Sermons upon Deuteronomy

Yet must we note further, that there is less excuse for us nowadays, than there was for Moses, or for all the fathers that lived under the Law. For had they the promises that are made unto us at this day in the Gospel? They did but see them a far off, and under very dark shadows. Or did they see Jesus Christ raised from the dead? In deed they knew it, howbeit but by hope, as whereby they comprehended in a figure the things that were absent. But nowadays, forasmuch as we have the Gospel, which openeth to us the gates of heaven: GOD allureth us to him as familiarly as can be, we be already entered into it in the person of our Lord Jesus Christ: in so much that his going up on high, is to draw us thither to him. For in as much as he is our head; he will draw us up to him into the glory whereinto he himself is entered already, so we be not separated from him. Let us beware then that we disappoint not that grace of GOD. But let us be so stablished in the faith, that whensoever GOD shall call us out of the world; we may not stick to go willingly unto him, and to do that which we see here in Moses, When GOD told him that he should dye, he strained not courtesy to go up into the Mountain, although that place were appointed unto him, as it were to offer up himself in sacrifice to GOD. Moreover, his sin was laid afore him again: and yet did not that discomfort him neither. And that is a point more which we ought to mark well, for it importeth a very good lesson. See here, Moses is at deaths door: it may seem that at that time he ought to have had some comfort wherewith to assuage his sorrow. And yet for all that, God reneweth the remembrance of the fault which he had committed: and he telleth him again, that he must take in good worth the punishment which he had heard spoken of afore. We see then that Gods threatenings whereby he layeth our sins before us, ought not to trouble us so much, but that we ought to take occasion and matter to rejoice in them;

Yet must wee note further, that there is lesse excuse for vs noweadayes, than there was for Moses, or for all the fathers that lyued vnder the Lawe. For had they the promyses that are made vnto vs at this day in the Gospell? They dyd but see them a farre off, and vnder verie darke shadowes. Or did they see Iesus Christ raysed from the dead? In deede they knewe it, howbeit but by hope, as whereby they comprehended in a figure the thinges that were absent. But nowadayes, forasmuch as wee haue the Gospell, which openeth to vs the gates of heauen: GOD allureth vs to him as familiarly as can bee, wee bee alreadie entered into it in the person of our Lorde Iesus Christ: in so much that his going vp on high, is to drawe vs thither to him. For in as much as he is our head; he will drawe vs vp to him into the glory whereinto hee himselfe is entred alreadie, so wee bee not separated from him. Let vs beware then that wee disappoynt not that grace of GOD. But let vs bee so stablished in the fayth, that whensoeuer GOD shal call vs out of the world; wee may not sticke to goe willingly vnto him, and to doe that which wee see heere in Moses, When GOD tolde him that hee shoulde dye, hee strayned not courtesie to goe vp into the Mountaine, although that place were appoynted vnto him, as it were to offer vp himselfe in sacrifice to GOD. Moreouer, his sinne was layde afore him againe: and yet did not that discomfort him neither. And that is a poynt more which wee ought to marke well, for it importeth a verie good lesson. See heere, Moses is at deathes doore: it may seeme that at that tyme hee ought to haue had some comfort wherewith to asswage his sorowe. And yet for all that, God renueth the rememberaunce of the fault which hee had committed: and hee telleth him againe, that hee must take in good woorth the punishment which hee had hearde spoken of afore. Wee see then that Gods threateninges whereby hee layeth our sinnes before vs, ought not to trouble vs so much, but that wee ought to take occasion and matter to reioyce in them;