Sermons upon Deuteronomy

Now the other point is, that the Jews were commanded To worship before the Lord God. Whereby we may see, that men must not make themselves believe, that they have deserved any thing when they have accomplished that which God appointeth them to do, as we are always ready to swell with pride, to vaunt of our own power, as if GOD were much beholding unto us. Let us lay aside all such devilish imaginations; and when we have endeavoured and taken pains to do that which God commandeth us; let us worship before him in token that we are much more bound unto him: as it is said in the seventeenth Chapter of Saint Luke, When you have done all things,¹ yet you must confess that you are unprofitable servants. And why? For let us come to account: If God would require his due of us, is there any of us which could perform the hundred part thereof? We deceive him of that which we have, if we give him but a piece of it whereas he demandeth the whole. Nay, though we gave him the whole, yet were we not discharged; for we cannot do it with such mind as were requisite: and therefore we run always into arrearages with GOD, and he can owe us nothing. Wherefore let us learn to worship before him, that is to say, to shrink down our heads; and although we have laboured to the utmost to offer him our sacrifices, and to present unto him our own persons, and to give unto him of our substance, and to do all that we can possibly do: when we have endeavoured to dedicate all unto him; yet let us say, Alas Lord: In deed we would gladly do our duty, but we can never do it perfectly; we are far wide from it; may it please thee therefore to accept at our hands that which is unperfect, and to bear with us in our weakness; and although there be many stains and blots in the service which we yield unto thee, yet let them not hinder thee from receiving and accepting of it at our hands. Behold with what modesty men ought to present themselves unto God when they make their offerings unto him.

Now the other poynt is, that the Iewes were commaunded To worshippe before the Lorde God. Whereby we may see, that men must not make themselues beleeue, that they haue deserued any thing when they haue accomplished that which God appointeth them to doe, as we are alwayes readie to swell with pride, to vaunt of our owne power, as if GOD were much beholding vnto vs. Let vs lay aside all such diuelish imaginations; and when we haue endeuored and taken paynes to doe that which God commaundeth vs; let vs worship before him in token that wee are much more bounde vnto him: as it is sayd in the seuenteenth Chapter of Saint Luke, When you haue done all things,