And now to hold men the better in awe, Moses addeth Gods promise, as if he should say, that we must not be wedded to our own profit, when God on the other side offereth us his blessing, & telleth us that he will prosper us, so we stick unto him. And whether were it better for us, to enrich §60our selves by unlawful means which God condemneth, and which shall come to an evil end: or to have Gods favour present with us, and that the same should never fail us? Thus we see now to what purpose Moses addeth this sentence, That men should follow uprightness. Verily even to the intent they may enjoy Gods favour, & that thou mayest possess the land (saith he) which the Lord thy GOD giveth thee, and that thou mayest live long therein. This is a continuing of the same matter still, which I have declared before: namely that whereas God might command us in one word; yet notwithstanding to win us to him, he is so gentle that he bindeth himself to us, and maketh a covenant with us as it were between two parties. He hath authority enough to command us, and it is not for us to ask wherefore. Again, he is not bound to promise us any thing: for we owe him all that we have, and he is indebted to none of us. Nevertheless he vouchsafeth to yield to our infirmity, accordingly as we have seen heretofore, that after his requesting of that which is our duty, he addeth that we shall not be disappointed in serving of him. Yet must we not conclude thereupon, that we can deserve aught at his hand: but rather we see his infinite goodness, in that he promiseth us his favour freely after that fashion. And therefore we ought to be the forwarder in doing whatsoever he commandeth, notwithstanding any impediment that might hinder us to pluck us back. Unexcusable are we in these days, if we feel not some force of his promises, in quickening & stirring of us up to obey him. Hath God commanded it? That ought to suffice us. Notwithstanding, because we be slow and negligent, he addeth this help, that he cometh to win us by gentleness, as if a father should flatter his child. See we this? Must it not needs be that our hearts are too too much ⟨p. 627⟩hardened▪ if they relent not at such goodness? Therefore when we feel that Gods commandments touch us not sufficiently to the quick:
And now to hold men the better in awe, Moses addeth Gods promise, as if he should say, that we must not be wedded to our owne profit, whē God on the otherside offereth vs his blessing, & telleth vs that he will prosper vs, so we stick vnto him. And whether were it better for vs, to inrich §60our selues by vnlawfull meanes which God condemneth, and which shall come to an euill end: or to haue Gods fauor present with vs, and that the same should neuer faile vs? Thus we see now to what purpose Moses addeth this sentēce, That men should followe vprightnesse. Verily euen to the intent they may inioy Gods fauor, & that thou maist possesse the land (sayth he) which the Lorde thy GOD giueth thee, and that thou maist liue long therein. This is a continuing of the same matter still, which I haue declared before: namely that whereas God might commaund vs in one word; yet notwithstanding to win vs to him, hee is so gentle that hee bindeth himselfe to vs, and maketh a couenant with vs as it were betweene two parties. He hath authoritie enough to commaund vs, and it is not for vs to aske wherefore. Againe, he is not bound to promise vs any thing: for we owe him all that we haue, and he is indetted to none of vs. Neuerthelesse he voutsafeth to yeelde to our infirmitie, accordingly as we haue seene heretofore, that after his requesting of yt which is our duetie, he addeth that we shall not be disappointed in seruing of him. Yet must wee not conclude thereupon, that wee can deserue aught at his hand: but rather we see his infinite goodnesse, in that hee promiseth vs his fauor freely after that fashiō. And therefore we ought to be the forewarder in dooing whatsoeuer hee commaundeth, notwithstāding any impedimēt that might hinder vs to plucke vs back. Vnexcusable are we in these dayes, if we feele not some force of his promises, in quickening & stirring of vs vp to obey him. Hath God commanded it? That ought to suffice vs. Notwithstāding, because we be slowe and negligent, he addeth this help, that he commeth to win vs by gentlenes, as if a father should flatter his child. See we this? Must it not needes be yt our hearts are too too much ⟨p. 627⟩hardened▪ if they relent not at such goodnesse? Therefore when we feele that Gods commaundementes touche vs not sufficiently to the quicke:
