Sermons upon Deuteronomy

that is to say, by the mere grace of God, because we be condemned every one of us, if God enter into account with us. For why? Cursed shall he be which performeth not all the words of the law. If a man reply, yea, but if a man do perform them, why should he not become righteous thereby? And why should he not be paid his hire at Gods hand, according to his deserts? Saint Paul presupposeth that there was never yet any man found, nor any can possibly be found, which performeth all the words of the law, and all that ever God commandeth. Indeed it hath been a common saying, That GODS Law is not unpossible. And at this day when the Papists reason against us, they think it an unuincible argument to prove their freewill. Why should GOD have commanded us to love him with all our heart, if we be not able to do it? It were too repugnant, that GOD should exact more of men than they are able to do: nay, [in so doing] he should be unjust and cruel. After that manner do the Papists reason. But Saint Paul on the contrary part sayeth, Cursed shall he be which performeth not all the Commandments. And he presupposeth (as I said afore) that no man performeth them, and that it is unpossible for to find any such man. Whereupon he inferreth his conclusion, Then is all mankind undone, if they enter into examination of works so as men must be punished according to their deservings: GOD must needs cast them off and utterly damn them. And so we have an excellent lesson in this text. For it is as much as if GOD strake down all the Children of Adam with one blow of a beetle, yea and thundered down upon them to fling them into such a dungeon of confusion, as they might perceive that in themselves they are all damned and perished. But we tarry not there. For when God hath once humbled us; he giveth us the fit mean of deliverance from the condemnation, as shall be showed more plainly hereafter. But ear we proceed so far, let us consider how the Papists deceive themselves. They see well enough that no man performeth the law of God: and although they forge the fantastical arguments which I spake of; saying that God commandeth not any thing which is not in the power of men to do: yet are they convicted even by their own experience, that all men are sinners; that all men have done amiss, (as the holy scripture also telleth us;)

that is to say, by the meere grace of God, bicause we be cōdemned euerichone of vs, if God enter into account with vs. For why? Cursed shall hee bee which performeth not all the wordes of the lawe. If a man reply, yea, but if a man doe performe them, why should he not become righteous thereby? And why should hee not be payde his hire at Gods hande, according to his desertes? Saint Paule presupposeth that there was neuer yet any man found, nor any can possibly be found, which performeth al the words of the law, and all that euer God commaundeth. Indeede it hath beene a common saying, That GODS Lawe is not vnpossible. And at this day when the Papistes reason against vs, they thinke it an vnuincible argument to prooue their freewill. Why should GOD haue commaunded vs to loue him with all our hearte, if we bee not able to doe it? It were too repugnaunt, that GOD should exact more of men than they are able to doe: nay, [in so dooing] hee shoulde bee vniust and cruell. After that maner doe the Papistes reason. But Saint Paule on the contrary part sayeth, Cursed shall he bee which performeth not all the Commaundementes. And he presupposeth (as I sayde afore) that no man performeth them, and that it is vnpossible for to finde any such man. Whereupon he inferreth his conclusion, Then is all mankinde vndoone, if they enter into examination of workes so as men must bee punished according to their deseruinges: GOD must needes cast them off and vtterly damne them. And so wee haue an excellent lesson in this text. For it is as much as if GOD strake downe all the Children of Adam with one blowe of a beetle, yea and thundred downe vpon them to fling them into such a dungeon of confusion, as they might perceiue that in themselues they are all damned and perished. But wee tary not there. For when God hath once humbled vs; he giueth vs the fitte meane of deliuerance from the condemnation, as shall bee shewed more plainely heereafter. But eare we proceed so farre, let vs consider howe the Papistes deceiue themselues. They see wellynough that no man performeth ye law of God: and although they forge the fantasticall arguments which I spake of; saying that God commaundeth not any thing which is not in the power of men to doe: yet are they conuicted euen by their owne experience, that all men are sinners; that all men haue doone amisse, (as the holy scripture also telleth vs;)