Sermons upon Deuteronomy

But yet further let us think also of that which I told you, namely, that when God gave an entrance unto the Egyptians, to be received into the congregation in the third generation: it was not to the intent that the people of Israel should defile themselves with the abominations of Egypt, or meddle any whit at all with them: but rather that the Egyptians should not remain in so desperate a case as they were in, but be brought to worship the living God & to dedicate themselves wholly unto him. For if our Lord had not opened the gate both unto the people of Egypt & of Edom, they would have bin so much the farther off from coming unto true religion. But if when the gate is opened unto them, they accept not the benefit as God offereth, they are to be the more grievously condemned. And so we see the intent & meaning of this law. It was not Gods meaning, that his people should gratify the Egyptians by making a mingled & corrupted religion, that every man might put to his patch & his piece: but that if the Egyptians would forsake all their own corruptions, they might be grafted as an imp is on a tree, they might (I say) be united unto the church of God. And we see how in the 45. Psalm mention is made of the wife of Solomon, & albeit she was a kings daughter, it is said unto her: Hearken O daughter, thou must forget thy fathers house & all thy people, & cleave wholly unto thy husband, & then he will love thee. Now we know that the holy ghost in that place hath given us as it were a general rule, that all they which before time have bin strangers to the word of God, & have not known what the doctrine of salvation meaneth, must upon their calling first of all forget their kindred & their birth, & all their former trade of living, & then submit themselves wholly unto him, which is made their head, & in whose name & person God marrieth us. For we know that our Lord Jesus Christ maketh a spiritual marriage with us, to the intent we should be men bers of his body. Let us therefore note, that Gods opening of the gate into his Church, both to the Edomites & the Egyptians, was no• to have them bring in their infections to pervert his service, or to make any medley, but rather that the Edomites & Egyptians should come & agree in all points unto his law, & yield their consent unto the pureness of doctrine which is therein contained.

But yet further let vs thinke also of yt which I told you, namely, that when God gaue an entrance vnto ye Egyptians, to be receiued into the congregation in the third generation: it was not to the intent yt the people of Israel should defile themselues with the abominations of Egypt, or meddle any whit at al with them: but rather that the Egyptians should not remaine in so desperate a case as they were in, but be brought to worship ye liuing God & to dedicate thēselues wholly vnto him. For if our Lord had not opened the gate both vnto the people of Egypt & of Edom, they would haue bin so much the farther off frō comming vnto true religion. But if when ye gate is opened vnto them, they accept not the benefit as God offereth, they are to be the more griuously condemned. And so wee see the intent & meaning of this law. It was not Gods meaning, yt his people should gratifie the Egyptians by making a mingled & corrupted religion, that euery man might put to his patch & his peece: but yt if the Egyptians would forsake all their owne corruptiōs, they might be graffed as an imp is on a tree, they might (I say) be vnited vnto ye church of God. And we see how in ye 45. Psalme mention is made of the wife of Salomon, & albeit she was a kinges daughter, it is saide vnto her: Hearken O daughter, thou must forget thy fathers house & al thy people, & cleaue wholly vnto thy husband, & then he wil loue thee. Now we knowe yt the holy ghost in that place hath giuen vs as it were a generall rule, that all they which before time haue bin strangers to the word of God, & haue not knowen what the doctrine of saluation meaneth, must vpon their calling first of al forget their kinred & their birth, & al their former trade of liuing, & then submit themselues wholy vnto him, which is made their head, & in whose name & person God marryeth vs. For we knowe that our Lorde Iesus Christ maketh a spirituall marriage with vs, to the intent we should be mē bers of his bodie. Let vs therfore note, yt Gods opening of the gate into his Church, both to ye Edomits & the Egyptiās, was no to haue them bring in their infections to peruert his seruice, or to make any medly, but rather yt ye Edomites & Egyptians should come & agree in al points vnto his law, & yeeld their consent vnto ye purenes of doctrine which is therein contained.