Sermons upon Deuteronomy

So then we ought in deed to have the arms of God, whereby the law should be presented. But we see the clean contrary; for as soon as any man cometh near unto us he should perceive a wonderful change in us by our withdrawing of ourselves from the defilements of the unbelieving; but whereas men should see that God reigneth & beareth rule among us, & hath his seat & throne with us; they may see us as loose in living as the very ignorantest in all the world, nay a man may see that God is defied of some of them, unto whom the gospel is preached, & that there are worse devils & more wicked among them, than in the deepest dungeon of popery. And this deserveth double woe. For it is not only to the Jews that Moses hath spoken, but it is to show unto all in general, that as God vouchsafeth us the favour to be his, even so we ought to remove all corruptions from among us, that men may know that we are in deed his people. Yet notwithstanding, this importeth not that they which live in popery are to be excused. Although they be neversomuch threatened, & can not make a free confession of their faith without danger of death: yet they are always guilty of offending God, in that they have not honoured him. Now if there be no excuse for them, how great shall our condemnation be? For there is nothing to hinder us from serving of God, save only our own wickedness & negligence. So then let us be diligent to discharge our duty, not as touching the outward ceremony of great stones which is commanded here: but as in respect of the thing which God had a special eye unto; namely that every of us should not only yield ourselves unto his obedience, & dedicate ourselves to follow his will; but also that with one common accord, we should show that he is our sovereign king and that we are under his government; and that because he hath planted us in such a place where his name is openly called upon, & where there are Churches for us to come together to make our common prayers, & to confess our faith in; we also do endeavour to walk in such sort, as men may in deed know, that those places are not defiled, but reserved unto the glory of him who hath chosen them to that use.

So then we ought in deede to haue the armes of God, wherby ye lawe should be presented. But we see the cleane contrary; for as sone as any man cōmeth neere vnto vs he shold perceiue a wonderful chāge in vs by our wtdrawing of ourselues frō the defilements of the vnbeleuing; but whereas men should see yt God raigneth & beareth rule among vs, & hath his seat & throne with vs; they may see vs as loose in liuing as the very ignorauntest in all the worlde, nay a man may see yt God is defied of some of thē, vnto whom the gospell is preached, & that there are worse diuels & more wicked among thē, than in the deepest dungeon of poperie. And this deserueth double woe. For it is not only to the Iewes that Moyses hath spoken, but it is to shew vnto all ingenerall, yt as God vouchsafeth vs the fauor to be his, euen so we ought to remoue al corruptions frō among vs, yt men may know yt we are in deede his people. Yet notwithstanding, this importeth not yt they which liue in popery are to be excused. Although they be neuersomuch threatned, & can not make a free confession of their faith wtout danger of death: yet they are alwaies guiltie of offending God, in yt they haue not honored him. Now if there be no excuse for them, how great shall our condemnation be? For there is nothing to hinder vs from seruing of God, saue only our owne wickednes & negligence. So then let vs be diligent to discharge our duetie, not as touching the outward ceremony of great stones which is cōmanded here: but as in respect of the thing which God had a special eye vnto; namely that euery of vs should not only yeeld ourselues vnto his obedience, & dedicate ourselues to follow his will; but also yt with one cōmon accorde, we should shewe yt he is our soueraigne king and that we are vnder his gouernmēt; and yt because he hath plāted vs in such a place where his name is openly called vpon, & where there are Churches for vs to come together to make our cōmō prayers, & to confesse our faith in; we also do indeuor to walk in such sort, as men may in deede know, yt those places are not defiled, but reserued vnto ye glory of him who hath chosē thē to yt vse.