Sermons upon Deuteronomy

Churches are fraught full of idols, and they be worshipped with great pomp, so as they be throughly perfumed, besenced, & painted, and a number of ceremonies are done unto them: there is great solemnity, with goodly chanting on the one side, and with ringing of peal upon peal upon the belles on the other side: there is scudding from altar to altar: there is fasting on this day, and forbearing of flesh on that day: there is trotting to shrift, and gadding on Pilgrimage: men found Year-minds, and cause Masses to be sung by note. Thus the world ranging away from GOD, will nevertheless needs seem to be dutiful towards him. [And all is] because we be so froward, that we covet nothing but to mock God with our hypocrisy, and that he should hold himself contented with our doings, which are no better than rattlebags to please babes withal. So then let us mark, that in stead of worshipping God, the world is given to fondness and superstition, and yet notwithstanding that it doeth it not so much of mere ignorance, as for that it cannot abide to be obedient as were requisite, and therefore it goeth to work by windlasses, and seeketh by all means to stray from the right way. To be short, we shall find that men are always guilty of wilfulness in committing idolatry, and that it is vain for them to shroud themselves under pretence of simplicity. For contrariwise they bring it with them of nature, and they will needs be deceived, and so they be. And therefore doeth God blind them also.¹ For (as sayeth S. Paul) it is reason that such as list not to serve their maker, should be underlings to the creatures: and that such as ⟨p. 141⟩cannot find in their hearts to bear the yoke of God, should endure the tyranny of the devil, as is come to pass, and as we see accomplished still at this day in the unhappy Popedom. Now therefore let us mark well the thing that I have said already: that is to wit, that men instead of being thankful to God for the good that he hath done them, do turn his creatures to their own decay & condemnation, & falsely abuse them: for they pervert the use of them clean contrary to Gods meaning. And this is §10seen to be done, not only in the Sun and the Stars according to that which Moses saith here: but also in all other things whatsoever.

Churches are fraught full of idols, and they be worshipped with great pompe, so as they bee throughly perfumed, besenced, & painted, and a nomber of ceremonies are done vnto them: there is great solemnitie, with goodly chaunting on the one side, and with ringing of peale vpon peale vppon the belles on the otherside: there is scudding frō aultar to autar: there is fasting on this day, and forbearing of flesh on that day: there is trotting to shrift, and gadding on Pilgrimage: men found Yeeremindes, and cause Masses to be sung by note. Thus ye world raunging away from GOD, will neuerthelesse needes seeme to be duetiful towardes him. [And all is] bicause we be so froward, that we couet nothing but to mocke God with our hypocrisie, and that he should hold himselfe contented with our dooings, which are no better than rattlebagges to please babes withall. So then let vs mark, that in stead of worshipping God, the world is giuen to fondnesse and superstition, and yet notwithstanding that it doeth it not so much of meere ignorance, as for that it cannot abide to be obedient as were requisite, and therefore it goeth to worke by windlasses, and seeketh by all meanes to stray from the right way. To be short, we shall finde that men are alwayes guiltie of wilfulnesse in committing idolatrie, and that it is vaine for them to shrowd themselues vnder pretence of simplicitie. For contrariwise they bring it with them of nature, and they will needs be deceiued, and so they be. And therefore doeth God blind them also.