Sermons upon Deuteronomy

Now he addeth thereunto, That he will rejoice over them for good, as he rejoiced over their fathers. This is a manner of speech that importeth much. In deed GOD is not subject to our passions, to rejoice after the manner of men, there is no such matter in him: but he speaketh thus, for that he could not sufficiently express the love which he beareth to us, but by such similitudes. The thing then which the holy Ghost meant, is that GOD holdeth us so dear, and beareth us such fervent love, that a father rejoiceth not more when he is able to advance his child, or when he can do him good, than GOD rejoiceth in us, when he hath occasion to do us good, as who would say, that his afflicting and scourging of us doeth grieve and vex him, and that he doeth it contrary to his inclination. For he requireth nothing but to find us always disposed to receive the riches which he hath in his hand, which also he is ready to bestow upon us. And therefore doeth GOD borrow the same similitude of men. For (as we have said) he is not like unto us, neither must we have so fond imaginations, as to think that he is moved with passions either one way or other; but to the intent to manifest unto us, how much he loveth us, he crieth alas, when he is to afflict those to whom he meaneth to do good.¹ Alas [sayeth he] must I avenge my self as of mine enemies, and rejoice me in vexing them? He calleth them his enemies, and yet he speaketh still of the Jews, whom he had chosen: but he presupposeth that they made war against him, and that therefore he was driven to be revenged of them: howbeit he declareth that it was to his grief. Let us therefore learn to taste of this love whereof the holy scripture speaketh unto us; that we may be so ravished therewith, as to desire nothing more than to submit our selves to our God, which is in deed the thing that he shooteth at. ⟨p. 1057⟩Wherefore is it that God forceth himself to show unto us so vehement an affection? It is to mollify the hardness of our hearts, that we may be inflamed with an other manner of zeal than we have. Will we then enjoy our God? Let us give him occasion to do us good, let us (I say) suffer him to be merciful and liberal towards us; when we hinder not God to do us good, he protesteth that he is glad of it. And contrariwise, when we lay a bar in his way;

Nowe hee addeth thereunto, That hee will reioyce ouer them for good, as hee reioyced ouer their fathers. This is a manner of speeche that importeth much. In deede GOD is not subiect to our passions, to reioyce after the manner of men, there is no such matter in him: but hee speaketh thus, for that hee coulde not sufficiently expresse the loue which hee beareth to vs, but by such similitudes. The thing then which the holy Ghost meant, is that GOD holdeth vs so deare, and beareth vs such feruent loue, that a father reioyceth not more when hee is able to aduaunce his childe, or when he can doe him good, than GOD reioyceth in vs, when hee hath occasion to doe vs good, as who woulde say, that his afflicting and scourging of vs doeth grieue and vexe him, and that hee doeth it contrarie to his inclination. For hee requireth nothing but to finde vs alwayes disposed to receyue the riches which hee hath in his hande, which also hee is readie to bestowe vppon vs. And therefore doeth GOD borrowe the same similitude of men. For (as wee haue sayde) hee is not like vnto vs, neyther must wee haue so fond imaginations, as to thinke that hee is mooued with passions eyther one way or other; but to the intent to manifest vnto vs, howe much hee loueth vs, hee crieth alas, when he is to afflict those to whome he meaneth to doe good.