Sermons upon Deuteronomy

And if we have been so far overseen as to allow our own doings, let us not go on still, for God will disallow every whit of it, because we must take all our rightness at his trueth. In this case it is not for every man to bring his own weights and his own balance: but we must hold ourselves to that which God hath uttered and doth utter. True it is that Moses doeth greatly magnify the people of Israel here: but yet nevertheless we must understand, that the privilege which is so greatly magnified here, did nothing advantage those which rejected the law and profited not themselves thereby. The Jews are termed here a wise and skilful people, a noble people, a people that hath nothing but excellency and worthiness in them. And why so? Because God had chosen them, and uttered his judgements and righteousness unto them.¹ But yet for all that, on the other side they be termed blind and deaf. And why? Because they did what they could to have quenched the light that God had kindled for them. We know that they were taught by the doctrine which contained their whole wisdom. And therefore when they despised it, they could not be but double blinded insomuch that the ignorance of the heathen and infidels, was nothing in comparison of theirs that had so rejected Gods grace, when it was put into their hands: And that is a point well worthy to be weighed. The Jews do arm themselves yet still at this day with the same text, when they list to commend themselves. Tush, say they: it is said that we be men of understanding, a people of great wisdom, a people of passing nobility and worthiness. This is true, if they had held fast the treasure that God gave them, and kept it well. But seeing they be fleeted away from the law, or rather ye a veil is cast before their eyes,² because of their rejecting of Jesus Christ: yea and seeing that even before his coming, they disobeyed the Prophets and became hardhearted against the doctrine of salvation that was brought to them: it could not be but that (as I said afore) they must needs become more ignorant than all the rest of the world. For if the heathen be as good as destitute of reason, because they have not been in Gods school:

And if wee haue beene so farre ouerseene as to allowe our owne doings, let vs not goe on still, for God will disallowe euerie whit of it, because wee must take all our rightnesse at his trueth. In this case it is not for euerie man to bring his owne weightes and his owne balance: but wee must hold ourselues to that which God hath vttered and doth vtter. True it is that Moses doeth greatly magnifie the people of Israell heere: but yet neuerthelesse we must vnderstande, that the priuiledge which is so greatly magnified heere, did nothing aduantage those which reiected the lawe and profited not themselues thereby. The Iewes are termed heere a wise and skilfull people, a noble people, a people that hath nothing but excellency and worthinesse in them. And why so? Because God had chosen them, and vttered his iudgementes and righteousnesse vnto them.