Sermons upon Deuteronomy

And what caused him so to do, but that he was a worldly man and a despiser of God, seeking by all means to scorn God, and to abolish his grace, and that men might no more know how to worship him? So then ye see how Gods grace was had in contempt. But contrariwise, we must always be resolved, that God having once made his promise to his servant Abraham, did thereupon intend to utter his wonderful power, as one that had a care of his people. Yea and we must call to mind what was said yesterday, namely that GOD had made his partition to the former inhabitants of that country, (to wit of the land of promise) according to the number of the children of Israel, for he knew well enough what a multitude of people he was to maintain there. That is a cause why Moses declareth here again, that the Rocks yielded honey, and the stones brought forth Olives: that there was pasture ground to yield fat muttons, lambs & goats, & to yield butter, & all manner of white meat, so as nothing might be wanting: also that the land yielded the fat of corn ⟨p. 1125⟩(for he useth that term,) as who should say there were lumps in the meal, and nothing but pure and fine flower of wheat, so as our Lord gave his people abundance of all things that he knew to be meet for them: and that he gave them the blood of the grape, that is to say, the grapes were so full, that a man might have pressed as it were blood out of them. To be short, he declareth that God failed not his people in any thing, but provided them store of all things necessary, yea §10and showed himself so liberal, that he gave them even more than needed. Now after as God dealeth largely unto us, so must we enlarge our harts to serve him, that we may be fully fraught with love towards him. For all the benefits which we receive of him, must kindle our hearts to go unto him. We have in them a taste of his goodness to draw us unto him. Now then if we make not Gods gracious gifts available to us, so as we love him for them, and be ravished with §20desire to come unto him: it is certain that we must yield a sorrowful account for it. For we unhallow them, and abuse them too shamefully, and thereby God looseth the things which he had bestowed upon us as his children, because it is not his meaning that they should have been cast away as upon dogs.

And what caused him so to do, but that he was a worldly man and a despiser of God, seeking by all meanes to skorne God, and to abolish his grace, and that men might no more knowe how to worship him? So then yee see howe Gods grace was had in contempt. But contrariwise, we must always be resolued, that God hauing once made his promise to his seruant Abraham, did therupon intend to vtter his wonderfull power, as one that had a care of his people. Yea and we must call to mind what was saide yesterday, namely that GOD had made his partition to the former inhabiters of that countrie, (to wit of the lande of promise) according to the number of the children of Israel, for he knewe wellynough what a multitude of people he was to maintaine there. That is a cause why Moses declareth here again, that the Rocks yeelded hony, and ye stones brought forth Olifes: that there was pasture ground to yeelde fat mattons, lambs & goats, & to yeeld butter, & all manner of white meate, so as nothing might be wanting: also yt the land yeelded ye fat of corne