Sermons upon Deuteronomy

Now for a conclusion, it is said of Moses and the people, that they abode in the valley over against the Temple of Pheor. For Bethpheor is as much to §60say, as the house of the Idol Pheor: and the word House is put for a Temple. This is not set down for nought: for it was Gods will to ad this as the upshot of condemnation unto Moses, that he was fain to have the Temple of an Idol continually before his eyes, He was chosen to lead the people of Israel into the land of Canaan. And it is certain that he himself murmured not against God, ne letted the people from coming there: but yet for all that, when it came to the point that he should have made the water to come out of the rock, he went not to it cheerfully, but was (as ye would say) overgreeved in his mind, so as he gave not glory unto God, By means whereof whereas Gods service should have bin set up in the land, and whereas there should have bin such a melody in calling upon his name, as all superstitions should have bin rooted out, and as all the things that had bin showed him in the mountain should have bin put in practise, that Gods majesty might have bin seen shining in the middest of the people: in stead of having so goodly and (as ye would say) angelical order: he is fain to tarry hard by a temple of Idols, he is fain to see himself as it were defiled with it, he is driven to behold the abominations that were daily committed by the heathen as it were in despite of God, he is driven to see the true religion overthrown: and this could not be but a great heart-breaking to him, and work a terrible vexation in his mind. Now upon this example we have to gather, how it is not for naught that our Lord causeth us to see things that ought to offend us and to cast us into great heaviness. And why? For we be not worthy to see his service throughly in good order, and to see his religion purely and soundly observed, so as he might be worshipped with one common consent throughout all the world. We be not worthy to enjoy such a benefit. For the full perfection of all felicity that we can have in this world, is that GOD be served and honoured, and that in such wise, as all superstitions, all abuses, and all other things that may corrupt his service, be laid down.

Now for a conclusion, it is sayd of Moses and the people, that they abode in the valley ouer against the Temple of Pheor. For Bethpheor is as much to §60say, as the house of ye Idole Pheor: and the word House is put for a Temple. This is not set downe for nought: for it was Gods will to ad this as the vpshot of condemnation vnto Moses, that hee was fain to haue the Temple of an Idol continually before his eyes, He was chosen to leade the people of Israell into the land of Chanaan. And it is certaine that hee himselfe murmured not against God, ne letted the people from comming there: but yet for all that, when it came to the poynt that hee should haue made the water to come out of the rocke, he went not to it cherefully, but was (as yee would say) ouergreeued in his minde, so as he gaue not glory vnto God, By meanes wherof whereas Gods seruice should haue bin set vp in the lande, and whereas there should haue bin such a melodie in calling vppon his name, as al superstitions should haue bin rooted out, and as all the thinges that had bin shewed him in the mountaine should haue bin put in practise, that Gods maiestie might haue bin seene shining in the middest of the poeple: in stead of hauing so goodly and (as ye would say) angelicall order: he is faine to tary hard by a temple of Idols, he is faine to see himselfe as it were defiled with it, he is driuen to beholde the abhominations that were dayly committed by the heathen as it were in despite of God, he is driuen to see the true religion ouerthrowen: and this could not bee but a great hartbreaking to him, and worke a terrible vexation in his minde. Now vppon this example wee haue to gather, how it is not for naught that our Lorde causeth vs to see thinges that ought to offend vs and to cast vs into great heauiness. And why? For we be not worthie to see his seruice throughly in good order, and to see his religion purely and soundely obserued, so as he might bee worshipped with one common consent throughout all the world. We bee not worthie to inioy such a benefite. For the full perfection of all felicitie that wee can haue in this world, is that GOD be serued and honored, and that in such wise, as all superstitions, al abuses, and all other things that may corrupt his seruice, bee layde downe.