Sermons upon Deuteronomy

But besides this, we must also mark Gods upbraiding of the people, with their saying that their young children should be a pray to their enemies. They (saith he) shall possess the land, yea even to the intent that you may be proved liars. Here it behoveth us to mark well, that when men will needs doubt of Gods trueth, they must in the end be found liars, and Gods trueth shine forth the brighter to their shame. Now hereby we be warned to receive simply the promises that GOD offereth us. And although it seem at the first blush that they should never be accomplished, & that there be a number of impediments to hinder them: yet must we do him the honour to believe that he is faithful, and to abide patiently for the convenient time of his performance of the thing that he hath said. For if we gain say his truth, and murmur, and fall to questioning and disputing, with how can this be? is it possible? God seemeth to mock us: I say, if we go that way to work: Well may he perform his promise for all that: but it shall be to our shame, so as we shall always be found liars. We may well triumph for a time, as we see the unbelievers do, which malapertly despise God, spewing out their blasphemies against him: but yet in the end God shall continue faithful, and his trueness shall be known spite of our teeth, and therewithal we shall be put to shame. And therefore let us beware of it, and that we may beware of it, let us mark well how the Jews are upbraided with it here. Ye have said that your children shall be made a pray: but they shall enjoy the land, and you shall be set beside it.

But besides this, wee must also marke Gods vpbrayding of the people, with their saying that their yong children shoulde be a pray to their enemies. They (saith he) shall possesse the lande, yea euen to the intent that you may be proued lyers. Heere it behoueth vs to marke well, that when men will needes doubt of Gods trueth, they must in the ende be founde lyers, and Gods trueth shine forth the brighter to their shame. Nowe hereby wee bee warned to receiue simplie the promises that GOD offereth vs. And although it seeme at the first blush that they shold neuer be accomplished, & that there be a number of impediments to hinder them: yet must we doe him the honour to beleeue that he is faithfull, and to abide patiently for the conuenient time of his performance of the thing that hee hath said. For if we gaine say his truth, and murmure, and fall to questioning and disputing, with howe can this be? is it possible? God seemeth to mocke vs: I say, if we go that way to worke: Well may hee performe his promise for all that: but it shalbe to our shame, so as wee shall alwayes bee founde lyers. Wee may well triumph for a time, as we see the vnbeleeuers doe, which malapertly despise God, spewing out their blasphemies against him: but yet in the ende God shall continue faithfull, and his trewnesse shalbe knowen spite of our teeth, and therewithall we shalbee put to shame. And therefore let vs beware of it, and that wee may beware of it, let vs marke well howe the Iewes are vpbrayded with it here. Yee haue saide that your children shall bee made a pray: but they shall inioy the land, and you shalbe set beside it.