Sermons upon Deuteronomy

Here we see how our Lord exerciseth the faith of his children, in that he doth not out of hand perform the things which he had promised them. And this thing ought specially to be applied to the reign of our Lord Jesus Christ. God had declared aforehand, that the Redemption of the world should be wrought by one that was to come of the tribe of Judah. And yet he deferreth and delayeth it so long, that it seemed to be but vain to look for it. And why? Of purpose to try the patience of them that hoped for him. Let us learn then that to be settled upon our Lord Jesus Christ, and to be well assured of the salvation which he hath purchased for us; we must not only believe the things that are told us concerning the Gospel; but we must also even linger in patience, till God perform the things which we see not at the first sight. And we must not be so hasty as to start away, when our Lord answereth not our desires. If God pass over a day or a year, so as we perceive not that he is minded to put the thing in execution which he hath spoken, yet is it not for us to give over, but we must in the mean season pray, & not doubt but that he heareth our voice. We shall see oftentimes, that the kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ shall seem to be abolished out of the world. And even at this day, although the Gospel be preached in some places; yet we see the power of the enemies to be such as is able to overwhelm it utterly. We see so little order as is pity. As for us which say we have received the pure doctrine; we be yet far off from having such policy & perfection among us as were requisite. To be ⟨p. 1197⟩short, we hear of nothing but disorder; which might make us to quail; were it not that with calling upon God we did patiently await that he will in the end set up the kingdom of his son and maintain it, though it seem as now to be put out of order, and men see it not flourish and prosper. Were it not for that, surely a man would judge that all Gods promises were vain. It is not without cause then, that Moses speaketh here expressly of Judah's prayers and supplications:§10 as if he should say, that all they which belong to the kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ ought to exercise themselves in calling upon God, that he suffer not his kingdom wherein lieth all our happiness and welfare, to go to decay, and to fall to ruin;

Heere wee see how our Lorde exerciseth the faith of his children, in that he doth not out of hande performe the things which he had promised them. And this thing ought specially to bee applyed to the reigne of our Lorde Iesus Christ. God had declared aforehande, that the Redemption of the worlde should be wrought by one that was to come of the tribe of Iuda. And yet hee deferreth and delayeth it so long, that it seemed to bee but vaine to looke for it. And why? Of purpose to trie the patience of them that hoped for him. Let vs learne then that to bee setled vpon our Lorde Iesus Christ, and to be well assured of the saluation which he hath purchased for vs; wee must not onely beleeue the things that are tolde vs concerning the Gospel; but we must also euen linger in patience, till God performe the things which we see not at the first sight. And we must not bee so hastie as to start away, when our Lorde answereth not our desires. If God passe ouer a day or a yeare, so as we perceiue not that he is minded to put the thing in execution which hee hath spoken, yet is it not for vs to giue ouer, but we must in the meane season pray, & not doubt but yt he heareth our voyce. We shal see oftentimes, that ye kingdome of our Lord Iesus Christ shall seeme to be abolished out of ye world. And euen at this day, although the Gospel be preached in some places; yet we see the power of the enemies to be such as is able to ouerwhelme it vtterly. Wee see so little order as is pitie. As for vs which say we haue receiued the pure doctrine; we be yet farre off from hauing such policie & perfection among vs as were requisite. To be