Sermons upon Deuteronomy

Go to, you are of opinion that all is lost which you give unto a poor man; and that because he hath not wherewith to recompense you, or because he is unthankful, as we see many are. But hold your selves contented with this, that before God it shall be accounted unto you for righteousness: fear you not seeing that God accepteth that which you offer unto him. Cease to regard men. This ought to suffice you: Yea, put the case that one render unto you evil for the good which ye have done, yet notwithstanding your God will not reject your prayers and requests; but will acknowledge that wherein you have served him. And because he maketh a trial of your charity by this means, and will know how you love him by your helping of those which he offereth unto you in his own name: if you receive them which fly unto you for succour: Let it suffice you that God accepteth both of you and of that which you have bestowed on him which sought unto you. That is in effect the thing which we have to bear in mind in this place.

Go to, you are of opinion that all is lost which you giue vnto a poore man; and that because hee hath not wherewith to recompence you, or because hee is vnthankfull, as wee see many are. But holde your selues contented with this, that before God it shalbee accounted vnto you for righteousnesse: feare you not seeing that God accepteth that which you offer vnto him. Ceasse to regarde men. This ought to suffice you: Yea, put the case that one render vnto you euil for the good which ye haue done, yet notwithstanding your God will not reiect your prayers and requestes; but will acknowledge that wherein you haue serued him. And because hee maketh a tryall of your charitie by this meanes, and will knowe howe you loue him by your helping of those which hee offereth vnto you in his owne name: if you receiue them which flye vnto you for succour: Let it suffice you that God accepteth both of you and of that which you haue bestowed on him which sought vnto you. That is in effect the thing which wee haue to beare in minde in this place.

But here a man may demand a question, & ask what it meaneth that Moses sayeth a mans alms shall be accounted unto him for righteousness? for it seemeth therefore that our selves obtain righteousness before God, and that we deserve reward by our good works. And this were against the chief and principal article of our salvation, where it is said, That we are justified by faith. And what else importeth this word Faith, but that we are accepted of God for his own mercies sake, without bringing any merit or desert of our own? If we be justified by faith, why doeth Moses say that we are justified by our works, as by our alms deeds? Let us note that when the scripture speaketh in this wise, it presupposeth that God hath already received us so to mercy, that he pardoneth us all our sins: yea, and that albeit there be some imperfection in our works, he regardeth it not, but accepteth that which we offer unto him, as though it were worthy to be accepted. But forasmuch as this matter cannot be handled at large as now: therefore let us note, that where as it is said that faith was reckoned unto Abraham for righteousness: it is to give us to understand, that men when they come before God, are all of them to be condemned: yea, the most perfectest of them. For if a man will seek for virtue and holiness in the world, it may be found in the person of Abraham: for he is as excellent a man as ever was: but yet if GOD would have judged him with rigour, he might have condemned him with all the rest. For what is there in Abraham to make God to be