Sermons upon Deuteronomy

let us yet keep on our course still. And why? Because GOD will take care of all, and we cannot be deceived by waiting for his help. In deed if we have not the word from his mouth, we may not trust upon our own opinion and say: I hope GOD will help me. We may not be so presumptuous, but we must assure our selves upon the warrant which he giveth us; as we see in this place: Thy GOD will give thee rest from all thine enemies. And therefore Moses said not simply, When thou hast conquered the Country, when thou hast the victory over all thine enemies; but he referreth all unto GOD. Whereby he declareth (as I have already touched) that men may not ground themselves upon their own power and ability: but we must have our recourse always unto GOD, and acknowledge that it is in him only to make us invincible against all our enemies. And if it was needful that GOD should work in such wise to make the children of Israel to overthrow the Canaanites, Pheresites, Jebusites and the like: it is much more needful that he should work nowadays with a greater power in us, because we are to encounter with more mighty enemies.¹ For (as Saint Paul sayeth) our combat is not against flesh and blood, that is to say, mortal creatures only, but also against the Princes of the air. In so much that if we compare the power which we our selves have to resist, with the advantage which Satan hath our us; alas, he is the prince of the world, and besides that, he is above our heads, so as he might overwhelm us out of hand. And therefore GOD must put to his helping hand and fight for us, or else we should be a hundred thousand times vanquished. So then, whensoever we are to adventure upon any thing, let us learn to have an eye always unto the power of GOD, assuring our selves that the same is mighty enough to strengthen us. And thereupon taking courage, let us boldly defy all the forces of our enemies be they never so dreadful: and let us know that they are nothing in comparison of the help and succour which God hath promised unto us, and which he is ready to show in very deed. Thus ye see in effect what we have to bear in mind upon this place.

let vs yet keepe on our course still. And why? Bycause GOD will take care of all, and wee cannot bee deceyued by wayting for his helpe. In deede if wee haue not the woorde from his mouth, wee may not trust vppon our owne opinion and say: I hope GOD will helpe mee. Wee may not bee so presumptuous, but wee must assure our selues vppon the warrant which hee giueth vs; as wee see in this place: Thy GOD wyll giue thee rest from all thine enemyes. And therefore Moses sayde not simply, When thou hast conquered the Countrey, when thou hast the victorie ouer all thine enemyes; but hee referreth all vnto GOD. Whereby hee declareth (as I haue already touched) that men may not grounde themselues vppon their owne power and abilitie: but wee must haue our recourse alwayes vnto GOD, and acknowledge that it is in him onely to make vs inuincible against all our enemyes. And if it was needefull that GOD shoulde woorke in such wyse to make the children of Israel to ouerthrowe the Chananites, Pheresites, Iebusites and the lyke: it is much more needefull that hee shoulde woorke nowadayes with a greater power in vs, bycause wee are to encounter with more mightie enemyes.