Sermons upon Deuteronomy

Now also Moses saith; That they must not offer unto God any beast that hath any maim or blemish in it. He hath told us hitherto that men must not meddle with idolaters, nor have any resemblance to their superstitions. For the true religion must be held in his pure singleness. But that is not all. For they that offer unto God, & turn not away after the fond devotions of men, must moreover serve God soundly, that is to say, their discharging of themselves towards him, must not be lightly, as men do commonly nowadays. For we see how men defraud God of his right. In deed when we be indebted unto men, we discharge our selves one way or other: but whereas we be indebted unto God, all our seeking is how to scape from him. True it is that we will endeavour to defraud men also: but yet will we be ashamed to use liberty towards them as we do towards God even in dallying with him. If we owe a man either custom or rent, we will not stick to conceal it if we can, if we be of evil conscience: But yet for all that, we will not be plucked too much by the ear: for we think we shall gain nothing by so doing. So then, as touching the debts that men do owe one to another, they discharge them: but it skills not for God. Although he call upon us & threaten us; yet even after he hath showed us our duty, we cease not to defraud him still▪ yea & we be quite past shame in it. Verily we will not stick to say, it is good reason that he should be honoured & served: but yet we will have this serving to be after our own fashion. But he requireth a right obedience. And what do we to him? Very well say we, we must discharge our selves to Godward. And after what manner? In mocking of him. Insomuch that although the doing of some ceremonies be nothing worth; yet notwithstanding men bear themselves in hand that God ought to hold himself contented therewith, and that he dealeth too rigorously with us if he require any more of us. For this cause it is said that men shall not offer any thing in sacrifice whi•h hath either blemish or spot. For under one kind Moses comprehendeth y• whole; as if he had said, let us not think our selves escaped when we have served God by halves and pieces; but we must go to it soundly & roundly, so as we do our duty towards him throughly in all points. True it is that there was a special reason for the Jews:

Now also Moses sayth; That they must not offer vnto God any beast that hath any maim or blemish in it. He hath told vs hitherto that men must not meddle wt idolaters, nor haue any resemblance to their superstitions. For the true religion must be held in his pure singlenesse. But that is not all. For they that offer vnto God, & turne not away after the fond deuotions of men, must moreouer serue God soundly, that is to say, their discharging of themselues towardes him, must not bee lightly, as men doe commonly nowadayes. For we see howe men defraude God of his right. In deede when we be indetted vnto men, we discharge our selues one way or other: but whereas we be indetted vnto God, all our seeking is how to scape from him. True it is yt we wil indeuer to defraud men also: but yet wil we be ashamed to vse libertie towardes them as wee doe towardes God euen in dalying with him. If we owe a man either custome or rent, we will not stick to conceale it if wee can, if wee be of euill conscience: But yet for all that, wee will not be plucked too much by the eare: for wee thinke wee shall gaine nothing by so dooing. So then, as touching ye dettes yt men doe owe one to another, they discharge thē: but it skils not for God. Although he call vpon vs & threatē vs; yet euen after he hath shewed vs our duetie, we cease not to defraud him stil yea & we be quite past shame in it. Verily we wil not sticke to say, it is good reason yt he should be honored & serued: but yet we wil haue this seruing to be after our owne fashiō. But he requireth a right obedience. And what doe wee to him? Very well say we, we must discharge our selues to Godwarde. And after what maner? In mocking of him. Insomuch yt although ye doing of some ceremonies be nothing worth; yet notwithstāding men beare thēselues in hand yt God ought to hold himself contented therewt, and that he dealeth too rigorously wt vs if he require any more of vs. For this cause it is sayd yt men shall not offer any thing in sacrifice whih hath either blemish or spot. For vnder one kinde Moses cōprehendeth y whole; as if he had sayd, let vs not thinke our selues escaped when wee haue serued God by halues and peeces; but wee must go to it soundly & roundly, so as we doe our duetie towardes him throughly in all pointes. True it is that there was a special reason for the Iewes: