Sermons upon Deuteronomy

Moreover, for the better maintaining of the pure Religion, it behooveth them to have a zeal of Gods honour; they must all their life long endeavour to maintain the doctrine, and therewithal they must have their mouths open to preach the word that is committed unto them, to the end that that treasure be not lost nor buried, but that all men may be made partakers thereof. They shall preach thy law then unto Jacob, and thy doctrine unto Israel: so as Gods word must needs be published if we will show our selves to be a people dedicated unto him. Again, let us mark also that here is special mention made of Gods word and of his law, to do us to wit, that God will not have mens inventions to reign among his people, but will have men to hold themselves wholly unto him, and (as ye would say) to hang altogether upon his mouth. Now then, the children of Levy have not here a liberty given them to forge laws after their own liking, and to set forth whatsoever they list as the Pope and all his have done. And it is to be seen yet still at this day how the same tyranny reigneth in such sort, that whatsoever is termed by the name of Gods service in Popery, is but a confused heap of all manner of dotages, whereunto every man hath put to his piece, and yet they cannot allege one syllable of holy scripture to show that God alloweth their doings. But men have stepped forth through their own devilish rashness, & have made Laws and Statutes to bind mens consciences under pain of deadly sin: and moreover have coined articles of faith at their own pleasure. From whence then hath all the doctrine of popery been taken? Not from the fountain of the truth; but from the hellish & stinking puddle of Satan, where there is nothing but confusion. Where have they found their praying unto Saints, but in their own brain, or rather that Satan having forged it in his shop, hath besotted them therewith? Again, where find they any of the things which they speak concerning works of supererogation, Merits, the Apes toys of their Mass, and all their Ceremonies in general? It is certain that all these things were set forth by men. But contrariwise our Lord hath told us here, that he meaneth not to have those to put forth any thing of their own, whom he hath appointed to bear abroad his word.

Moreouer, for the better maintaining of the pure Religion, it behooueth them to haue a zeale of Gods honour; they must all their life long indeuour to maintaine the doctrine, and therewithall they must haue their mouthes open to preach the worde that is committed vnto them, to the ende that that treasure bee not lost nor buried, but that all men may bee made partakers thereof. They shall preach thy lawe then vnto Iacob, and thy doctrine vnto Israel: so as Gods worde must needes be published if we will shew our selues to bee a people dedicated vnto him. Againe, let vs marke also that heere is speciall mention made of Gods worde and of his lawe, to doe vs to wit, that God will not haue mens inuentions to reigne among his people, but will haue men to hold themselues wholly vnto him, and (as yee would say) to hang altogether vpon his mouth. Nowe then, the children of Leuie haue not here a libertie giuen them to forge lawes after their owne liking, and to set foorth whatsoeuer they list as the Pope and al his haue done. And it is to be seene yet still at this day howe the same tyrannie reigneth in such sort, that whatsoeuer is termed by the name of Gods seruice in Poperie, is but a confused heape of all manner of dotages, whereunto euery man hath put to his peece, and yet they cannot alledge one syllable of holy scripture to shew that God alloweth their doings. But men haue stepped foorth through their owne diuelish rashnes, & haue made Lawes and Statutes to binde mens consciences vnder paine of deadly sinne: and moreouer haue coyned articles of faith at their owne pleasure. From whence then hath all the doctrine of poperie beene taken? Not from the fountaine of ye truth; but from the hellish & stinking puddle of Satan, where there is nothing but confusion. Where haue they founde their praying vnto Sainctes, but in their owne braine, or rather that Satan hauing forged it in his shoppe, hath besotted them therewith? Againe, where finde they any of the thinges which they speak concerning works of supererogation, Merits, the Apes toyes of their Masse, and all their Ceremonies in generall? It is certaine that al these things were set forth by men. But contrariwise our Lorde hath tolde vs here, that he meaneth not to haue those to put forth any thing of their owne, whom hee hath appointed to beare abroade his worde.