Sermons upon Deuteronomy

Now it is said further, That forasmuch as the Children of Israel had provoked GOD to jealousy by the thing that was not god, and provoked him by their leasings through the superstitions which they had devised: he also would provoke them by a people which was no people, and move them to jealousy by §50a Nation that was no Nation. Here GOD speaketh again after the manne• of men, like as if a man seeing his wife so wicked and lewdly given that he could not restrain her, should say, Well, I must needs divorce her, and to do her the more disgrace I will take some chambermaid in her stead, to occupy her place. Now then if a wife have lived in honourable state with her husband, and afterward behave her self so naughtily and stubbornly, that he casteth §60her off, and thereupon taketh some poor wench that was of no estimation, and useth her as his married wife; his former wife will take the more spite and grief at it, as who would say, What? Shall such a one now occupy my place? Must I be thrust out for her? Must I be pointed at with every mans finger and be shamed and ill spoken of every where? After that manner is this text to be understood. For thus doeth GOD utter his mind. What? They have provoked me to Jealousy by the thing that is no god: I am the living GOD, and besides that, they ought in reason to take me for their father, because I have showed my self so towards them, declaring how dearly I loved them, in that I have preferred them before all other Nations of the world: and yet hereupon have they forged Idols. But there is but one GOD: and therefore when men turn away from him, they must needs forge idols after their own imaginations. Thus have they provoked me to jealousy by the thing which was not god.

Nowe it is saide further, That forasmuch as the Children of Israell had prouoked GOD to iealozie by the thing that was not god, and prouoked him by their leazinges through the superstitions which they hadde deuised: he also would prouoke them by a people which was no people, and moue them to iealozie by §50a Nation that was no Nation. Heere GOD speaketh againe after the manne• of men, like as if a man seeing his wife so wicked and leaudely giuen that he could not restraine her, should say, Well, I must needes diuorce her, and to doe her the more disgrace I will take some chambermayde in her steede, to occupie her place. Now then if a wife haue liued in honorable state with her husbande, and afterwarde behaue her selfe so naughlily and stubbornely, that hee casteth