Sermons upon Deuteronomy

Let us then be quickened up by these two sayings of Moses, that we sleep no more in our vain fantasies, as we have been erst too much accustomed. But what? There are very few which think upon that. For every man martyreth himself, if his grief continue, and he find no help in men. In all our afflictions, we can complain well enough: but we consider not that GOD withholdeth mens help from us, when he intendeth to punish us, in such wise that we shall (after a sort) be utterly overwhelmed. And again, if our sorrow continue; it is, because we have persisted too much in our stubbornness. We think not a whit of all this. But yet are not these things written in vain. And therefore let us learn to profit better thereby, than we have done in times past.

Let vs then bee quickened vp by these two sayings of Moses, that wee sleepe no more in our vayne fantasies, as wee haue beene earst too much accustomed. But what? There are very fewe which thinke vppon that. For euery man martyreth himselfe, if his griefe continue, and hee fynde no helpe in men. In all our afflictions, wee can complayne welynough: but wee consider not that GOD withholdeth mennes helpe from vs, when hee intendeth to punish vs, in such wise that wee shall (after a sorte) bee vtterly ouerwhelmed. And againe, if our sorrowe continue; it is, because wee haue persisted too much in our stubbornnesse. Wee thinke not a whit of all this. But yet are not these things written in vayne. And therfore let vs learne to profite better thereby, than wee haue done in times past.

Finally, Moses setteth forth by this threatening, how we shall be vexed and robbed, if we offend against the law of God. He sayeth: Thou shalt marry a wife and not lye with her: Thou shalt build a house, and not dwell therein: Thou shalt plant a vineyard, and not gather the fruit thereof. Yea, they shall take thy Beef, and thy Muttons and kill them, and thou shalt continue still a hungered: and not only all thy cattle shall be made a pray and a booty: but thy very children also shall be delivered into the hands of thine enemies, and thou shalt yearn after them, and thine eyes shall dazzle for very grief and sorrow, & in the mean while, thy hand shall be without strength or power to recover them. It had been enough to have said in one word, Thou shalt suffer robberies, extortions, and wrongs: but because men are slow, it behooveth them to be so much the better touched, and to behold the thing as it were before their eyes. That is the cause why Moses speaketh here of houses and vineyards, of wives and children, and of cattle. As if he should say: Some shall bewail the taking away of their houses which they had builded, the putting of them from their vineyards and their other possessions, the spoiling of their goods, and the driving away of their cattle: And othersome shall bewail the wrong that is done unto them in their children, and in their very wives. But we be to consider that all these things be the scourges of God, wherewith he punisheth us for our sins.