Sermons upon Deuteronomy

And it is said that his perfections and teachings are of God, to show that in the government of the Church, it is not for us to invent what seemeth good unto us; but that that matter lieth simply in the will of God, and that whatsoever he ordaineth ought to be held, and that it is not lawful for men to attempt any thing in that behalf, yea and that such additions and minglings are mere corruptions. Therefore when Moses sayeth, Lord God thy Thummim and thy Urim, thereby he openly witnesseth, that when men do so far pass their bounds, as to frame a government after their own fancy, and to ordain laws and statutes in the church, to say this is good, for it liketh me well; It is but a tradition that cometh from some one man; and when men do so presume of themselves, it is a taking away of Gods right, and a committing of devilish treachery. And why? Because the Thummim and Urim belong to none but God. If the figures of the law, which seemed to be small things, were reserved unto God, so as it was not lawful for the world to add any thing, no not so much as a pins point unto them; but that the builders of the sanctuary and the makers of the priestly garments, were to be governed by the holy Ghost: seeing that God declareth thereby that he will have all things grounded upon his authority: What is to be said to it, if they will now bind mens consciences, and set up a new service of God, as if they would say, Thus shall God be honoured, and so men become lawgivers, insomuch that God shall not be heard, nor any account be made of his sayings, but that every man may be his own ruler, or else say after the common manner, Our mother the holy Church hath so decreed? In what plight should we be then? And yet we see this horrible disorder throughout all the Popedom. Therefore we may well conclude that there is nothing but utter defiling of Gods service; and that all that ever is so entitled there, is but mere idolatry; and that Gods name is altogether unhallowed in that behalf. That is one thing more which we have to bear in mind concerning the saying of Moses in that he attributeth the matter concerning the priestly apparel unto God alone.

And it is said that his perfections and teachings are of God, to shewe that in the gouernement of the Church, it is not for vs to inuent what seemeth good vnto vs; but that that matter lyeth simply in the will of God, and that whatsoeuer he ordeyneth ought to bee held, and that it is not lawfull for men to attempt any thing in that behalfe, yea and that such additions and minglinges are mere corruptions. Therefore when Moses sayeth, Lord God thy Thumim and thy Vrim, thereby he openly witnesseth, that when men do so farre passe their boundes, as to frame a gouernement after their owne fancie, and to ordaine laws and statutes in the church, to say this is good, for it liketh me well; It is but a tradition that commeth from some one man; and when men do so presume of themselues, it is a taking away of Gods right, and a committing of diuelish trecherie. And why? Because the Thumim and Vrim belong to none but God. If the figures of the law, which seemed to be small things, were reserued vnto God, so as it was not lawfull for the world to adde any thing, no not so much as a pins point vnto them; but that the builders of the sanctuarie and the makers of the priestly garments, were to bee gouerned by the holy Ghost: seing that God declareth therby that he will haue all things grounded vppon his authoritie: What is to be saide to it, if they will nowe binde mens consciences, and set vp a newe seruice of God, as if they woulde say, Thus shall God be honoured, and so men become lawgiuers, insomuch that God shall not be heard, nor any account bee made of his sayings, but that euery man may bee his owne ruler, or else say after the common manner, Our mother the holy Church hath so decreed? In what plight should we be then? And yet we see this horrible disorder throughout all the Popedome. Therefore wee may well conclude that there is nothing but vtter defiling of Gods seruice; and that all that euer is so intytled there, is but meere ydolatrie; and that Gods name is altogether vnhallowed in that behalfe. That is one thing more which we haue to beare in mind concerning the saying of Moses in that he attributeth the matter concerning the priestly apparell vnto God alone.