Sermons upon Deuteronomy

Now by and by it is added, with the Levites, with the widows, the fatherless, and the strangers. Wherein we are farther warned, that they which give thanks unto GOD, and have their hands shut up from relieving the need of their neighbours, are but counterfeits and hypocrites: as we see many of this sort, which be ready to say, O, praised be God, and use many other benedicites, when they have scraped together on this and that side, and have made up an heap of riches. Oh say they, God hath blessed me, he hath prospered me: but as for giving of alms, and kind dealing, they can no skill of them, they be strange news to them. Such folk do but mock GOD, and anger him as often as they praise him with their mouth. And why? For to rejoice in the presence of our God, and to have the company which he hath appointed for us, are things unseparable. First of all he commendeth unto us here such as were occupied in his service, and had the charge to teach the people. He saith therefore: Thou shalt rejoice with the Levites. And secondly under the name of strangers, of widows, and of fatherless, he commendeth unto our care, all such as are in necessity, and have need to be helped. Therefore when they rejoice with us and take their course; then will GOD bless our joy; and it shall be acceptable unto him. But without that, all that ever we do shall be disliked of him, it shall be filthy and unclean in his sight. And here is express mention of the household, to the intent that every man should be exhorted to deal gently with those that are of his household. For ye shall see some which could find in their hearts to eat and drink till they burst, and it grieveth them that others should have one morsel▪ so fain would they that all were thrust into their own paunches. So they themselves fare well, they eat not though their meiny fast and starve for hunger. Ye shall see such greediness, or rather cruelty in some, that they could find in their hearts to suck the very blood of those that serve them, and in the mean time take no care to sustain them.

Now by and by it is added, with the Leuites, with the widowes, the fatherlesse, and the straungers. Wherein wee are farther warned, that they which giue thankes vnto GOD, and haue their handes shut vp from releeuing the neede of their neighbours, are but counterfeites and hypocrites: as wee see many of this sorte, which bee ready to say, O, praysed bee God, and vse many other benedicites, when they haue scraped together on this and that side, and haue made vp an heape of riches. Oh say they, God hath blessed mee, hee hath prospered mee: but as for giuing of almes, and kinde dealing, they can no skil of them, they be straunge newes to them. Such folke doe but mocke GOD, and anger him as often as they prayse him with their mouth. And why? For to reioyce in the presence of our God, and to haue the company which hee hath appointed for vs, are thinges vnseparable. First of all hee commendeth vnto vs here such as were occupyed in his seruice, and had the charge to teach the people. Hee sayth therefore: Thou shalt reioyce with the Leuites. And secondly vnder the name of straungers, of widowes, and of fatherlesse, hee commendeth vnto our care, all such as are in necessitie, and haue need to be helped. Therefore when they reioice with vs and take their course; then will GOD blesse our ioye; and it shall bee acceptable vnto him. But without that, all that euer wee doe shall bee dislyked of him, it shall be filthie and vncleane in his sight. And here is expresse mention of the housholde, to the intent that euery man shoulde bee exhorted to deale gently with those that are of his houshold. For yee shall see some which coulde finde in their heartes to eate and drinke till they burst, and it greeueth them that others shoulde haue one morsell so faine would they that all were thrust into their owne paunches. So they themselues fare well, they eate not though their meinie fast and starue for hunger. Yee shall see such greedinesse, or rather crueltie in some, that they coulde finde in their heartes to sucke the very bloud of those that serue them, and in the meane time take no care to susteyne them.