Sermons upon Deuteronomy

Therefore to be short, God meant to show forth the majesty of his word, when he appointed Moses to speak in that manner. And it was to the end that we should receive the word of God with so much the more lowliness and reverence, when it is preached unto us: not respecting the person, as who would say, he is but a man that speaketh, he is like unto us, and as we •re, so is he: but as though we thought thus with our selves, It is God that speaketh by the mouth of this man: therefore let us tremble at his presence, let us stoop, and receive that which he saith: and seeing he calleth us before him, let it serve to bring us to such obedience, that we may do him homage: thereby to show that we embrace that which proceedeth from his majesty. This is the sum of that which we have to keep in memory touching this text.

Therefore to be short, God meant to shew forth the maiestie of his word, when he appointed Moses to speake in that manner. And it was to the end that we should receiue the woorde of God with so much the more lowlinesse and reuerence, when it is preached vnto vs: not respecting the person, as who would say, hee is but a man that speaketh, he is like vnto vs, and as wee •re, so is he: but as though we thought thus with our selues, It is God that speaketh by the mouth of this man: therefore let vs tremble at his presence, let vs stoope, and receiue that which hee saith: and seeing he calleth vs before him, let it serue to bring vs to such obedience, that we may doe him homage: thereby to shewe that we embrace that which proceedeth from his maiestie. This is the summe of that which wee haue to keepe in memorie touching this text.

Now here might a question be moved, why it is said: When you have kept all my commandments: For it is impossible for us to fulfil the law, so long as we stand clothed with this mortal flesh. As I said afore, we shall ever be full of vices and imperfections. It seemeth then, that it is to no purpose for God to require such a fulfilling of the law, seeing it is impossible. But here we must remember what hath bin spoken of afore: To wit, that God in his law respecteth not our might, power, or ability, but our duty, & after what manner our life ought to be governed. And the same ought to suffice us, inasmuch as we say that a man shall never attain to the perfect obedience of God, but that we be ever far from the end of our way: the cause whereof, is our corrupt nature, being so infected through original sin, that when we think on God, we be troubled with many evil fancies: & when we have any good motion, we are by & by plucked back from it, & we need not any other thing to draw us to the clean contrary. But now by the way,