Sermons upon Deuteronomy

Now moreover our Lord saith unto him, that he should behold the land: and that was to show him (as I have said already) that he is not so forfended of going thither, but that God taketh him still as one of the number & company of his children. And his taking of possession of the land by eyesight, was also an admonition unto him, that the land was not the chief heritage whereunto the children of Abraham were to attain. Here therefore we have a sure record, that although the fathers which lived under the Law had not the heavenly life so lightsomely & largely revealed unto them: yet did they ground themselves thereupon, labouring to attain thereunto, and were not wedded to this world as if that had bin the mark they aimed at and that they had bin tied to it to say; Well, God hath chosen and adopted us to possess a good and fat land, to the intent we should be fostered therein. For if the people had but thought upon that; what had become of Moses who was the excellentest prophet that ever God raised up until the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, as we shall see in the last Chapter? That is the cause why Moses beheld that land and viewed it afar off.¹ And although he never ate one grain of the corn thereof, nor tasted one drop of the wine: yet did it suffice him to see that God had not disappointed his people. It is to be concluded then, that Moses had a further forelook, and stood not musing upon the transitory inheritance, but considered full well that when we be made the children of God, it is to the end we should live everlastingly with him. Seeing then that Moses had that; let us understand ⟨p. 1182⟩that the fathers were not without cause called the children of God; which thing they were not, unless they were heirs with us. And forsomuch as they tended to the heavenly life, (which notwithstanding was showed to them but afar off;) let us take the more courage to us, seeing that God is come nearer unto us after a more familiar manner, even in the person of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore let all these things move us, that our faith may waken us and withdraw §10us from all the impediments of this world, so as we may keep on our way to the everlasting rest which cannot fail us.

Nowe moreouer our Lorde sayth vnto him, that he should beholde the land: and that was to shew him (as I haue sayd already) that he is not so forfended of going thither, but yt God taketh him stil as one of the number & cōpany of his children. And his taking of poffessiō of the land by eyesight, was also an admonition vnto him, that ye land was not the cheefe heritage whereunto the children of Abraham were to attaine. Here therefore wee haue a sure record, that although the fathers which liued vnder the Lawe had not the heauenly lyfe so lightsomly & largely reuealed vnto them: yet did they grounde themselues thereupon, laboring to attaine therunto, and were not wedded to this world as if that had bin the marke they amed at and that they had bin tyed to it to say; Well, God hath chosen and adopted vs to possesse a good and fatte land, to the intent wee should bee fostered therein. For if the people had but thought vppon that; what had become of Moses who was the excellentest prophet that euer God raysed vp vntill the comming of our Lord Iesus Christ, as wee shall see in the last Chapter? That is the cause why Moses beheld yt land and vewed it afar off.