Sermons upon Deuteronomy

Now remaineth that we apply this doctrine to our benefit: and although we be driven to live as pilgrims in this world, & to be subject to many changes: yet notwithstanding let us not cease to put our selves still into the custody of our God. And for as much as we know that he will maintain us; let us overpass all the storms that rise against us, and let us overcome all temptations. By what power? Because he that dwelleth in heaven hath taken us into his keeping; he will defend us, for his abode is everlasting. So then, he is so gracious unto us, that we shall not perish, though it seem that we should be swallowed up every day, by the dangers that appear unto us. And to the end we should be the surer hereof, it is said, That his arms are below for ever. Some refer this to the people of Israel, so as the arms of that people should never faint, so long as they were upheld from above: that is to say, they shall have invincible force so long as God is their aid. Which thing is true. But the words of Moses import it not. His intent and meaning rather is, that Gods arms are here beneath. And why doeth he set Gods arms beneath, seeing he hath already told us that God rideth upon the heavens? These things seem to be repugnant. For if God have his seat on high, how shall he have his arms so low? It is because he filleth all things, so as not only his essence is infinite, but also his power: and it is spoken of set purpose, because he will have us to perceive it by experience. If it were said that Gods arms are in heaven; it would well serve to maintain the Angels; but as for us, we should nevertheless quake and ⟨p. 1231⟩be afraid whensoever we were threatened with any mischief; we should look here and there, and continue dismayed without any remedy. Here therefore the holy Ghost remedieth such temptations, and saith that Gods arms are here beneath. Although then that God sit above in his majesty, although that as oft as we think upon him, we must needs be ravished with all reverence to worship him with humility, seeing that we be nothing, and he is above §10all: although it behoove us to worship God after that manner by abasing ourselves utterly:

Now remaineth that we apply this doctrine to our benefite: and although wee be driuen to liue as pilgrims in this world, & to be subiect to many changes: yet notwithstanding let vs not cease to put our selues still into the custodie of our God. And for as much as wee know that he wil maintaine vs; let vs ouerpasse al the stormes that rise against vs, and let vs ouercome all tēptations. By what power? Because he that dwelleth in heauen hath taken vs into his keeping; he wil defend vs, for his abode is euerlasting. So then, he is so gracious vnto vs, that wee shal not perish, though it seeme yt we should be swalowed vp euery day, by the dangers that appeare vnto vs. And to the end we should be the surer hereof, it is said, That his armes are below for euer. Some referre this to the people of Israel, so as ye arms of that people shuld neuer faint, so long as they were vphelde from aboue: that is to say, they shall haue inuincible force so long as God is their ayd. Which thing is true. But the wordes of Moses import it not. His intent and meaning rather is, that Gods armes are here beneath. And why doeth he set Gods armes beneath, seeing he hath alreadie told vs that God rydeth vpon the heauens? These things seeme to be repugnant. For if God haue his seat on high, how shal he haue his armes so lowe? It is because hee filleth all thinges, so as not onely his essence is infinite, but also his power: and it is spoken of set purpose, because he wil haue vs to perceiue it by experience. If it were sayde that Gods armes are in heauen; it woulde well serue to mayntaine the Angels; but as for vs, wee shoulde neuerthelesse quake and