Sermons upon Deuteronomy

Secondly, when the case standeth upon adventuring, let our hardiness be, that we dare be bold to do whatsoever GOD commandeth us, specially when we have his promise, as is said afore. That is the thing (as I have declared already heretofore) which §50putteth difference between the true wisdom of the faithful, and the rashness of such as play the loose colts and run galloping astray. For the faithful do wait for warrant from GOD, and that the end of the thing which they take in hand shall be good: and when they once have his promise, then go they forward without attempting any thing to the contrary. But the unfaithful take a toy in their head, and when they have laid their §60plot, they conclude to do whatsoever seems best to themselves, without inquiring of Gods will, and thereupon they stick at nothing. In so doing there is nothing but presumptuousness to overthrow themselves. But the true foundation is to have God promise, and to rest upon the same, doing the things that he commandeth us. And if we have that regard with us: then shall we take the contrary way to that which I have spoken of. For where as now we be fearful in the good quarrels that God alloweth, and wherein we ought to hazard our selves: we shall have an invincible constancy, and every of us shall have an eye to his duty, to say, behold, my God commandeth me to do it: in deed I shall have many assaults and many encumbrances, and I may perchance be greatly hindered by men: but it is enough to me that God is my warrant: seeing he hath appointed me to do it, it is not for me to stick at it.

Secondly, when the case standeth vppon aduenturing, let our hardinesse bee, that wee dare bee bolde to doe whatsoeuer GOD commaundeth vs, specially when wee haue his promise, as is saide afore. That is the thing (as I haue declared alreadie heretofore) which §50putteth difference betweene the true wisedome of the faithfull, and the rashnesse of such as playe the loose coltes and runne galloping astray. For the faithfull doe waite for warrant from GOD, and that the ende of the thing which they take in hande shall bee good: and when they once haue his promise, then goe they forwarde without attempting any thing to the contrarie. But the vnfaithfull take a toy in their heade, and when they haue laide their §60platte, they conclude to doe whatsoeuer seemes best to themselues, without inquiring of Gods will, and thereupon they sticke at nothing. In so doing there is nothing but presumptuousnesse to ouerthrowe themselues. But the true foundation is to haue God promise, and to rest vpon the same, doing the things that hee commaundeth vs. And if wee haue that regarde with vs: then shall wee take the contrarie way to that which I haue spoken of. For where as nowe wee be fearefull in the good quarrels that God alloweth, and wherein wee ought to hazarde our selues: wee shall haue an inuincible constancie, and euerie of vs shall haue an eye to his duetie, to say, beholde, my God commaundeth mee to doe it: in deede I shall haue many assaultes and manie incomberances, and I may perchaunce bee greatly hindered by men: but it is ynough to mee that God is my warrant: seeing he hath appointed mee to doe it, it is not for mee to sticke at it.