Sermons upon Deuteronomy

And let us mark further, that when men are chosen to govern Gods Church, (so it be by orderly proceeding according to his word) they shall be guided and governed by him, and he will furnish them with his gracious gifts as far as shall be needful for them; and whereas we perceive not nowadays the things by experience which are contained here; it is by reason of our unbelief and lewdness. For had we such order of election as ought to be in choosing ministers to preach Gods word, and that we went about it with such reverence as is requisite, with calling upon the name of God, & with observing the order in such sort as he hath set it down by his word; and again if the like were done in the choosing of magistrates and officers of Justice: It is certain that GOD also would shed forth the gracious gifts of his holy spirit, and we should see that his blessing should not be vain in those elections. But what? Because we be oftentimes puffed up with presumption, and every man deals after his own fancy, and a great sort of us never pass for the observing of the things which God showeth us by his word: therefore he also withdraweth his grace from us: whereas if we had the zeal to govern his Church according to his word, and teaching, and did put our endeavour thereunto; and that in choosing men to guide the people, we proceeded to it with such sobriety as I have spoken of: It is certain that God would do his part. For his hand is not shortened; but look what is told us here, we should surely find it among us by effect.

And let vs marke further, that when men are chosen to gouerne Gods Church, (so it be by orderly proceeding according to his word) they shalbe guyded and gouerned by him, and hee will furnish them with his gratious gifts as farre as shalbe needefull for them; and whereas wee perceiue not nowadayes the thinges by experience which are contayned heere; it is by reason of our vnbeleefe and leaudnesse. For had wee such order of election as ought to be in choosing ministers to preach Gods worde, and that wee went about it with such reuerence as is requisite, with calling vpon the name of God, & with obseruing the order in such sort as hee hath set it downe by his worde; and againe if the like were done in the choosing of magistrates and officers of Iustice: It is certaine that GOD also would shedfoorth the gratious giftes of his holy spirite, and we should see that his blessing should not be vayne in those elections. But what? Because we be oftentimes puffed vp with presumption, and euery man deales after his owne fancie, and a great sort of vs neuer passe for the obseruing of the thinges which God sheweth vs by his word: therfore he also withdraweth his grace from vs: wheras if we had ye zeale to gouerne his Church according to his worde, and teaching, and did put our indeuour thereunto; and that in choosing men to guide the people, we proceeded to it with such sobrietie as I haue spoken of: It is certaine that God would doe his part. For his hande is not shortened; but looke what is tolde vs heere, we should surely finde it among vs by effect.