Sermons upon Deuteronomy

Now we know that if men win one battle, their hearts be commonly puffed up, and they take better courage to go forward: and that contrariwise, if they be repulsed, then their hearts quail. To the end therefore that the Jews should not be at that point, it behooved God to provide a remedy for it, and in deed so did he of his inestimable goodness. Insomuch that Moses now upbraiding them with it, sayeth, That over and besides that God had fed them forty years in the wilderness, without bread or wine; he had also fought against their enemies; and it was the handy work of God, that they had vanquished the two kings, which came forth against them, and had conquered their countries, and settled there the two tribes of Reuben and Gad and the half Tribe of Manasseh. By means whereof one quarter of their people or thereabouts were provided of a sufficient portion to dwell upon. Sith it is so, ought they not to have been wakened, though they had been asleep afore? Ought not this victory to have given them both courage and skill how to honour their God, who had so showed him self towards them, and to have caused them to put their trust in him, seeing his grace had been so visible? But seeing they continue still in their stubbornness, doeth it not appear that they be utterly past hope of recovery? Therefore as now we see the meaning of Moses. And hereupon let us learn, that we must acknowledge the goodness of God, not only in that he doeth preserve and nourish us; but also in that he doeth set himself against our enemies, and suffereth us not to be made a pray. When we be in this wise defended by God; and that he is our buckler and our fortress; we ought to magnify his mighty power in that behalf, and to acknowledge him to be our God and father, and to yield him the praise that is due unto him.

Nowe we knowe that if men winne one battell, their heartes bee commonly puft vp, and they take better courage to goe forwarde: and that contrariwise, if they bee repulsed, then their heartes quayle. To the ende therefore that the Iewes shoulde not bee at that poynt, it behooued God to prouide a remedie for it, and in deede so did hee of his inestimable goodnesse. Insomuch that Moses nowe vpbrayding them with it, sayeth, That ouer and besides that God had fedde them fourtie yeares in the wildernesse, without bread or wine; hee had also fought against their enimies; and it was the handy woorke of God, that they had vanquished the two kinges, which came foorth against them, and had conquered their countryes, and settled there the two trybes of Ruben and Gad and the halfe Trybe of Manasses. By meanes whereof one quarter of their people or thereaboutes were prouyded of a sufficient portion to dwell vppon. Sith it is so, ought they not to haue beene wakened, though they had beene asleepe afore? Ought not this victorie to haue giuen them both courage and skill howe to honour their God, who had so shewed him selfe towardes them, and to haue caused them to put their trust in him, seeing his grace had beene so visible? But seeing they continue still in their stubbornnesse, doeth it not appeare that they bee vtterly past hope of recouerie? Therefore as nowe wee see the meaning of Moses. And heereuppon let vs learne, that wee must acknowledge the goodnesse of God, not onely in that hee doeth preserue and nourish vs; but also in that he doeth set himselfe against our enemies, and suffereth vs not to bee made a pray. When wee be in this wise defended by God; and that hee is our buckler and our fortresse; wee ought to magnifie his mightie power in that behalfe, and to acknowledge him to bee our God and father, and to yeelde him the prayse that is due vnto him.