Sermons upon Deuteronomy

True it is that when they feel themselves pinched with adversities, they cry alas, but they do never the more lift up their eyes to the hand of God, to understand him to be their Judge. Therefore we must proceed thus far; that is▪ we must have recourse unto Gods word; and when God smiteth us on this manner, let us take warning to submit ourselves unto him, & not keep us aloof as we are wont. Now the same word not only will show us that it is Gods hand that smiteth us; but it will also bring us to examine our life. It is not said in the scripture that God punisheth men not knowing wherefore, or that he taketh pleasure in tormenting them: but it is said, that he punisheth them for their faults so as we must always needs acknowledge his justice; insomuch that if men could skill to profit themselves by the afflictions that are sent them, they be all of them as medicines, and Gods intent is to show himself a father by warning them after that manner. Moreover they serve to make men inexcusable: insomuch that all the afflictions which they suffer in this world, shall be an augmentation of the last vengeance, because they would not stoop under the hand of God, while he nurtured them for their welfare. Thus ye see that when we be scourged, we must resort to the holy scripture, first of all to understand that it cometh not by adventure, but that our Lord doth thereby show unto us that we have offended him, & that he meaneth thereby to make us to feel our sins, to the end we should not be so senseless as we were before, to flatter & to harden ourselves but that we should come directly unto him, and yield ourselves guilty, yea even with such misliking of our sins, as we should hate the evil that is in us, and seek nothing but to be received unto his government, to be changed & renewed by him, so as we may take no pleasure but only in framing ourselves to his good pleasure. That is the thing which Moses meant in saying, that although the people should be constrained to say, that they suffered those so many plagues & miseries, because God was no more among them: yet should they also have a testimony to follow them, and to hold them as at a bay, as who would say, Thou shalt not escape, but shalt know that thy sins be the cause of all these evils;

True it is that when they feele thēselues pinched with aduersities, they crye alas, but they doe neuer the more lift vp their eyes to ye hand of God, to vnderstande him to be their Iudge. Therefore we must proceed thus far; that is▪ we must haue recourse vnto Gods word; and when God smiteth vs on this maner, let vs take warning to submit ourselues vnto him, & not keepe vs aloofe as we are wont. Now ye same word not only will shewe vs yt it is Gods hande that smiteth vs; but it will also bring vs to examine our life. It is not said in the scripture yt God punisheth men not knowing wherefore, or yt he taketh pleasure in tormenting them: but it is sayd, that he punisheth them for their faultes so as we must alwaies needes acknowledge his iustice; insomuch yt if men coulde skill to profit themselues by the afflictions yt are sent them, they be all of them as medicines, and Gods intent is to shew himselfe a father by warning them after yt maner. Moreouer they serue to make men inexcusable: insomuch yt all the afflictions which they suffer in this world, shalbe an augmentation of the last vengeance, because they would not stoope vnder the hande of God, while he nurtured thē for their welfare. Thus ye see yt when we be scourged, we must resort to the holy scripture, first of all to vnderstand yt it commeth not by aduenture, but that our Lord doth thereby shew vnto vs yt we haue offended him, & that he meaneth thereby to make vs to feele our sinnes, to the end we should not be so senselesse as we were before, to flatter & to hardē ourselues but that we should come directly vnto him, and yeelde ourselues guilty, yea euen with such misliking of our sins, as we shold hate the euil yt is in vs, and seek nothing but to be receiued vnto his gouernment, to be changed & renewed by him, so as wee may take no pleasure but onely in framing ourselues to his good pleasure. That is the thing which Moses meant in saying, yt although the people should be constrained to say, yt they suffered those so many plagues & miseries, because God was no more among them: yet should they also haue a testimony to follow thē, and to holde them as at a bay, as who would say, Thou shalt not escape, but shalt know yt thy sins be the cause of al these euils;