Sermons upon Deuteronomy

specially when he useth roughness in his word, and that our sins be laid open, so as our shame be discovered: and that on the other side he threateneth us, & summon us before him, and lay there before us the condemnation that is prepared for us, unless we return unto him by repentance. Therefore whensoever he useth such vehemency, we must not kick against him, but we must acknowledge the same to be more than needful for us, because that if he held us not short after that manner, he could never wield us. Thus ye see what we have to remember, in that we see Moses to have been so vehement, as to have used the terms of rebellion and malice, and to have told the people that if they had been stubborn in his life time, they would much more be so after his decease. When we see all this, let us understand that our Lord teacheth us, that we have need to be subdued after ⟨p. 1102⟩that manner; for what were to be won at our hands, by using gentleness towards us? The matter is apparent. True it is that God allureth us so gently, that he may seem to flatter us as a father doeth his children: but if he continue in so doing, we fall to making head against him, and to setting up of our bristles, and finally to dashing at him with our horns: and to spurning and kicking at him, so as it would pity ones heart to see it. Forasmuch §10therefore as our Lord knoweth that he could not hold us in obedience, but by such threatenings, rebukings, and rigour: he fashioneth himself to our nature, to the intent to subdue the stubbornness that is in us. Thus ye see still what we have to remember upon that place.

specially when he vseth roughnesse in his worde, and that our sins bee laide open, so as our shame bee discouered: and that on the otherside he threateneth vs, & summon vs before him, and lay there before vs the condemnation that is prepared for vs, vnles wee returne vnto him by repentaunce. Therefore whensoeuer hee vseth such vehemencie, we must not kicke against him, but wee must acknowledge the same to be more than needefull for vs, because that if hee helde vs not short after that maner, he could neuer weeld vs. Thus yee see what we haue to remember, in that we see Moses to haue been so vehement, as to haue vsed the tearmes of rebellion and malice, and to haue tolde the people that if they had beene stubborne in his life time, they woulde much more bee so after his decease. When we see all this, let vs vnderstande that our Lorde teacheth vs, that we haue neede to be subdued after