Sermons upon Deuteronomy

Now then forasmuch as we have here an instruction in the person of the people of Israel: let us acknowledge our unthankfulness. True it is that God hath so wrought, as there is none of us which can excuse himself, that he hath not bin instructed sufficiently at some time of his life, to walk in the fear of God. In very trueth, we saw not the giving of the law in Horeb, we heard not the thunderclaps, we saw not the lightnings, neither heard we the Trumpets sound: but yet §50doth God daily work in such manner, as he leaveth not himself without witness, yea even though there were none other thing than that he causeth the Sun to shine,¹ and sendeth us rain and fair weather: as S. Paul saith in the Acts. Behold, the heaven & the earth, & the things which we see are witnesses unto God. And yet for all that, God ceaseth not to do notable acts & worthy of memory, which ought to waken us although we were never so blockish. Had a man lived but §60only fifteen years in this world, it were time long enough to make him know Gods wonderful works. But when we have continued here a forty or fifty years and more, and God in that time hath renewed the memory of his works, one while comforting us, and another while chastising us: insomuch that we are forced to perceive his power so many ways, and to know that he hath delivered us from so many and so apparent dangers, & that he hath reached us his hand to pluck us, (as it were) out of the bottom of the grave, yea even when we were as good as drowned in death; if we notwithstanding such instructions, do still remain deaf and blind; shall we not be condemned by this text? Yes truly. And let us not in this case say, O the time that I remained in papistry; I was them a blind wretch, but yet I sinned not: let us beware of such shifts: for they will serve us to no purpose. But let us understand, that we be always to be condemned for our ignorance, for they that sin without law, shall perish without the law, as S. Paul saith in the second to the Romans.² For in whom is the fault that we see not the things which God showeth openly unto us, but in our own naughtiness?

Now then forasmuch as we haue here an instruction in the person of the people of Israel: let vs acknowledge our vnthankfulnesse. True it is yt God hath so wrought, as there is none of vs which can excuse himselfe, that he hath not bin instructed sufficiently at some time of his lyfe, to walke in the feare of God. In very trueth, we saw not the giuing of the law in Horeb, we heard not ye thunderclappes, wee saw not the lightenings, neither heard we the Trumpets sound: but yet