Sermons upon Deuteronomy

Now our Lord setteth down here two sorts of false Prophets. The one is of them that speak falsely in his name: and the other, is of them that speak in the name of strange Gods. Then is it not enough for a Prophet to shroud himself under the name of the living God: but he must also execute his office faithfully. Neither is it enough for him to be put in commission by God, except he execute it with a pure and upright conscience. For we see that the deceivers have sometimes objected thus against Gods servants: what? Am not I a Prophet as well as thou? Yes verily, thou art in office: but see how thou dischargest thy self of it. Let us mark then, that all the matter lieth not in speaking in Gods name: and that doth experience well show us. For the Pope at this day will speak in Gods name; and yet we shall find nothing but stark abominations in his doctrine: there is nothing there but a gulf of hell to swallow up mens souls into destruction. And therefore let us mark well, that when a Prophet speaks in Gods name, we must examine whether it be truly or no. For if Gods name be abused, the expressing thereof is double wickedness. And That is the cause why Moses declareth here, first that if a Prophet bring us word in the name of the living god, we must consider whether the word be committed unto him or no. That is one point which we have to mark here. And because the wretched world hath bin beguiled under false pretence of Gods name: let us learn to make narrower search, and not suffer our selves to be seduced at adventure, and so to be led by the noses like brute beasts. True it is that Gods name ought to have such reverence among us, that we should all humble our selves to hearken to the things that are set forth or spoken of him. But yet must we hold the mean, as was declared yesterday; which is, that we must not receive all things indifferently that are spoken; but that our faith must be the trier of them. For our Lord hath not left us his holy Scripture for naught. It is the true touchstone whereby we must try all doctrines, that we may judge of them aright.

Now our Lord setteth downe here two sortes of false Prophets. The one is of thē that speake falsely in his name: and the other, is of them that speake in the name of straunge Gods. Then is it not enough for a Prophet to shroud himselfe vnder ye name of the liuing God: but he must also execute his office faithfully. Neither is it enough for him to be put in commission by God, except he execute it with a pure and vpright consciēce. For we see yt the deceiuers haue sometimes obiected thus against Gods seruāts: what? Am not I a Prophet as well as thou? Yes verily, thou art in office: but see how thou dischargest thy selfe of it. Let vs marke then, yt all the matter lyeth not in speaking in Gods name: and yt doth experience well shewe vs. For the Pope at this day will speake in Gods name; and yet we shall finde nothing but starke abhominations in his doctrine: there is nothing there but a gulfe of hell to swallowe vp mens soules into destruction. And therefore let vs marke well, that when a Prophet speakes in Gods name, we must examin whether it be truly or no. For if Gods name bee abused, ye expressing thereof is dubble wickednesse. And yt is ye cause why Moses declareth here, first that if a Prophet bring vs word in ye name of ye liuing god, we must consider whether the word be committed vnto him or no. That is one point which wee haue to marke here. And because the wretched worlde hath bin beguiled vnder false pretence of Gods name: let vs learne to make narrower search, and not suffer our selues to be seduced at alauē ture, and so to be led by the noses lykebrute beasts. True it is that Gods name ought to haue such reuerence among vs, yt we should all hūble our selues to hearkē to ye things yt are set foorth or spokē of him. But yet must we hold ye meane, as was declared yesterday; which is, yt wee must not receiue all things indifferently yt are spoken; but yt our faith must be the tryer of them. For our Lorde hath not left vs his holy Scripture for naught. It is ye true touchstone whereby we must try all doctrines, yt we may iudge of them aright.