Sermons upon Deuteronomy

Now that we have found such frowardness in the people of Israel; let us repair to ourselves: for the meaning of God is to teach us at other folks cost. They which be dead so long while since, be at this day set as it were on a stage, God putteth them to reproach, that they might serve for an instruction to us. We hear that the people of Israel were froward & stubborn, and we see how God condemneth them, & discovereth their shame. To what end? For our good & for our learning. Now then, seeing that the children of Israel be put to shame here after such a sort, let us learn to examine well whether there be the like faults in us: and surely when we have searched all things throughly, we shall find that we be no less faulty than they. For where is the readiness to serve our God when he calleth us? We be so slow and so reckless, as is pity to see. Neither is there only slowness and slackness in us: but also we cease not to kick against him. Howe many wicked fancies have we, which turn us away from the simplicity of faith? Howe much are we tempted of our wicked lusts, which serve to make us to kick against our God? How be we held down in this present world, whereas we should mount up unto heaven? Howe do we break all manner of order which our Lord hath set amongest us for our welfare? And albeit that for a time, we pretend some good desire and inclination: yet it lasteth not, we be changed from it with the turning of a hand, so as we be carried now this way, now that way, & every little overthwart is enough to make us mislike of Gods word. And have we once conceived such misliking, in the end we become like venomous Toads against God: and we see so many examples thereof as is horrible. Now therefore, when we have well looked into our state, we shall be constrained to confess that we be no better than this people. Wherefore let us beware that the word of God which is preached, be not a Testimony against us at this day. Yea and let us not think it strange, though God reprove us sharply, and send us such rebukes as he did to the Jews: neither let us say, with such, as settle themselves in their filthiness, Howe now? God pincheth us too hard. Alas we had need to be called upon a hundred fold more than we be. What must we then do? We must be more quiet towards our God than we have been;

Nowe that we haue found such frowardnes in the people of Israel; let vs repaire to ourselues: for the meaning of God is to teach vs at other folkes cost. They which be deade so long while since, be at this day set as it were on a stage, God putteth them to reproch, that they might serue for an instruction to vs. We heare that the people of Israel were froward & stubborne, and we see how God condemneth them, & discouereth their shame. To what ende? For our good & for our learning. Now then, seeing that the childrē of Israel be put to shame here after such a sorte, let vs learne to examine well whether there bee the like faultes in vs: and surelie when we haue serched all thinges throughly, we shall find that we be no lesse faultie than they. For where is the readinesse to serue our God when hee calleth vs? Wee be so slowe and so rechlesse, as is pitie to see. Neither is there onely slownes and slackenesse in vs: but also wee cease not to kicke against him. Howe manie wicked fansies haue wee, which turne vs away from the simplicitie of faith? Howe much are wee tempted of our wicked lustes, which serue to make vs to kicke against our God? How bee wee held down in this present worlde, whereas wee shoulde mount vp vnto heauen? Howe doe wee breake all manner of order which our Lorde hath set amongest vs for our welfare? And albeit that for a time, wee pretende some good desire and inclination: yet it lasteth not, wee bee changed from it with the turning of a hande, so as we be caried nowe this way, nowe that way, & euerie little ouerthwart is enough to make vs mislike of Gods worde. And haue we once conceiued such misliking, in the ende wee become like venemous Todes against God: and wee see so manie examples thereof as is horrible. Nowe therefore, when wee haue well looked into our state, wee shall bee constrained to confesse that we be no better than this people. Wherefore let vs beware that the worde of God which is preached, be not a Testimonie against vs at this day. Yea and let vs not thinke it straunge, though God reprooue vs sharpelie, and send vs such rebukes as he did to the Iewes: neither let vs say, with such, as settle themselues in their filthinesse, Howe nowe? God pincheth vs too harde. Alas wee had neede to bee called vppon a hundred foolde more than we bee. What must we then doe? We must be more quiet towardes our God than we haue beene;