Sermons upon Deuteronomy

And so we have to note, that they which refer this saying to men and Angels, restrain the words of Moses over coldly. True it is that both men and Angels might well bear witness of the unthankfulness of the Jews: howbeit (as I have showed already) the holy Ghost proceedeth yet further, namely that although no man speak in the maintenance and defence of Gods cause against the Jews: yet notwithstanding the order of the world, and the only beholding of the sun and Moon, & of the things which we see here beneath, will suffice to show that God discharged himself of the promise which he had made to that people, in pouring out his great treasures upon them: and yet that they continued still in their malice & wilful stubbornness: insomuch that whereas he foresaw, that they were fully bent to all evil, and would fall away to all manner of wickedness: he warned them of it aforehand, & yet that would not serve, but even of a malicious and spiteful wilfulness they turned away from their God, and would not hearken to any warning, notwithstanding the good order which God had taken for the procuring of their salvation. Now let us apply the same to ourselves also, and let us understand that whensoever Gods word is preached unto us, if we receive it not, our refusal must be graven in heaven and earth, and all the world shall ring of it, and the same shall serve to confirm our indictment before God. Indeed it will seem, that when we have despised the doctrine that is preached unto us, it was but lost labour, and as a sound that vanisheth in the air: but there shall not one of the words that God hath spoken fall to the ground, whereof we shall not feel the power. For needs must they either turn to mens salvation, or utterly bereave them of all excuse and make them double damnable. Therefore let us think well upon it. For as oft as God granteth us the favour to be taught in his name, & by his will: there followeth this seal, that heaven and earth shall be witnesses against us to our condemnation, if we will not yield reverence to him which hath all authority over us, in showing our selves obedient towards him by our willing embracing of his word with a quiet mind.

And so wee haue to note, that they which referre this saying to men and Angels, restraine the wordes of Moses ouer coldlie. True it is that both men and Angels might well beare witnes of the vnthankefulnesse of the Iewes: howbeit (as I haue shewed alreadie) the holie Ghost proceedeth yet further, namely that although no man speake in the mayntenance and defence of Gods cause against the Iewes: yet notwithstanding the order of the worlde, and the onely beholding of the sunne and Moone, & of ye thinges which wee see here beneath, will suffice to shewe that God discharged himselfe of the promise which he had made to that people, in powring out his great treasures vppon them: and yet that they continued still in their malice & wilful stubbornesse: insomuch that whereas hee foresawe, that they were fully bent to all euil, and woulde fall away to all manner of wickednesse: he warned them of it aforehande, & yet that woulde not serue, but euen of a malicious and spitefull wilfulnesse they turned away from their God, and would not hearken to anie warning, notwithstanding the good order which God had taken for the procuring of their saluation. Now let vs applie the same to ourselues also, and let vs vnderstand that whensoeuer Gods worde is preached vnto vs, if we receiue it not, our refusal must be grauen in heauen and earth, and all the worlde shall ring of it, and the same shall serue to confirme our inditement before God. Indeede it will seeme, that when wee haue despised the doctrine that is preached vnto vs, it was but lost labour, and as a sounde that vanisheth in the aire: but there shal not one of the words that God hath spoken fall to the grounde, whereof we shall not feele the power. For needs must they either turne to mens saluation, or vtterly bereaue them of all excuse and make them double damnable. Therefore let vs thinke wel vpon it. For as oft as God graunteth vs the fauour to be taught in his name, & by his wil: there followeth this seale, that heauen and earth shall be witnesses against vs to our condēnation, if we wil not yeeld reuerēce to him which hath al authoritie ouer vs, in shewing our selues obedient towardes him by our willing imbracing of his word with a quiet minde.