Sermons upon Deuteronomy

Now Moses addeth, That men should not plant any tree near unto the Altar of the Lord, nor see up any manner of image. Whereby he provideth that there should be no resemblance between them & the Idolaters & Gentiles: and also that there should not be any memorial of long continuance, for fear least they should learn or accustom them selves to do sacrifice in divers places. So are there two reasons which Moses hath an eye unto in this text. The one is, that he would have the service of God separated from all the superstitions of the heathen. The other is, that he would have folk to accustom themselves to the worshipping of God, and to offer their solemn sacrifices in the place where the Ark of the covenant was, and that there might not be any peculiar religion throughout all the country. As touching the first, it is a point well worth the weighing, that God will have his service to be such as he himself requireth & appointeth, & that he will not in any wise have us to meddle with those that invent & devise superstitions on their own head. In the first place; Let us mark then how it is not without cause, that God is so chary of the service that we be to do unto him. For in deed, is it reason that men should stand in defence & maintenance of their own right, and that God should be disappointed of his? And is there any thing more precious & holy, than the honour which we yield unto him, in protesting him to be our God & father, of whom we hold all that ever we have, & at whose hand we look for salvation? Is there any thing more holy than that? Then let us learn to be attentive when the holy scripture speaketh to us of the service of God. For it is a thing that passeth all other in dignity. Mark that for one point.

Now Moses addeth, That men should not plant any tree neere vnto the Altar of the Lord, nor see vp any maner of image. Wherby he prouideth yt there should be no resemblance betweene thē & the Idolaters & Gentiles: and also that there should not be any memoriall of long continuance, for feare least they should learne or accustome thē selues to doe sacrifice in diuers places. So are there two reasons which Moses hath an eye vnto in this text. The one is, yt he would haue ye seruice of God separated from all ye superstitions of the heathen. The other is, yt he would haue folke to accustome thēselues to the worshipping of God, and to offer their solemne sacrifices in the place where ye Arke of ye couenant was, and that there might not be any peculiar religion throughout all ye countrie. As touching ye first, it is a point wel woorth the weying, yt God will haue his seruice to be such as he himself requireth & appointeth, & that he will not in any wise haue vs to meddle with those yt inuēt & deuise superstitions on their owne head. In ye first place; Let vs marke thē how it is not wtout cause, yt God is so charie of ye seruice yt we be to doe vnto him. For in deed, is it reason that men should stand in defence & maintenance of their own right, and that God should be disappointed of his? And is there any thing more precious & holy, than ye honor which we yeelde vnto him, in protesting him to be our God & father, of whome we hold all yt euer we haue, & at whose hand we looke for saluation? Is there any thing more holy than yt? Thē let vs learne to be attentiue when ye holy scripture speaketh to vs of the seruice of God. For it is a thing yt passeth all other in dignitie. Marke that for one point.