Sermons upon Deuteronomy

Moreover Moses addeth, Other people shall see that the name of the Lord thy GOD is called upon over thee, and they shall be afraid. It is certain that the Idolaters can vaunt themselves enough of the name of God: and we see how they pretend it, even in their fighting against him, when they cast off all doctrine: Insomuch that being as fierce as wild beasts, yet they look to be counted of the Church. But Moses doth here take the word call upon, for naming, or calling upon: yea and that in trueth; meaning that the people were truly and in deed called after God his name; or named his People. If we walk in the fear of our God, and frame our life after his calling, then shall it be seen how it is not in vain that he calleth himself our God, & avoweth us to be his people. Now it is certain that this word doth presuppose that we have our recourse to God, as being under his protection. For it is said that a man is called upon or named after the name of a prince, when he is become his subject, and is under his tuition. Even so it is said, that the faithful have GOD his name called upon over them in protesting that they be his, and that, there they be all safe v•der his wings. And this cannot be unless we call upon GOD, and have our refuge unto him in all our necessities. But whence cometh such boldness, that we glory in this: that we belong unto God, more than any other? For we know that the state of men is alike by nature. Wherefore then be we preferred before them that are descended of the self same race? It cometh through Gods election: It may not begin of us. For what is he that can advance himself to come nigher unto God, than others come? What desert can any man bring with him? [None at all.] Then must God make choice of us through his own mere goodness: & when he hath declared ⟨p. 956⟩himself to be our God, then may we also of our part be bold, in all assurance and without doubt to call upon his name. Now we see what is the effect of this sentence. And Moses meaneth to declare, what preeminence GOD giveth unto those whom he hath adopted for his children: to wit, that albeit they be mingled amongest men, and encompassed with many miseries; yet be they preserved, as being under his hand and protection,§10 even because he doth hold and avow them to be of his household:

Moreouer Moses addeth, Other people shall see that the name of the Lorde thy GOD is called vppon ouer thee, and they shall be afraide. It is certaine that the Idolaters can vaunt themselues enough of the name of God: and we see howe they pretend it, euen in their fighting against him, when they cast off all doctrine: Insomuch that being as fierce as wilde beastes, yet they looke to bee counted of the Church. But Moses dooth here take the worde call vppon, for naming, or calling vpon: yea and that in trueth; meaning that the people were truely and in deed called after God his name; or named his People. If wee walke in the feare of our God, and frame our life after his calling, then shall it be seene how it is not in vaine that hee calleth himselfe our God, & auoweth vs to be his people. Now it is certain that this word dooth presuppose that wee haue our recourse to God, as being vnder his protection. For it is sayd that a man is called vppon or named after the name of a prince, when hee is become his subiect, and is vnder his tuition. Euen so it is sayd, that the faithfull haue GOD his name called vppon ouer them in protesting that they bee his, and that, there they bee all safe vder his winges. And this cannot bee vnlesse we call vppon GOD, and haue our refuge vnto him in all our necessities. But whence commeth such boldnesse, that wee glory in this: that wee belong vnto God, more than any other? For wee know that the state of men is alyke by nature. Wherefore then be we preferred before them that are descended of the self same race? It commeth through Gods election: It may not begin of vs. For what is he yt can aduaunce himself to come nigher vnto God, thā others come? What desert can any man bring wt him? [None at all.] Thē must God make choice of vs through his own meere goodnes: & whē he hath declared