Sermons upon Deuteronomy

But howsoever the case stood, this text showeth us that God altered not his purpose: for he is not variable, neither repealed he his sentence, though he said, I will yet again pardon this people for thy sake. For the thing which he had determined in his own mind, was performed, and yet notwithstanding it was his will that Moses should steppe in as a mediator. And when God heareth us, it is not for that we make him to change his mind: but it pleaseth him to declare the thing to us which he had determined to do, to the end that our faith should be exercised, and we know, that no pray, is no labour lost or unprofitable, for the fruit showeth the contrary. That is the cause then why he granteth those things at our request, which he had determined in his everlasting purpose afore. Yet notwithstanding we see in effect, that if God had not been minded to stop the mouths of all the wicked, and unbelieving sort, he had destroyed that people. And that was done to correct the overweening of such as were ever ready to grudge against God. For such is the manner of men, that they never want replies: but as soon as God scourgeth them, by and by they stand in contention with him. And if he press them double; then they not only grunt at it, but also spew out their blasphemies against him. But here our Lord showeth, that when men have cast forth all their rage after that fashion, yet it shall be proved to their faces, that he notwithstanding hath dealt overgentlie with them, accordingly as it is certain that ⟨p. 1145⟩even at this day, if God had not a further consideration than only of us, we deserve well to be wiped out of the world. For notwithstanding that we have received his word, what do we fare the better for it? We profess the having of the Gospel, and we can well say that the Papists are Idolaters, strangers from God, and men given over to all evil. And why? For they be blind and walk in the dark. But yet for all that, we that have the clear light of life,§10 how do we order our doings? If we be compared with the Papists, shall a man find us better than them? Nay, we are so much more blame worthy than they, because that for all our teaching yet we despise God of a certain malicious and determinate purpose. Sith it is so, if God had not a further respect than to us, surely we should be consumed out of hand.

But howesoeuer the case stoode, this text sheweth vs that God altered not his purpose: for hee is not variable, neither repealed hee his sentence, though hee saide, I will yet againe pardon this people for thy sake. For the thing which hee had determined in his owne minde, was performed, and yet notwithstanding it was his will that Moses shoulde steppe in as a mediator. And when God heareth vs, it is not for that we make him to chaunge his minde: but it pleaseth him to declare the thing to vs which hee had determined to doe, to the end that our faith shoulde bee exercised, and wee knowe, that no pray, is no labour lost or vnprofitable, for the fruite sheweth the contrarie. That is the cause then why hee graunteth those thinges at our request, which hee had determined in his euerlasting purpose afore. Yet notwithstanding we see in effect, that if God had not beene minded to stoppe the mouthes of all the wicked, and vnbeleeuing sort, he had destroyed that people. And that was done to correct ye ouerweening of such as were euer ready to grudge against God. For such is the maner of men, that they neuer want replies: but as soone as God scourgeth them, by and by they stand in contention with him. And if he presse them double; then they not onelie grunt at it, but also spewe out their blasphemies against him. But here our Lorde sheweth, that whē men haue cast forth al their rage after that fashion, yet it shall bee prooued to their faces, that hee notwithstanding hath dealt ouergentlie with them, accordingly as it is certayne that