Sermons upon Deuteronomy

For although God raise up Prophets and good teachers, and govern their tongues by his holy spirit, and give them wherewith to teach his Church faithfully:§40 yet shall they not greatly edify it. And why? Not for any default in them: but for that they speak sometimes to stones, men be so dull headed, and malice doeth so reign in us, that God can have no access nor entry in unto us. By means whereof Gods word becometh dry and barren, notwithstanding that of it own nature it be moist and have power to wet throughly. For it falleth but upon stones and Rocks, where it parcheth and is lost out of hand.

For although God raise vp Prophets and good teachers, and gouerne their tongues by his holy spirite, and giue them wherwith to teach his Church faithfully:§40 yet shal they not greatly edifie it. And why? Not for any default in them: but for that they speak somtimes to stones, men be so dulheaded, and malice doeth so reigne in vs, that God can haue no accesse nor entrie in vnto vs. By means whereof Gods worde becommeth drie and barren, notwithstanding that of it owne nature it be moist and haue power to wet throughly. For it falleth but vppon stones and Rockes, where it parcheth and is lost out of hand.

Now first of all we be taught here, that the chief thing which we have to do in all our life, is to magnify Gods name and to set forth his praise, not only with our mouths, that all other men may be provoked to praise him with one accord as well as we; but also with our hearts that every man may give himself to it, and exercise himself therein. That is the thing (say I) wherein men ought to occupy themselves, if they were not misadvised to turn themselves §60away from such endeavour. And above all others, they that have the charge of preaching Gods word, have here a good lesson: to wit, that of themselves they be far unable to perform their duty, they have a charge that is over high and excellent for them, yea even though there were far greater ability in them without all comparison than there is. Chose me out the ablest in the world; and yet must they be fain to acknowledge such weakness in themselves, as that they cannot speak of God with such majesty and reverence as they ought to do, no nor once come near it, unless God govern them and give them a new speech, altering and reforming their tongues, so as they may not speak after the manner of men, but may show how it is the holy Ghost that reigneth in them. Now if Moses wished this in respect that he might fail because he was a man: if so great a Prophet did both know and acknowledge that he could not magnify God as became him: alas, much less can we discharge our selves thereof. Therefore let us acknowledge our infirmity and resort unto God praying unto him that as he hath vouchsafed to admit us into his service, so he will also give us power and ability to handle those high mysteries to the edifying of his Church, and to set forth his praises in such wise as he may be honoured as he deserveth. And the two reasons which I have spoken of, ought to move us thereunto. The one is by considering what odds there is between the infinite glory of God, and the slenderness that is in us. For what is it that causeth men to presume to work wonders, and to stand so much in their own conceits, as to think themselves able to go through with all things, but that they think not of God as they ought. Now therefore, when we know that God doth us the grace to vouchsafe us to be his lieutenants, to bear abroad his name among men, and to bring folk to the knowing of him: