Sermons upon Deuteronomy

Now he addeth therewith, Because thou hast not served thy God with a good will, and cheerfully when thou haddest abundance of all manner of things. Here doeth he reprove the Jews, for that they could not abide that God should entreat them gently. And it is not all only to them that he speaketh, but also unto us. We have therefore a general doctrine to be gathered of this speech; namely, that God of his own nature, is inclined to allure us unto him by gentle and loving means, like as a father goeth about to win his children, by being merry with them, and by giving them all that they desire. If a father could always laugh with his children, and fulfil their desires, all his delight should surely be in them: such a one doeth God show himself to be toward us. In deed he is not passionate as men are: we may not think that God is like unto us; but in so much as we comprehend not his majesty, because it is too high, he is fain to humble himself, and to use a kind of speech fit for our rudeness and for the weakness of our wits. Nevertheless it is certain that the property of God is to win us gently, as a father endeavoureth to win his children. What is it that God requireth? That we should serve him with a frank and free heart, yea and even with gladness. In what manner? Verily that because he dealeth gently with us, and giveth us all things that we need, we therefore ought to be quiet and well contented, if we be not unthankful. And so let us conclude, that all the calamities, troubles, wretchedness and miseries, which happen in this world, be the fruits of our sins, and that we drive God to handle us with such rigour. He is fain (as ye would say) to transform himself, and to forsake his nature to overmaster us, because he seeth that sin is exceeding great in us, and that we can no skill to turn the good to our benefit, which he is ready to do us. Howbeit (as I have said afore) God doth not always tarry till we have offended him: we must needs grant that he preventeth our sins: he seeth that we be in danger to fall, and he doeth remedy it in due time. Yet notwithstanding, all the corrections which we endure in this world, proceed of our sins: and the filthiness that is ⟨p. 992⟩in us, is the cause why God sendeth us not abundance of good things according to our desire.

Nowe he addeth therewith, Bycause thou hast not serued thy God with a good will, and cheerefully when thou haddest aboundance of all manner of things. Heere doeth hee reprooue the Iewes, for that they coulde not abyde that God should intreate them gently. And it is not all onely to them that hee speaketh, but also vnto vs. We haue therefore a generall doctrine to bee gathered of this speeche; namely, that God of his owne nature, is inclyned to allure vs vnto him by gentle and louing meanes, like as a father goeth about to winne his children, by beyng merrie with them, and by giuing them all that they desire. If a father coulde alwayes laugh with his children, and fulfill their desires, all his delyght should surely be in them: such a one doeth God shew himselfe to be toward vs. In deede he is not passionate as men are: we may not thinke yt God is like vnto vs; but in so much as we comprehend not his maiestie, bicause it is too high, he is faine to humble himselfe, and to vse a kinde of speech fitte for our rudenesse and for the weakenes of our wittes. Neuerthelesse it is certaine that the propertie of God is to winne vs gently, as a father endeuoureth to win his children. What is it that God requireth? That wee shoulde serue him with a franke and free heart, yea and euen with gladnesse. In what manner? Verily that bicause he dealeth gently with vs, and giueth vs al thinges that we neede, we therefore ought to be quiet and well contented, if we be not vnthankfull. And so let vs conclude, that all the calamities, troubles, wretchednes and miseries, which happen in this world, be the fruits of our sinnes, and that wee driue God to handle vs with such rigor. He is faine (as ye would say) to transforme himselfe, and to forsake his nature to ouermaister vs, bicause hee seeth that sinne is exceeding great in vs, and that we can no skill to turne the good to our benefite, which he is readie to doe vs. Howbeit (as I haue said afore) God doth not alwayes tarie till we haue offended him: we must needes graunt that he preuenteth our sinnes: he seeth that we be in danger to fall, and he doeth remedie it in due time. Yet notwithstanding, all the corrections which we endure in this world, proceede of our sinnes: and the filthines that is