Sermons upon Deuteronomy

Wretched creature, why hast thou no mind of thy soul? Why hast thou no care to beseech me to receive thee to mercy? But scarce once in a month will a man enter into examination of his life to condemn himself; and if we do it, it is but coldly. But we ought to be so ashamed and so vexed at the feeling of Gods wrath as though we saw hell lie open before eyes. But we see that very few do think thereon: for every of us forgetteth himself. That is the thing which God meaneth by this word of walking at all adventures against us. Yet do we follow on our course still, as though no harm had touched us, we swallow up our afflictions. They do indeed trouble us, when they pinch us, and yet ⟨p. 990⟩do we nothing but shake our ears (as they say) and follow still our own way. Then go we at all adventures, yea even with excessive overweening, when we acknowledge not the hand of God, nor perceive that he is a judge, to the end that we might mislike of our sins, and every man labour and endeavour to withdraw himself therefrom. Our Lord therefore saith, I will come against you at all adventures, as if he should say, I will cross you and overthwart you,§10 & think not to gain any thing either by your hardening of your hearts, and by your kicking against me, or by your dullness in that ye perceive not how it is my hand that must bring you again: No no, (saith he) I will be as stout and headstrong as you, yea and more stout and headstrong to. For I will come at all adventures, I will let my plagues run out at random, so as I will break your necks, and beat you both back and belly, and that without pity. Now §20we see how much this word ought to weigh with us, where Moses saith: That the plagues shall be for tokens and wonders, to all scorners: insomuch that when they have bleared out their tongues at the threatenings of God, and have nodded their head against the first corrections which he sendeth them, & have bitten on the bridle: he proceedeth on still & ceaseth not to wring them, but driveth them in the end to come to a reckoning do the worst they can, & to say openly, It is §30the hand of God that presseth us; these are the miracles, they be no ordinary things nor according to the course of nature.

Wretched creature, why hast thou no minde of thy soule? Why hast thou no care to beseech me to receiue thee to mercie? But scarse once in a moneth wil a mā enter into examination of his life to condemne himselfe; and if we doe it, it is but coldly. But we ought to be so ashamed and so vexed at the feeling of Gods wrath as though we saw hell lie open before eyes. But wee see that very few doe thinke thereon: for euerie of vs forgetteth himselfe. That is the thing which God meaneth by this worde of walking at all aduentures against vs. Yet doe wee follow on our course still, as though no harme had touched vs, we swallowe vp our afflictions. They do indeede trouble vs, when they pinch vs, and yet