Sermons upon Deuteronomy

Now let us come to the text that I have rehearsed afore. These are the words which Moses spake unto the people in the wilderness, in the plain (or champion grounds) beyond Jordan, even from Horeb unto the places here before rehearsed. Herein we have to note, that God intended to rebuke the people for their not keeping of the law, which had not only bin preached to them by mouth, but also set down in writing: as if a man should make an instrument or conveyance of some bargain between two parties. And God himself vouchsafed to engrave his Law at leastwise the ten commandments) in two tables, to the intent they might be remembered the better. For albeit that the doctrine was clear enough of itself, & god had provided to preserve it from forgetting: yet did not the people receive it. Therefore as now he casteth them in the teeth, as if it should be said unto us, Behold, the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ having bin preached with such power and majesty, is also left in writing. We have had the Gospel preached unto us now a long time, even the same Gospel which is set down unto us in Books. Therefore are we too unexcusable, if we cannot tell what God saith to us there. If a man should speak after that manner, it were a blaming of us for our beastliness. Again, if it should be said that where as we were baptised in the name of the son of God, when we were babes, yet we know him not: that being come to mans estate, we be so brutish that after so often hearing of Gods truth, yet we be still but novices in it: and that we can scarcely tell what it is, or at leastwise have never taken any taste of if at all: such manner of opening of the gospel unto us, how it hath bin offered us of long time & after divers fashions, ⟨p. 5⟩were as a framing of an indictment against us. So now likewise Moses, to witness openly to the people that they had showed themselves too unthankful towards God, sayeth expressly: These are the words that I uttered and preached unto you from time to time, not for a day or two, but ever since the publishing of the Law in the mountain of Horeb. And because you showed your selves so ill disposed, I have not ceased to put you still in remembrance of the §10things that you had heard before.

Nowe let vs come to the text that I haue rehearsed afore. These are the wordes which Moses spake vnto the people in the wildernesse, in the plaine (or champion grounds) beyong Iordan, euen from Horeb vnto the places here before rehearsed. Herein we haue to note, that God intended to rebuke the people for their not keeping of the lawe, which had not onely bin preached to them by mouth, but also set downe in writing: as if a man should make an instrument or conueyance of some bargaine betweene two parties. And God himselfe vouchsafed to ingraue his Lawe at leastwise the ten commaundements) in two tables, to the intent they might be remembred the better. For albeit that the doctrin was cleere ynough of itself, & god had prouided to preserue it from forgetting: yet did not the people receiue it. Therefore as nowe he casteth them in the teeth, as if it should be saide vnto vs, Behold, the Gospell of our Lorde Iesus Christ hauing bin preached with such power and maiestie, is also left in writing. Wee haue had the Gospel preached vnto vs nowe a long time, euen the same Gospel which is set downe vnto vs in Bookes. Therefore are we too vnexcusable, if we cannot tell what God saith to vs there. If a man shoulde speake after that maner, it were a blaming of vs for our beastlinesse. Againe, if it shoulde be saide that where as wee were baptised in the name of the sonne of God, when we were babes, yet wee knowe him not: that being come to mans estate, we bee so brutish that after so often hearing of Gods truth, yet we be still but nouices in it: and that we can scarsly tell what it is, or at leastwise haue neuer taken any tast of if at al: such maner of opening of the gospel vnto vs, how it hath bin offered vs of long time & after diuers fashions,