Sermons upon Deuteronomy

Let us therefore understand, that as soon as God speaketh, we must have an eye unto the infinite power (that is in him, yea and which is incredible to mans understanding,) & to tremble at his very word, and to yield unto him: knowing well that if we delay from day to day, we may be prevented, & then will it be too late. Let us therefore be advised to humble our selves in due time, and to crave pardon when we have offended him.

Let vs therfore vnderstand, that as soone as God speaketh, wee must haue an eye vnto the infinite power (that is in him, yea and which is incredible to mans vnderstanding,) & to tremble at his very word, and to yeeld vnto him: knowing well that if we delay from day to day, wee may be preuented, & then will it be too late. Let vs therfore be aduised to humble our selues in due time, and to craue pardon when we haue offended him.

Moses sayeth expressly, That they which are disobedient unto God, shall be besieged & shut up within their walls, until all their fortresses in which they trusted, be beaten down. Here we see how God reproveth the false and cursed presumption whereby men deceive themselves, in thinking themselves to be well fenced against him. It is a sacrilege whereby God is robbed of his honour, when we attribute unto the creatures, the mean to uphold us. It is certain that God serveth himself by §50means, & we must also apply them unto our use: but in the mean while to settle our trust upon them, were a robbing of God of his majesty. For he will have us to hold all things of him, and to do him homage for them. So then it is an intolerable presumption for us to put our trust in creatures & to ground our selves on them: and yet there is no fault more common in the world. We can say well enough, that it is not lawful, & that we ought not to do it: but in the mean while every §60one doth it. Now let us remember our selves, for there is nothing that God holdeth more dear, or whereof he maketh greater account than his honour. Neither is it sufficient for us to leave him the title & name of God: but he must also be known as he is, that is to say, that all power lieth in him, that he is the fountain of all manner of grace & goodness: that it is his proper office to maintain and preserve us: that our life is in his hand, & all things that belong thereto. When we have well thought upon this, let us take order to gather our wits so about us, as we be not grounded upon creatures. Surely the mischief is double when we shield our selves with the creatures against God, & thereby to become stubborn when he threateneth us, & to hold on still when he uttereth forth tokens of his displeasure: let us consider that the offence is then much more grievous. But yet is this over common. For whilst we perceive not any danger towards, as in respect of the world; do not we continue in our sins? And do we not abide in stubbornnesse God speaketh: but we regard him not. So that men do favour us, & so we have wherewith to fortify our selves, we think that the hand of God can not come at us. And therefore it is not without cause that our Lord reproveth the frowardness of all such as are disobedient towards him: