Sermons upon Deuteronomy

and secondly we see how he hath purposely chosen the things that are most ugly, as Incests, and uncleanness against kind, as the meddling even with brute beasts. And why is that? To the end that men should have occasion to bethink themselves the better, and not to do as they be commonly §50wont, which is to hearken and to lay down their ear to it and to say, All this is very true; and yet to make no account of it, but to fare as folk amazed, as though a man had knocked them on the head with a beetle. Thus much concerning the first point.

and secondly we see how hee hath purposely chosen the thinges that are most ougly, as Incestes, and vncleannesse against kinde, as the medling euen with brute beastes. And why is that? To the ende that men should haue occasion to bethinke themselues the better, and not to doe as they bee commonly §50wont, which is to hearken and to lay down their eare to it and to say, All this is verie true; and yet to make no account of it, but to fare as folke amased, as though a man had knocked them on the head with a beetle. Thus much concerning the first point.

And we see how God standeth much upon Incests, when he sayeth, Cursed shall he be which lieth with his mother in law, the wife of his Father, or with the daughter of his father, or of his mother,§60 or with his own daughter in law, and such other degrees. And why? Herein we see how men have in all ages over shot themselves in this behalf. For God could well skill to apply remedies according to mens diseases. Therefore it is not for nought that he standeth so much upon those things. And why? For in as much as he saw that men had need to be held short; and that such kinds of wickedness would have reigned, if he had not set himself stoutly against them, & cast bars in their ways, as if he should have said, stay there, and play not the loose colts; if he had not so provided afore hand, that men might not rush forth into such vices: surely all had gone to confusion. And if this wickedness were in those days; certes we be not exempted from it nowadays. And therefore let us understand, that the more earnestness our Lord hath used here in this behalf; the more doth he warn us to occupy our selves in the minding of those things, so as we bethink us of them day and night, early and late, to the end we may walk in such chastity and sobriety, as our life may not break forth into such beastly sins; but as we may be given to God to serve him purely. That (say I) is the thing which we have to gather upon this place. And let us not flatter our selves: for God knoweth well what is meet for us; or else he would not have spoken here of things that are so shameful, that we may be ashamed even to name them. And what then? Had not God a regard thereunto? Yes that had he: but he knew that the heart of man is a dreadful dungeon, and that we must be restrained as it were by force, or else he should never be able to compass us. Now then, let this provoke us the more to look nearly to our selves, that we overshoot not our selves one way nor other, but that we be vigilant to dedicate our selves to the service of God with all pureness, as I said afore.