Sermons upon Deuteronomy

Now Moses saith expressly, that the Jews feared the plagues of the Egyptians, and that they had good cause to stand the more in dread of them, for that in beholding them upon their enemies, they were then astonished at them, & therefore it was good reason that they should magnify the goodness of God: but howsoever the case stood, the plagues which God sent upon the Egyptians, were so great and so horrible, that the Jews must needs be amazed at them, albeit that they themselves were free from them, because they beheld such an alteration of nature. Now if they feared the wrath of God whilst it was upon their enemies, and had therein a testimony of his love & goodness: what ought they then to do when God rusheth upon their heads, and that they must be fain to feel the self same plagues which came upon the Egyptians? Must they not needs be doubly dismayed? Yes: and therefore we see that this threatening is not superfluous; but serveth to waken them, according as we have said herebefore, and as experience showeth that we be too much deaf, yea and as it were senseless, when God doeth warn us; and that he must smite upon us as it were with a hammer, or else will we never understand what he saith. And so ye see the reason why this word is expressly set down. Now when we see that God punisheth the wicked, let us learn to have such fear of his vengeance, as we do not tarry till he wrap us up amongest those whom we have seen punished afore us. This is the thing that S. Paul meant in saying, Deceive not your selves, neither let any man abuse you with vain words:¹ for the wrath of God hath bin wont to fall upon the unbelievers & disobedient for such offences. Hereby S. Paul showeth to the faithful, that they should not fear the hand of God only when they see it armed against them, and when it toucheth their persons: but they ought to use the opportunity in reforming themselves, even when God is so good unto them as to punish the reprobates & rebels before their eyes. Let us therefore be afraid when God punisheth the wicked, and let us be advised to acknowledge him for our Judge aforehand; and that we have well deserved to be handled as severely as they, were it not that he of his goodness forbeareth us. Let this touch us to the quick, that we may be brought to repentance. Thus should we yet further put this saying of Moses in practise.

Now Moses saith expresly, that the Iewes feared the plagues of the Egyptians, and that they had good cause to stand the more in dread of them, for that in beholding them vpon their enemies, they were then astonished at them, & therefore it was good reason that they should magnifie the goodnesse of God: but howsoeuer the case stoode, the plagues which God sent vppon the Egyptians, were so great and so horrible, that the Iewes must needes be amazed at them, albeit that they themselues were free from thē, because they beheld such an alteratiō of nature. Nowe if they feared the wrath of God whilest it was vppon their enemies, and had therein a testimonie of his loue & goodnesse: what ought they then to doe when God rusheth vpon their heades, and that they must be faine to feele the selfe same plagues which came vppon the Egyptians? Must they not needes be doubly dismaied? Yes: and therefore we see that this threatning is not superfluous; but serueth to waken them, according as we haue sayd herebefore, and as experience sheweth that we be too much deafe, yea and as it were senselesse, when God doeth warne vs; and that he must smite vppon vs as it were with a hammer, or else will wee neuer vnderstand what he saith. And so ye see the reason why this word is expresly set downe. Now when we see that God punisheth the wicked, let vs learne to haue such feare of his vengeance, as we doe not tarie till he wrappe vs vp amongest those whom wee haue seene punished afore vs. This is the thing that S. Paul meant in saying, Deceiue not your selues, neither let any man abuse you with vaine words: