Sermons upon Deuteronomy

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.

But nowe let vs come to the contents of this blessing. It is said that Iosephs Land shalbe blessed of God, as well with the deaw from aboue, as with fountaines and welsprings from beneath; that is to say, that God woulde so water the land both from aboue and beneath, that it should be fat & fruitefull. Nowe here we see howe it is not for nought yt we be commaunded to seeke our dayly breade at Gods hande. For howe commeth it to passe that ye earth bringeth forth fruites for our sustenance? It is because God moysteneth it. It is not said yt the earth hath substance in it self, neither is it said that ye heauen or the fountaines do giue it simply of themselues: but it is God that sendeth the deaw, it is God that maketh the water springs to shead out; so yt he is to haue the praise of all the substance which we haue, whensoeuer 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 eate one bit of bread which commeth not from him & of his meere liberality. And indeede it standeth vs in hande to acquaint our selues well herewith. For sith it is told vs yt we cānot haue so much as one silie mite of these goods, no not euen of these transitory goods, but we must receiue it at gods hand: What shal befal in the things yt are much more excellent? If I want but a bit of breade, I ought of duety to aske it of God, & to acknowledge yt it is his peculiar office to feede me. And when ye case concerneth the attainmēt of ye heauenly life & the euerlasting saluation; shal I thē go seek it elsewhere thā at Gods hand? Or shall I thinke to haue it in my selfe? What an ouerweening were that? We see then how the bread and the bodily foode which is giuen vs, ought to be as a meane to lift vs vp higher, to make vs to thinke our selues beholden to God and to his bountifulnes for all yt we haue, both of body and soule and all. Marke that for one point.