Sermons upon Deuteronomy

For unless it were expedient for our welfare, surely he taketh not delight to see us so in anguish and sorrow. But he knoweth our secrete diseases which are unperceived even to our selves, how that we should be beguiled by them. For a man will divers times imagine himself to be so well reclaimed, that he needeth no more, and that is the thing that beguileth us. But GOD seeth much clearer than we do, and he is fain to play the Physician. If a Physician being a mortal man, be able to conjecture that there lieth some further inconvenience lurking in the diseased person, and thereupon do give him a stronger medicine: shall not our Lord from whom nothing is hidden, & to whom it belongeth to search mens hearts, perceive that there are yet still some naughty and wicked affections to be remedied in us? Yes: and therefore let us mark well this sentence of Moseses, where he saith that God will repent him, at leastwise when he seeeth all the strength of his people to be forespent. And therefore let us not think that our Lord will utterly sink us, though he assuage not the afflictions out of hand which he sendeth upon us. For he knoweth that it is for our behoof to languish, and he seeth that we would kick at him again, if he left us in our full strength. Therefore we have need to be tamed, yea and to be bruised and broken, or else he shall never have joy of us. That is the thing in effect, which we have to practise upon this place.

For vnlesse it were expedient for our welfare, surely he taketh not delight to see vs so in anguish and sorrowe. But hee knoweth our secrete diseases which are vnperceiued euen to our selues, how that wee should be beguiled by them. For a man wil diuers times imagine himselfe to bee so well reclaymed, that hee needeth no more, and that is the thing that beguileth vs. But GOD seeth much clearer than wee doe, and hee is faine to play the Phisition. If a Phisition being a mortall man, bee able to coniecture that there lyeth some further inconuenience lurking in the diseased person, and thereuppon doe giue him a stronger medicine: shall not our Lord from whom nothing is hidden, & to whome it belongeth to search mens hearts, perceiue yt there are yet stil some naughty and wicked affections to bee remedied in vs? Yes: and therefore let vs marke well this sentence of Moseses, where hee saith that God will repent him, at leastwise when he seeeth all the strength of his people to bee forespent. And therefore let vs not thinke that our Lorde will vtterly sinke vs, though he asswage not the afflictions out of hand which he sendeth vppon vs. For hee knoweth that it is for our behoofe to languish, and he seeth that wee would kicke at him againe, if hee left vs in our full strength. Therefore we haue neede to bee tamed, yea and to bee broosed and broken, or else hee shall neuer haue ioy of vs. That is the thing in effect, which wee haue to practise vppon this place.