Sermons upon Deuteronomy

Whereupon we have to note, that Gods esteeming of the Ceremonies was not without cause. In granting this privilege to the Levites, he doeth us to understand that he liketh well of Ceremonies, and will have them kept, & withal, that he will have the means maintained for the strengthening of them▪ but that is not in respect of God himself: for we must always think thus: What? Did God require men to offer him the blood of brute beasts? Why? that is nothing but stench. Again, required he to have the fat burnt, which can engender nothing but filth and stench likewise? Yea: howbeit, that was not for any pleasure that he took in those outward things: but for the salvation and benefit of the people, to keep them in continual hope of the redeemer that was promised. Again, their praying, their singing, and all the rest of their doings served to inure the faithful, that they might pray to God with the better courage. True it is that we be commanded to pray every man by himself at home in his house, in his Chamber, in his bed, and at his table: but yet our Lord perceiving the weakness and coldness that is in us, hath willed us to assemble together and to call upon him with one common accord. And so was done in the Temple. There was singing of Psalms, there was giving of thanks in the name of all the people, there was praying and such other like things, and finally there was sensing with perfumes, to show that our callings upon God after that manner, are sacrifices of good sent, & sty up to heaven like the smoke of the perfumes. All these things were done for the better inuring of the people to the service of God, and that they should fashion them selves after the Levites that served in the Temple.

Whereupon wee haue to note, that Gods esteeming of the Ceremonies was not without cause. In graunting this priuiledge to the Leuites, he doeth vs to vnderstande that he liketh well of Ceremonies, and will haue them kept, & withal, that he wil haue the meanes mainteined for the strengthening of them▪ but that is not in respect of God himselfe: for wee must alwayes thinke thus: What? Did God require men to offer him the bloud of brute beastes? Why? that is nothing but stinch. Againe, required hee to haue the fatte burnt, which can ingender nothing but filth and stinch likewise? Yea: howbeit, that was not for any pleasure that he tooke in those outwarde things: but for the saluation and benefite of the people, to keepe them in continuall hope of the redeemer that was promised. Againe, their praying, their singing, and all the rest of their doinges serued to inure the faithfull, that they might pray to God with the better corage. True it is that we be cōmaunded to pray euerie man by himselfe at home in his house, in his Chamber, in his bedde, and at his table: but yet our Lorde perceiuing the weakenesse and coldenesse that is in vs, hath willed vs to assemble together and to call vpon him with one common accorde. And so was done in the Temple. There was singing of Psalmes, there was giuing of thankes in the name of all the people, there was praying and such other like thinges, and finally there was sensing with perfumes, to shewe that our callings vpon God after yt maner, are sacrifices of good sent, & stie vp to heauen like the smoke of the perfumes. All these thinges were done for the better inuring of the people to the seruice of God, and that they should fashion thē selues after the Leuites that serued in the Temple.