Sermons upon Deuteronomy

But yet must we be contented to receive whatsoever he giveth us. Although our flesh would carry us further: yet must we restrain our selves as prisoners, and in so doing follow the example of Moses. For if Moses had bin like to such as are impatient and fall to striving against God: he would have held scorn to go up into the mountain. It is to much purpose (would he have said) for me to go break my shins in climbing up this hill, to go see the moonshine in the water. I can forbear such a sight. After that fashion would they deal, which are not yet come to such meekness, as to be as lambs and sheep. But Moses showed well, that notwithstanding that he was the shepherd of the people, yet was he also a very sheep in deed, so as GOD might guide and govern him as he listed. When he said to him, get thee up into the hill: he knew he should have no more but a sight of the land, and that the same sight should be a renewing of his grief, so as he should sigh at it and might say, Alas I am banished from the possession of this good land, which I see before my face: my desire is but to make a steppe over this Jordan, and I am forbidden it. He knew this. Yet notwithstanding forasmuch as God had commanded him, he received his grace, yea and he received it with such affection, as he replied not to the contrary. Not that he could not have found in his hart to have had it otherwise: but for that he did thrust his own will under foot, to the end that GOD might have the whole mastery of him. Therefore let us learn to be meek. When our Lord is so minded to bring us under awe, and granteth not the things that we could like of: let not us on our side refuse or disdain the small taste of his grace which he giveth us, waiting till he give us a larger discovery and fruition thereof. For in this world we must be exercised after that manner: and we must apply all our endeavour thereunto. Insomuch that if GOD give us not such knowledge of his grace as we may hold it (as ye would say) in our hands: or as we may have our fill of it: or as we may triumph in it: yet must we call upon him still. And if he give it us drop by drop, and therewithal we have store of grief and sorrows, [so as we might say,] what will become of this? why doth not GOD admit me more familiarly unto him?

But yet must wee bee contented to receiue whatsoeuer hee giueth vs. Although our fleshe woulde cary vs further: yet must wee restraine our selues as prisoners, and in so doing followe the example of Moses. For if Moses had bin lyke to such as are impatient and fall to stryuing against God: hee would haue held skorne to go vp into the mountaine. It is to much purpose (would hee haue sayde) for mee to goe breake my shinnes in climbing vp this hil, to goe see the mooneshine in the water. I can forbeare such a sight. After that fashion would they deale, which are not yet come to such meekenesse, as to bee as lambes and sheepe. But Moses shewed well, that notwithstanding that he was the shepheard of the people, yet was hee also a very sheepe in deede, so as GOD might guide and gouerne him as hee listed. When hee sayd to him, get thee vp into the hill: hee knewe hee should haue no more but a sight of the land, and that the same sight should be a renewing of his griefe, so as hee should sigh at it and might say, Alas I am banished from the possession of this good land, which I see before my face: my desire is but to make a steppe ouer this Iordan, and I am forbidden it. He knewe this. Yet notwithstanding forasmuch as God had commaunded him, hee receiued his grace, yea and hee receiued it with such affection, as hee replyed not to the contrary. Not that hee coulde not haue founde in his hart to haue had it otherwise: but for that hee did thrust his owne will vnder foote, to the ende that GOD might haue the whole maisterie of him. Therefore let vs learne to bee meeke. When our Lord is so minded to bring vs vnder awe, and graunteth not the thinges that wee coulde lyke of: let not vs on our side refuse or disdeine the small taste of his grace which hee giueth vs, waiting till hee giue vs a larger discouerie and fruition thereof. For in this worlde wee must bee exercised after that maner: and we must apply al our indeuer therevnto. Insomuch that if GOD giue vs not such knowledge of his grace as wee may holde it (as yee would say) in our handes: or as wee may haue our fill of it: or as wee may triumph in it: yet must wee call vppon him still. And if he giue it vs droppe by droppe, and therewithall wee haue store of griefe and sorrowes, [so as we might say,] what will become of this? why doth not GOD admitte me more familarly vnto him?