Sermons upon Deuteronomy

Yet notwithstanding, God vouchsafed still, that in the end there should be an abridgement of the law, & that the same should be confirmed as it is contained in this book. And that is the cause why it is entitled Deuteronomy, which is as much to say as the Law repeated. Not that God bringeth in any new thing here: but for that he blameth the people for their foresaid lewdness, showing that his doctrine had ben ill observed, like as when children do not profit well at school, but play the gross Asses, when they have spent a whole year and are never the further forward, they must be fain to return again to their Apcie. And why? For notwithstanding that they have heard their schoolmaster, yet they be as ignorant as they were before, insomuch that instead of learning any thing, a man shall see them continue still always at one stay. So then, our Lord upbraideth the people of Israel with their brutish dullness, in repeating his law unto them the second time. As if he should say, Ye be very ill scholars: for I have trained you sufficiently in my Law. The doctrine comprehended in the ten commandments containeth the full perfection of all wisdom. Yet hath not all this been enough for you, because ye have no ears at all, or else they be too long, so that of all this while nothing is entered into your harts, or rather ye have not heard what I said unto you. And therefore you must be fain to turn back again to your first lesson, and to your Apcie: I must be fain to open my Law again unto you, and to chaw your meat unto you, that you may digest it the better. And because ye be so dull upon the spur, I must be fain to prick you forward, and to use greater force to waken you, that the hardness of heart which I see in you may be amended.

Yet notwithstanding, God vouchsafed still, that in the end there should be an abridgement of the law, & that the same should be confirmed as it is conteined in this booke. And that is the cause why it is intituled Deuteronomie, which is as much to say as the Law repeated. Not that God bringeth in any newe thing here: but for that he blameth the people for their foresaid lewdnes, shewing that his doctrine had ben ill obserued, like as when children do not profit wel at schole, but play the grosse Asses, when they haue spent a whole yeare and are neuer the further forewarde, they must bee faine to returne againe to their Apcie. And why? For notwithstanding that they haue heard their schoolemaister, yet they be as ignorant as they were before, insomuch that insteede of learning any thing, a man shall see them continue still alwayes at one staye. So then, our Lorde vpbraideth the people of Israel with their brutish dulnesse, in repeating his lawe vnto them the second time. As if hee should say, Ye be verie ill scholers: for I haue trained you sufficiently in my Lawe. The doctrine comprehended in the ten commandements conteineth the full perfection of all wisedome. Yet hath not all this beene ynough for you, because yee haue no eares at all, or else they be too long, so that of all this while nothing is entered into your harts, or rather yee haue not hearde what I saide vnto you. And therefore you must bee faine to turne back againe to your first lesson, and to your Apcie: I must be faine to open my Lawe againe vnto you, and to chawe your meate vnto you, that you may digest it the better. And because yee be so dull vpon the spurre, I must be faine to prick you forward, and to vse greater force to waken you, that the hardnes of heart which I see in you may be amended.