Sermons upon Deuteronomy

And now to apply this doctrine to our own instruction, let us consider what we be before God chooseth us. It is said that he found his people in a wilderness. True it is that he had adopted them before that time, insomuch that the promises were made unto them before they went down into Egypt. But it is enough that the people were there in so miserable state, to the end they should perceive that God had at that time given them as it were a second birth, and so doth the scripture customably term it. But not let us come to our selves. In what case doth God find us? In what state doth he take us? We be the children of Adam, that is to say, cursed, and heirs of everlasting death. There is nothing in us but sin, there is nothing in us but corruption, God must needs reject us and hate us, he must needs become our deadly enemy, and utter his vengeance upon us. To be short, we be in the dungeons of hell, until God have reached us his hand, and had pity upon us. It is not for any man to exempt him self from this confusion: for from the greatest to the least of us, we be all plunged in it. Now let us boast of the things which we have of nature. For God findeth us void of all goodness, we have not one drop of virtue, wisdom, or righteousness: but contrariwise we be full of corruption, we be ready to burst for filth and uncleanness, we be bondslaves to Satan, under the tyranny and bondage of death, and at a word we be plunged in hell. At that point are we when God chooseth us, that is the point whereat he beginneth our salvation. Now sith it is so, let us learn first of all to rid our selves of all pride. And although Satan beguile most men, making them to believe that they can deserve at Gods hand: yet let us assure our selves that we be beholden to Gods free goodness for all things. Mark that for one point. To the intent that all mouths may be stopped before GOD (as sayeth Saint Paul) let us so humble our selves,¹ as that we make not any mo allegations, as who would say, we have done this or that: but let us preach the mercy of our God, and let us declare that he is the beginning, the end and the increase of our welfare, so as we draw out of that fountain wherewith to satisfy us, without seeking of any piece of our salvation either in our selves or in any creature.

And now to apply this doctrine to our owne instruction, let vs consider what wee be before God chooseth vs. It is sayd that hee found his people in a wildernesse. True it is that he had adopted them before that time, insomuch that the promises were made vnto them before they went downe into Egypt. But it is enough that the people were there in so miserable state, to the end they shoulde perceiue that God had at that time giuen them as it were a second byrth, and so dooth the scripture customably terme it. But not let vs come to our selues. In what case dooth God finde vs? In what state dooth hee take vs? We bee the children of Adam, that is to say, cursed, and heires of euerlasting death. There is nothing in vs but sin, there is nothing in vs but corruption, God must needes reiect vs and hate vs, he must needes become our deadly enemy, and vtter his vengeance vppon vs. To bee short, wee be in the dungeons of hell, vntill God haue reached vs his hand, and had pitie vppon vs. It is not for any man to exempt him selfe from this confusion: for from the greatest to the least of vs, we be all plunged in it. Now let vs boast of the thinges which we haue of nature. For God findeth vs voyd of all goodnesse, we haue not one droppe of vertue, wisedome, or righteousnesse: but contrariwise wee be full of corruption, wee bee ready to burst for filth and vncleanesse, wee bee bondslaues to Satan, vnder the tyranny and bondage of death, and at a worde we bee plunged in hell. At that poynt are wee when God chooseth vs, that is the poynt whereat hee beginneth our saluation. Now sith it is so, let vs learne first of all to rid our selues of all pride. And although Satan beguile most men, making them to beleeue that they can deserue at Gods hand: yet let vs assure our selues that we bee beholden to Gods free goodnesse for all thinges. Marke that for one point. To the intent that all mouthes may bee stopped before GOD (as saieth Saint Paul) let vs so humble our selues,