Sermons upon Deuteronomy

Now afterward Moses comforteth the faithful, telling them that Gods rigour shall be none such, but that in the end he will have pity upon such as are not utterly past grace. He will repent him over his servants, saith he. This is added as a qualification of that which he had said afore, to the intent we should not be too much dismayed when we hear that in punishing sin God will begin at us. For that might put us into such an unquietness, as that we had lever he should let us alone, and never take or avow us any more to be his people. Not without cause therefore doth the Apostle add this qualification: My friends (saith he) true it is that we must live in fear, and beware that we tempt not God in abusing his goodness. If he bear with us for a time, we must not in the mean while play the loose colts: for if we be his people, we must receive the first stripes. And why? Because he hath a special care of our welfare, and he must needs call us home again to himself when he sees us run at random. But yet must not we think our case the worse, neither must it grieve us to be so chastised at Gods hand. For why? He will punish us measurably, and in the end we shall perceive that he hath not forgotten his mercy for all his showing of such rigour. He will then repent over us, because he seeth we be his people, and that he hath entered into a covenant with us and hath adopted us for his children: and therefore he will have us to be his servants, to the end he may rule over us: and so at the length he will declare; that whatsoever he hath done in correcting us, hath not been done in vain, or without purpose. But when the word is taken for Comforting, it is as much as if GOD should say, that he will ⟨p. 1161⟩take pleasure and delight in their utter overthrow and destruction. But here it is easy to be perceived that Moses meant to say the clean contrary: For he addeth, That God will repent him when he seeth the strength of his people vanished away, and that all of them are as folk discomfited, so as there is none of them be he never so well guarded and shut up in hold, or be he abroad in the fields, which is not forlorn and undone. Therefore when God seeth his people so miserably §10under foot, then will he be sorry (sayeth he). For it might be said unto them. Where be your gods?

Now afterward Moses comforteth the faithfull, telling them that Gods rigour shal be none such, but that in the ende he will haue pitie vppon such as are not vtterlie past grace. Hee will repent him ouer his seruantes, saith hee. This is added as a qualification of that which he had saide afore, to the intent we should not bee too much dismayed when wee heare that in punishing sin God will beginne at vs. For that might put vs into such an vnquietnesse, as that wee had leuer he shoulde let vs alone, and neuer take or auowe vs any more to bee his people. Not without cause therefore doth the Apostle adde this qualification: My friendes (saith hee) true it is that wee must liue in feare, and beware that wee tempt not God in abusing his goodnesse. If hee beare with vs for a time, wee must not in the meane while play the loose coltes: for if wee bee his people, wee must receiue the first stripes. And why? Because he hath a speciall care of our welfare, and hee must needes call vs home againe to himselfe when hee sees vs runne at randon. But yet must not wee thinke our case the worse, neither must it greeue vs to bee so chastised at Gods hande. For why? He will punish vs measurablie, and in the ende wee shall perceiue that hee hath not forgotten his mercie for all his shewing of such rigour. He will then repent ouer vs, because he seeth we be his people, and that hee hath entred into a couenaunt with vs and hath adopted vs for his children: and therefore hee will haue vs to bee his seruauntes, to the ende hee may rule ouer vs: and so at the length hee will declare; that whatsoeuer hee hath doone in correcting vs, hath not beene doone in vaine, or without purpose. But when the worde is taken for Comforting, it is as much as if GOD shoulde say, that hee will