Sermons upon Deuteronomy

And the reason hereof is added forthwith by Moses, namely, Because they were the people of God, and his portion, and Jacob is the meteline of his inheritance. Then if it be demanded, why God in making partition of the world, preferred the children of Israel before all the residue, & why that one house was so deer unto him, that he vouchsafed to appoint them a country certain: If it be demanded what moved God thereto: Moses answereth, it was because Jacob was his portion and the meteline of his heritage. As if he should say, Ye poor souls, your God hath used such gracious goodness towards you, as ye cannot say there was any thing on your own behalf, or that ye had any virtue in you, or (at a word) that ye can dim Gods glory any whit by your own deserts. There was no such thing; for all proceeded of his own free adoption. What was the cause that the linage of Abraham became Gods inheritance, & as it were his portion? For by the word Meteline here is betokened a part or portion. For in those days men measured Lands by Metelines, & that is the cause why the word Cord, or Meteline is so often spoken of in the holy scripture, when mention is made of distributing or dividing into portions. Now then if it be demanded why the people of Israel belonged more to God than all the rest of the world; or what affinity or acquaintance there was more between him and them: It cannot be said that they had purchased or procured more to themselves, or that they were nobler than all other men, as we have seen heretofore. What canst thou say (saith Moses in the seventh chapter?¹) Hath God chosen thee, because thou wast a nobler, a worthier, or a more renowned Nation than any other? No: but for the love which he bare to thee. Therefore like as in that place Moses used the word Love, to show that Gods own free goodness moved him to take Abraham & his offspring: so in this place he saith, Know ye that your God hath chosen you, & that it is his will to take you for his heritage.

And the reason hereof is added forthwith by Moses, namely, Because they were the people of God, and his portion, and Iacob is the meteline of his inheritaunce. Thē if it be demaunded, why God in making partition of the world, preferred the children of Israel before all the residue, & why that one house was so deere vnto him, that he vouchsafed to appoint them a countrie certaine: If it be demaunded what moued God thereto: Moses answereth, it was because Iacob was his portion and the meteline of his heritage. As if he should say, Ye poore soules, your God hath vsed such gratious goodnesse towardes you, as yee cannot say there was any thing on your owne behalf, or that ye had any vertue in you, or (at a word) that ye can dim Gods glory any whit by your owne deserts. There was no such thing; for all proceeded of his owne free adoption. What was the cause that the linage of Abraham became Gods inheritance, & as it were his portion? For by the worde Meteline here is betokened a part or portion. For in those dayes men measured Landes by Metelines, & that is the cause why the word Cord, or Meteline is so often spoken of in the holy scripture, when mention is made of distributing or diuiding into portions. Now then if it be demaunded why ye people of Israell belonged more to God than all ye rest of the worlde; or what affinitie or acquaintance there was more betweene him and them: It cannot be sayd that they had purchased or procured more to themselues, or that they were nobler than all other men, as we haue seene heretofore. What canst thou say (sayth Moses in the seuenth chapter?