Sermons upon Deuteronomy

Besides this, we have also a promise: God never saith to us, Do this, but he telleth us also that he will be with us. Now then seeing we know that he is able to maintain us even in spite of all the wicked and of all them that are in a chafe against us: what need we be afraid to do well? And if we be afraid, do we not wrong unto God as though he were not of power to defend us? So then we see now how bold and hardy we ought to be in maintaining of good quarrels, forasmuch as we be sure that GOD will not fail us, specially when we be to encounter against Satan, and against all the things that he practiseth, as well against our selves▪ as against the whole Church. Therefore if we play the dastards and shrink away when we should enter into such encounters, as we see most men do, who seek starting-holes, and cannot find in their hearts to bear any burden for the honour of God: is it not too shameful treachery? yes: for we cannot step out of the way, but our unbelief bewrays it self. What causeth us to be so cold in performing our duties? It is for that we believe not God. For were we throughly persuaded that he will keep touch with us, and that we shall not be disappointed in waiting for the thing that he hath promised: it would make us to forget all fear, and all the goodly shifts that we devise to turn the cat in the pan. And therefore let us learn to glorify our GOD in yielding to him the title of soothfastness: and then shall we be hardy enough, not to follow our own fancies, but to obey his commandments. We shall have a holy presumptuousness, if we hold us to this line and rule of trusting in God, and of hoping that he will perform whatsoever he hath said or uttered with his mouth. Thus ye see how this lesson is to be put in practise.

Besides this, we haue also a promise: God neuer saith to vs, Doe this, but he telleth vs also that hee will be with vs. Nowe then seeing we know that hee is able to mainteine vs euen in spite of all the wicked and of all them that are in a chafe against vs: what neede wee be afraide to do wel? And if wee bee afraide, doe wee not wrong vnto God as though hee were not of power to defende vs? So then wee see nowe howe bolde and hardie wee ought to bee in mainteining of good quarels, forasmuch as wee bee sure that GOD will not faile vs, specially when wee bee to incounter against Satan, and against all the things that hee practiseth, as well against our selues▪ as against the whole Church. Therefore if wee play the dastardes and shrinke away when wee shoulde enter into such incounters, as wee see most men doe, who seeke startingholes, and cannot finde in their heartes to beare any burthen for the honour of God: is it not too shamefull trecherie? yes: for wee cannot step out of the way, but our vnbeleefe bewrayes it selfe. What causeth vs to bee so colde in performing our dueties? It is for that wee beleeue not God. For were wee throughly perswaded that hee will keepe touch with vs, and that wee shall not bee disappointed in wayting for the thing that hee hath promised: it woulde make vs to forget all feare, and all the goodlie shiftes that wee deuise to turne the catte in the panne. And therefore let vs learne to glorifie our GOD in yeelding to him the title of foothfastnesse: and then shall wee bee hardie ynough, not to followe our owne fancies, but to obey his commaundementes. Wee shall haue a holy presumptuousnesse, if wee holde vs to this line and rule of trusting in God, and of hoping that hee will performe whatsoeuer he hath saide or vttered with his mouth. Thus yee see howe this lesson is to be put in practise.