Sermons upon Deuteronomy

Now as concerning the works of God, it is a like. We do continually eat the bread which he giveth us: we take our fill of his benefits; but yet for all that we resort not unto him, neither do we any way think to come near him, until he have given us wisdom and discretion, that so being nourished by his goodness, we may yield him thanks, for that he hath a fatherly care over us. Likewise we see the punishments and corrections which he sendeth upon the wicked, we be blockish, and pass them over, until he have wakened us and made us to understand, that it is for our sins, that he hath his hand so stretched out. To be short, whether GOD speak gently to draw us unto him; or whether he correct us, and show us some token of roughness, to make us to stoop: yet all this serveth to no purpose, until God give us eyes to see, ears to hear, and heart to understand. Are we thus reproved? Let us learn to mislike of our selves, and let us not counterfeit those that kick against God, as if their sins should serve them for a buckler: let us beware of such blasphemies. For well may we reply and say, I cannot tell what to do, my nature is so corrupted in Adam: and I am thereby disfurnished of all manner of power to attain unto goodness: but when we have well debated our cause, it is certain that we shall continue still in our condemnation. And why? For the evil cometh of us. Is it not enough for a man that he may be his own witness, and needeth not to have any indictment preferred against him by other folks, nor any information against him? If a man enter into himself, although he be a slave unto sin, and be altogether compacted of naughtiness; and is not any way able to attain unto goodness: yet is it so, that of his own proper motion, and of his own free will (as they term it,) he is always drawn unto evil, howbeit, he is not forced thereunto. It is certain that it is not possible for him to do good: and yet nevertheless the sin which he committeth proceedeth not from any where else, than of his own inclination: his will is so. Now seeing it is proved that we sin not otherwise than of our own freewill; is not that enough to stop our mouths? To what purpose serveth it us to spurn against God, seeing that we must needs come to this condemnation?

Now as concerning the workes of God, it is a like. We doe continually eate the bread which hee giueth vs: wee take our fill of his benefites; but yet for all that wee resorte not vnto him, neither doe wee any way thinke to come neere him, vntill hee haue giuen vs wisedome and discretion, that so being nourished by his goodnesse, wee may yeelde him thankes, for that hee hath a fatherly care ouer vs. Lykewise wee see the punishmentes and corrections which hee sendeth vppon the wicked, wee be blockish, and passe them ouer, vntill hee haue wakened vs and made vs to vnderstand, that it is for our sinnes, that hee hath his hand so stretched out. To bee shorte, whether GOD speake gently to drawe vs vnto him; or whether hee correct vs, and shewe vs some token of roughnesse, to make vs to stoope: yet all this serueth to no purpose, vntil God giue vs eyes to see, eares to heare, and heart to vnderstand. Are wee thus reproued? Let vs learne to mislyke of our selues, and let vs not counterfeite those that kicke against God, as if their sinnes should serue them for a buckler: let vs beware of such blasphemies. For wel may wee reply and say, I cannot tell what to doe, my nature is so corrupted in Adam: and I am thereby disfurnished of all manner of power to attaine vnto goodnesse: but when wee haue well debated our cause, it is certaine that wee shall continue still in our condemnation. And why? For the euill commeth of vs. Is it not enough for a man that hee may bee his owne witnesse, and needeth not to haue any inditement preferred against him by otherfolkes, nor any information against him? If a man enter into himselfe, although he bee a slaue vnto sinne, and be altogether compacted of naughtinesse; and is not any way able to attaine vnto goodnesse: yet is it so, that of his owne proper motion, and of his owne free will (as they terme it,) hee is alwayes drawen vnto euill, howbeit, hee is not forced thereunto. It is certaine that it is not possible for him to doe good: and yet neuerthelesse the sinne which hee committeth proceedeth not from any where else, than of his owne inclination: his will is so. Now seeing it is proued that we sinne not otherwise than of our own freewill; is not that enough to stop our mouthes? To what purpose serueth it vs to spurne against God, seeing that wee must needes come to this condemnation?