Sermons upon Deuteronomy

And herewithall Moses addeth, that God requireth not any thing at our hands in respect of himself, or for any profit that he shall have by it, but for our own welfare. To the end (saith he) that thou mayst enter into the land that is given thee for thine inheritance, and possess it. Herein Moses protesteth, that God looketh not for any reward at our hands, for he hath no need of any thing: but it is for our profit, that he would have us to serve him. He could well enough forbear us: but yet is he desirous to have us, and he would that we should suffer him to govern us. Seeing then that God in all respects showeth such love and regard of our welfare: are we not worse than wild beasts if we be still hard to yield, and cannot find in our hearts to come to him but against our wills? If God should but only command us after a precise fashion, yet were we bound to do whatsoever he biddeth us: yea and although he should use the greatest rigour that could be, yet might not we refuse to do our duty towards him. But he forbeareth that authority of his, as though he yielded up some part of his right, and useth another manner of speech, [as if he should say,] you owe me all things, for ye be mine: and yet for all that, the service which you do me shall be accepted in so good worth, as ye shall perceive that I take ye for my children, ye shall feel my gracious goodness and benefits in all sorts, and to be short ye shall not loose your labour. Seeing then that God stoopeth thus unto our rudeness: ought not we to be ravished at so great goodness? And although we had all the lets in the world against us: ought it not to rid them all quite away? Otherwise, what an unthankfulness were it?

And herewithall Moses addeth, that God requireth not any thing at our handes in respect of himselfe, or for any profite that he shall haue by it, but for our owne welfare. To the ende (sayth hee) that thou mayst enter into the land that is giuen thee for thine inheritaunce, and possesse it. Herein Moses protesteth, that God looketh not for any reward at our handes, for hee hath no neede of any thing: but it is for our profite, that hee would haue vs to serue him. Hee could well ynough forbeare vs: but yet is hee desirous to haue vs, and hee woulde that wee shoulde suffer him to gouerne vs. Seeing then that God in all respectes sheweth such loue and regarde of our welfare: are wee not woorse than wilde beastes if wee bee still hard to yeelde, and cannot finde in our hearts to come to him but against our willes? If God should but onely commaund vs after a precise fashion, yet were we bound to do whatsoeuer he biddeth vs: yea and although hee should vse the greatest rigour that could bee, yet might not wee refuse to doe our duetie towardes him. But hee forbeareth that authoritie of his, as though hee yeelded vp some part of his right, and vseth another maner of speach, [as if hee shoulde say,] you owe mee all thinges, for yee bee mine: and yet for all that, the seruice which you doe mee shall bee accepted in so good woorth, as yee shall perceiue that I take yee for my children, yee shall feele my gratious goodnesse and benefites in all sortes, and to bee shorte yee shall not loose your labor. Seeing then that God stoopeth thus vnto our rudenesse: ought not wee to bee rauished at so great goodnesse? And although we had all the lettes in the world against vs: ought it not to ridde them all quite away? Otherwise, what an vnthankefulnesse were it?