Sermons upon Deuteronomy

Now it is said, that the children of Israel mourned thirty days for the death of Moses. It was a common thing to make such sorrow for the dead. But forasmuch as Moses was a father to all the whole people, it was very requisite that not some one house or kindred, but that all those which had been governed by him, should weep for him. Every man is to be mourned for in his own house by his kinsfolk and near friends: but there was another special reason in Moses, because God had given him to all the people, and he had guided them with a fatherly care as we know. The people therefore do witness openly how much they were bound and beholden unto Moses, and all of them show themselves as his children. But here it might be demanded, whether it be lawful to make such lamentation for a man that is departed: for it should seem to be an encountering of Gods will. We know that the life and death of men is in Gods hand; now if he call us away, it behooveth us to go, without any gainsaying, as I said yesterday. They that outlive us must not sorrow for our death; for ⟨p. 1242⟩it were a kind of striving against God. But we must ever have an eye to the end of our sorrowing, when we mourn for the decease of men: and again, we must come to the measure thereof. Those two things then must we observe to the intent that our sorrowing may be lawful. The first thing is that our mourning for a party departed be upon just cause. For we have good occasion to weep, because death is a common looking glass and record unto us of Gods curse,§10 not upon one or two folks, but upon all mankind. When we see any man dead, God showeth us to the view of our eye, that we be all of us cursed of him, and that we be all of us enclosed in that curse, because of Adams sin. For whence comes death, but of the estranging of us from the fountain and wellspring of life? God then giveth us good occasion to weep when any man dyeth: but that must be done because of our sins, so as we feel what we have deserved,§20 and be ashamed of our selves, and be touched with the fear of Gods vengeance, and be so wounded therewith, as it may provoke us to make sorrow. But this end is ill regarded, wellnigh of all men. For when we weep, we wot not why we weep:

Nowe it is saide, that the children of Israel mourned thirtie days for the death of Moses. It was a common thing to make such sorrowe for the deade. But forasmuch as Moses was a father to all the whole people, it was verie requisite that not some one house or kinred, but that all those which had beene gouerned by him, shoulde weepe for him. Euerie man is to be mourned for in his owne house by his kinsfolfe and neere friendes: but there was another speciall reason in Moses, because God had giuen him to all the people, and he had guided them with a fatherly care as we knowe. The people therefore doe witnesse openly howe much they were bounde and beholden vnto Moses, and al of them shewe themselues as his children. But here it might be demaunded, whether it be lawfull to make such lamentation for a man that is departed: for it shoulde seeme to bee an incountering of Gods will. Wee knowe that the life and death of men is in Gods hande; nowe if hee call vs away, it behooueth vs to goe, without any gainesaying, as I saide yesterday. They that outliue vs must not sorrowe for our death; for