Sermons upon Deuteronomy

Here GOD allegeth some examples of the thing which he had spoken, to wit, that when we be escaped from war, famine shall catch us, and if God spare us from famine, yet shall that nothing boot us, for he will have other weapons to pursue us withal. And herewithall we be warned further that all creatures are in Gods hand, and that he employeth them to what use he liketh best. As for example, if he list to have the wild beasts to serve for our benefit, they must needs do it. For he leadeth them by his secrete moving in such wise, as they cannot but execute that which he enjoineth. And on the contrary part, whensoever it pleaseth him to arm the beasts: they must needs become our enemies, and we cannot withstand them. For until such time as we be at one with him, it is certain that we have still the worse end of the staff. Secondly he addeth the trailing serpents. Although we despise these little beasts, such as the Serpents are which trail in the dust as Moses saith expressly here: yet will God make the mischief of them to attain even to our heads. For albeit that the biting of a Serpent be but on ones heel or his foot: yet the venom of it striketh up through his whole body. The like is to be said of diseases. For under one kind he comprehendeth here all, when he saith, That he will send bitter heats, and that the same shall destroy men. So then let us mark (according to that which I have treated of heretofore) that when we be vexed by men, the same happeneth not without the ordinance of God. Such things are Gods chastisements whereby he calleth us to the considering of our ⟨p. 1142⟩sins, and whereby he summoneth us before him, not only to indite us of them, but also to the end we should do it our selves aforehand, and every of us play the judge in condemning our selves, that by that mean we might obtain favour at his hand. But if we will needs be self willed, then are they as evidences aforehand to condemn us with, and we must not imagine that we can further our case by replyinges. And whensoever we be so visited,§10 if we yield not GOD the honour to confess that he is righteous in so doing: surely the mischief shall be doubled, and still increased until it have consumed us. Therefore although we be troubled by men:

Heere GOD alledgeth some examples of the thing which hee had spoken, to wit, that when wee be escaped from warre, famine shall catch vs, and if God spare vs from famine, yet shall that nothing boote vs, for he will haue other weapons to pursue vs withall. And herewithall wee bee warned further that all creatures are in Gods hande, and that hee imployeth them to what vse hee liketh best. As for example, if hee list to haue the wilde beastes to serue for our benefite, they must needes doe it. For hee leadeth them by his secrete moouing in such wise, as they cannot but execute that which hee inioyneth. And on the contrarie part, whensoeuer it pleaseth him to arme the beastes: they must needes become our enemies, and wee cannot withstande them. For vntill such time as we bee at one with him, it is certaine that wee haue still the worse ende of the staffe. Secondlie hee addeth the trayling serpents. Although wee despise these little beastes, such as the Serpents are which trayle in the dust as Moses saith expreslie here: yet wil God make the mischeefe of them to attaine euen to our heades. For albeit that the biting of a Serpent bee but on ones heele or his foote: yet the venime of it striketh vp through his whole bodie. The like is to bee saide of diseases. For vnder one kinde hee comprehendeth here all, when hee sayth, That hee will sende bitter heates, and that the same shall destroy men. So then let vs marke (according to that which I haue treated of heretofore) that when wee bee vexed by men, the same happeneth not without the ordinaunce of God. Such thinges are Gods chastisementes whereby hee calleth vs to the considering of our