Sermons upon Deuteronomy

Yet moreover he saith, that this song shall answer them as a witness, because it shall never depart from their mouth. Hereby we do see how it is our Lords will that his word should serve not to some one use only; but also for a continual instruction even unto the end; & that the fathers should convey it over to their children. And the chief succession which we ought to leave to them that come after us, is that when God hath once uttered his will unto us, we must beware that it be not buried, so as none of us be so fond as to hold himself contented with his own only knowing thereof, as though the light of salvation ought to die with us: but rather that they which come after us may enjoy it also. And therefore when we our selves have known God, and have had his trueth preached among us; we must to the uttermost of our power endeavour, that it may continue after our death, and that our children may come to receive the doctrine which we have followed. And if the word of God slip away, and men think not thereon (as it is come to pass in the Popedom, & as it was afore time:) it cometh of their own lewdness, and they must needs yield a reckoning for their disannulling of so great a benefit. We see that the law was lost for a time amongst the people of Israel, and this song was out of the mouths of both great and small; but yet God at the last did not suffer the people to continue in such ignorance; but it was his will that the Law was found, and that the people came with great solemnity to receive it, and he told them that they were worthy of blame for defacing the doctrine of Salvation, and therefore he willed them to repent. Now, seeing it is so; as I have already touched, when GOD hath once taught us his will, let us learn (as I said afore) not only to profit therein for the present time or for the time of our own life, but also to procure as much as in us lieth that our Children after our death, may still enjoy the same Religion, and that the name of GOD may ever be had in remembrance.

Yet moreouer hee saith, that this song shall aunswere them as a witnesse, because it shall neuer depart from their mouth. Hereby we do see how it is our Lordes will yt his word should serue not to some one vse onely; but also for a continuall instruction euen vnto the end; & that the fathers should conuey it ouer to their childrē. And the chiefe succession which we ought to leaue to them that come after vs, is that when God hath once vttered his will vnto vs, wee must beware that it be not buried, so as none of vs bee so fond as to hold himselfe contented with his owne only knowing thereof, as though the light of saluation ought to die with vs: but rather that they which come after vs may inioy it also. And therfore when we our selues haue knowen God, and haue had his trueth preached among vs; wee must to the vttermost of our power indeuor, that it may continue after our death, and that our children may come to receive ye doctrine which we haue followed. And if the word of God slip away, and men think not thereon (as it is come to passe in the Popedome, & as it was afore time:) it commeth of their owne leawdnesse, and they must needes yeelde a reckoning for their disanulling of so great a benefite. Wee see that the law was lost for a time amongst the people of Israel, and this song was out of the mouthes of both great and small; but yet God at the last did not suffer the people to continue in such ignoraunce; but it was his will that the Lawe was founde, and that the people came with great solemnitie to receiue it, and hee tolde them that they were woorthy of blame for defacing the doctryne of Saluation, and therefore hee willed them to repent. Nowe, seeing it is so; as I haue already touched, when GOD hath once taught vs his will, let vs learne (as I sayde afore) not onely to profite therein for the present tyme or for the tyme of our owne life, but also to procure as much as in vs lyeth that our Children after our death, may still enioy the same Religion, and that the name of GOD may euer bee had in remembraunce.