Sermons upon Deuteronomy

And now Moses addeth expressly, That the people were presumptuous, in that they would not be at rest. And this importeth very much. For it doeth us to understand, that there was never yet any unbelief or stubbornness in men, but it was matched with loftiness, and pride, which puffed them up in such wise, and made them so far out of patience with themselves, as they fell to checking against GOD, and to give themselves to all evil. And that is the cause why unbelief is so behated afore God. Sometimes it will seem to us to be over great rigour, when GOD punisheth them so sore which cannot [find in their hearts •o] hearken to his word. For we excuse them by ignorance, forasmuch as they were not well assured that it was God that spake: and in the mean time we look not to the evil that •urketh in covert, which God perceiveth and judgeth: it is to wit, that men are inwardly as full of poison as toads, and that they be stuffed with pride, which maketh them to mount up in such wise, as in effect they refuse to obey God, forasmuch as they vouchsafe not to yield all superiority to him. That is the cause why pride or presumption, is matched in this place with unbelief. And it is the same thing which I have declared afore, namely that the true hardiness must be grounded in God, so as men must not attempt any thing upon opinion of their own power, nor persuade themselves ⟨p. 57⟩that they have this or that: but only stand unto that which God promiseth us. If it be not so with us: then will our hardiness be turned into presumptuousness. And in this respect ought we to condemn mens rashness when they advance themselves too much: and to commend their invincible constancy, when they submit themselves out of hand to Gods word, so that having once his promise, they rest upon it as upon a rock despising all stumbling blocks,§10 & keep on their pace still, notwithstanding any trouble or storm that can be stirred up against them, or any threatening or menacing of them. It will be said divers times, that Gods servants are wilful: because they will not swerve for any thing, nor for all the worldly reasons that can be alleged. This and that shall be brought in, and we know that nothing is easier than to strike sail at every blast of wind as they say.

And nowe Moses addeth expressely, That the people were presumptuous, in that they woulde not bee at rest. And this importeth very much. For it doeth vs to vnderstand, that there was neuer yet any vnbeliefe or stubbornnesse in men, but it was matched with loftinesse, and pride, which puffed them vp in such wise, and made them so farre out of patience with themselues, as they fell to checking against GOD, and to giue themselues to all euill. And that is ye cause why vnbeliefe is so behated afore God. Sometimes it will seeme to vs to bee ouer great rigour, when GOD punisheth them so sore which cannot [finde in their hearts o] hearken to his word. For we excuse them by ignoraunce, forasmuch as they were not well assured that it was God that spake: and in the meane time wee looke not to the euill that urketh in couert, which God perceiueth and iudgeth: yt is to wit, that men are inwardly as full of poison as toads, and that they bee stuffed with pride, which maketh thē to moūt vp in such wise, as in effect they refuse to obey God, foramuch as they vouchsafe not to yeelde all superioritie to him. That is the cause why pride or presumption, is matched in this place with vnbeliefe. And it is ye same thing which I haue declared afore, namely that the true hardinesse must bee grounded in God, so as men must not attempt any thing vpon opinion of their owne power, nor perswade themselues