Sermons upon Deuteronomy

Now we see the meaning of Moses in that he sayeth that God found his people in a wilderness, a dry and barren ground, a desolate §40place. And the selfsame thing meaneth Ezekiel in his sixteenth chapter, where he upbraideth the people of Israel with the unthankfulness which they had showed.¹ What are ye, sayeth he? For I took you coming out of the land of Egypt, as a Child borne out of time. The Child that so cometh out of his mothers womb, is all to berayed▪ and he should perish in his own filth, if he were not rid of his spots and blemishes, and washed from the uncleanness which §50he bringeth with him. To be short, he rehearseth all the things that are wont to be done to a child that is newly borne. Again he useth another similitude which is, as if a man should find a wretched harlot that were stark rotten and ready to fall in pieces by reason of her infections: And I have washed you & made you clean,² yea and I have taken you in marriage▪ and do ye not know that to be a benefit? Thus we see that Ezekiel hath followed the same order §60which Moses did in abasing the Children of Israel, by bringing them back to their first state, to the intent they should learn that Gods advancing of them after that fashion beyond all expectation of man, was to the end his grace might be the better known in them.

Nowe we see the meaning of Moses in that hee sayeth that God founde his people in a wildernesse, a dry and barraine ground, a desolate §40place. And the selfesame thing meaneth Ezechiell in his sixteenth chapter, where he vpbraideth the people of Israell with the vnthankfullnesse which they had shewed.¹ What are yee, sayeth hee? For I tooke you comming out of the land of Egypt, as a Child borne out of time. The Child yt so commeth out of his mothers wombe, is al to berayed and he should perish in his own filth, if he were not rid of his spottes and blemishes, and washed from the vncleannes which