Sermons upon Deuteronomy

But yet moreover we have to mark that which is said here: namely that if any of the Levites be disposed to come to the place which the Lord shall have chosen to be worshipped there, he shall have his part and portion of all the offerings of the Temple as one of their brethren, besides that which he hath of his own house. For if they had houses from their fathers in the Country, (as in deed there were Cities assigned them everywhere:) they were to keep them to themselves, and yet they were to have their part of the offerings that were made in the Temple, so long as they served there. But yet God saith expressly, with the whole desire of his heart, to show that God meant not here to give occasion of idleness, to such as sought but their own ease and commodity: but to speak of such as came with a right meaning mind to serve him. I told you afore, that the children of Levy were dispersed and had no certain portion to inherit, but had certain Cities here and there, one in one place and an other in an other, dispersedly throughout the Land of Canaan. And therefore it is said, that if any of them being far of Jerusalem, had a devotion to give himself wholly to the service of God: he might do so, he might leave the place where he dwelt, to go to Jerusalem, there to give himself wholly to the service of God. And this was no breach of the order that God had set, that is to wit, that the Levites should be scattered abroad as a seed, to hold the people continually in the pureness of religion: but it was spoken in respect of some of them. For all of them had not a desire to resort to Jerusalem: that is sure. For the most part of the Levites dwelt in places more fruitful than Jerusalem: for that part of the country was not one of the best of all the Land of Canaan. But they that dwelt in the countries of pasturage, were the wealthiest. And we see also how the prophets upbraid them,¹ saying: Ye Bulls of Basin, because the kingdom of Israel was become very proud by reason of their abundance. The Levites then would have had no liking to have abidden in a place that was not very fruitful, & to have left all their own commodities & houses. Again if any had bin led by desire of vainglory, God meant not to favour them. Therefore it is said that if any of them would come of good will to Jerusalem to serve in the Temple;

But yet moreouer wee haue to marke yt which is sayde heere: namely that if any of the Leuites bee disposed to come to the place which the Lorde shall haue chosen to be worshipped there, hee shall haue his part and portion of all the offeringes of the Temple as one of their brethren, besides that which hee hath of his owne house. For if they had houses from their fathers in the Countrey, (as in deede there were Cities assigned them euerywhere:) they were to keepe them to themselues, and yet they were to haue their part of the offeringes that were made in the Temple, so long as they serued there. But yet God sayth expresly, with the whole desire of his heart, to shewe that God ment not heere to giue occasion of ydlenesse, to such as sought but their owne ease and commoditie: but to speake of such as came with a rightmeaning mind to serue him. I tolde you afore, that the children of Leuie were dispersed and had no certain portion to inherit, but had certaine Cities heere and there, one in one place and an other in an other, dispersedly throughout the Lande of Chanaan. And therefore it is sayde, that if any of them being farre of Ierusalem, had a deuotion to giue himselfe wholly to the seruice of God: hee might doe so, hee might leaue the place where he dwelt, to goe to Ierusalem, there to giue himselfe wholely to the seruice of God. And this was no breach of the order that God hadde set, that is to wit, that the Leuites should be scattered abroade as a seede, to holde the people continually in the purenesse of religion: but it was spoken in respect of some of them. For all of them had not a desire to resorte to Ierusalem: that is sure. For the most part of the Leuites dwelt in places more fruitefull than Ierusalem: for that part of the countrey was not one of the best of all the Lande of Chanaan. But they that dwelt in the coūtries of pasturage, were the welthiest. And we see also how the prophets vpbrayde them,