Sermons upon Deuteronomy

Lo at what point the faithful are. They very well perceive the dangers wherewith they be beset: they perceive that their life is but a smoke that might vanish away out of hand▪ they see there be many ambushes laid for them, insomuch that all the world is against them, and that they cannot safely steppe forward one step without encountering of some misery. The faithful understand all this: over and beside, that they be subject to all the changes of this human life, and that they be frail as all the children of Adam be, they see well there is no resting place for them here. But yet heerewithall they know that God hath care over them, and that he is their protector. That is the thing which they rest upon. Having such a stay, they hold on their way forward: but yet are they not careless; for we must not be so blockish as to cast no perils: for we could not call upon God if we saw not the perils wherein we be. And it provoketh us to seek unto our God, when we see that without him we should perish every minute of an hour. The faithful then must not be without fear▪ but resting upon the tuition of God, they must stick unto him, & assure themselves that he will never forsake them. That is it wherein they rejoice. Yea and they go yet farther. For although they be to go among thorns; although they be driven to make many leaps, although they catch now & then some knocks; yea and although they be altogether shut up & have no way out: yet notwithstanding through the power of faith they evermore rejoice even in the midst of all their sorrows & perplexities. On the contrary side, the despisers of God be as blind as is possible, and do close their eyes, least they might see their infirmities, & so do harden themselves. Yet for all this, God compelleth them to look unto themselves, & then are they undone: they be overwrought with fear & amazedness. It ⟨p. 1008⟩is not their manner to make their recourse unto God. For they understand nothing of his protection, nay contrariwise they shun him, & flee as far from him as they can, because they conceive nothing in him but dreadful majesty, which putteth them quite out of hart. As for the wicked therefore, and all such as have rebelled against God; they after long hardening of them selves, when God waketh them, know not where to become.

Loe at what point the faithfull are. They verie well perceiue the daungers wherewith they be beset: they perceiue that their life is but a smoke that might vanish away out of hand they see there bee many ambushes laide for them, insomuch that all the worlde is against them, and that they cannot safely steppe forwarde one step without incountring of some miserie. The faithfull vnderstande all this: ouer and beside, that they bee subiect to all the chaunges of this humaine life, and that they bee fraile as all the children of Adam bee, they see well there is no restingplace for them heere. But yet heerewithall they knowe that God hath care ouer them, and that hee is their protector. That is the thing which they rest vppon. Hauing such a stay, they holde on their way forward: but yet are they not carelesse; for we must not be so blockish as to cast no perils: for we coulde not call vppon God if wee sawe not the perils wherein we bee. And it prouoketh vs to seeke vnto our God, when wee see that without him wee shoulde perish euerie minute of an houre. The faithfull then must not be without feare but resting vppon the tuition of God, they must sticke vnto him, & assure themselues that he will neuer forsake them. That is it wherein they reioyce. Yea and they goe yet farther. For although they be to go among thorns; although they bee driuen to make many leapes, although they catch now & then some knocks; yea and although they bee altogether shut vp & haue no way out: yet notwithstanding through the power of faith they euermore reioyce euen in the midst of all their sorowes & perplexities. On the contrary side, the despisers of God be as blind as is possible, and do close their eyes, least they might see their infirmities, & so do harden thēselues. Yet for all this, God compelleth them to look vnto thēselues, & then are they vndone: they be ouerraught with feare & amasednesse. It