Sermons upon Deuteronomy

And generally let us learn, that to examine our faults well, we must not only have an eye to the things that are done by our hands, feet, eyes, & ears: but we must also go to the inward parts & search our thoughts, our wicked desires, and all the things that do tempt and provoke us: for there lieth the right examination of our sins. When a man goeth about to Justify himself because he hath committed no murder, theft, or whoredom in actual deed, & yet is infected with wicked lusts in his hart: his labouring to acquit himself after that sort, is in vain before God. And therefore let us bear in mind, that to search our selves duly of all our offences and misdoings, we must enter into our own consciences, & not only condemn our wicked lusts, but also even our thoughts whereby we were provoked & induced to evil, and we must understand that even that is a damnable sin already before God. Thus ye see what we be taught in this text where it is said that inquiry must be made whether the man hated his neighbour before or no.

And generally let vs learne, that to examine our faultes well, we must not onely haue an eye to the thinges that are done by our hands, feete, eyes, & eares: but we must also goe to the inward parts & search our thoughts, our wicked desires, and all the thinges that doe tempt and prouoke vs: for there lyeth the right examination of our sins. When a man goeth about to Iustify himself because he hath committed no murther, theft, or whoredome in actuall deede, & yet is infected with wicked lusts in his hart: his laboring to acquit himselfe after that sort, is in vaine before God. And therefore let vs beare in minde, that to search our selues duely of all our offences and misdooinges, we must enter into our owne consciences, & not only cōdemne our wicked lustes, but also euen our thoughts wherby we were prouoked & induced to euill, and we must vnderstād that euen that is a damnable sin already before God. Thus ye see what we be taught in this text where it is sayd that inquirie must be made whether the man hated his neighbour before or no.

And here is express mention made of the time that went before. In deed in the Hebrew it is, yesterday or before yesterday: but it is but their common phrase of speech, whereby they do betoken all time that is past. And hereby our Lord meant to declare, that men must not look only at the present deed, but that they must proceed further, and see whether any mischief lay lurking afore. For if a man allege circumstances to clear himself, and be not found faulty out of hand; that is not yet enough: an eye must be had what went before: the thing may be found out in a month which can not be found in a day: and the thing will be found in a year, which is not to be found in a month. Now if this ought to be done in earthly Justice: let every of us practise it likewise in our own behalf. When we enter into the consideration of our own faults, let us not look only upon the things that are presently fallen out; but let us go yet further and say; How is this befallen me? It is because I have nourished this vice long time in me, whereas if I had cut it off at the first, God would not have left me so much to my self. But what? I have soothed my self in mine evil doings, and suffered this cursed seed to take root in my heart, without regarding