Sermons upon Deuteronomy

If a man be become rich and is advanced to honour, he would have no man to remember him what he was afore: but he is carried away with such an headless overweening, that he surely thinketh that he is fallen from the clouds, and would gladly so blind the eyes of the whole world, than men should consider nothing but his present excellency. But our Lord, not without cause, bringeth us back again. And why? For (as I told you) men are subject to this forgetting of them selves when God hath once exalted them, and thereupon they disdain their neighbours, and pride engendereth cruelty: (as it is said in the sixteenth Chapter of Ezekiel,) where Sodom is set down for an example thereof. God saith that the pride which was found in Sodom, provoked his wrath and vengeance against that city. For when they had once abundance of all things, and were grown fat, when they had meat and drink at will: then began they (saith he) to be puffed up in pride, and afterward withdrew their hands from the poor, and thought that it was enough, so that they themselves were furnished. Let us therefore know, that our Lord perceiving the vice whereunto we are overmuch inclined and given, meant to provide such remedy for it, as he knew to be fit and convenient for our salvation. So then if we bethink our selves well, we shall always find just reason to move us unto kindness towards our neighbours. There is yet another thing which ought to induce us hereunto, namely, if we consider thus with ourselves: even that I am a man, and that I am endued with some special quality above others, it is of God; I am beholden to him for it, it is he that hath given me that prerogative. But how soever I fare, I cannot cut my self off from mankind: I am descended from the stock of Adam which is wholly accursed: and as for that knowledge which I have of Gods trueth, it is a special gift which he hath given me: I have it not by nature: and farther I am subject to all the miseries and wretchednesses in the world: if I be to day in honour, to morrow God may put me to infamy and shame: if I be in health, God may cast me into sickness. We see how ⟨p. 870⟩Kings and Princes themselves have been eaten up sometimes with vermin and with rottenness,¹ and have been so stinking, that they have loathed even themselves;

If a man bee become riche and is aduaunced to honour, hee woulde haue no man to remember him what hee was afore: but hee is carryed away with such an headlesse ouerweening, that hee surely thinketh that hee is fallen from the clowdes, and woulde gladly so blinde the eyes of the whole worlde, than men shoulde consider nothing but his present excellencie. But our Lorde, notwithout cause, bringeth vs backe agayne. And why? For (as I tolde you) men are subiect to this forgetting of them selues when God hath once exalted them, and thereupon they disdayne their neighbours, and pride ingendreth crueltie: (as it is said in the sixteenth Chapter of Ezechiell,) where Sodome is set downe for an example thereof. God sayth that the pride which was founde in Sodome, prouoked his wrath and vengeance against that citie. For when they had once aboundaunce of all things, and were growen fatte, when they had meate and drinke at will: then began they (saith hee) to bee puffed vp in pryde, and afterwarde withdrewe their handes from the poore, and thought that it was ynough, so that they themselues were furnished. Let vs therefore know, that our Lorde perceiuing the vice whereunto wee are ouermuch enclyned and giuen, meant to prouide such remedie for it, as hee knewe to bee fit and conuenient for our saluation. So then if wee bethinke our selues well, wee shall alwayes finde iust reason to moue vs vnto kindnesse towardes our neighbours. There is yet another thing which ought to induce vs heereunto, namely, if wee consider thus with ourselues: euen that I am a man, and that I am endued with some speciall qualitie aboue others, it is of God; I am beholden to him for it, it is he that hath giuen mee that prerogatiue. But how soeuer I fare, I cannot cut my selfe off from mankinde: I am descended from the stocke of Adam which is wholly accursed: and as for that knowledge which I haue of Gods trueth, it is a speciall gifte which hee hath giuen mee: I haue it not by nature: and farther I am subiect to all the miseries and wretchednesses in the worlde: if I bee to day in honour, to morrowe God may put mee to infamie and shame: if I be in health, God may cast mee into sicknesse. Wee see how