Sermons upon Deuteronomy

But here Moses upbraideth the people, That they had provoked God by strange Gods, that they had stirred him up to jealousy, and that they set his wrath on fire with their abominations. First we must call to remembrance what hath been said as well in the fifth Chapter as in other places: namely that this word jealousy is attributed to God,¹ because he will have us to worship none but himself alone: and also because he admitteth us with this condition, that we should walk §60before him in all manner of pureness. When a man misbehaveth himself, it is all one as if a woman forsaking her husband, should play the harlot and give over her self to all lewdness. That then is the cause why God termeth himself jealous. Not that he is subject to any passions; but to show that his honour is dear to him, and that he cannot away with any companion, but that if we will acquit our selves of the faith that we have plighted unto him, we must yield ourselves wholly unto him, we must behave ourselves soundly & uncorruptly without doubleness, we must not stand debating what God we should stick unto, but we must let him have the possession of us, & not make any mingle mangle or corruption. And that is the cause why Moses expressly addeth the word strange, as though a woman forgetting herself to be under covert baron, or that she is bound unto her husband by reason of the faith which she hath plighted unto him: should go make herself common to such as had no interest in her. In the same taking are we, when we invent new gods to worship them at our own pleasure.

But heere Moses vpbraideth the people, That they had prouoked God by straunge Gods, that they had stirred him vp to ielosie, and that they set his wrath on fire with their abhominations. First wee must call to rememberance what hath beene saide as well in the fifth Chapter as in other places: namely that this worde ielousie is attributed to God,¹ because hee will haue vs to worshippe none but himselfe alone: and also because hee admitteth vs with this condition, that wee shoulde walke §60before him in all manner of purenesse. When a man misbehaueth himselfe, it is all one as if a woman forsaking her husbande, shoulde play the harlot and giue ouer her self to al leawdnes. That then is the cause why God termeth himselfe iealous. Not that he is subiect to any passions; but to shewe that his honour is deare to him, and that he cannot away with any companion, but that if we will acquite our selues of the faith that we haue plighted vnto him, wee must yeeld ourselues wholy vnto him, we must behaue ourselues soundly & vncorruptly without doublenes, we must not stand debating what God we should sticke vnto, but we must let him haue the possession of vs, & not make any minglemangle or corruption. And that is the cause why Moses expresly addeth the worde straunge, as though a woman forgetting herselfe to bee vnder couert baron, or that she is bounde vnto her husbande by reason of the faith which she hath plighted vnto him: shoulde goe make herselfe common to such as had no interest in her. In the same taking are wee, when wee inuent newe gods to worship them at our owne pleasure.