Sermons upon Deuteronomy

Now herewithall Moses threateneth them, That they shall be overcome of their enemies, and fall before them. Whereby we be done to understand, that if God be once gone away from us, we must needs perish, yea and our enemies must needs have the upper hand of us, according as we see in another place,¹ that God leadeth us [into adversity,] and holdeth us as it were fettered in it. And when our foes have such power over us, it is because we be Gods prisoners. True it is that men advance themselves enough in their presumption, but yet for all that, God daunteth their courage when it cometh to the pinch, and holdeth their hands fast tied, so as they cannot stir one finger. Let us mark well therefore, that we must needs fall before our enemies, if we be not upheld by Gods hand. For there lieth all our strength. Nay moreover, though no man follow us, yet must we fall before our own shadows, and be overcome without any man pursuing of us.² For Gods wrath of it self without any other help or mean, is able enough to confound us. Nevertheless the divill ceaseth not to practise to destroy us, and we be assailed on all sides: therefore what would become of us, if God were not our wall and bulwark? Then if we consider well the state of our life, there is none other way for us, but to walk in fear and to be watchful, that we happen not to play the loose colts. As I said even now, ye see that the devil ceaseth not, and he hath innumerable wiles to oppress us withal: we know what force he is of, and he is not without cause termed the Prince of the world. He cometh with so great cruelty,³ as passeth all the force of our fleshly enemies. On the other side, this world is full of Ambushes against us. To be short, when we have bethought us never so well of the enemies whom we see: there are an infinite multitude of enemies [whom we see not,] which seek nothing but to overthwart us when we should do good. Therefore let us sit still in humility, to the end that being shrouded under the shadow of God, we may be upheld and maintained by him. Let us look well to it then, that we follow not what every of us thinketh good in himself: but submit our selves to Gods good will, as I have showed afore.

Now herewithall Moses threateneth them, That they shall bee ouercome of their enemies, and fall before them. Whereby we be done to vnderstand, that if God bee once gone away from vs, wee must needes perish, yea and our enemies must needes haue the vpper hand of vs, according as wee see in another place,