Sermons upon Deuteronomy

Now it is farther to be understood, that if GOD come not first to us, we have no mean to come at him. Who is he that can give us wings to mount up to heaven? Or how shall we be able to pass over the deep? Although we had the knowledge of all secrets of nature: well might we travel all the world from place to place, and well might we mount aloft unto the very skies: and yet in the mean while we should want the chiefest thing of all, which is to understand the trueth of God; for that surmounteth all the wit of man. Let us learn therefore, that God in his infinite goodness, perceiving that we have no mean to approach unto him: giveth us an easy access thither. Yea and he cometh down unto us, to fashion himself to our rudeness and infirmity. We see how he doth (as ye would say) stammer with us: for he speaketh not in such loftiness, as might well seem agreeable to his infinite glory & majesty; but the phrase of holy scripture is gross and rude; by the which God speaketh to us in such plain manner, as there remaineth no excuse for us, if we understand him not plainly. Seeing it is so, let us use this marvellous goodness which God hath bestowed on us, and let us hold us to the same: and therewithal let us also acknowledge our own ignorance, that we may humble our selves: for the very cause why so few folk do profit in the holy scripture; is their own overweening, in that they be forepossessed with an imagination of their own wisdom and sharpness of wit: and so being drunken with their own conceit, they always despise the word of GOD. Let us therefore humble ourselves, for we know that God nameth himself the teacher of the lowly and of little ones,¹ to the end we should not come to the hearing of his word, as people puffed up with our own greatness, fondly surmising our selves to be men of great ability to discern: but that our whole wisdom should consist in obeying him, in considering that seeing he hath stooped so low unto us, it is not for any of us to advance himself. And seeing we have no wings to mount up aloft, let us take heed that we attempt it not: for so may we fall and break our necks, mount we never so little.

Nowe it is farther to bee vnderstood, that if GOD come not first to vs, wee haue no meane to come at him. Who is he that can giue vs winges to mount vp to heauen? Or howe shall wee be able to passe ouer the deepe? Although we had the knowledge of all secrets of nature: well might we trauell all the worlde from place to place, and well might we mount aloft vnto the very skyes: and yet in the meane while wee shoulde want the cheefest thing of all, which is to vnderstand the trueth of God; for that surmounteth al the wit of man. Let vs learne therefore, that God in his infinite goodnesse, perceauing that we haue no meane to approch vnto him: giueth vs an easie accesse thither. Yea and hee commeth downe vnto vs, to fashion himselfe to our rudenesse and infirmitie. We see how he dooth (as ye would say) stammer with vs: for hee speaketh not in such loftinesse, as might well seeme agreeable to his infinite glory & maiestie; but the phrase of holy scripture is grosse and rude; by the which God speaketh to vs in such plaine manner, as there remaineth no excuse for vs, if we vnderstand him not plainely. Seeing it is so, let vs vse this maruailous goodnesse which God hath bestowed on vs, and let vs holde vs to the same: and therewithall let vs also acknowledge our owne ignorance, that wee may humble our selues: for the very cause why so fewe folke doe profite in the holy scripture; is their owne ouerweening, in that they be forepossessed with an imagination of their owne wisedome and sharpnesse of wit: and so being drunken with their owne conceite, they alwayes despise the worde of GOD. Let vs therefore humble ourselues, for wee knowe that God nameth himselfe the teacher of the lowly and of litle ones,