Sermons upon Deuteronomy

Yet notwithstanding, no doubt but Moses had an eye to the punishments, as if it had bin said, that GOD can well reserve chastisements to their due times, so that if he utter them not at the first, he knoweth wherefore he delayeth them, and yet in the mean while they abide fast locked up. Therefore whensoever GOD openeth his chests, he will find terrible manners of vengeance, which are incomprehensible to us as now. Yea and let us mark, that when GOD hath punished us two or three ways, if he withdraw his hand afterward and yet we cease not to offend him still, but hold on from evil to worse: we shall be amazed to see what new punishments he will find out, which we never thought of. Therefore let us not beguile our selves as though we by our wit could measure both Gods punishments and all things belonging to his judgement: but rather let us understand that they be horded up as treasures; and as often as we bethink us of our faults, let us say with David, Lord who is he that knoweth his own sins?¹ Truly David played not the hypocrite in hiding himself, neither sought he vain and trifling shifts to disguise his sins: but after he had well examined himself, he saw that God is a far other manner of ⟨p. 1156⟩Judge than he himself was, and (as Saint John saith) far greater than our own consciences.² If our own consciences accuse us, for every fault which we perceive in our selves God knoweth a hundred. So then, there is no more for us to do but to cry out with David, Who is he that knoweth his own faults?³ Lord cleanse me from my secret sins. The way then which we have to deal, is first & foremost to do our endeavour to search well the §10evil that is in us, and (when we have done all that we can,) to conclude in the end that we perceive not the hundredth part, and that God must be fain to cleanse us from our iniquities, even though we perceive them not at all. Let that serve for the one point.

Yet notwithstanding, no doubt but Moses had an eye to the punishmentes, as if it had bin sayd, that GOD can well reserue chastisementes to their due times, so that if he vtter them not at the first, hee knoweth wherefore hee delayeth them, and yet in the meane while they abide fast locked vp. Therefore whensoeuer GOD openeth his chestes, hee will finde terrible manners of vengeance, which are incomprehensible to vs as nowe. Yea and let vs marke, that when GOD hath punished vs two or three wayes, if hee withdrawe his hand afterward and yet wee cease not to offend him still, but hold on from euill to worse: wee shall bee amazed to see what newe punishmentes hee will finde out, which wee neuer thought of. Therefore let vs not beguile our selues as though wee by our wit could measure both Gods punishmentes and all thinges belonging to his iudgement: but rather let vs vnderstande that they bee hoorded vp as treasures; and as often as wee beethinke vs of our faultes, let vs say with Dauid, Lorde who is hee that knoweth his owne sinnes?