Sermons upon Deuteronomy

Let us not do, as the fantastical folk do, which look no higher than the stars; but let us think upon the hand of God: that as many afflictions as fall upon us, may be unto us as visible signs and marks that God executeth the office of a Judge toward us: and that although he condemneth us, as often as he punisheth us, yet the same is not a condemnation to the death, but a summoning of us to appear before him, there to frame new process against us. This is a point which we ought to mark well. Therefore when we feel any evil or grief, let us understand that we have offended God: but let us think therewithal, that God nevertheless meaneth not to execute a final sentence upon us, when he calleth us again unto him. To what end then is it? Is it to condemn us without mercy? No: but he doeth us this favour, that we might be our own Judges. When he doeth summon us, it is to the end that every one should plead guilty of his own good will, and thereupon ask him forgiveness, and flee for refuge to his mercy. Lo here an inestimable privilege. And so let us benefit our selves both privately and publicly by the things that are told us here: That when we see the heavens burning hot, and we ask rain, and yet go without it, so as the fruits do fail upon the ground, and the heat dryeth up all things: let us understand that it is the hand of GOD which visiteth us, and let us confess our sins with one common accord. And if any man feel any household vexation, let him confess; Well, GOD doeth waken me by this visitation, because I have offended him. Thus the chief study, wherein God would have the faithful to exercise themselves, is the examining of their sins, after this manner: whereby it will come to pass, that (as Solomon sayeth) Blessed is the man which doeth trouble and quicken up himself,¹ not that we must so trouble our selves, as to fall into unmeasurable despair: but we must quicken up our selves with fear, because the devil seeketh nothing else, but to make us dull and blockish, to the end we should offend God, and blear out our tongues against him like as we see these despisers do, which set themselves against him, dashing at him with their horns, and vomiting out their blasphemies.

Let vs not doe, as the fantasticall folke doe, which looke no higher than the starres; but let vs thinke vppon the hande of God: that as many afflictions as fall vppon vs, may bee vnto vs as visible signes and markes that God executeth the office of a Iudge towarde vs: and that although hee condemneth vs, as often as hee punisheth vs, yet the same is not a condemnation to the death, but a summoning of vs to appeare before him, there to frame newe processe against vs. This is a poynt which wee ought to marke well. Therefore when wee feele any euill or greefe, let vs vnderstande that we haue offended God: but let vs thinke therewithall, that God neuerthelesse meaneth not to execute a finall sentence vppon vs, when hee calleth vs againe vnto him. To what ende then is it? Is it to condemne vs without mercie? No: but hee doeth vs this fauour, that wee might bee our owne Iudges. When hee doeth summon vs, it is to the ende that euery one shoulde plead guiltie of his owne good will, and thereupon aske him forgiuenesse, and flee for refuge to his mercie. Loe heere an inestimable priuilege. And so let vs benefite our selues both priuately and publikely by the things that are tolde vs heere: That when wee see the heauens burning hote, and wee aske rayne, and yet goe without it, so as the fruites doe fayle vppon the grounde, and the heate dryeth vp all thinges: let vs vnderstande that it is the hande of GOD which visiteth vs, and let vs confesse our sinnes with one common accorde. And if any man feele anye housholde vexation, let him confesse; Well, GOD doeth waken mee by this visitation, because I haue offended him. Thus the cheefe studie, wherein God woulde haue the faithfull to exercise themselues, is the examining of their sinnes, after this manner: whereby it will come to passe, that (as Salomon sayeth) Blessed is the man which doeth trouble and quicken vp himselfe,