Sermons upon Deuteronomy

Now herewithall let us examine all our own abilities, and we shall find our selves overwhelmed, and that we be all of us cursed §50and damnable, if God added not a remedy to draw us out of the curse which the law bringeth upon us.^{1 2}And therefore Saint Paul showeth that if men will needs hold themselves to the law, they shall be damned without any further hope of salvation. And why? for it is written, he that doth these things shall live in them.³ Now then (saith Saint Paul) let every man look into himself, and examine his whole life: is there any man that is able to §60vaunt that he hath fulfilled Gods law? No, we be all disobedient. Seeing the case standeth so, there is no more life in the Law: ⁴but we must rather flee to the free forgiveness of sins, and specially beseech God to give us power to do that which we can not. And so whereas the Papists do make themselves drunken with their devilish imaginations of meritorious works and such other like things: let us understand that after our Lord hath allured us by gentleness, he addeth a second grace: which is, that albeit we be not able to perform his commandments throughly in all respects, yet he beareth with us as a father beareth with his children, and imputeth not our sins unto us, but receiveth our half services as though they were whole and perfect, not for any worthiness that he findeth in them, but because he purposeth to play the father with us. Mark that for another point.

Nowe herewithall let vs examine all our owne abilities, and wee shall finde our selues ouerwhelmed, and that wee bee all of vs cursed §50and damnable, if God added not a remedy to drawe vs out of the curse which the lawe bringeth vppon vs.^{1 2}