Sermons upon Deuteronomy

Moreover Moses doth expressly call him true. And that is to be referred to the doctrine, to the end that men should learn to receive that which is said and set down unto them in the name of God. And indeed, until such time as we know God to be true, we can never taste of his righteousness nor of his goodness: or if we have any taste thereof, yet can we not be sure and fully resolved of it. For proof hereof, we never understand Gods justice, wisdom, goodness, or any other of his virtues, but by his word. True it is that we have experience of them: and God showeth himself sufficiently both above and beneath, that he might be glorified at our hands, at leastwise if we had eyes and •ares to see and hear. But what? Such is our slothfulness, that we wore not how to benefit ourselves by the great number of the records wherein God maketh his glory to shine forth. His word therefore must go jointly with it: for if we be not taught at his mouth, we shall never attain unto him, no nor come any thing near him. But if we doubt of Gods word, and have but an opinion of it, as who would say the things that are contained in it have some reason, but yet we do but conjecture so: what a thing were it? What certainty should we have of God or of any of all his virtues, for the which he is to be glorified? We shall be always in a mammering. And so we see of what importance this saying is, where Moses termeth God True. For he would have us to learn to yield such authority to his word, as it may benefit us, and that as soon as we hear God speak, we should be fully resolved and persuaded, that we shall not be disappointed in following all that he sayeth to us, and in believing the same. By this mean then we may consider all Gods works, so as we shall have a lamp to guide us and to give us light, that we may not run reeling in continual doubtfulness. But forasmuch as Gods word is the infallible trueth to us, we shall have a stayed judgement concerning the things that are said unto us, and we shall trust in God, not as the heathenish sort do, who be shaken from it out of hand, because there is no steadiness of faith in them:

Moreouer Moses doth expresly call him true. And that is to bee referred to the doctrine, to the ende that men should learne to receiue that which is saide and set downe vnto them in the name of God. And indeede, vntill such time as we knowe God to bee true, we can neuer tast of his righteousnesse nor of his goodnesse: or if we haue any tast thereof, yet can we not be sure and fully resolued of it. For proofe hereof, we neuer vnderstande Gods iustice, wisedome, goodnesse, or any other of his vertues, but by his worde. True it is that wee haue experience of them: and God sheweth himselfe sufficiently both aboue and beneath, that hee might bee glorified at our handes, at leastwise if wee had eyes and ares to see and heare. But what? Such is our slothfulnesse, that we wore not howe to benefite ourselues by the great number of the recordes wherein God maketh his glorie to shine forth. His worde therefore must goe ioyntly with it: for if wee bee not taught at his mouth, wee shall neuer attaine vnto him, no nor come any thing neere him. But if wee doubt of Gods worde, and haue but an opinion of it, as who woulde say the thinges that are conteined in it haue some reason, but yet wee doe but coniecture so: what a thing were it? What certaintie shoulde wee haue of God or of any of all his vertues, for the which hee is to bee glorified? Wee shall bee alwayes in a mammering. And so wee see of what importance this saying is, where Moses termeth God True. For hee woulde haue vs to learne to yeelde such authoritie to his worde, as it may benefite vs, and that as soone as wee heare God speake, wee shoulde bee fully resolued and perswaded, that wee shall not bee disappointed in following all that hee saieth to vs, and in beleeuing the same. By this meane then wee may consider all Gods workes, so as wee shall haue a lampe to guide vs and to giue vs light, that wee may not runne reeling in continuall doubtfulnesse. But forasmuch as Gods worde is the infallible trueth to vs, wee shall haue a stayed iudgement concerning the thinges that are saide vnto vs, and wee shall trust in God, not as the heathenish sort doe, who bee shaken from it out of hande, because there is no steadinesse of faith in them: