Sermons upon Deuteronomy

Now he sayeth expressly, that he will bring the Jews to that pass, that they shall confess those mischiefs to be fallen upon them, because God is not amongst them. Here he treateth of a forced confession: for he speaketh not a whit of true repentance, but only of a remorse which all the despisers of God do feel, for that they have of long time been stubborn, yea and scorned all correction. When they be pinched to the uttermost that they can no longer hold out; then must they needs confess spite of their teethes, that there is a God which is their Judge. He saith that the Jews shall make such a confession, when he hath brought them under foot with main strokes. Hereby we see that he threateneth them that his punishing of them shall not be mildly and after the common manner; but that also he will use such rigour▪ that what hardness and stubbornness soever be in them, yet shall they be broken if they will not bow, accordingly as I have handled the same point heretofore. Nevertheless it is good for us to be often put in mind of it, & to bethink us thereof oftentimes. For men do always deceive themselves herein, that they think that they shall by and by scape the hand of God, and when they have received a stripe or twain, they do but shake their ears & think all is done. Therefore if we be stubborn in naughtiness, let us look surely to be beaten down, until we be driven to confess that he punisheth us justly. Nay, let us not tarry till then. But when we hear how God proceedeth against such as are utterly hardhearted and will not yield unto him, let us be afraid. And as soon as we hear him threaten us, or perceive any token of his anger, let us turn again unto him, and meeken our hearts, and let us understand that until he be appeased, our sorrows must needs increase, even to the utter overwhelming of us. That is the thing which Moses meant in saying, that they which despise God and his word, shall feel that there is neither end nor measure of their calamities, and that they shall be constrained to say, These plagues are come upon us, because God is not among us.

Now he sayeth expressely, that he will bring the Iewes to that passe, that they shall confesse those mischiefes to bee falne vppon them, because God is not amongst them. Heere he treateth of a forced confession: for hee speaketh not a whit of true repentance, but onely of a remorse which all the despisers of God doe feele, for that they haue of long time beene stubborne, yea and skorned all correction. When they be pinched to the vttermost yt they can no longer hold out; then must they needs confesse spite of their teethes, that there is a God which is their Iudge. He sayth that the Iewes shall make such a confession, when he hath brought them vnder foote with maine strokes. Heereby we see yt he threatneth them that his punishing of them shall not be mieldly and after the cōmon maner; but that also he will vse such rigour that what hardnesse and stubbornesse soeuer be in them, yet shal they be broken if they will not bowe, accordingly as I haue handled the same point heeretofore. Neuerthelesse it is good for vs to bee often put in mind of it, & to bethinke vs thereof oftentimes. For men do alwayes deceiue themselues herein, that they thinke that they shall by and by scape the hande of God, and when they haue receiued a stripe or twaine, they doe but shake their eares & thinke all is done. Therefore if wee be stubborne in naughtinesse, let vs looke surely to bee beaten downe, vntill we be driuē to confesse that he punisheth vs iustly. Nay, let vs not tarry till then. But when we heare how God proceedeth against such as are vtterly hardhearted and will not yeeld vnto him, let vs be afraid. And as soone as we heare him threaten vs, or perceiue any token of his anger, let vs turne againe vnto him, and meeken our heartes, and let vs vnderstande yt vntill he be appeased, our sorowes must needes increase, euen to the vtter ouerwhelming of vs. That is the thing which Moses ment in saying, that they which despise God and his word, shall feele that there is neither ende nor measure of their calamities, and that they shalbe cōstrained to say, These plagues are come vpon vs, because God is not among vs.