Sermons upon Deuteronomy

Let us mark therefore, that God to correct the faults of his people, doeth hide away his favour for a time, so as it is not manifestly seen: but yet in the end he will cause it to come again. Thus overcometh he our naughtiness with his infinite goodness, and we see it by experience. But yet sometimes we feel it not though our Lord show us it. Howsoever the case stand, let us learn by the example of the Jews, that if our Lord at any time withdraw himself from us, and seem not to perform his promise to us; our own faults are the cause thereof, for that we be froward and have pulled back Gods hand when he would have reached it out to have discharged his promise towards us. For how many times a day provoke we his wrath? And is not that a kind of shutting of the door against him, that he might not come at us to make us partakers of his goodness? Therefore when we have thrust back his grace after that fashion, if it appear not again unto us out of hand, we have to humble ourselves, acknowledging that we our selves are to blame. But yet for all that, we must not be discouraged, but we must pray God that although he have deferred the performance of his promises for a time, yet we may not be utterly bereft of them, howsoever the world go, but that after we have languished for a time and bin chastised for our offences, we return again without fail, and enjoy the thing which he hath promised. Thus ye see in effect what we have to gather upon that text.

Let vs marke therefore, that God to correct the faultes of his people, doeth hide away his fauour for a time, so as it is not manifestly seene: but yet in the ende he wil cause it to come again. Thus ouercommeth hee our naughtinesse with his infinite goodnes, and we see it by experience. But yet sometimes wee feele it not though our Lorde shewe vs it. Howesoeuer the case stande, let vs learne by the example of the Iewes, that if our Lorde at any time withdrawe himselfe from vs, and seeme not to performe his promise to vs; our owne faults are the cause thereof, for that we be frowarde and haue pulled backe Gods hande when hee would haue reached it out to haue discharged his promise towardes vs. For how many times a day prouoke we his wrath? And is not that a kinde of shutting of the doore against him, that hee might not come at vs to make vs partakers of his goodnesse? Therefore when we haue thrust backe his grace after that fashion, if it appeare not againe vnto vs out of hande, we haue to humble ourselues, acknowledging that we our selues are to blame. But yet for all that, we must not be discoraged, but we must pray God that although he haue deferred the performance of his promises for a time, yet wee may not be vtterly bereft of them, howsoeuer the world go, but that after we haue languished for a time and bin chastised for our offences, we returne again without faile, and inioy ye thing which he hath promised. Thus ye see in effect what wee haue to gather vpon that text.