Sermons upon Deuteronomy

But first of all (as I said afore) we must mark that our Lord speaketh here of the punishing of idolaters, where order is stablished according to his word. If God had not begun at that end, his order had been amiss. But seeing he hath showed how men ought to serve him, and give a sure rule thereof, telling us that we must simply do whatsoever he commandeth; and seeing that both great and small are taught what God they ought to worship, and which is the true Religion: if a man or a woman do afterward turn away, and become forsworn and disloyal to God by stepping aside into the superstitions of the heathen: is there any excuse to be admitted in that case? Then let us mark well, that this Law was made at such time, as God had already stablished a Lawful government, directed according to his own word. But we have all been idolaters. As how? Even by means of the horrible desolation, that happened through the whole world, as is to be seen yet still in the Popedom. Had this law bin well observed at the first; Christendom had not bin so sore decayed. For had they been punished which were the first idolaters & had falsified the Gospel, and corrupted the pureness which was at that time: surely Gods order had bin maintained and preserved much better. But what? When hypocrites were once crept in, which would needs seem holier than all other men; then invented they many corruptions: and the more they were born with, the more did the mischief spread it self abroad, so that it became a poison that undoeth all. The cause then why the Church of God came to such desolation: is that men have not bin held in awe, that the pure simplicity of the Gospel might be maintained, and God worshipped according to his word, so as men might not assay to devise any thing of their own brain, but that all men both great & small, might be made to obey the doctrine which they knew already to be of God. Had this bin done: there had bin no such desolation as we see still at this day And therefore let us bear in mind, that Gods speaking here, is but of such countries or Cities, as have had the grace to have the true religion stablished among them, so as he is worshipped there, & they have all consented to admit the order which is set by God; & therefore if any of them do afterward turn away, he deserveth to lose his life.

But first of al (as I said afore) we must mark yt our Lord speaketh here of ye punishing of ydolaters, where order is stablished according to his word. If God had not begunne at that ende, his order had beene amisse. But seeing hee hath shewed howe men ought to serue him, and giue a sure rule thereof, telling vs that we must simplie doe whatsoeuer hee commaundeth; and seeing that both great and small are taught what God they ought to worshippe, and which is the true Religion: if a man or a woman doe afterward turne away, and become forsworn and disloyal to God by stepping aside into the superstitions of ye heathen: is there any excuse to be admitted in that case? Then let vs marke wel, that this Lawe was made at such time, as God had alreadie stablished a Lawfull gouernement, directed according to his owne word. But wee haue all beene ydolaters. As howe? Euen by meanes of the horrible desolation, yt happened through ye whole world, as is to be seene yet still in the Popedome. Had this lawe bin well obserued at the first; Christendome had not bin so sore decayed. For had they been punished which were the first ydolaters & had falsified the Gospel, and corrupted the purenesse which was at that time: surely Gods order had bin maintained and preserued much better. But what? When hypocrites were once crept in, which would needes seeme holier than all other men; then inuented they many corruptions: and the more they were born with, the more did the mischiefe spread it selfe abroad, so yt it became a poyson that vndoeth al. The cause then why the Church of God came to such desolation: is that men haue not bin held in awe, that the pure simplicitie of the Gospel might be maintained, and God worshipped according to his word, so as mē might not assay to deuise any thing of their own braine, but that al men both great & smal, might be made to obey the doctrine which they knew already to be of God. Had this bin done: there had bin no such desolatiō as we see stil at this day And therfore let vs beare in mind, yt Gods speaking here, is but of such countries or Cities, as haue had ye grace to haue ye true religion stablished amōg thē, so as he is worshiped there, & they haue al consēted to admit ye order which is set by God; & therfore if any of thē do afterward turn away, he deserueth to lose his life.