Sermons upon Deuteronomy

Now he speaketh also of a Covenant and an oath, and showeth that the same were mutually given and taken betwixt GOD and the Jews. In deed this matter hath been partly handled heretofore. But yet we must remember, that when God maketh us to pass any solemn band with him; that first of all he bindeth himself unto us. And it is a thing that ought to mollify our hearts, though they were as hard as stones. What are we that our Lord should stoop so low, as to enter into Covenant with us, promising to be our father and Saviour, and to be as it were a man that made a bargain of a gift? God in deed requireth every of us to consecrate himself unto him, and to forsake all manner of liberty, and to become his subjects, and to continue quiet under his governance; but ere he require this, he maketh a gift of himself unto us. That is a matter which ought to ravish us in such wise, as we should make no difficulty fully to dedicate ourselves to our GOD, seeing that he himself allureth us thereunto by his own example, and doeth guide us thither. And we perceive the same yet further as often as the word of GOD is preached unto us: for that is the message of Reconciliation (as Saint Paul sayeth) and God is come near unto us,¹ to be our leader. Jesus Christ sayeth that he was sent unto us, to have care of our salvation and to hold us in his keeping and protection, and also to dwell in us, that we might live in him. Seeing it is so, is it not a brutish blockishness, if we come not with pure and right meaning affection, to give over our selves unto our GOD, who hath given us the blessing and privilege to become our heritage, showing thereby that he would be possessed of us? So then let us understand, that there is no excuse for us, if when we come to here the doctrine of the gospel, we run every of us astray after his own lusts and affections, and behave ourselves disorderly in our conversation, whereas in very deed we should consider, that when we come from a sermon, we bring such a mark as can not be blotted out; that is to wit, that before GOD and in the presence of his only son, we have professed to be a holy people unto him, and to be separated from all manner of defilements of this world:

Nowe he speaketh also of a Couenaunt and an othe, and sheweth that the same were mutually giuen and taken betwixt GOD and the Iewes. In deede this matter hath beene partly handled heeretofore. But yet wee must remember, that when God maketh vs to passe any solemne bande with him; that first of all he bindeth himselfe vnto vs. And it is a thing that ought to mollifie our heartes, though they were as harde as stones. What are wee that our Lorde shoulde stoope so lowe, as to enter into Couenaunt with vs, promising to bee our father and Sauiour, and to bee as it were a man that made a bargaine of a gift? God in deede requireth euerie of vs to consecrate himselfe vnto him, and to forsake all manner of libertie, and to become his subiectes, and to continue quiet vnder his gouernance; but ere he require this, he maketh a gift of himselfe vnto vs. That is a matter which ought to rauish vs in such wise, as wee should make no difficultie fully to dedicate ourselues to our GOD, seeing that hee himselfe allureth vs thereunto by his owne example, and doeth guyde vs thither. And wee perceiue the same yet further as often as the worde of GOD is preached vnto vs: for that is the message of Reconciliation (as Sainte Paule sayeth) and God is come neere vnto vs,