Sermons upon Deuteronomy

Moses addeth, let his people be few in number. In deed a man might here repeat the former saying thus, let him not die & let not his people be few in number. But that were constrained & forced. The natural sense then is, that the Rubenites should be small in number: not that they should not be a great multitude of folk; for (as I told you afore) they were five and forty Thousand men besides women & children: and that is an incredible multitude to come of one man alone. But Moses meaneth small in number, because Reuben & all his offspring, which ought to have had preeminence over all the children of Abraham, was basely & slenderly esteemed, and placed in a very low degree. Therefore it is all one as if he had said, Although Reuben be not restored to his honour, but doth still bear the mark of his reproach, and is fain to hold himself among the common array of the children of Israel, and to be subject to his brother Judah; & to yield reverence to him as to his superior: yet notwithstanding, let him live. To be short, Moses confirmeth that which I have declared already, that is to wit, that although Ruben was put from his birthright because of his wicked doings, and so became unworthy of the honour which had bin done unto him: yet notwithstanding his linage ought not therefore to be dismayed, but rather take comfort in that God held them still in the number of his people. And although they be not Captains, ne have the kingdom in their tribe: yet ought they not therefore to fret & repine, but rather to abide in their degree, & to be glad that they have God still to their father, & to set their whole felicity & joy there: & in the mean season to bear the correction patiently which God sendeth them as a medicine, and to make their benefit thereof. And moreover they ought not to be out of ⟨p. 1195⟩hope, as though God had disclaimed them: but assure themselves that they were still retained for the linage of Abraham, which was blessed & had the promise of everlasting salvation.

Moses addeth, let his people be fewe in nūber. In deede a man might here repeate the former saying thus, let him not dy & let not his people be few in number. But that were constrained & forced. The naturall sense then is, that the Rubenites should be small in number: not that they shoulde not be a great multitude of folke; for (as I tolde you afore) they were fiue and fortie Thowsand men besides women & children: and that is an incredible multitude to come of oneman alone. But Moses meaneth small in number, because Ruben & all his ofpring, which ought to haue had preheminence ouer all the children of Abraham, was basely & slenderly esteemed, and placed in a very lowe degree. Therefore it is all one as if he had sayd, Although Ruben be not restored to his honor, but dooth still beare the marke of his reproch, and is faine to holde himselfe among the common aray of the children of Israel, and to be subiect to his brother Iuda; & to yeelde reuerence to him as to his superior: yet notwithstanding, let him liue. To be shorte, Moses confirmeth that which I haue declared already, that is to wit, that although Rubē was put from his byrthright because of his wicked doinges, and so became vnworthy of the honor which had bin done vnto him: yet notwithstanding his linage ought not therefore to bee dismaid, but rather take comfort in that God held them still in the number of his people. And although they be not Capteines, ne haue ye kingdome in their trybe: yet ought they not therefore to fret & repine, but rather to abide in their degree, & to be glad that they haue God still to their father, & to set their whole felicitie & joy there: & in the meane season to beare the correction patiently which God sendeth them as a medicine, and to make their benefite thereof. And moreouer they ought not to bee out of