Sermons upon Deuteronomy

Now in deed here might be a question put, whether God could not have restrained that people of Israel better, if he had would; for we know that if he list to restrain mens harts by his holy spirit, he is able to do i•. And why then wrought he not so with this people? We cannot bind God to give us such constancy, as that we might continue in his service. And therefore we must not argue §50against him in this case, nor say that this song was not sufficient, & that it had bin better that God had wrought effectually by his holy spirit. For it was not his will; he left the people in their own frailty. Howbeit we must not say as some blasphemers do, that God mocked them, in that he used such a remedy, as he knew to be unsufficient: for God may well still uphold, that he hath discharged his office towards men, when he hath once given them his word, insomuch that §60although it cannot touch them to the quick, but remaineth as a dead letter unto them: yet nevertheless, they continue justly condemned. But this would be dark if it were not better declared. Let us mark therefore first of all, that by this song, (according to the story thereof reported by Moses,) Gods will was that the people, (before they were fallen away and estranged from the way of salvation,) should have a testimony against themselves, as we shall see more at length hereafter. But it sufficeth for this present to touch the contents and sum of this song: which is, that God being the creator of all the world, chose the line of Abraham, whom he adopted, and bestowed upon them all the blessings that were possible to be wished, and lastly brought them out of the land of Egypt, and put them in possession of the land which he had promised them for their inheritance, and there fed them fatly: notwithstanding all which things, that people rebelled against him, (as horses that be too much pampered in the stable, and be too fat, and therefore do kick against their masters) and turned away after strange Gods. And therefore that God being provoked to anger, stirred up strange nations to chastise them and to punish them for their rebelling after that manner: howbeit that it grieved him to deal so roughly with them, like a father that is very sorry to use rigour towards his children, after which manner we shall see that God setteth forth himself like a man sore grieved:

Now in deede here might be a question put, whether God could not haue restrained yt people of Israel better, if he had would; for we knowe yt if he list to restraine mens harts by his holy spirite, he is able to do i. And why then wrought he not so with this people? We cannot binde God to giue vs such constancie, as yt we might continue in his seruice. And therfore we must not argue