Sermons upon Deuteronomy

the one is that if we do good unto a stranger, unto a poor man which is forsaken of all men, or unto the fatherless, we shall not loose our labour. For why? God acknowledgeth and accepteth it for a service done unto himself. If a man being acquainted with such as are rich and well friended, do for them; he maketh always this account, well, he is able to requite me for my pains: & again he hath good friends, & as he seeth that a man doth for him, so will he seek to show him the like courtesy. We will always consider whether men be able to make us recompense. But when a poor man cometh unto us, he shall hardly speak with us or find any favour at our hands. For why? we think that we must do him good for gramercy, because he is not able to recompense us. That is the cause why God putteth forth himself, & protesteth that he is bound unto us, and that if we think we profit ourselves nothing at all by helping them which be in necessity, we are deceived: for he accepteth of the thing, as if it were done unto himself. This is to be noted for one point. For the second let us note, that he threateneth on the contrary side, that if we molest a poor man, if we vex & trouble the widow or the fatherless, if we be cruel towards the stranger, although as touching the world this wickedness of ours be not punished, yet shall we render an account of it before him. And why? For we have set light by his protection. Like as princes and other great states will give protections unto them which are hated, and whom they see to ⟨p. 863⟩be in danger: so god giveth his protection unto the fatherless, to the widows, to the poor, and to the strangers. And why? Because they have no means to the worldewarde to defend themselves withal, he supplieth this want of theirs, and declareth that he will not have men to tread those under foot whom he hath received unto himself, telling us that he is their protector. If one for all this, do enterprise any thing against them, is it not as much as to do §10him wrong, and as it were spitefully to despise him? So then let us note well, that as often as mention is made unto us of the poor, of the strangers, and of the widows; we have to deal with God, & wage battle against him, if we use not all equity and right towards them, and if we be not so gentle and kindhearted as to relieve and to succour them.

ye one is yt if we do good vnto a stranger, vnto a poore man which is forsaken of all men, or vnto ye fatherles, we shall not loose our labour. For why? God acknowledgeth and accepteth it for a seruice done vnto himself. If a man being acquainted with such as are rich and well friended, do for them; hee maketh alwaies this account, wel, he is able to requite me for my paines: & againe he hath good friends, & as he seeth yt a man doth for him, so will he seeke to shewe him the like curtesie. We will alwaies cōsider whether men be able to make vs recompence. But when a poore man cōmeth vnto vs, he shall hardly speake with vs or find any fauour at our hands. For why? we thinke yt we must doe him good for gramercy, because he is not able to recōpence vs. That is ye cause why God putteth forth himselfe, & protesteth yt he is bounde vnto vs, and that if we thinke we profit ourselues nothing at al by helping thē which be in necessitie, we are deceiued: for he accepteth of the thing, as if it were done vnto himselfe. This is to be noted for one point. For the second let vs note, yt he threatneth on the contrary side, yt if we molest a poore man, if we vexe & trouble the widowe or the fatherles, if we be cruell towardes the stranger, although as touching ye world this wickednes of ours be not punished, yet shall we render an account of it before him. And why? For we haue set light by his protection. Like as princes and other greate states will giue protections vnto them which are hated, and whome they see to