Sermons upon Deuteronomy

True it is that sometime there shall be special causes:¹ but the saying of Saint Paul in the first chapter to the Romans extendeth yet further. For there we see that God hath just reason §40to blind all the world, and that if he should do so he should do but the office of a judge. For why? although the heathen had no doctrine preached unto them: yet do the heavens and the earth speak sufficiently unto them, inasmuch as God doth show himself there. But who are they that honour and serve God, for all their enjoying of the benefits which he bestoweth upon them in this world? All are unthankful, all are malicious, we cobble up Gods riches §50here, and in the mean while regard not how much we be beholden to him, at leastwise to do him homage for them. And therefore it is reason that he should give up men into a lewd mind,² (as saith Saint Paul) and that he should deliver them into wicked lusts, so as they should forget themselves, and overshoot themselves, and give over themselves to all ungraciousness, and to all manner of shameful and horrible dealings. And why? For they honoured §60not their creator that made them, & had showed himself so bountiful and merciful to them. And therefore whensoever God hardeneth men, we must think he hath just reason to do so, because our lewdness and unthankfulness are to be found every where.

True it is that sometime there shall be speciall causes:¹ but the saying of Saint Paul in the first chapter to the Romans extendeth yet further. For there wee see that God hath iust reason §40to blinde all the world, and that if hee should doe so he should doe but the office of a iudge. For why? although the heathen had no doctrine preached vnto them: yet doe the heauens and the earth speake sufficiently vnto them, inasmuch as God doth shewe himselfe there. But who are they that honor and serue God, for all their inioying of the benefites which he bestoweth vpon them in this world? All are vnthankefull, all are malicious, wee cobble vp Gods riches