Sermons upon Deuteronomy

Men can well enough complain, as I have said afore: but they have no regard to the principal point, which is; that GOD putteth the things in execution which he spake by the mouth of Moses. Let us therefore bethink our selves; and whereas we see so much stealing, both of vines, of corn, and of such other things; let us understand that our Lord punisheth the ravenousness and extortion that is committed both in merchandise, and in all other trades of occupying: and let us not tarry till GOD do punish us in very deed; but let us walk uprightly, if we will have him to defend us. For although that all places be never so full of thieves; yet will our Lord keep our goods in safety, if we walk in his fear, and abstain from all manner of evil doing. That is the thing whereunto we must have our recourse; and we must not think to escape evil, by evil doing: but we must use the remedy which our Lord setteth forth in this text. As much is to be said of our cattle, and also of our children. Yea, and Moses proceedeth still with enlarging, to the end that men should so much the better perceive, what the effect is of this speech which he useth: namely, that this shall be for ever. As if he should say, that the hand of God shall ever wax heavier and heavier. In so much that if a man which is driven from his dwelling, do think to remove to his possessions, and to his lands; GOD will persecute him even there: and if he think to cheer himself with his wife, she shall be taken from him by force: and if he think to find some comfort in his children, they shall be delivered into the hands of his enemies; and if he think to have any recourse to his cattle, they shall be all stolen or taken away by force. Moses therefore besetteth us here on all sides, to the end we should learn to resort unto our God; forasmuch as it is in vain, for us to labour to escape by any other way. This is the matter in effect which we have to bear in mind of this text.

Men can well ynough complayne, as I haue sayde afore: but they haue no regarde to the principall poynt, which is; that GOD putteth the thinges in execution which hee spake by the mouth of Moses. Let vs therefore beethinke our selues; and whereas wee see so much stealing, both of vynes, of corne, and of such other things; let vs vnderstande that our Lorde punisheth the rauenousnesse and extortion that is committed both in marchandize, and in all other trades of occupying: and let vs not tarye till GOD doe punish vs in verie deede; but let vs walke vprightly, if wee will haue him to defende vs. For although that all places bee neuer so full of theeues; yet will our Lorde keepe our goods in safetie, if wee walke in his feare, and abstayne from all manner of euill doing. That is the thing whereunto we must haue our recourse; and wee must not thinke to escape euill, by euill doing: but wee must vse the remedie which our Lorde setteth foorth in this text. As much is to bee sayde of our cattell, and also of our children. Yea, and Moses proceedeth still with inlarging, to the ende that men shoulde so much the better perceiue, what the effect is of this speeche which hee vseth: namely, that this shalbee for euer. As if hee shoulde saye, that the hande of God shall euer waxe heauier and heauier. In so much that if a man which is driuen from his dwelling, doe thinke to remooue to his possessions, and to his landes; GOD will persecute him euen there: and if hee thinke to cheere himselfe with his wife, shee shalbee taken from him by force: and if hee thinke to fynde some comfort in his children, they shalbe deliuered into the hands of his enimies; and if hee thinke to haue any recourse to his cattell, they shalbee all stolne or taken away by force. Moses therefore besetteth vs heere on all sides, to the ende wee shoulde learne to resort vnto our God; forasmuch as it is in vayne, for vs to labour to escape by any other way. This is the matter in effect which wee haue to beare in minde of this text.