Sermons upon Deuteronomy

When GOD hath once showed his will unto men it ought to §50suffice for ever. For what would we more, when we understand that we ought to walk in the obedience of our God: even of him who hath formed and created us; to whom we belong,§60 and who hath so dearly bought us? Needs then must men be wonderfully unthankful, when they can forget that which God hath taught them. And that is the cause why it is so often times told us that we must not turn away from the trueth when it is once known unto us. But we see how God was fain to ratify his Law again the second time, to the end it might be received, yea even of that very people whom he had chosen; and yet we see that at that time the Jews ought to have been sufficiently reclaimed to obey God: for he had brought them low with long affliction, and surely it is a thing that ought to make men the more pliable to learn, when they have bin beaten with the scourges of God and their pride bin long punished in them, so as they have been driven to fly unto God to pray him to take compassion of their miseries. It may well seem that this should make them as gentle and meek as lambs. The people of Israel were in that case, but they did forthwith forget the miseries which they had suffered, they kicked against their God, and they could not find in their harts to receive the yoke that was laid upon their neck. Therefore we have here a fair looking glass of the naughtiness and frowardness of our nature: for this is not written to ⟨p. 1014⟩this end only that we should blame the Jews: but much rather that we should consider that we our selves do nothing differ from them, until God have reformed us by his holy spirit. Here then in the person of the Jews, God showeth us what we are of purpose to humble us.

WHen GOD hath once shewed his wil vnto mē it ought to §50suffice for euer. For what would wee more, when wee vnderstand yt we ought to walke in the obedience of our God: euen of him who hath formed and created vs; to whome wee belong,§60 and who hath so dearely bought vs? Needs then must men be wonderfully vnthankful, whē they can forget that which God hath taught them. And that is the cause why it is so often times tolde vs that wee must not turne away from the trueth when it is once knowen vnto vs. But we see howe God was faine to ratifie his Law againe the second time, to the end it might be receiued, yea euen of that verie people whom he had chosen; and yet we see that at that time the Iewes ought to haue beene sufficiently reclaimed to obey God: for hee had brought them lowe with long affliction, and surely it is a thing that ought to make men ye more pliable to learn, when they haue bin beaten with the scourges of God and their pride bin long punished in them, so as they haue beene driuen to flie vnto God to pray him to take compassion of their miseries. It may well seeme that this should make them as gentle and meeke as lambes. The people of Israel were in that case, but they did foorthwith forget the miseries which they had suffered, they kicked against their God, and they coulde not finde in their harts to receiue the yoke that was laide vpon their necke. Therefore we haue here a faire lookingglasse of the naughtinesse and frowardnes of our nature: for this is not written to