Sermons upon Deuteronomy

If we were throughly persuaded that all that ever proceedeth out Gods mouth is of such certainty as there ought to be no replying against it, truly we would tremble and quake out of hand for fear, as soon as he threateneth us: but we know how hardhearted we be in that behalf. On the other side, if our Lord promise to be merciful to us when we have done amiss, and entreat us as his children, and call us to the hope of everlasting salvation: we be so tangled in this world, that every thing of nothing holds us back and we despise the inestimable benefits which God offereth us. We see then that men do not the honour to God to count him faithful. For then would they hold themselves wholly to his word, they would be touched to the quick, yea they would quake at his threats, and they would set all their joy and delight in his promises. That is the cause why GOD warranteth, and confirmeth his word with an oath. Now in this case (as I said afore) we our selves are much too blame; seeing that God is fain to yield to such condition as to abase himself as though he were a mortal creature, to the intent he may win us, and that we may no more wander away, but be fully persuaded in our selves that this speaking to us is in good earnest. Seeing then that our Lord is fain to frame himself unto us after that fashion, thereby we see our own malice and frowardness: and yet doth God bear with us in that case. But when he sweareth, it is as much as if we saw heaven and earth shaken, nature changed, the Sun darkened, and all the stars bereft of their light. And therefore if we be not touched with the oaths which God maketh after that manner: it is certain that the devil hath as it were bewitched us, and that we be become stark ⟨p. 1168⟩blocks, or rather that we be horrible and ugly monsters. Therefore let us benefit ourselves by the oaths which we read in the holy scripture. And when God sweareth that he will be avenged at his enemies; let it abash us, as though we saw his vengeance and wrath take effect out of hand, and as though we saw him ready and in a forwardness to execute the thing which he hath uttered with his mouth. And when he sweareth that he will be friendly to us §10and take us for his children, confirming with an oath the heavenly heritage which he hath promised us:

If we were throughlie perswaded that all that euer proceedeth out Gods mouth is of such certaintie as there ought to bee no replying against it, truely wee woulde tremble and quake out of hande for feare, as soone as hee threateneth vs: but wee know how hardhearted wee be in that behalfe. On the other side, if our Lorde promise to bee mercifull to vs when wee haue done amisse, and intreate vs as his children, and call vs to the hope of euerlasting saluation: wee bee so tangled in this worlde, that euerie thing of nothing holdes vs backe and we despise the inestimable benefites which God offereth vs. Wee see then that men do not the honour to God to count him faithful. For then woulde they holde themselues wholie to his worde, they woulde bee touched to the quicke, yea they woulde quake at his threates, and they woulde set all their ioy and delight in his promises. That is the cause why GOD warranteth, and confirmeth his worde with an othe. Nowe in this case (as I saide afore) wee our selues are much too blame; seeing that God is faine to yeelde to such condition as to abace himselfe as though hee were a mortall creature, to the entent hee may winne vs, and that wee may no more wander away, but bee fully perswaded in our selues that this speaking to vs is in good earnest. Seeing then that our Lorde is faine to frame himselfe vnto vs after that fashion, thereby wee see our owne malice and frowardnesse: and yet doth God beare with vs in yt case. But when he sweareth, it is as much as if we sawe heauen and earth shaken, nature changed, the Sunne darkened, and all the starres bereft of their light. And therefore if wee bee not touched with ye othes which God maketh after yt maner: it is certaine yt the diuel hath as it were bewitched vs, and that wee bee become starke