Sermons upon Deuteronomy

Again not only he speaketh of their father Jacob: but they also say: Our kindred went down into Egypt, and there were we trampled under feet above measure: which thing served well to beat down the pride of the Jews, to the intent they should no more attribute any worthiness to themselves, seeing they were so evil entreated in Egypt: Also it served well to make them forget whatsoever moved them to pride, when they were there as bondslaves, and were so heavy burdened, as it would pity a man to behold: yea, and that in the end they were condemned to have their remembrance razed from out of the earth. When they were so far oppressed, it was an occasion to make them to forget all their haughtiness and ambition, and to confess that they held their life of God. Now in the end it is said, We called upon the GOD of our fathers, and he heard us, and hath placed us in this land which we do now possess. True it is in deed that God tarried not until he was called upon, for he had already made a promise unto Abraham, that at the end of four hundred years, he would take pity of his seed when it had bin so oppressed: so that God would have the Jews to know that they had no other deliverance, than that which had been promised so long before. For had not that bin: they might have borne themselves in hand that their deliverance from that bondage had happened by mere chance. But when they were oppressed to the uttermost, then it made them to bethink themselves thus: What? Our fathers have promised us that God in the end will draw us out of this unknown country, and strange bondage wherein we are. This was then a preparative to make the Jews to feel that favour and grace which was promised unto them: For now the fit time was come to bring it to pass.

Againe not only he speaketh of their father Iacob: but they also say: Our kindred went downe into Egypt, and there were we trampled vnder feete aboue measure: which thing serued well to beate downe the pride of the Iewes, to the intent they should no more attribute any worthinesse to themselues, seeing they were so euill intreated in Egypt: Also it serued well to make them forget whatsoeuer moued them to pride, when they were there as bondslaues, and were so heauy burdened, as it would pitie a man to beholde: yea, and yt in the end they were condemned to haue their remembraunce rased from out of the earth. When they were so far oppressed, it was an occasion to make thē to forget all their hautines and ambition, and to confesse that they helde their lyfe of God. Now in the end it is sayd, We called vpon the GOD of our fathers, and hee hearde vs, and hath placed vs in this lande which wee doe nowe possesse. True it is in deed that God tarried not vntill he was called vpon, for he had already made a promise vnto Abraham, that at the end of foure hundred yeres, hee would take pitie of his seede when it had bin so oppressed: so that God would haue the Iewes to know that they had no other deliuerance, than that which had beene promised so long before. For had not that bin: they might haue borne themselues in hand that their deliuerance from that bondage had happened by mere chaunce. But when they were oppressed to the vttermost, thē it made them to bethinke thēselues thus: What? Our fathers haue promised vs that God in the end will drawe vs out of this vnknowen countrie, and straunge bondage wherein wee are. This was then a preparatiue to make the Iewes to feele that fauour and grace which was promised vnto them: For nowe the fit time was come to bring it to passe.