Sermons upon Deuteronomy

As for the word Person, I have expounded it elsewhere:¹ namely that we must not respect §60whether a man be rich or poor, great or small, a stranger or a neighbour, and such other like things. For the word person signifieth another thing here, than is meant by it in our common speech, when we say, There is a person, that is to say, there is a man or one of mankind. For in this place the word which Moses useth in Hebrew, signifieth a face, visage, or countenance. We must not then regard the countenance. And what is meant by that? The things that are seen, the states of men, and their outward show. And the word Show expresseth the meaning of Moses well enough. Then must thou not rest upon the outward show. For if I see a man poor, I despise him; if I see him rich, I honour him; if I see a man of authority, I stand in fear of him; if I see a wretched abject, I make no account of him, but rather hold scorn of him. See how the outward show here marreth all. I see a man that is able to pleasure me; O, I will incline to him, that he may pleasure me again. I see another that can do me neither good nor harm; O, it skills not how he speed. Again, I see one by whose hurt I may advantage my self: I will do it. And why? Because my mind looks no further but to the outward show. Now we see the meaning of Moses, and I have spoken of it already in the first Chapter of this book: howbeit it is not for nought that the holy Ghost maketh rehearsal of it again here.

As for the worde Person, I haue expounded it elsewhere:¹ namely that wee must not respect §60whether a man bee riche or poore, great or small, a straunger or a neighbour, and such other like thinges. For the woord person signifieth another thing heere, than is ment by it in our common speech, when we say, There is a person, that is to say, there is a man or one of mankind. For in this place the worde which Moses vseth in Hebrew, signifieth a face, visage, or countenaunce. Wee must not then regarde the countenance. And what is ment by that? The things that are seene, the states of men, and their outwarde showe. And the worde Showe expresseth the meaning of Moses well ynough. Then must thou not rest vppon the outwarde showe. For if I see a man poore, I despise him; if I see him riche, I honour him; if I see a man of authoritie, I stand in feare of him; if I see a wretched abiect, I make no accoūt of him, but rather holde skorne of him. See howe the outwarde showe here marreth all. I see a man that is able to pleasure mee; O, I will incline to him, that he may pleasure mee againe. I see another that can doe mee neither good nor harme; O, it skils not howe he speede. Againe, I see one by whose hurt I may aduauntage my selfe: I will doe it. And why? Bicause my minde lookes no further but to the outward showe. Nowe wee see the meaning of Moses, and I haue spoken of it alreadie in the first Chapter of this booke: howbeit it is not for nought that the holy Ghost maketh rehearsall of it againe here.