Sermons upon Deuteronomy

Now finally he sayeth, That there was not any Prophet in Israel found like unto Moses, which knew God face to face, that is to say, to whom God revealed himself so familiarly. Here we see in the first place, that God keepeth not always one rate in uttering forth his grace as we would have him: but that he doth and dealeth in that behalf according to his own will. God then is not bound to any certain law, as who would say, that because he hath sent an excellent man to day, he must do the like to morrow too. No. Sometime we shall be deprived of a man, whose match we shall not find again. And why? Because God reserveth that to himself, to give the greater glory to his grace. That is the thing which we have to note in the first place: and it serveth to teach us that we should not be abashed. Notwithstanding, if our Lord do sometimes diminish his gracious gifts towards us; let it not cast us in despair. For why? It ought to content us that our Lord is liberal. And again we have seen already that he ceased not to have a care of his people, though Moses did far surmount Joshua, and had not his equal or match. Not that Gods intent was to magnify Moses as in respect of his person; but to the end that the Law should be received with the greater reverence, and the people know that Moses was sent of God. And God also meant to give some confirmation to the doctrine of the Law, to the intent to print the same the better in the hearts of the Jews, and specially the excellent deliverance that had bin wrought [by Moses]. For we see how all the other prophets also do beat about that mark, when they rebuke the people for their unthankfulness.¹ When they blame them for their ungodliness, they set before them their deliverance out of Egypt: for it was a deed worthy of eternal memory. To the intent therefore that the people might be the better provoked thereunto; it is said that Moses was the excellentest of all men. And ⟨p. 1247⟩therewithal the people were to be held in obedience to the Law, until the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. And that shall be the conclusion in one word.

Now finally he sayeth, That there was not any Prophet in Israell founde like vnto Moses, which knew God face to face, that is to say, to whom God reuealed himselfe so familiarly. Heere wee see in the first place, that God keepeth not alwayes one rate in vttering forth his grace as we would haue him: but that he doth and dealeth in that behalfe according to his owne will. God then is not bound to any certaine lawe, as who woulde say, that because he hath sent an excellent man to day, he must do the like to morrowe too. No. Sometime we shalbe depriued of a man, whose match we shall not finde againe. And why? Because God reserueth that to himselfe, to giue the greater glorie to his grace. That is the thing which we haue to note in the first place: and it serueth to teach vs that wee should not be abashed. Notwithstanding, if our Lorde do sometimes diminish his gratious giftes towardes vs; let it not cast vs in despayre. For why? It ought to content vs that our Lorde is liberall. And againe we haue seene already that he ceased not to haue a care of his people, though Moses did farre surmount Iosua, and had not his equall or match. Not that Gods intent was to magnifie Moses as in respect of his person; but to the end that the Law should be receiued with ye greater reuerence, and the people knowe that Moses was sent of God. And God also meant to giue some confirmation to the doctrine of the Lawe, to the intent to print the same the better in the heartes of the Iewes, and specially the excellent deliueraunce that had bin wrought [by Moses]. For we see howe all the other prophetes also do beate about that marke, when they rebuke the people for their vnthankefulnesse.