Sermons upon Deuteronomy

Now, whereas he saith: Thou shalt marry a wife, and another shall lye with her: let every man take heed to walk in such chastity, as he draw not upon him this curse of God, in such wise as to be deprived of the wife the he thinks to have: and the wives in like case of their husbands. We see how men be given over to all unchastity, and God must needs yield them their reward accordingly. David himself was not spared in this case.¹ We hear how it was said unto him: Thou hast done this in secrete, but that shall be done openly. He was fain to abide reproach before all the world, in having his wives ravished openly. Sith it is so then; let us take good heed, that we walk in such chastity, that when men take wives, they may so live together as they may feel the blessing of God, and that their marriages be not broken through. the committing of any offence. For, as I have said: it is no wonder that there be so confused changes in the world at this day, because men do more and more kindle the wrath and vengeance of God. It is even in like case with adulteries. For what is the cause that they reign so rife, and are come (as ye would say) to their full pride? It is because wedlock is so little regarded, and that there is no fear of God: there is neither faith nor trueth: and therefore must men needs plunge themselves in all misfortune, so that in the end there will be nothing but disorder. So much the more therefore ought we to take warning to walk so in all cleanness of life, as every one may keep him to his own wife, and the Lord bless their marriages and maintain ⟨p. 978⟩them in quietness.

Nowe, whereas hee sayth: Thou shalt marrie a wife, and another shall lye with her: let euery man take heede to walke in such chastitie, as hee drawe not vppon him this curse of God, in such wise as to bee depriued of the wife the he thinkes to haue: and the wiues in like case of their husbandes. Wee see howe men bee giuen ouer to all vnchastitie, and God must needs yeelde them their rewarde accordingly. Dauid himselfe was not spared in this case.¹ Wee heare howe it was sayde vnto him: Thou hast done this in secrete, but that shalbee done openly. Hee was fayne to abyde reproche before all the worlde, in hauing his wiues rauished openly. Sith it is so then; let vs take good heede, that wee walke in such chastitie, that when men take wiues, they may so liue together as they may feele the blessing of God, and that their marryages bee not broken through. the committing of any offence. For, as I haue sayde: it is no wonder that there bee so confused changes in the worlde at this day, because men doe more and more kindle the wrath and vengeance of God. It is euen in like case with adulteries. For what is the cause that they reygne so ryfe, and are come (as yee woulde say) to their full pryde? It is because wedlocke is so little regarded, and that there is no feare of God: there is neither faith nor trueth: and therefore must men needes plunge themselues in all misfortune, so that in the ende there will bee nothing but disorder. So much the more therefore ought wee to take warning to walke so in all cleannesse of life, as euery one may keepe him to his owne wife, and the Lorde blesse their marryages and mayntayne