Sermons upon Deuteronomy

Now let us come to that which is spoken here specially concerning the kings of Israel. They be forbidden to gather great numbers of horses to return again into Egypt. In deed it will be said likewise §60hereafter, that they must not multiply the number of their horses for covetousness sake. But here is set down a special reason, which is, that this covetousness of theirs might provoke them to go down into Egypt, either under pretence to revenge the wrongs and injuries that had been done unto them, or under any other colour. But our Lords will was, that although the children of Israel had been mistreated, & tyrannously dealt with; yet notwithstanding they should acknowledge that they had been harboured in Egypt for a time. True it is that they were forbidden to have any familiarity with the Egyptians: his will was to have them utterly divided from them, because he knew well that it would be their decay: and yet for all that he would not have them to make war upon them, but to abide still at home. And now he sayeth that the king must not multiply the number of his horses: For when a prince hath the helm in his hand, he will take greater enterprises upon him, than a commonalty will do. In deed some times there may hap to be some brainless persons, which would set all things in a broil: but yet a Prince is always boldest: and that boldness is a cause of much confusion in the world. That then is the cause why it is said, that the king shall not gather him over many horses to go into Egypt when he had made himself strong. And why so? For God forbiddeth his people to go that way any more for ever.

Now let vs come to that which is spoken here specially concerning the kings of Israel. They be forbidden to gather great numbers of horses to returne againe into Egypt. In deede it wilbee saide likewise §60hereafter, that they must not multiply the number of their horses for couetousnesse sake. But here is set downe a speciall reason, which is, that this couetousnes of theirs might prouoke them to go downe into Egypt, either vnder pretence to reuenge the wrongs and iniuries that had beene done vnto them, or vnder any other colour. But our Lordes will was, that although the children of Israel had beene misintreated, & tyrānously dealt with; yet notwithstanding they shoulde acknowledge that they had beene harbored in Egypt for a time. True it is that they were forbidden to haue any familiaritie with the Egyptians: his will was to haue them vtterly diuided from them, because hee knewe well that it woulde be their decay: and yet for all that hee woulde not haue them to make warre vppon them, but to abyde still at home. And nowe hee sayeth that the king must not multiply ye number of his horses: For when a prince hath the helme in his hande, hee will take greater enterprises vppon him, than a commonaltie will doe. In deede some times there may hap to be some braynlesse persons, which would set all thinges in a broyle: but yet a Prince is alwayes boldest: and that boldnesse is a cause of much confusion in the worlde. That then is the cause why it is saide, that the king shall not gather him ouer many horses to goe into Egypt when hee had made himselfe strong. And why so? For God forbiddeth his people to go that way any more for euer.