Sermons upon Deuteronomy

and were it not that we be held up, we should continually be shaken down, & we should not need any thing to turn us aside from the right way, & from the certainty of our faith. For this cause therefore let us mark well how it is told us here, that God in these Prophesies hath showed undoubtedly, how it was he that was the guider of Moses; and that he used his service in such wise, as we may well say that we receive his doctrine from God, and that it is grounded upon his unchangeable power, & that it is the unfallible truth. And why? For it was not invented by man.

and were it not that we be helde vp, we should continually be shakē downe, & we should not neede any thing to turne vs aside from the right way, & from the certaintie of our faith. For this cause therefore let vs marke well howe it is told vs heere, that God in these Prophesies hath shewed vndoubtedly, howe it was hee that was the guider of Moses; and that he vsed his seruice in such wise, as we may well say that we receiue his doctrine from God, and that it is grounded vpon his vnchaungeable power, & yt it is the vnfallible truth. And why? For it was not inuented by man.

But now let us come to the contents of this blessing. It is said that Josephs Land shall be blessed of God, as well with the dew from above, as with fountains and wellsprings from beneath; that is to say, that God would so water the land both from above and beneath, that it should be fat & fruitful. Now here we see how it is not for nought that we be commanded to seek our daily bread at Gods hand. For how cometh it to pass that the earth bringeth forth fruits for our sustenance? It is because God moisteneth it. It is not said that the earth hath substance in it self, neither is it said that the heaven or the fountains do give it simply of themselves: but it is God that sendeth the dew, it is God that maketh the water springs to shed out; so that he is to have the praise of all the substance which we have, whensoever we be fed and nourished therewith. Ye see then how God hath such a care of our bodies, and of this corruptible life, that we cannot eat one bit of bread which cometh not from him & of his mere liberality. And indeed it standeth us in hand to acquaint our selves well herewith. For sith it is told us that we cannot have so much as one silly mite of these goods, no not even of these transitory goods, but we must receive it at gods hand: What shall befall in the things that are much more excellent? If I want but a bit of bread, I ought of duty to ask it of God, & to acknowledge that it is his peculiar office to feed me. And when the case concerneth the attainment of the heavenly life & the everlasting salvation; shall I then go seek it elsewhere than at Gods hand? Or shall I think to have it in my self? What an overweening were that? We see then how the bread and the bodily food which is given us, ought to be as a mean to lift us up higher, to make us to think our selves beholden to God and to his bountifulness for all that we have, both of body and soul and all. Mark that for one point.