Sermons upon Deuteronomy

And therefore it behoved the Prophet to go about the city after that fashion with a with about his neck, as who should say, Even thus shall you be miserably haled into captivity, ye make a goodly show, now ye triumph, ye think it a goodly thing to besot your selves in your pleasures and delights; but this yoke that I wear, serveth to show that you your selves shall be put under the yoke of subjection. Behold, Ananias breaks me this yoke asunder, saying: no, we shall live still at liberty, and be delivered from that bondage. It is a wonder. Yea, but how did these wretched and wicked folks afterward behave themselves? How did God ratify the thing that Ananias had spoken? I wish it might be so, (said Jeremiah:) but yet must I go further and tell him his condemnation, seeing the Lord hath commanded me so to do. So then, we see that Jeremiah ratified the thing which he had uttered in the name of God, and that manner of dealing was common among all the Prophets. Wherefore let us mark that our Lords intent here was to declare that he will not suffer us to be beguiled, so we be willing to receive his word, and to be taught thereby, and be diligent in discerning between trueth and falsehood. Although there be never so many false Prophets, and that Satan strive continually to turn us away from goodness: yet shall we ever have some discretion, that is to say, God will give us some token whereby to keep ourselves from being deceived. It is a promise that can never fail us. And therefore let us hold us thereto, and seek to obey our God. His reaching out of his hand is enough for us: and though there be never so many means to deceive us; yet will he not suffer them to prevail, according to that that is promised here. Wherefore let us look to our selves. Whereas we have no Prophets nowadays to foretell us things to come, or that have revelations aforehand of war, pestilence, and famine: it is because we ⟨p. 682⟩have greater perfection of doctrine, that the people had in old time. We therefore must hold our selves contented with the Gospel, for it is the fullness of light. But yet therewithal let us also have an eye to the things which are written, and let us examine the doctrines that are preached unto us: and if we find them to be drawn out of the Law, the Prophets, and the Gospel: let us be assured of them that they are certain.

And therefore it behoued the Prophet to goe about the citie after that fashion with a with about his neck, as who should say, Euen thus shall you be miserably haled into captiuitie, yee make a goodly shewe, nowe yee triumph, ye thinke it a goodly thing to besot your selues in your pleasures and delightes; but this yoke that I weare, serueth to shewe that you your selues shalbe put vnder the yoke of subiectiō. Behold, Ananias breaks me this yoke asunder, saying: no, we shall liue still at libertie, and be deliuered from that bondage. It is a wonder. Yea, but how did these wretched and wicked folkes afterward behaue themselues? How did God ratify the thing that Ananias had spoken? I wishe it might be so, (sayd Ieremie:) but yet must I goe further and tell him his condemnation, seeing the Lord hath commaunded mee so to doe. So then, we see that Ieremie ratifyed the thing which hee had vttered in the name of God, and that maner of dealing was common among all the Prophets. Wherefore let vs marke that our Lordes intent here was to declare that he wil not suffer vs to be beguiled, so wee be willing to receiue his worde, and to bee taught thereby, and be diligent in discerning betweene trueth and falshood. Although there be neuer so many false Prophets, and that Satan striue continually to turne vs away from goodnes: yet shall we euer haue some discretion, that is to say, God wil giue vs some token whereby to keepe ourselues from being deceiued. It is a promise that can neuer faile vs. And therefore let vs holde vs thereto, and secke to obey our God. His reaching out of his hand is enough for vs: and though there be neuer so many meanes to deceiue vs; yet will he not suffer them to preuaile, according to that that is promised here. Wherefore let vs looke to our selues. Whereas we haue no Prophets nowadayes to foretell vs thinges to come, or yt haue reuelations aforehād of warre, pestilence, and famine: it is because we