Sermons upon Deuteronomy

but he hath strived ever since to set up all the bodies of the holy Prophets. When Jeremiah served for idolatry in Egypt, where was his body? To whom shall that be imputed but to Satan, which invented a new mean of idolatry to the holy Prophet? Again, whence came all the illusions and false miracles that have bin wrought in the Popedom, but from the same shop? We see then how Satan hath always strained him self to cast some object before our eyes, to draw us away from Gods service, and to busy our heads about other things, that being wrapped in superstition, we might be utterly marred. Sith it is so, let us keep the better watch and stand at our defence. For seeing our enemies come near us, and are always watching to spy us at some advantage: surely it will waken us though we be never so loth. But it is said that Satan never resteth, and that he is ever practising what he can possibly, to catch us unawares in idolatry. We see it; the thing bewrayeth it self. Sith it is so, should we fall asleep? Nay rather let us look narrowly about us (as I said afore,) and let us take good heed that we be not entrapped. I said that we see how Satan practiseth all means to corrupt us. For he hath fought, not only for the bodies of men, but also for all other things belonging to them, even such as a man would not think; insomuch that the very hair of their heads, their kerchiefs, their shirts, their pantofles, and diverse other things have bin worshipped. ⟨p. 1240⟩To be short, they have worshipped things so fond, as that even little babes might have mocked them for it. Yet notwithstanding, even the wisest folk have been doted with them, & the spirit of giddiness hath reigned over them. And it hath been Gods will to make men so brutish. For when they would not hold themselves simply unto him, but were carried away with their fickle lusts; it was meet that they should come to that point. For as much then §10as it is so; let us understand that our Lord giveth us so many warnings the mo, to the intent to hold us in such awe, as we may be well ware that we be not by any means seduced. Thus ye see what we have to note as in respect of the things which S. Jude teacheth us concerning the body of Moses.

but he hath striued euer since to set vp all the bodies of the holy Prophets. When Ieremie serued for ydolatrie in Egypt, where was his bodie? To whome shall that bee imputed but to Satan, which inuented a newe meane of ydolatrie to the holie Prophet? Againe, whence came all the illusions and false miracles that haue bin wrought in the Popedome, but from the same shop? Wee see then how Satan hath alwayes strayned him self to cast some obiect before our eyes, to draw vs away from Gods seruice, and to busie our heads about other things, that being wrapped in superstition, we might be vtterly marde. Sith it is so, let vs keepe the better watch and stande at our defence. For seeing our enemies come neere vs, and are alwayes watching to spye vs at some aduantage: surely it will waken vs though wee bee neuer so loth. But it is said that Satan neuer resteth, and that he is euer practising what he can possibly, to catch vs vnawares in ydolatrie. Wee see it; the thing bewrayeth it selfe. Sith it is so, should wee fall asleepe? Nay rather let vs looke narrowly about vs (as I sayde afore,) and let vs take good heede that wee bee not intrapped. I sayde that wee see howe Satan practiseth all meanes to corrupt vs. For hee hath fought, not onely for the bodies of men, but also for al other things belonging to them, euen such as a man would not think; insomuch yt the very haire of their heads, their kerchiefes, their shirts, their pantoples, and diuerse other things haue bin worshipped.