Sermons upon Deuteronomy

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.

And wee see howe God standeth much vppon Incestes, when he sayeth, Cursed shall hee bee which lyeth 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 owne daughter in law, and such other degrees. And why? Herein wee see how men haue in all ages ouer shot themselues in this behalfe. For God could well skill to apply remedies according to mens diseases. Therefore it is not for nought that he standeth so much vpon those things. And why? For in as much as he saw that men had neede to bee held short; and that such kindes of wickednesse would haue raigned, if he had not set himselfe stoutly against thē, & cast barres in their wayes, as if he should haue sayd, stay there, and play not the loose colts; if he had not so prouided afore hand, that men might not rush foorth into such vices: surely al had gone to confusion. And if this wickednesse were in those daies; certesse we be not exempted from it nowadaies. And therfore let vs vnderstand, that the more earnestnesse our Lorde hath vsed heere in this behalfe; the more doth he warne vs to occupy our selues in the minding of those things, so as we bethinke vs of them day and night, earely and late, to the end we may walke in such chastitie and sobrietie, as our life may not breakeforth into such beastly sinnes; but as we may be giuen to God to serue him purely. That (say I) is the thing which wee haue to gather vpon this place. And let vs not flatter our selues: for God knoweth well what is meete for vs; or else hee would not haue spoken heere of thinges that are so shameful, that we may be ashamed euen to name them. And what then? Had not God a regard thereunto? Yes that had hee: but he knew that the heart of man is a dreadful dungeon, and that we must be restrayned as it were by force, or else he should neuer be able to compasse vs. Nowe then, let this prouoke vs the more to looke neerly to our selues, that we ouershoot not our selues one way nor other, but that wee bee vigilaunt to dedicate our selues to the seruice of God with al purenesse, as I saide afore.