Sermons upon Deuteronomy

yet shall not one stroke be stricken but by the disposition of Gods hand. The like is to be said of pestilences, famines, & such other like things. To be short, all the scourges of this world are Gods swords. And in that respect is it said that God will sharpen the edge of his sword, that is to say, he will execute the chastisements which he hath in his hand. But if he wink at things for a time and list to use patience: he seemeth to have no regard of the faults that are committed here below. Yet doeth it not follow that all those things are not inregistred before him; neither is it to be said that he hath forgotten his charge, or that his power is idle: for he hath all kinds of punishments, which he can well show forth whensoever it shall be expedient to execute vengeance. And so ye see after what manner God is said to draw his sword.

yet shall not one stroke be stricken but by the disposition of Gods hand. The like is to bee sayde of pestilences, famines, & such other like thinges. To be short, all the scourges of this worlde are Gods swordes. And in that respect is it saide that God will sharpen the edge of his sworde, that is to say, hee will execute the chastisementes which hee hath in his hande. But if hee winke at things for a time and list to vse patience: hee seemeth to haue no regarde of the faultes that are committed here belowe. Yet doeth it not followe that all those things are not inregistred before him; neither is it to bee saide that hee hath forgotten his charge, or that his power is idle: for hee hath all kindes of punishmentes, which he can well shewe foorth whensoeuer it shall bee expedient to execute vengeaunce. And so yee see after what manner God is sayde to drawe his sworde.

Now the applying of this doctrine will give us yet a more easy understanding thereof. Let us consider to what end it is said: namely because it seemeth to us, that when God punisheth not the wicked out of hand, he letteth things go at all adventure, and that is the thing which troubleth us sore. When we be wrongfully afflicted on the behalf of men, and we see the Church of God to suffer many slanders and molestations: what say we? Whereon doeth God think now? Hath he not pity upon his children? We be tormented with extremity, and yet he maketh as though he saw it not. Shall the cruelty of men have such scope for ever? Should he give head to the wicked after such sort that we should always be made a pray to them? Such complaints do men make, when God doeth not out of hand punish the outrages that are done to his servants. And therefore it is said, That he will sharpen his sword, and take Judgement in his hand, as though that to hold us in patience, he should say, My friends, trouble not your selves, let not your lusts be over hasty and inordinate. For I do not this as unmindful of you. Although I suffer the wicked to do many things outrageously: it is not for that I have no regard of you, or for that I watch not for the welfare of my Church, or for that I pity not those which suffer adversity, and are so molested: but because I have my convenient times, which I dispose at my pleasure; and therefore tarry you my leisure. For the wicked shall be utterly amazed at the whetting of my sword to make war against them. Be not afraid: for although ye see it not at the first day: yet will I not fail to show my self your protector and the defender of your life. Now then we see in effect, that all this is applied to our infirmity,