Sermons upon Deuteronomy

Now, that this doctrine might be of the more authority, Moses speaketh in the name of GOD, howbeit that it is he himself that speaketh; wherein there seemeth some contrariety and looseness of matter. For he sayeth, I have lead you through the Wilderness, we have discomfited Sehon king of Hesebon, and Og king of Bazan. Thus doeth Moses follow this sentence, as it were by a thread, and sayeth: I have nourished you in the wilderness, and yet it was GOD that did it. Meant he to usurp the honour that pertained to GOD alone when he sayeth, We did discomfit those kings? Surely the matter is all one in that Moses speaketh in his own person, and in the mean while bringeth in GOD speaking also: this doeth rather give us a profitable admonition, to wit, that although GOD speak to us by the mouths of mortal men, whom he ordaineth for that purpose; yet must not we therefore diminish the authority of his word. Let us therefore honour God, and yield obedience to his word, when it is declared unto us by men, as if we saw him present among us. That is the thing which Moses meant. In very deed, he did acknowledge himself to be a frail man, and he exempted not himself from the rest of Adams children, he was a member of the Church. But yet for all that, forasmuch as he was ordained to be a minister of GOD, and was to carry the word in his name: he meant to authorise the word, to the end that it should not be lightly regarded, not despised, under pretence that he which speaketh it is a creature. The thing then in effect, which we have to bear in mind touching this place, is that when we read the things that were written by Moses, and by the Prophets, and Apostles, thereby we understand that GOD did raise up men to be as instruments and working tools of his holy Spirit: and yet notwithstanding that he will not have our faith turned away from him under that pretence, but rather that we should take hold of his power and majesty by his word, and to yield due obedience thereunto. Thus should we practise this place.

Nowe, that this doctrine might bee of the more authoritie, Moses speaketh in the name of GOD, howbeit that it is hee himselfe that speaketh; wherein there seemeth some contrarietie and loosenesse of matter. For hee sayeth, I haue lead you through the Wildernesse, wee haue discomfited Sehon king of Hesebon, and Og king of Bazan. Thus doeth Moses followe this sentence, as it were by a threed, and sayeth: I haue nourished you in the wildernesse, and yet it was GOD that did it. Meant he to vsurpe the honour that partayned to GOD alone when hee sayeth, We did discomfite those kings? Surely the matter is all one in that Moses speaketh in his owne person, and in the meane while bringeth in GOD speaking also: this doeth rather giue vs a profitable admonition, to wit, that although GOD speake to vs by the mouthes of mortall men, whome hee ordayneth for that purpose; yet must not wee therefore diminish the authoritie of his worde. Let vs therefore honour God, and yeeld obedience to his worde, when it is declared vnto vs by men, as if wee sawe him present among vs. That is the thing which Moses meant. In very deede, hee did acknowledge himselfe to bee a frayle man, and hee exempted not himselfe from the rest of Adams children, hee was a member of the Church. But yet for all that, forasmuch as hee was ordeyned to bee a minister of GOD, and was to carry the worde in his name: hee meant to authorise the woorde, to the ende that it shoulde not bee lightly regarded, not despised, vnder pretence that hee which speaketh it is a creature. The thing then in effect, which wee haue to beare in mynde touching this place, is that when wee reade the thinges that were written by Moses, and by the Prophets, and Apostles, thereby wee vnderstande that GOD did rayse vp men to bee as instrumentes and woorking tooles of his holy Spirite: and yet notwithstanding that hee will not haue our faith turned away from him vnder that pretence, but rather that wee shoulde take holde of his power and maiestie by his worde, and to yeelde due obedience thereunto. Thus shoulde wee practise this place.