Sermons upon Deuteronomy

That is the cause why he said, The hands of Judah shall suffice him, and God will give him succour against his enemies. And so let us mark well, that this kingdom was stablished with great difficulty in the person of David; and that in the end it was diminished, and came to such decay, that to all seeming it should have been utterly abolished: whereby it was Gods will to show in a figure, what was to befall to the spiritual kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ. And in deed we see, that when the time drew nigh wherein Jesus was to be showed to the world; there was nothing but horrible disorder among that people. Who then would have looked for the redemption at the coming of Jesus Christ? For the people were scattered abroad and utterly cast down. Yet notwithstanding, God wrought therein after a manner unknown to men. Insomuch that although the Gospel was preached; yet was it not seen out of hand that the Church triumphed in this world; but clean contrariwise that there was nothing but tormenting, persecuting and oppressing of it, so as the name of Christianity seemed to be the irksomest thing that could be spoken of, & that all Gods children were but as the dung & filth of the world,¹ as Saint Paul speaketh thereof. To be short, that kingdom was to be set up with sighing and sorrowing; & it behooved the faithful to pray unto God, and yet notwithstanding, great was the grief of mind wherewith they waited for the setting abroad of the doctrine of the Gospel, to the intent that Jesus Christ might be worshipped of the world, and all men submit themselves to him to do him homage. And yet did not that continue any long time. For the unthankfulness of the world deserved that God should have withdrawn his hand and power; and we see how the world strove to have driven Christ away. For on the one side there were hypocrites which scorned all religion, and abused it falsely. Also there were despisers and worldly folk, which took to them an unbridled liberty (as we see still at this day) under pretence of the freedom that was preached unto them. Again, there were Sects, and Heresies, and rebellions, so as a great sort stepped up and could not abide to bear the yoke which it was Gods will to lay upon their neck. Ye see then that the reigning of our Lord Jesus Christ was as it were brought to nothing.

That is the cause why he sayd, The handes of Iuda shall suffice him, and God will giue him succour against his enimies. And so let vs marke well, that this kingdome was stablished with great difficultie in the person of Dauid; and that in the end it was diminished, and came to such decay, that to all seeming it should haue beene vtterly abolished: whereby it was Gods will to shewe in a figure, what was to befall to the spirituall kingdome of our Lorde Iesus Christ. And in deede wee see, that when the time drewe nigh wherein Iesus was to be shewed to the worlde; there was nothing but horrible disorder among that people. Who then would haue looked for the redemption at the comming of Iesus Christ? For the people were scattered abroade and vtterly cast downe. Yet notwithstanding, God wrought therein after a manner vnknowen to men. Insomuch that although the Gospel was preached; yet was it not seene out of hand that the Church triumphed in this world; but cleane contrarywise that there was nothing but tormenting, persecuting and oppressing of it, so as the name of Christianitie seemed to be the irksommest thing that could be spoken of, & that all Gods children were but as the doung & filth of the world,