Sermons upon Deuteronomy

Now it is expressly said, that GOD will see them all discomfited, as well the man that is shut up, as the man that is left abroad. This manner of speaking is common enough in the holy scripture, as if ye would say the strong and the weak, that is to say, all one with another. For by this word Shut up, the Hebrews betoken him that is in a fortress, castle, or hold, and in good safety as in respect of men. And by the man that is left abroad, they mean the poor man which goeth abroad in the fields without defence or safeguard. We see then how his meaning in effect is that all of them as well great as small, strong as weak, rich as poor, shall be all discomfited. True it is that such as are already feeble to the worldward, ought to be easily reclaimed unto God and teachable enough. But herein it appeareth how much naughtiness there is in our nature. For the miserablest of us cease not to strive against God, and even they which have not whereof to be proud, but ought rather to hang down their heads and to be ashamed of themselves, even they (I say) will not fail to swell with pride like Toads. When we see men fight after that fashion against nature: needs must we say that there is a terrible untowardness in mans nature. Now if these cannot be made to stoop at the first, but God must be fain to win them by main blows, insomuch as he may sooner break them than make them obedient & subject to his government & authority, how much more needful is it for the rich, & for such as think themselves to be well fenced, & for such as have worldly means to stay upon? ⟨p. 1163⟩Howe much more need have they to be tamed? For they do even burst for pride, accordingly as we see how the rich folk and the great personages of this world, and all such as seek to stand by themselves, are so besotted yea and bewitched with devilish self weening, that they think they may defy God, and that his hand cannot touch them, & that they have made a league with death, so that although all the earth were afflicted, yet they themselves should §10scape. We see that men are blinded after that fashion under pretence that all things shall fallout as they would wish. Now therefore let us learn that all of us as well small as great, have need to be subdued by Gods hand, yea and to be so subdued, as that we may be brought in manner to nothing.

Nowe it is expresly sayd, that GOD will see them all discomfited, as well the man that is shut vp, as the man that is left abroad. This maner of speaking is common enough in the holy scripture, as if yee would say the strong and the weake, that is to say, all one with another. For by this worde Shut vp, the Hebrewes betoken him that is in a fortresse, castle, or holde, and in good safetie as in respect of men. And by the man that is left abroad, they meane the poore man which goeth abroad in the fieldes without defence or safegard. We see then howe his meaning in effect is that all of them as well great as small, strong as weake, riche as poore, shall bee all discomfited. True it is that such as are already feeble to the worldward, ought to bee easily reclaymed vnto God and teachable enough. But herein it appeareth howe much naughtinesse there is in our nature. For the miserablest of vs cease not to striue against God, and euen they which haue not whereof to bee prowd, but ought rather to hang downe their heads and to bee ashamed of themselues, euen they (I say) will not faile to swell with pride lyke Toades. When we see men fight after that fashion against nature: needs must we say yt there is a terrible vntowardnesse in mans nature. Now if these cannot bee made to stoope at the first, but God must be faine to winne them by maine blowes, insomuch as hee may sooner break them than make thē obedient & subiect to his gouernment & auctoritie, how much more needful is it for ye rich, & for such as thinke thēselues to be well fenced, & for such as haue worldly meanes to stay vpon?