Sermons upon Deuteronomy

therefore like as ye see that in the order of nature, the rain engendereth such a kind of fruitfulness in the earth; so assure you your selves that my word shall not be in vain, but I will make it to yield profit, that is to say I will perform all my promises. Therefore be bold to trust unto me, that I will perform and bring to pass all that ever I have spoken by my Prophets. So in this text Moses sayeth, The word shall not be void towards you, that is to say, so you receive it, think not that God will leave you with your mouths open like silly hungerstaruen folk, so as ye should hang lingering and not know what shall become of you: for your God will make you to feel by proof that he hath not promised you aught in vain. Now, when our Lord speaketh after that manner, shall we cast doubts yet still, and stand scanning whether his sayings shall be performed or no? His word shall not be void towards you: that is to say, ye shall find the effect thereof, and hold ye hardily unto this, that God will work with such force, as ye shall perceive that when his word is preached unto you, it is as much as if he himself were present, to put the thing in proof and execution, which he hath declared. Thus we see now the meaning of Moses, to the intent that the people should take some taste of Gods word and receive it with all reverence. He telleth them that when God speaketh, it is not sound that vanisheth away in the air: but that in that word lieth and consisteth all our happiness and chief welfare, and that we have wherewith to content our selves, when our Lord vouchsafeth to direct his word so unto us. For why? We shall not be foaded with vain hope; but we shall feel in deed how our Lord meant to try our faith in such wise for a time, as that he will yet nevertheless perform all that ever he hath spoken.

therefore like as yee see that in the order of nature, the raine ingendreth such a kinde of fruitefulnesse in the earth; so assure you your selues that my word shall not bee in vaine, but I will make it to yeelde profite, that is to say I will perfourme all my promises. Therefore bee bold to trust vnto mee, that I will performe and bring to passe al that euer I haue spoken by my Prophetes. So in this text Moses sayeth, The word shall not be voide towards you, that is to say, so you receiue it, thinke not that God will leaue you with your mouthes open like silly hungerstaruen folke, so as yee should hang lingering and not knowe what shall become of you: for your God will make you to feele by proofe that hee hath not promised you aught in vaine. Now, when our Lorde speaketh after that manner, shall wee cast doubtes yet stil, and stand scanning whether his sayings shall be performed or no? His worde shall not bee voyde towardes you: that is to say, ye shall finde the effect thereof, and hold ye hardily vnto this, that God will worke with such force, as yee shall peceyue that when his worde is preached vnto you, it is as much as if he himselfe were present, to put the thing in proofe and execution, which hee hath declared. Thus wee see now the meaning of Moses, to the intent that the people shoulde take some tast of Gods word and receiue it with all reuerence. He telleth them that when God speaketh, it is not sound that vanisheth away in the aire: but that in that word lyeth and consisteth all our happinesse and chiefe welfare, and that wee haue wherewith to content our selues, when our Lord vouchsafeth to direct his worde so vnto vs. For why? Wee shall not bee foaded with vaine hope; but we shall feele in deede how our Lorde meant to trie our faith in such wise for a time, as that he wil yet neuerthelesse performe all that euer he hath spoken.