Sermons upon Deuteronomy

To be short, we have to gather upon this place, that our Lord if it please him, will well enough preserve us; insomuch that although we be without defence & utterly unfurnished of these inferior helps, so as we have neither any great number of people, nor great tiches, nor great scope of ground: yet we need not be afraid for any▪ of those things; for God is able enough to preserve us so we put our trust in him. Will we then be safe & sure? We must not have an eye to our own power: for that is a thing that spiteth God & kindleth his wrath: insomuch that when men think themselves well at ease, because they have wherewith to repulse their enemies, & are rich wealthy & strong: that presumption of theirs must needs make God to bereave them of all; that he may show unto them that it is in vain for them to turn away from him, & to put their trust in corruptible & transitory things. And it is a just vengeance. For we cannot put one drop of trust in any creature, but Gods right is diminished thereby: for we withdraw our faith from him, which ought to be wholly shut up & as it were tied there. Again on y• other side when we be weak; let us understand that it behooveth us in any wise to flee to Gods protection, that we may be brooded under his wings. And God seeing us to be little ones will help us. Wherefore let us thereupon consider; that he hath power enough to withstand all our enemies; insomuch that whereas to outward seeming we have not the strength of a Gnat; he will give us the strength of a Lyon, or rather he himself will be a Lyon for us,¹ as he useth the same similitude afore, & as he speaketh thereof by his Prophet Isaiah, saying that he will roar like a Lyon, to repulse the fury and violence of his enemies; and that he will snatch up the pray, & no man shall be so bold as to come near him to take it from him. Now then, when we be thus assured of the goodness of our God; we shall ever have wherewith to repulse all the practises of the world against us, how many perils so ever we see at hand, and as it were hanging over our heads. And we have good cause to put this lesson in practise. For we see the malice of the enemies of the Gospel, we see also how all things nowadays are so far out of order, that by all likelihood we should be devoured every minute of an hour. And although a great sort do never think upon it;

To be short, wee haue to gather vppon this place, that our Lord if it please him, will welynough preserue vs; insomuch that although we be without defence & vtterly vnfurnished of these inferiour helps, so as we haue neither any great number of people, nor great tiches, nor great scope of ground: yet we neede not bee afrayd for any of those things; for God is able ynough to preserue vs so we put our trust in him. Wil we then be safe & sure? We must not haue an eye to our own power: for that is a thing that spyteth God & kindleth his wrath: insomuch yt when men thinke themselues well at ease, because they haue wherewith to repulse their enemies, & are rich welthie & strong: that presumption of theirs must needs make God to bereaue them of all; that he may shew vnto them that it is in vaine for them to turne away from him, & to put their trust in corruptible & transitorie things. And it is a iust vengeance. For we cannot put one drop of trust in any creature, but Gods right is diminished therby: for we withdraw our faith from him, which ought to be wholly shut vp & as it were tyed there. Againe on y other side when we be weake; let vs vnderstand that it behooueth vs in any wise to flee to Gods protection, that we may be brooded vnder his wings. And God seeing vs to be litle ones wil helpe vs. Wherfore let vs therupon consider; yt hee hath power ynough to withstand al our enemies; insomuch yt wheras to outward seeming we haue not the strength of a Gnat; hee will giue vs the strength of a Lyon, or rather he himselfe wilbe a Lyon for vs,