Sermons upon Deuteronomy

Now it is very true that this law respecteth in such sort the policy and rule of government among the Israelites, that we are not bound thereunto: but yet for all that (as I have declared afore) we must gather some doctrine from that which God had ordained for the people of old time. We must ever have an eye unto the end which God aimeth at, and from thence gather the substance of the law which appertaineth unto us, and is belonging as common unto us together with the Jews. Now in effect it is here declared unto us, that men ought to avoid all occasions which serve to estranging of them from their wives, & to the disordering of their house. We are already of our selves over frail & weak, & though no farther occasion be offered, we see how many swerve aside from their duties, & are so ticklish that they cannot hold themselves quiet & still in their vocation. But now if there be some other temptation & that men wander wilfully & trust to their own constancy, & presume upon marvellous things in themselves, & in the mean time keep not themselves under the bridle of God: what other thing may fall out in the end, but extreme confusion? Let us therefore learn not to tempt God through over great boldness and presumption: but let every one take heed he hold himself within his bounds, to the end he may be the more enabled to discharge himself of his duty. For even when we would use all the means we can possibly to do that well which God hath ordained, yet our flesh hath always such hot boilings, that we are oftentimes as headstrong horses which are broken loose. We have need therefore to be held back by divers & sundry means. And therefore let us look unto our selves as our Lord warneth us. And again on the other side we have also to bear in mind that which Saint Paul declareth in the seventh of the first to the Corinthians, to wit, that they which are married are entangled in many cares, the which according unto rigour might be imputed for sin, except God did use such gentleness towards us, yea, and that such fatherly gentleness, as to wink at our faults: & this ought to be well considered. For when a man entereth into marriage, if he think upon the multitude of troubles & incommodities which it hath, it will breed such a fear in him, that he will wish to withdraw himself far from it.

Now it is very true that this law respecteth in such sort the policie and rule of gouernment among the Israelites, that we are not bound therunto: but yet for all that (as I haue declared afore) wee must gather some doctrine from that which God had ordayned for the people of olde time. We must euer haue an eye vnto the ende which God ameth at, and from thence gather ye substance of the law which appertaineth vnto vs, and is belonging as common vnto vs together with the Iewes. Now in effect it is heere declared vnto vs, that men ought to auoyde all occasions which serue to estranging of thē frō their wiues, & to the disordring of their house. We are already of our selues ouer frail & weake, & though no farther occasion be offered, wee see how many swarue aside from their dueties, & are so ticklishe yt they cannot holde themselues quiet & still in their vocation. But now if there bee some other temptation & yt men wander wilfullie & trust to their own cōstancie, & presume vpon maruelous things in thēselues, & in the meane time keepe not thēselues vnder ye bridle of God: what other thing may fal out in ye end, but extreme cōfusiō? Let vs therfore learne not to tempt God through ouer great boldnesse and presumption: but let euery one take heede he hold himselfe within his boundes, to ye end he may be the more inabled to discharge himself of his duetie. For euen whē we would vse all the meanes wee can possiblie to doe that well which God hath ordayned, yet our fleshe hath alwayes such whot boylings, that we are oftentimes as headstrong horses which are broken loose. We haue neede therfore to be held backe by diuers & sundry meanes. And therfore let vs looke vnto our selues as our Lord warneth vs. And againe on the other side we haue also to beare in minde that which Saint Paul declareth in the seuenth of the first to ye Corinthians, to wit, yt they which are married are intangled in many cares, the which according vnto rigour might be imputed for sinne, except God did vse such gentlenesse towardes vs, yea, and that such fatherlie gentlenesse, as to wink at our faults: & this ought to be wel considered. For whē a man entreth into mariage, if he think vpon ye multitude of troubles & incōmodities which it hath, it will breede such a feare in him, yt hee will wish to withdrawe himself farre from it.