Sermons upon Deuteronomy

But now let us come to that which Moses sayeth here; namely, that they be of the planting of Sodom, and of the field of Gomor. It be hooveth us to mark these two contrary things. The one is, that God had chosen that people for his heritage, tendering it as a vine, and husbanding it all manner of ways. It was meet therefore that they should have yielded some good fruit unto God, and that was the fruit of Sodom, that is to say, all manner of wickedness wherewith Gods anger and vengeance were provoked against them. And not without cause doeth Moses speak so: for he foresaw in his mind, that that people would give themselves over to all evil. And we know also how the prophets reprove them for it. For they blame them not for some mean faults;¹ but they tell them that they have outgone the wickedness of the Sodomites and Gomorrites, & that when the account cometh to be made, Sodom and Gomor shall be their Judges, yea and be counted innocents in comparison of Israel and Judah. For we must always remember that God had gathered that people to himself, and that the more favour he had bestowed upon them, the greater was their unkindness, and consequently the greevouser was their fault, and the less were they to be excused. Now the Prophets had an eye to the things which Moses had prophesied afore. And so the whole matter cometh to this point, that the Jews, who ought to have glorified God, and ⟨p. 1154⟩which ought to have had none other regard nor other study all their life long, than to live in all pureness of conversation; ceased not to do evil, and to yield all manner of bitterness unto God. Sith it is so, we must not think that God did them wrong, neither ought they to complain though he punish them extremely, and lay far greater and horribler vengeance upon them, than upon all other Nations of the world. Such fruit then as they had sowed, and §10such fruit as they brought forth, such fruit did they gather: and it was good reason that God should deal so rigorously with them. That is the thing in effect, which we have to bear in mind.

But nowe let vs come to that which Moses sayeth heere; namely, that they bee of the planting of Sodome, and of the field of Gomor. It be hooueth vs to marke these two contrarie thinges. The one is, that God had chosen that people for his heritage, tendering it as a vine, and husbanding it all manner of wayes. It was meete therefore that they should haue yeelded some good fruite vnto God, and that was the fruite of Sodom, that is to say, all manner of wickednesse wherewith Gods anger and vengeaunce were prouoked against them. And not without cause doeth Moses speake so: for hee foresawe in his minde, that that people woulde giue themselues ouer to all euill. And wee knowe also howe the prophets reprooue them for it. For they blame them not for some meane faultes;