Sermons upon Deuteronomy

Thus ye see in effect what we have to observe. Now let us come to that which he addeth, I have set before thee good and evil, blessing and cursing: to the intent thou shouldest live: verily, even by loving the Lord thy God for that he is the life and the long continuance of thy days. Here Moses addeth not any new thing; but confirmeth his former matter. Whereby we do still see, that we be so dulheaded §60when obedience to Godward cometh in talk, that it is not enough for us to have the matter spoken briefly, & as it were by a glance: but it must be beaten into our heads. And therefore God never useth any superfluous speech: but thereafter as he seeth it expedient for us, so doth he repeat things: and because he seeth that we have but a short memory, he is fain to put us in mind of the things which we knew & have now forgotten. Also for as much as he seeth us to be hard of digestion; he is fain to chaw the doctrine to us aforehand, that we may be able to digest it. That is the thing which Moses doth presently, when he sayeth: This day I call heaven & earth to witness, that I have set before thee good and evil, blessing and the curse. Now let us return to that that we have spoken; which is, that as often as the word of God is declared unto us, we must look into the power thereof, even to stay our selves thereupon: that after we have once received the grace which he offereth unto us, we may not doubt that we shall be deceived, being so stayed upon the testimony which he hath delivered to us of his goodness and love. And likewise that being touched with dread and fear; to the intent we may prevent the threatenings, we must not linger till he put the things in execution, which he hath denounced against us, but we must go and yield our selves unto him, to pray him to receive us to his mercy and pity. And albeit that this solemn protestation be not made every day, as it was here done by Moses; yet we must understand that it belongeth unto us at this day, to the end that none of us should beguile himself.

Thus yee see in effect what wee haue to obserue. Now let vs come to that which hee addeth, I haue set before thee good and euil, blessing and cursing: to the intent thou shouldest liue: verily, euen by louing the Lord thy God for that he is the life and the long continuance of thy dayes. Here Moses addeth not any new thing; but confirmeth his former matter. Whereby wee doe still see, that we be so dulheaded §60when obedience to Godwarde commeth in talke, that it is not ynough for vs to haue the matter spoken briefly, & as it were by a glance: but it must be beaten into our heads. And therfore God neuer vseth any superfluous speache: but thereafter as he seeth it expedient for vs, so doth he repete things: and because he seeth that we haue but a short memorie, hee is faine to put vs in mind of the things which we knew & haue now forgotten. Also for as much as he seeth vs to be hard of digestion; he is fayne to chaw the doctrine to vs aforehand, that we may bee able to digest it. That is the thing which Moses doth presently, when he sayeth: This day I call heauen & earth to witnesse, that I haue set before thee good and euill, blessing and the curse. Nowe let vs returne to that that wee haue spoken; which is, that as often as the worde of God is declared vnto vs, wee must looke into the power therof, euen to stay our selues thereuppon: that after wee haue once receiued the grace which hee offereth vnto vs, wee may not dout that wee shalbe deceiued, being so stayed vppon the testimonie which hee hath deliuered to vs of his goodnesse and loue. And likewise that beeing touched with dread and feare; to the intent we may preuent the threatenings, wee must not linger till hee put the thinges in execution, which hee hath denounced against vs, but we must goe and yeelde our selnes vnto him, to pray him to receiue vs to his mercie and pitie. And albeit that this solemne protestation bee not made euery day, as it was here done by Moses; yet wee must vnderstande that it belongeth vnto vs at this day, to the ende that none of vs shoulde beguyle himselfe.