Sermons upon Deuteronomy

Howsoever we fare, let us always mark that the Law is not a dead letter, otherwise than that men do quench it through their unthankfulness: and yet for all that, it is not named a law of fire without cause. For it serveth to show that if we receive it not with such reverence & authority as is due unto it; it shall not fail to do the office of fire towards us, to consume us. And therefore let us learn to bow in such wise under the word of God, and to yield such subjection unto it, as we may without any replying, receive whatsoever is contained in it, and not open our mouths but to say Amen, and to give our consent to all that ever our Lord appointeth.

Howesoeuer we fare, let vs alwayes marke that the Lawe is not a deade letter, otherwise than that men do quench it through their vnthankfulnesse: and yet for all that, it is not named a lawe of fire without cause. For it serueth to shew that if wee receiue it not with such reuerence & authoritie as is due vnto it; it shall not fayle to doe the office of fire towardes vs, to consume vs. And therefore let vs learne to bowe in such wise vnder the worde of God, and to yeelde such subiection vnto it, as wee may without anie replying, receiue whatsoeuer is conteyned in it, and not open our mouthes but to say Amen, and to giue our consent to all that euer our Lorde appointeth.

Now Moses addeth immediately, That GOD loveth the people▪ and that the Saints are in his hand. True it is that here is some change. For, word for word it is said, Yet notwithstanding God loveth the People ▪ Or, The true God loveth the people. For the word which Moses useth, importeth both. His Saints are in thy hands. Here he altereth the person. For when as he saith, his Saints; no doubt but he referreth it unto God. Therefore he should say, Are in his hand. But this manner of speaking is rife enough in the scripture, so as we ought not to think it strange. The meaning of Moses then is easy enough, namely that albeit God love all people, yet that his Saints are in his charge or protection, yea even those whom he hath chosen. Unless a man will refer these words, the People, to the twelve tribes: but that were hard and constrained. Moses then doeth here compare all men and all the Nations of the earth with the linage of Abraham which God had chosen: as if he should say, that Gods grace is spread out every where, as we our selves see, and as the scripture also witnesseth in other places. And not only men are partakers of this goodness of God, and are fed and maintained by his liberality: but he doeth also show himself bountiful even to the brute beasts. Even thither doeth his mercy extend according to this saying of the Psalm,