Sermons upon Deuteronomy

There is yet a second point, to wit: that when God forbeareth to punish us for our sins, it is not that he hath not always just cause so to do if he listed. Let the perfectest folk in the world be chosen out, and yet if GOD would deal with them by rigour, he should lay many hard knocks upon their pates. But truly we think it not so: for we be not so sharp sighted, as to know the faults which God doth mark. But yet must we assure our selves, that GOD uttereth his patience and goodness in that he spareth men, and punisheth them not, I mean, the most righteous that can be found. As for example, when David was cruelly persecuted of Saul and of all his enemies; when Abraham was stung and vexed so many ways; likewise when Isaac and Jacob, and all the Prophets were afflicted by the wicked and by the despisers of God, even to the very death: and finally when the Apostles and all the faithful [were cruelly dealt with,] it was not for their sins. No verily. But had it pleased God to have called them to account, he might have punished them an hundred times more, and they should have had no cause to have accused him of cruelty. He spared them, and in so doing he did them the honour to suffer for his name: or rather he tried their obedience, killed their carnal affections, and drew them near unto himself. As for example, whereas it pleased God to make Job a mirror of patience, yet nevertheless he made him acquainted with his own frailty: but howsoever it were, yet was it his intent to make him to serve for an example to us all. We perceive then that God hath other meanings in afflicting his people, than only to punish their sins; nevertheless he ceaseth not to uphold them, even by his own mere grace. And yet must we on our side resort back to this point, that the original of all the miseries that we suffer in this present world, doth proceed of sin. And why so? For were not this corruption in our nature, which God condemneth, and of the which also we be convicted: we should enjoy here a blessed life: all this whole world should be unto us an earthly Paradise. For we must not think that Adam was cooped up in a little corner for himself alone, but that all the whole earth was blessed of God, and that we should have felt the same to the end of the world. But where is the earthly paradise now?

There is yet a seconde point, to wit: that when God forbeareth to punish vs for our sins, it is not that hee hath not alwayes iust cause so to doe if he listed. Let the perfectest folke in the worlde bee chosen out, and yet if GOD woulde deale with them by rygour, he shoulde lay many harde knockes vppon their pates. But truely wee thinke it not so: for wee bee not so sharpe sighted, as to knowe the faultes which God doth marke. But yet must wee assure our selues, that GOD vttereth his patience and goodnesse in that hee spareth men, and punisheth them not, I meane, the most righteous that can bee founde. As for example, when Dauid was cruelly persecuted of Saul and of all his enimies; when Abraham was stinged and vexed so many wayes; likewise when Isaac and Iacob, and al the Prophets were afflicted by the wicked and by the despisers of God, euen to the verie death: and finally when the Apostles and all the faithfull [were cruelly delt with,] it was not for their sinnes. No verily. But had it pleased God to haue called them to account, hee might haue punished them an hundred times more, and they shold haue had no cause to haue accused him of crueltie. Hee spared them, and in so doeing hee did them the honour to suffer for his name: or rather hee tried their obedience, killed their carnall affections, and drew them neere vnto himself. As for example, wheras it pleased God to make Iob a myrrour of patience, yet neuerthelesse he made him acquainted with his owne frailtie: but howsoeuet it were, yet was it his intent to make him to serue for an example to vs all. Wee perceiue then that God hath other meanings in afflicting his people, than onely to punish their sinnes; neuerthelesse he ceaseth not to vpholde them, euen by his own meere grace. And yet must wee on our side resort backe to this point, that the originall of all the miseries that we suffer in this present world, doth proceede of sinne. And why so? For were not this corruption in our nature, which God condemneth, and of the which also wee be conuicted: wee shoulde inioy heere a blessed life: all this whole worlde should be vnto vs an earthly Paradise. For we must not thinke that Adam was cooped vp in a little corner for himselfe alone, but that all the whole earth was blessed of God, and that we should haue felt the same to the end of the worlde. But where is the earthly paradise nowe?