Sermons upon Deuteronomy

Now if any man allege, that God seeing men so destitute, could well give them understanding, as we have seen heretofore where it is said, God hath not yet given thee a mind and heart to understand.¹ We must mark that God hath his secret purpose, which he reserveth to himself, (For he showeth favour to whom he listeth:² and he hath pity on whom he hath pity) and it is not for us to enter thereinto, but rather to do him the honour to confess that he is the fountain of all goodness, of all power, of all wisdom, and of all Justice and uprightness. Yet notwithstanding we must make hast when he calleth & encourageth us by his word. For if we come not, ne hearken to the things that are set forth to us in his name, to receive them obediently by faith: we shall be condemned as persons that have grieved his holy spirit by rebelling against him, and showed our selves to be unreformable children, that have disdained our father and made our selves strangers to him and to his house. That is the thing which is set forth unto us in this text. Therefore whereas God upbraideth us with our grieving of him, let us beware that we enter not into these needless curiosities: but rather let it suffice us to behold him in his word, where he showeth himself, and where he showeth himself in such wise, as we shall find that all they which frame themselves thereafter, shall have a happy end: that is to wit, that for as much as they be adopted of God afore, they cannot perish: and on the contrary part, that they which turn their back to God when he showeth them his face, and which kick and spurn against him, shall for their sturdiness reap nothing but confusion. That is the thing in effect, which we have to gather upon this place.

Now if any man alleage, that God seeing men so destitute, could wel giue them vnderstanding, as we haue seene heeretofore where it is sayde, God hath not yet giuen thee a minde and heart to vnderstand.¹ We must mark that God hath his secret purpose, which he reserueth to himselfe, (For he sheweth fauour to whom he listeth:² and he hath pitie on whome he hath pitie) and it is not for vs to enter thereinto, but rather to doe him the honour to confesse that he is the fountaine of al goodnes, of al power, of al wisedome, and of all Iustice and vprightnesse. Yet notwithstanding we must make hast when hee calleth & incorageth vs by his word. For if we come not, ne hearken to the things that are set forth to vs in his name, to receiue them obediētly by faith: we shalbe condemned as persons that haue grieued his holy spirite by rebelling against him, and shewed our selues to be vnreformable children, that haue disdayned our father and made our selues straungers to him and to his house. That is the thing which is set forth vnto vs in this text. Therefore whereas God vpbraideth vs with our grieuing of him, let vs beware that wee enter not into these needeles curiosities: but rather let it suffice vs to behold him in his word, where he sheweth himself, and where he sheweth himselfe in such wise, as we shall finde that all they which frame themselues thereafter, shall haue a happy end: that is to wit, that for as much as they bee adopted of God afore, they cannot perish: and on the coutrary parte, that they which turne their backe to God when he sheweth them his face, and which kick and spurne against him, shall for their sturdinesse reape nothing but confusion. That is the thing in effect, which we haue to gather vpon this place.