Sermons upon Deuteronomy

Moreover he addeth therewithal, What God is he in heaven or earth, that hath done according to thy works, and according to thy mighty power? This manner of speech to say, What God is he in heaven or earth, seemeth perchance to be fond. For is there any other GOD, than he that had published his law by the hand of Moses? If he alonely be God, then is this comparison superfluous, yea and even fond, and to no purpose. But we have to note that in speaking so, Moses meant not that there is a multitude of Gods, so as every of them wrought according to his own ability and power, and that the GOD of Israel surmounted all the rest, and was mightier than they all: Moses had no such devilish superstition in his head. For he knew well enough that there is but only one God, even he that had revealed himself to their father Abraham, the very same which had showed by his deeds, that he is that everlasting & unchangeable God: but he spake so as in respect of men. Although men do generally confess that all good cometh of God: yet cease they not to forge idols after their own fancy: insomuch that in stead of resorting to the true God that made heaven & earth, which revealed himself to the fathers: they wander away after their own imaginations (as saith S. Paul,¹) and fall to devising of they wot not what. As soon as we conceive any whit of the divine Majesty: by and by we be gadding after idols, and turn away from the living God. And thereupon came it that every nation had his God. If man had asked them, what intend ye to do, ye wretched souls? [they would have answered,] we intend to serve God. But yet for all that, they worshipped idols. And why? For they turned away from the simple essence of God, and worshipped the things which they had set up in their own dotages and foolish conceits. According whereunto, when any of them had any welfare or prosperity, they would say, God be praised, God hath done us this good turn: but in the mean while they fathered all upon their idols. If a man had said to the Egyptians in the time of Moses, now sirs ye have had a fruitful year, ye have gotten in good store of Corn and Wine, and whence comes all this? [They would have answered,] it is GOD that hath helped us. And yet notwithstanding they worshipped an Ox, they worshipped brute beasts, yea and even Serpents and the herbs of the earth.

Moreouer he addeth therewithall, What God is hee in heauen or earth, that hath done according to thy workes, and according to thy mightie power? This manner of speache to say, What God is he in heauen or earth, seemeth perchaunce to be fond. For is there any other GOD, than hee that had published his lawe by the hand of Moses? If hee alonely bee God, then is this comparison superfluous, yea and euen fonde, and to no purpose. But wee haue to note that in speaking so, Moses meant not that there is a multitude of Gods, so as euerie of them wrought according to his owne abilitie and power, and that the GOD of Israel surmounted all the rest, and was mightier than they all: Moses had no such diuelish superstitiō in his head. For he knew well ynough yt there is but onely one God, euen he that had reuealed himselfe to their father Abraham, the verie same which had shewed by his deedes, that he is yt euerlasting & vnchangeable God: but he spake so as in respect of men. Although men do generally confesse that all good commeth of God: yet ceasse they not to forge idols after their owne fansie: insomuch yt in sted of resorting to the true God that made heauen & earth, which reuealed himselfe to the fathers: they wander away after their own imaginations (as saith S. Paul,