Sermons upon Deuteronomy

Thus it it pleaseth me, & this is my will, follow you that way. And therefore whereas he telleth us that we shall be blessed & not loose our labour, but have reward for our serving of him: It is not to be doubted, but that in so doing, he forbeareth some part of his right. In the mean while, we may see that he playeth the good and kind hearted Father to win his Children. For although a father wotteth well that his children are bound to obey him to the uttermost; and that he for his part, is not any way bound to them: yet will he not refuse to say: Lo, I love you, and I desire but your own welfare: do but so as I may have liking of you, and I will not forsake you. A father will be liberal of promise, saying: Go to, ye know that all that ever I have is for you: for whom else do I travail? And to what other end? And if I see you take good ways, I will use you accordingly. Thus doeth the father that humbleth himself in his authority. And wherefore? Because he would that his children should serve him of free good will, rather than be compelled thereunto by rigorous extremity. Let us mark therefore, that all the promises contained in holy Scripture, be as it were so many testimonies of the fatherly love of our GOD; showing himself to have a care of our health and welfare, in that he vouchsafeth thus to apply and fashion himself unto us. By means whereof the Law of GOD becometh the more amiable unto us; for as much as we see that in keeping of the same we be not disappointed of a good reward, yea far greater than we can wish. For under this word Blessing, is comprehended all manner of prosperity.

Thus it it pleaseth me, & this is my will, follow you yt way. And therfore whereas he telleth vs yt we shalbe blessed & not loose our labour, but haue rewarde for our seruing of him: It is not to be doubted, but yt in so dooing, hee forbeareth some part of his right. In the meane whyle, wee may see that he playeth the good and kinde hearted Father to win his Children. For although a father woteth well that his children are bounde to obey him to the vttermost; and that hee for his part, is not any way bounde to them: yet will hee not refuse to saye: Loe, I loue you, and I desire but your owne welfare: doe but so as I may haue lyking of you, and I will not forsake you. A father will be liberall of promyse, saying: Goe to, yee knowe that all that euer I haue is for you: for whome else doe I trauayle? And to what other ende? And if I see you take good wayes, I will vse you accordingly. Thus doeth the father that humbleth himselfe in his authoritie. And wherefore? Bycause hee woulde that his children shoulde serue him of free good will, rather than bee compelled thereunto by rigorous extremitie. Let vs marke therefore, that all the promises contayned in holy Scripture, be as it were so many testimonies of the fatherly loue of our GOD; shewing himselfe to haue a care of our health and welfare, in that hee vouchsafeth thus to apply and fashion himselfe vnto vs. By meanes whereof the Lawe of GOD becommeth the more amyable vnto vs; for as much as wee see that in keeping of the same wee bee not disappoynted of a good rewarde, yea farre greater than we can wish. For vnder this woorde Blessing, is comprehended all manner of prosperitie.