Sermons upon Deuteronomy

Let us mark well then, that here is no more speaking of the execution of Justice which is to be done by mean of law; for that hath been spoken of afore: but God declareth that although they which have offended through disobedience, be not punished here in this world; or that their faults be not known, or that no such examination be made of them as they deserve: yet they gained nothing thereby; because there is a heavenly Judge, which forgetteth not any thing, but keepeth all things registered before him, and he in the end will surely do his office. Therefore let us think well upon this doctrine; and although men find no fault with us, nor any man vex or trouble us; let us not thereupon fall asleep, but rather every man summon himself, according to that which is told us here, & consider that we must come before the judgement seat of God. And therefore let us learn to walk in such wise, as he may accept of us when we come there, and as we may not stand in fear of the curse which is uttered here. Not that any of us can perform the Law (as I have declared more fully heretofore:) but that it behooveth us to tend thereunto, and to put our endeavour to it. For although we be not altogether clean before GOD, but contrariwise guilty of many of the faults that are contained here: yet doeth not he lay them to our charge, sobeit that we mislike of them, and give not our selves over to them, nor let the bridle slack. Wherefore let us learn to restrain our selves, and to be sorry, seeing we be not so perfect as were requisite. But yet therewithal (as I have declared already,) let us strain our selves to please our Lord God and to obey him: and let us have such a record in our own consciences, as we may freely and with open mouth say; Cursed be he which hath not followed the doctrine of salvation in such sort as it is showed unto us. To make any long discourse of the honour which every man oweth to his father and mother, it is not needful as now, because the law hath been expounded already heretofore. It sufficeth as now [to know] that in this text GOD declareth that all disobedience, as well against fathers and mothers as against all superiors whom he hath set in authority in this world, is intolerable in his sight. For he will not have us to live here disorderly like beasts:

Let vs marke well then, that heere is no more speaking of the execution of Iustice which is to bee done by meane of law; for that hath beene spoken of afore: but God declareth yt although they which haue offended through disobedience, be not punished here in this world; or that their faultes be not knowen, or that no such examination bee made of them as they deserue: yet they gayned nothing thereby; because there is a heauenly Iudge, which forgetteth not any thing, but keepeth all thinges registred before him, and he in the ende will surelie doe his office. Therefore let vs thinke well vppon this doctrine; and although men finde no fault with vs, nor any man vexe or trouble vs; let vs not thereuppon fall asleepe, but rather euerie man summon himselfe, according to that which is tolde vs here, & consider that we must come before the iudgement seat of God. And therefore let vs learne to walke in such wise, as hee may accepte of vs when wee come there, and as wee may not stande in feare of the curse which is vttered here. Not that anie of vs canne perfome the Lawe (as I haue declared more fullie heretofore:) but that it behooueth vs to tende thereunto, and to put our indeuour to it. For although wee bee not altogether cleane before GOD, but contrariwise guiltie of manie of the faultes that are conteyned here: yet doeth not hee lay them to our charge, sobeit that wee mislike of them, and giue not our selues ouer to them, ne let the bridle slacke. Wherefore let vs learne to restrayne our selues, and to bee sory, seeing wee be not so perfect as were requisite. But yet therewithal (as I haue declared alreadie,) let vs streine our selues to please our Lord God and to obey him: and let vs haue such a recorde in our owne consciences, as wee may freely and with open mouth say; Cursed bee hee which hath not followed the doctrine of saluation in such sorte as it is shewed vnto vs. To make anie long discourse of the honour which euerie man oweth to his father and mother, it is not needefull as nowe, because the lawe hath beene expounded alreadie heretofore. It sufficeth as nowe [to know] that in this text GOD declareth that all disobedience, as well against fathers and mothers as against all superiours whome he hath set in authoritie in this worlde, is intollerable in his sight. For hee will not haue vs to liue here disorderlie like beastes: