Sermons upon Deuteronomy

And herein we see how our Lord who knoweth our diseases, or deineth immediately meet & convenient remedies for the same. What remaineth then but that we on our side enter into examination of our selves, and every of us search himself narrowly? For the thing that maketh us so bold to tempt God, is that none of us entereth §60into himself, to look nearly to his own vices and infirmities. But if we had the discretion to bethink our selves, we would consider thus, Alas, I need not any thing to pervert me, I am as frail already as may be: though there were no occasion at all to surprise me, I would seek occasion of my self. And what will I do then when I meet with any evil occasion, or any cause of misdealing? I shall stumble and fall flat down. So then, if we advise our selves well of our vices: it is certain that we would seek all the helps that could be to preserve our selves. But seeing that God preventeth us, and on the one side showeth us how feeble and weak we be; and that on the other side, whereas we might fall into such mischief and inconvenience, he provideth for it and saith, My friends, true it is that ye be subject to evil, but the way for you to be preserved from it, is to abstain from such a thing, and to take such a remedy: seeing (I say) that God speaketh so familiarly unto us, if we refuse him, I pray you doth not our unthankfulness deserve, that we should be carried away unto all evil, and that Satan should drive us and bear us quite away, and that God should forsake us and suffer us to fall into gross offences as all the world might abhor us?

And herein we see how our Lord who knoweth our diseases, or deineth immediatly meete & conuenient remedies for the same. What remaineth then but that we on our side enter into examination of our selues, and euery of vs searche himselfe narrowly? For the thing that maketh vs so bolde to tempt God, is that none of vs entereth §60into himselfe, to looke neerely to his own vices and infirmities. But if we had the discretion to bethinke our selues, wee would consider thus, Alas, I neede not any thing to peruert me, I am as frayle alreadie as may bee: though there were no occasion at all to surprise mee, I would seeke occasion of my selfe. And what wil I doe then when I meete with any euil occasion, or any cause of misdealing? I shall stumble and fall flat downe. So then, if wee aduise our selues wel of our vices: it is certeine that we would seeke al the helpes that could be to preserue our selues. But seeing that God preuenteth vs, and on the one side sheweth vs how feeble and weake we be; and that on the other side, wheras we might fall into such mischiefe and inconuenience, he prouideth for it and saith, My friendes, true it is that ye be subiect to euill, but the way for you to bee preserued from it, is to absteine from such a thing, and to take such a remedy: seeing (I say) that God speaketh so familiarly vnto vs, if wee refuse him, I pray you dooth not our vnthankfulnesse deserue, that wee should be caryed away vnto all euill, and that Satan shoulde driue vs and beare vs quite away, and that God should forsake vs and suffer vs to fall into grosse offences as all the world might abhorre vs?