Sermons upon Deuteronomy

Moreover we must know that although GOD have touched our hearts by his holy spirit, yet we are always rebels against him, and we never come to the perfect and substantial serving of him which is set down here. We must therefore always bewail our selves, craving forgiveness of the faults which remain in us. But yet notwithstanding we must enforce our selves to §60come unto GOD, yea even with willing service, that our hearts may be so disposed, as we may take a pleasure to be obedient unto him, for until we be come to that point, GOD will accept of no service which we do to him. Thus ye see in effect what we have to bear in mind concerning these words of Moses.

Moreouer wee must knowe that although GOD haue touched our heartes by his holy spirite, yet wee are alwayes rebelles against him, and wee neuer come to the perfect and substantiall seruing of him which is sette downe heere. Wee must therefore alwayes bewayle our selues, crauing forgiuenesse of the faultes which remayne in vs. But yet notwithstanding wee must inforce our selues to §60come vnto GOD, yea euen with willing seruice, that our heartes may bee so disposed, as wee may take a pleasure to bee obedient vnto him, for vntill wee bee come to that poynt, GOD will accept of no seruice which wee doe to him. Thus yee see in effect what wee haue to beare in minde concerning these words of Moses.

Now he addeth; The Lord thy GOD hath made made thee to promise this day, that thou shalt be a people unto him: and thou hast caused the Lord thy GOD to say, that he shall be thy GOD. This place here is taken in two sorts. For the verb which Moses useth, signifieth sometime to exalt or to set up on high: howbeit not in his original signification, but after a certain manner: and sometime whereas ye would say, according to the root of the word, A man is exalted; it may also be construed, he hath made himself to say: because it is to be gathered, that bragging and boasting do make a man to set out and to advance himself highly. Therefore commonly this place is taken as if it were said, the Lord thy GOD hath chosen thee this day to be his people, and thou also hast exalted or set him up to be thy GOD. I grant that this sense may well be borne with. But when all is more nearly considered, the natural meaning of Moses is as we have turned it, to wit, this day thou hast caused the Lord thy GOD to say, that he will by thy GOD; and he hath made thee say, that thou wilt be his people. For in this place Moses meant to show the favour which GOD had uttered towards the Jews, in making his covenant with them. And to prove this to be so, we see that the same thing i declared many times in the holy Scripture, both to the Jews, and also unto us: that is, that GOD useth inestimable goodness towards us when it pleaseth him to call us into his church, and to receive us as it were into his own house, for then he covenanteth with us as if two persons should meet to pass bonds on either part. As for example; Some gift is to be made. Now he that is the granter speaketh first, and he that accepteth is there also. Then are conditions annexed; and the party that maketh the gift saith: This I except, This I reserve, or I will have him to whom I give it, to be bound unto me after such a manner. The granter (as they term him) accepteth of the gift, & bindeth himself on his part, and both of them make promises, I (saith the one) do renounce all my right, & give all over into this mans hand. And I for my part (saith the other) do accept it with condition to perform that which he requireth of me. So then like as Conveyances do pass between men: