Sermons upon Deuteronomy

But now let us see what kindred there was between the children of Israel, and the Moabites and Ammonites. Truly the original of these two peoples was of incest, so as they could not boast of their Pedigree. And in deed the very names of them were everlasting marks of their shame. For what is Moab to say? Of my father. What? that the daughter had conceived child by her own father? Yea: and that (ye see) was a beastly and cursed deed. And again, what §60is meant by Ammon? [It is as much to say, as] Of mine own people, that is to say, of mine own blood: for he also was borne of the other daughter, who had made her father drunken as her sister had done, and so conceived by him likewise: and all this was against nature. Ye see then that these nations are no better worthy than to be counted Harlots birds borne in a brothelhouse: but that they were yet in more horrible plight, because their begetting was against all order and humane honesty. And yet notwithstanding, God will have the children of Israel to acknowledge their kindred with them, not for any honour or worthiness sake, but only because of Lot. For although he were so beastly drum ken, as to be bereft of discretion: yet did God continue his goodness towards him, and therefore vouchsafed he to favour his linage & the children that came of his race. And therein we see that God had not an eye to the excellency of those nations to whom he showed himself so beneficial, but that he did all of his own free mercy. Likewise also as touching the children of Israel, if God had looked for nobleness to move him to show himself so gracious towards them, and to deal so friendly with them: what would have come of it? For the chief stock among them was the tribe of Judah.¹ And whence came Phares and his brother Zare? Even of incest too. For Judah thinking to have meddled with a harlot as common as a Colmanhedge, had to do with his own daughter in law, & played the beast as dogs and bulls do. Ye see then it was so great a villainy, that even the Heathen men would have been ashamed of it. They that never knew of God nor of Religion, could not have done worse. To be short, it was enough to have made all his offspring to have bin quite rooted out.

But nowe let vs see what kinred there was betweene the children of Israel, and the Moabites and Ammonites. Truly the original of these two peoples was of incest, so as they could not boast of their Pedegree. And in deede the verye names of them were euerlasting marks of their shame. For what is Moab to say? Of my father. What? that the daughter had conceiued childe by her owne father? Yea: and that (ye see) was a beastly and cursed deede. And againe, what