Sermons upon Deuteronomy

For let us mark, that although God harden mens hearts, yet men fail not also to harden themselves. And these two things may agree very well: that is to wit that a man should harden himself in his own naughtiness, and yet not without Gods working in such wise as the evil proceedeth not of him, ne ought to be imputed to him, as I said afore. And to prove that men themselves ought to bear the blame and condemnation of their hard heartednesse, there needeth no long discourse to be made: for every man carieth his own indictment ready framed in himself. As how? Even the wickedst sort do give evidence against themselves: and although all the world would excuse them, and that both great & small did acquit them: yet have they a heart-biting within them, which maketh them to perceive, that whensoever they offend or sin, they do it willingly of their own accord, of a certain lewdness, and with their own will. There is not that man which knoweth not this. Even the greatest despisers of God that are (say I,) even they that are become as brutish as is possible to be, have the said branding iron searing within them, so as they know that their sins come of nothing else than their own self moving, and of their own cursed and wicked affection. Seeing then that men do feel themselves guilty: there needeth no more disputing upon that point.

For let vs marke, that although God harden mens heartes, yet men faile not also to harden themselues. And these two things may agree very well: that is to wit that a man shoulde harden himselfe in his owne naughtinesse, and yet not without Gods working in such wise as the euill proceedeth not of him, ne ought to bee imputed to him, as I said afore. And to proue that men themselues ought to beare the blame and condemnation of their hard heartednesse, there needeth no long discourse to bee made: for euery man carieth his owne inditement readie framed in himselfe. As howe? Euen the wickedst sort doe giue euidence against themselues: and although all the world would excuse them, and that both great & small did acquit them: yet haue they a hartbiting within them, which maketh them to perceiue, that whensoeuer they offend or sinne, they doe it willingly of their owne accorde, of a certaine lewdnesse, and with their owne wil. There is not that man which knoweth not this. Euen the greatest despisers of God that are (say I,) euen they that are become as brutish as is possible to bee, haue the said brondingyron searing within them, so as they knowe that their sinnes come of nothing else than their owne selfe mouing, and of their owne cursed and wicked affection. Seeing then that men doe feele themselues guiltie: there needeth no more disputing vppon that poin.