Sermons upon Deuteronomy

God setteth himself against me, he setteth his mark upon the poor man, and he telleth me that if I meddle with such a person, he will take the case to himself, and I shall have impeached his own majesty. If we did think on this, certain it is, that we should be much more restrained and held back by his fear than we are by all the favours and displeasures of this world whatsoever. Nevertheless, we see the clean contrary, we be very dulheads in this behalf. And therefore let us bethink our selves to be more watchful than we have been. And sith we dare not attempt any thing against those which are armed with all defence, & have wherewith to uphold themselves in this world▪ let us much less do any outrage or injury to those whom God doeth as it were brood under his wings, and of whom he declareth himself to be the protector: and let us also consider well▪ that though the world say not a word to us, but rather allow of us for it, Gods vengeance must light upon us double, specially when through such contempt we shall have taken greater liberty to do evil. For it is certain that the cruelty which is committed against poor folk which have no stay to lean unto, is a manifest contempt of GOD, and an utter scorning of him, as who would say he were unable to execute the vengeance which he hath threatened. Now when GOD is so lightly esteemed, think we that he will bear it? Ye see hee•e first how this kind of outrage is even against nature. For if we were not forepossessed with our wicked affections; surely every of us would confess, that it is much worse to have hurt or devoured a poor weak creature; than to have done harm to a rich man which is well allied and hath rescue and power to revenge himself. All men will grant that. Therefore is it one of the greatest and most outrageous faults that can be among men. Again it is a scorning of GOD; which is a devilish wickedness when we be not moved at this saying of GOD, I have these folk in my hand, I will maintain them, and whosoever advanceth himself against them, must needs have me to be his adversary party. If we make no account of this, as though GOD had never spoken it: is it not a token that we be too heard hearted? And therefore (as I have said already) let us learn to bethink our selves better; and to have a better regard of him:

God setteth himselfe against me, he setteth his mark vpon the poore man, and he telleth me that if I meddle with such a person, he will take the case to himselfe, and I shall haue impeached his owne maiestie. If we did thinke on this, certaine it is, that wee shoulde bee much more restrained and held backe by his feare than we are by all the fauours and displeasures of this world whatsoeuer. Neuerthelesse, we see the cleane contrarie, we bee very dulheads in this behalfe. And therefore let vs bethinke our selues to bee more watchfull than we haue beene. And sith wee dare not attempt any thing against those which are armed with al defence, & haue wherewith to vpholde themselues in this world let vs much lesse doe any outrage or iniurie to those whome God doeth as it were broode vnder his winges, and of whome he declareth himselfe to bee the protector: and let vs also consider well that though the world say not a woord to vs, but rather allow of vs for it, Gods vengeance must light vppon vs double, specially when through such cōtempt we shal haue taken greater libertie to doe euill. For it is certayne that the cruelty which is committed against poore folke which haue no stay to leane vnto, is a manifest contempt of GOD, and an vtter skorning of him, as who would say hee were vnable to execute the vengeance which he hath threatned. Now when GOD is so lightly esteemed, thinke wee that hee will beare it? Yee see heee first how this kinde of outrage is euen against nature. For if wee were not forepossessed with our wicked affections; surely euery of vs woulde confesse, that it is much woorse to haue hurt or deuoured a poore weake creature; than to haue doone harme to a rich man which is well alyed and hath rescue and power to reuendge himselfe. All men will graunt that. Therefore is it one of the greatest and most outrageous faultes that can bee among men. Agayne it is a skorning of GOD; which is a diuelishe wickednesse when wee bee not mooued at this saying of GOD, I haue these folke in my hande, I will mayntayne them, and whosoeuer aduaunceth himselfe agaynst them, must needes haue mee to bee his aduersarie partie. If wee make no account of this, as though GOD had neuer spoken it: is it not a token that we be too hearde harted? And therefore (as I haue sayde already) let vs learne to beethinke our selues better; and to haue a better regarde of him: