Sermons upon Deuteronomy

But now let us see in effect what Moses requireth here. Hearken O Israel (saith he) to the ordinances and statutes which I teach thee to do, that thou mayst live and enter into the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, and possess it. Here Moses declareth that our life shall always be full of disorder and confusion, until we have yielded so much authority unto God over us, as to have the [whole] guiding of us, and that we have made our account to rest simply upon his word. To be short, we be taught here, to rid our selves of all self-weening, and that when the case concerneth how to live well, we must not step to it upon our own head, and after our own fancy, to say, this seemeth good to me. Whereat must we then begin? At learning, as Moses declareth. And therefore he that giveth ear unto God, to receive whatsoever is told him from him, shall be well learned. But on the contrary part, until such time as we have heard our GOD speak, and that he have performed the office of a teacher towards us: it is certain that our life shall be quite out of order. We may well flatter our selves as ignorant wretches do, who bear themselves in hand that the world goes as well with them as is possible, when in the mean while they be no better than bewitched, so as there is neither wit nor discretion in them. Ye see then that the thing which we have to mark upon this text, is that if we mean not to lead a disordered life, and such a one as God utterly mislyketh: we must hearken unto him. And here it appeareth of what value good intents (as they term them) are: whereof I will treat more at length anon. For if it behove us to hear God speak, before we lift up one foot to go forward: what will become of us when every of us is wedded to his own fancy, and when our lusts are so wild? Doth it not appear that God refuseth all such things in one word? Again, Moses telleth us that God on his side, will teach us faithfully, soundly, and perfectly: conditionally that we refuse not to be ruled by him and to obey him. And he useth moe words than one. For he could have said, hearken to the Law, or hearken to his commandments: but he saith, hearken to his statutes and ordinances. And in other places he setteth down Statutes▪ ¹ordinances, commandments, and rules.

But nowe let vs see in effect what Moses requireth here. Hearken O Israel (sayth he) to the ordinaunces and statutes which I teach thee to doe, that thou mayst liue and enter into the land which the Lorde thy God giueth thee, and possesse it. Here Moses declareth that our lyfe shall alwayes bee full of disorder and confusion, vntill wee haue yeelded so much authoritie vnto God ouer vs, as to haue the [whole] guyding of vs, and that wee haue made our account to rest simply vppon his worde. To bee shorte, wee bee taught heere, to rid our selues of all selfeweening, and that when the case concerneth how to liue well, wee must not step to it vppon our owne head, and after our owne fancie, to say, this seemeth good to mee. Whereat must wee then begin? At learning, as Moses declareth. And therefore hee that giueth eare vnto God, to receiue whatsoeuer is tolde him from him, shall bee well learned. But on the contrary part, vntill such time as wee haue heard our GOD speake, and that hee haue performed the office of a teacher towardes vs: it is certeine that our life shall be quite out of order. Wee may well flatter our selues as ignorant wretches doe, who beare themselues in hand that the worlde goes as well with them as is possible, when in the meane while they be no better than bewitched, so as there is neither wit nor discretion in them. Ye see then that the thing which wee haue to marke vppon this text, is that if wee meane not to leade a disordered lyfe, and such a one as God vtterly mislyketh: wee must hearken vnto him. And heere it appeareth of what valwe good intents (as they terme them) are: whereof I will treate more at length anon. For if it behoue vs to heare God speak, before we lift vp one foote to goe foreward: what will become of vs when euery of vs is wedded to his owne fancie, and when our lustes are so wilde? Doth it not appeare that God refuseth all such thinges in one worde? Againe, Moses telleth vs that God on his side, will teach vs faithfully, soundly, and perfectly: conditionally that we refuse not to be ruled by him and to obey him. And hee vseth mo wordes than one. For he could haue sayd, hearken to the Lawe, or hearken to his commaundementes: but hee sayth, hearken to his statutes and ordinances. And in other places he setteth downe Statutes