Sermons upon Deuteronomy

And let us mark hereby, that it is unpossible for men to be withdrawn from errors, unless they have Gods word. In deed a great sort can well enough mock at the great number of follies which they see: as for example, ye shall see many worldlings nowadays which will condemn §50the abuses & fond toys that are in the Popedom, & lustily reject them: but yet for all it, they stand upon never the better ground themselves, neither have they any settledness or root. And if they be not stained with the errors which they condemn: they have others as bad or worse. For many of them be stark A theists, that is to say without Religion and without fear of God, whose shame must needs be discovered at length, and God must needs give them up to a lewd §60mind, that even young children may laugh at their beastliness. And whence cometh it? Even of this (as I said afore) that we shall never have any certain rule, until God have taught us. And that is a point well worthy to be noted. For first, we need not to be troubled at the impediments which hinder many men to come to the Gospel in these days, when they see the whole world in a manner wilfully bent to superstition: for seeing that Gods word beareth no sway among them, what shall a man say, but that blind folk may well enough wander in darkness? Again, we see the singular yea & inestimable benefit which God vouchsafeth upon us, when he giveth us his word, and applieth it to us for our soul health. For it is the only mean to draw us out of the bottomless pit. So long as we be in this world, we be hemmed in with so many temptations of the devil, as can not be numbered: & the world it self may well be likened to a maze, so as we cannot step one pace without danger of falling down headlong to break our necks: from the which there is none other mean to preserve us but Gods word. Seeing then that he vouchsafeth to look mercifully upon us, & to open his holy mouth to show us the way of salvation: how may we excuse our selves, if we vouchsafe not to come unto him? So then, let us learn to embrace this treasure which is offered us, & to yield due reverence to Gods doctrine, after we have once known what it bringeth us, and how much it is for our behoof.

And let vs marke hereby, yt it is vnpossible for men to be withdrawen from errors, vnlesse they haue Gods word. In deede a great sort can well ynough mocke at the great nomber of follyes which they see: as for example, ye shall see many worldlings nowadayes which will condemne