Sermons upon Deuteronomy

Now as concerning the people of Israels case, there was a special consideration in their conquering of the land of Canaan. Why so? For it was not promised severally to the tribe of Judah, or to the tribe of Benjamin, or to any of the other tribes alone: but generally to the whole offspring of Abraham. Therefore it behoved this land to be conquered by them in common, and that afterward lots should be cast for it, as was done in the end by Joshua. But now that God commandeth us to follow one common trace, we must apply this example to our selves, and consider that the same rule which is set down here, is given to us also. As how? Doeth God command, that we should but every man severally for himself resist Satan, and proceed more and more in the Gospel? Is it not a common lesson? [Yes.] Seeing then that God calleth us so one with another, and will have all to agree in one accord, like good melody: it is not for us to separate our selves any more a sunder. Wherefore let us consider, that to advance the kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ and the salvation of all his: to build up his Church, and to make his Gospel to prosper and flourish▪ every man must not only work alone by himself: but we must also agree all in one, and draw all by one line, and every of us strain himself to serve such as have need of his help. And so we see, that all such as will needs build so alone by themselves, do but work confusion. Of which sort there are that think themselves very able men, and that they could work wonders to their own seeming, insomuch that they despise their neighbours, and would even bear down all other men before them to show themselves valiant fellows, and that they do a hundred fold more than all the rest. And what cometh of such pride, but overthrow and confusion? Let us mark well therefore, that we shall never serve God by furthering of the glad tidings of our salvation: unless we have the said concord, that we be ready and well disposed to help every man his neighbour, and that there be one common easing one of another. Thus ye see what we have to remember further upon this strain.

Now as concerning the people of Israels case, there was a speciall consideration in their conquering of the land of Chanaan. Why so? For it was not promised seuerally to the tribe of Iuda, or to the tribe of Beniamin, or to any of the other tribes alone: but generally to the whole ofspring of Abraham. Therefore it behoued this lande to bee conquered by them in common, and that afterwarde lottes shoulde bee cast for it, as was done in the ende by Iosua. But nowe that God commaundeth vs to follow one common trace, wee must applie this example to our selues, and consider that the same rule which is set downe heere, is giuen to vs also. As howe? Doeth God commaunde, that we should but euerie man seuerally for himselfe resist Sathan, and proceede more and more in the Gospell? Is it not a common lesson? [Yes.] Seeing then that God calleth vs so one with another, and will haue all to agree in one accorde, like good melodie: it is not for vs to separate our selues any more a sunder. Wherfore let vs consider, that to aduaunce the kingdome of our Lorde Iesus Christ and the saluation of all his: to builde vp his Church, and to make his Gospell to prosper and florish euerie man must not onely worke alone by himselfe: but wee must also agree all in one, and drawe all by one lyne, and euery of vs streine himselfe to serue such as haue neede of his helpe. And so wee see, that all such as will needes builde so alone by themselues, doe but worke confusion. Of which sort there are that thinke themselues very able men, and that they coulde worke wonders to their owne seeming, insomuch that they despise their neighbours, and woulde euen beare downe all other men before them to shew themselues valiant fellowes, and that they doe a hundred fold more than all the rest. And what commeth of such pride, but ouerthrowe and confusion? Let vs marke well therefore, that wee shall neuer serue God by furthering of the gladtidings of our saluation: vnlesse we haue the said concord, that we be readie and wel disposed to helpe euerie man his neighbour, and that there bee one common easing one of another. Thus yee see what we haue to remember further vppon this streine.