Sermons upon Deuteronomy

Furthermore, let us learn well the thing that hath bin declared heretofore, according also as Moses showeth it to the eye: that is to wit, that God will suffer us to languish: and that although he be merciful to us, and have forgiven the sins that we have committed: yet must we be fain to suffer for a time. We shall sigh unto him, and yet will he let us alone in our miserable state and plight: but in the end, all shall fall out to our benefit. For had God set open the gap to the children of Israel, and given them entrance into the promised land: within a day or two they would have forgotten that horrible crime of theirs in murmuring against him, yea (& as much as in them lay) even in forsaking their heritage: they would never have thought upon their unthankfulness and disobedience. Therefore it behooved them to be chastised a long season, so as they might never forget the offence that they had committed. Now then, whensoever we have provoked God to anger by our disobedience: let us not think it strange though he do not at the first dash ⟨p. 61⟩deliver us from the adversity that he sendeth us for a chastisement. For our sin would not be printed so throughly in our remembrance at the first day as is requisite. God therefore must be fain to work after such sort, and to make us to languish, as I have touched before. And in good faith, what else is all this present life but such an exercise? Wherefore hath God made us subject to so many miseries? we be no sooner scaped out of one mischief, but anon there §10cometh another in the neck of it, so as there is never any end. And all is to teach us this lesson, which we cannot remember if we be not enforced to it. Besides that, we would forget it by and by, if our Lord did not (as ye would say) incorporate it into us, so as we may be prepared and led of nature to say, see how our God exerciseth us with many miseries, and he doth it because we be wretched sinners. And yet for all this, can we frame our selves to his lure, and §20not rather draw clean contrary to his will? Therefore is he fain to teach us, that spite of our teeth we be in his hand, and he hath all sovereign dominion and Lordship over us.

Furthermore, let vs learne well the thing that hath bin declared heretofore, according also as Moses sheweth it to the eye: that is to wit, that God will suffer vs to languish: and that although he bee mercifull to vs, and haue forgiuen the sinnes that we haue committed: yet must wee be faine to suffer for a time. We shall sigh vnto him, and yet will he let vs alone in our miserable state and plight: but in the ende, all shall fall out to our benefite. For had God set open the gap to the children of Israell, and giuen them enterance into the promised land: within a day or two they woulde haue forgotten that horrible cryme of theirs in murmuring against him, yea (& as much as in thē lay) euen in forsaking their heritage: they would neuer haue thought vppon their vnthankefulnesse and disobedience. Therefore it behooued them to bee chastised a long season, so as they might neuer forget the offence that they had committed. Now then, whensoeuer wee haue prouoked God to anger by our disobedience: let vs not thinke it strange though he doe not at the first dashe