Sermons upon Deuteronomy

Now in the end Moses rehearseth that again which he had already touched, of observing the commandments of God. But he expresseth it more fully than he had done before. From whence proceedeth this obedience, & from what root•? Verily from hearkening unto God when he speaketh, and when he showeth us the way which we must keep. I have hearkened unto the voice of the Lord my God, and have followed that which he commanded me. By these words all such as follow their own likings are condemned. We see how perversely the most part of men do walk. […] man will say & confess that we must serve God: but after what manner, and fashion? There is not that man which snarleth not himself in his own fancies. Well (sayeth he) I must serve God. And how? I will do the best I can. But no man regardeth what God commandeth, no man considereth what is pleasing unto him: we go & offer unto him at random whatsoever our own brain conceiveth. But all such inventions of our own are here in one word condemned, where it is said that first we must hearken unto the voice of God: If we will have him to receive our offerings and sacrifices, all our offering unto him must be according unto his word, which we cannot do except we be taught in his school. Will we then walk as we ought? Let us take pains to be taught in the word of God. And this is the thing wherein we shall differ from the Papists, to wit, if we profit in the Gospel. For those poor beasts go astray, and know not in what case they are: for they never knew, that the ground of all sacrifices is obedience. And therefore they do whatsoever cometh in their heads; and no wonder: for they never had the will of God declared unto them, they are deprived of the doctrine of salvation. But as for us, seeing God hath vouchsafed to declare his will unto us, let us hearken unto that which he commandeth, let his voice ring in our ears, & while he speaketh, let us not be deaf. Moreover let us not think our selves discharged by knowing what we ought to do, but let us also put it forthwith in practise. What are we the better for the hearing of our duty at a Sermon, or for the reading thereof in the holy scripture; unless we proceed to put the same in practise, knowing that Gods speaking unto us is to make trial of our obedience?

Now in the end Moses rehearseth that againe which he had alreadie touched, of obseruing the commaundements of God. But he expresseth it more fully than he had done before. Frō whence proceedeth this obedience, & from what root•? Verily from hearkening vnto God whē he speaketh, and when he sheweth vs the way which we must keepe. I haue hearkened vnto the voyce of the Lord my God, and haue followed that which hee commanded me. By these words all such as follow their owne likings are condemned. Wee see how peruersly the most part of men doe walke. man wil say & confesse that we must serue God: but after what maner, and fashion? There is not that man which snarleth not himselfe in his own fansies. Well (saieth he) I must serue God. And how? I will doe the best I can. But no man regardeth what God commandeth, no man considereth what is pleasing vnto him: we goe & offer vnto him at randon whatsoeuer our own braine conceiueth. But all such inuentions of our owne are heere in one woord condemned, where it is said that first we must hearken vnto the voyce of God: If wee will haue him to receiue our offerings and sacrifices, all our offering vnto him must be according vnto his word, which we cannot doe except we be taught in his schoole. Will wee then walke as we ought? Let vs take paines to bee taugh in the woorde of God. And this is the thing wherein we shall differ from the Papists, to wit, if we profit in the Gospell. For those poore beastes goe astray, and knowe not in what case they are: for they neuer knew, yt the ground of all sacrifices is obedience. And therfore they do whatsoeuer commeth in their heads; and no wonder: for they neuer had the wil of God declared vnto thē, they are depriued of ye doctrine of saluation. But as for vs, seeing God hath vouchsafed to declare his will vnto vs, let vs hearkē vnto yt which he commandeth, let his voyce ring in our eares, & while he speaketh, let vs not be deaf. Moreouer let vs not think our selues discharged by knowing what we ought to doe, but let vs also put it forthwith in practise. What are we ye better for the hearing of our duetie at a Sermon, or for the reading therof in the holy scripture; vnlesse we proceede to put the same in practise, knowing that Gods speaking vnto vs is to make tryall of our obedience?