as it may not greeue vs that our bodies should consume away by litle and litle, vntil they be turned again into rottennesse; or that our Lord should cut vs quite off frō our bodies, & vtterly dispossesse & bereaue vs of all yt euer we haue in this world. For why? Hee doth it to draw vs vp to heauen. Therefore let vs goe ioyfully, and let our hart be inlarged to giue our selues wholy to our God. That (say I) is the thing which we haue to doe.