Sermons upon Deuteronomy

And he addeth, that it was to be considered that the children of Israel had gotten the possession of their land after the like manner. He speaketh here as of a matter already come to pass. As if he should say, Go to, look about ye my friends; see how God bringeth you into the land that he promised to your fathers for an inheritance. When ye be come thither, and that he hath settled you there: think ye that he would maintain you there, if he had not compassion upon you, according as you shall have good need thereof? For ye shall be hated of all the world: and therefore your God must be fain to maintain you. Now if you be desirous to be preserved by him, attempt not any thing against his hand, and you shall perceive that he will set himself against all such as shall go about to hurt you. Therefore must you be gentle towards them that are in the same case that you are. Now we see what Moses meaning is. Wherefore let us learn to come home to our selves when we consider not Gods benefits towards other men, as in deed oftentimes we have our eyes blindfolded. If a man tell us that we ought to consider the good that God hath done to our neighbour: we pass not for it. But when we enter into our selves, then are we convicted, and we learn what it is to forsake others. That is the common lesson which is given us here. As how? for it would be dark still, if it were not set out plainlyer by example. If it be said unto us generally, God hath given every man that which his pleasure is that he shall have and possess: thereupon such as pill and poll their neighbours, & use violence and extortion, notwithstanding that they make their quarrel against creatures, do in deed match themselves against God, who will have order kept in the world. When any man tells us hereof, we are not persuaded of it that it should be so. For we have ever some fond toy or other to blear our own eyes with all. What, say we? Is such a man rich by the will of God? And how know we that? Nay rather, I see he is enriched by evil means. We make no bones in construing the thing the clean contrary way. And why? Because we consider not Gods grace in our neighbours. But if a man say unto us: See what God hath done for thee: thou must do him homage for it:

And hee addeth, that it was to be considered that the children of Israel had gotten the possession of their land after the like maner. He speaketh here as of a matter alreadie come to passe. As if hee shoulde say, Goe to, looke about yee my friendes; see how God bringeth you into the lande that he promised to your fathers for an inheritance. When yee be come thither, and that hee hath setled you there: thinke yee that hee woulde maintaine you there, if he had not compassion vppon you, according as you shall haue good neede thereof? For yee shalbe hated of all the worlde: and therefore your God must bee faine to maintaine you. Nowe if you be desirous to bee preserued by him, attempt not any thing against his hande, and you shall perceiue that hee will set himselfe against all such as shall goe about to hurt you. Therefore must you bee gentle towardes them that are in the same case that you are. Nowe wee see what Moses meaning is. Wherfore let vs learn to come home to our selues when wee consider not Gods benefites towardes other men, as in deede oftentimes wee haue our eyes blindfolded. If a man tell vs that wee ought to consider the good that God hath done to our neighbour: wee passe not for it. But when wee enter into our selues, then are wee conuicted, and wee learne what it is to forsake others. That is the common lesson which is giuen vs heere. As howe? for it would bee darke still, if it were not set out plainlyer by example. If it bee saide vnto vs generally, God hath giuen euerie man that which his pleasure is that hee shall haue and possesse: thereuppon such as pille and polle their neighbours, & vse violence and extortion, notwithstanding that they make their quarel against creatures, do in deed match themselues against God, who wil haue order kept in the world. Whē any man tels vs heereof, wee are not perswaded of it that it shoulde bee so. For wee haue euer some fonde toye or other to bleare our owne eyes with all. What, say wee? Is such a man rich by the will of God? And howe knowe wee that? Nay rather, I see hee is inriched by euill meanes. We make no bones in construing the thing the cleane contrarie way. And why? Because wee consider not Gods grace in our neighbours. But if a man say vnto vs: See what God hath done for thee: thou must doe him homage for it: