Sermons upon Deuteronomy

And when as Moses entitleth Gods word and his law to be our wisdom: thereby he showeth that we have no wisdom in our selves, ne know how to behave our selves, but are as brute beasts, until such time as our Lord have taught us. That is another point. And were the same well borne in mind, surely men would not be so bold to invent things after their own liking, but would hold themselves soberly and meekly under Gods word. And so much the more need have we to mind this text, because we know there is no other wisdom in us, than to submit our selves teachable unto God, and to hearken what he saith to us, to stick thereto quietly, refusing all that ever we can conceive of our own head. According whereunto Saint Paul sayeth,¹ that we cannot be wise before God, until we be become fools in our selves: that is to wit, until we know that there is nothing but vanity & leasing in our own understanding, and therefore that we must give over all that we think good, and not know aught but that which God commandeth. And therewithal, as Moses meant here to bereave men of all self-weening, to the intent they should stoop and submit themselves unto Gods word: so on the contrary part he meant to show that when men have Gods Law for their rule: they shall want nothing, but all shall be well and perfect. That is a second point which we have to note. I have told you already that men must understand, that there is not one drop of sound judgement in them, but that to become wise, they must yield themselves wholly unto God. It is not enough to know this: for we might partly here GOD, and afterward add thereto of our own, as we see the Papists have done. They will not say that the Scripture is false, (howbeit that they themselves do falsify it most wickedly: and yet for all that they be enforced spite of their teeth to say still, it is the word of God:) But they would fain mingle their own laws with it: whereby it is evident that they have made such confusion, as a man cannot discern between the holy scripture, and their fancies. And why [have they done so]? Because that to their seeming there is some want in Gods word, and he hath not taught things perfectly enough: but that is a cursed blasphemy.

And when as Moses intytleth Gods worde and his lawe to bee our wisedome: thereby hee sheweth that wee haue no wisedome in our selues, ne knowe howe to behaue our selues, but are as brute beastes, vntill such time as our Lorde haue taught vs. That is another point. And were the same well borne in minde, surely men woulde not bee so bolde to inuent things after their owne liking, but woulde hold themselues soberly and meekely vnder Gods worde. And so much the more neede haue wee to mind this texte, because wee knowe there is no other wisedome in vs, than to submit our selues teachable vnto God, and to harken what hee saith to vs, to sticke thereto quietly, refusing all that euer we can conceiue of our owne head. According wherevnto Sainct Paul saieth,