Sermons upon Deuteronomy

But yet herewithal let us mark well the condition that Moses setteth down here, As for thee (saith he) thy God hath rid thee from the iron furnace of the thraldom of Egypt, to the intent that thou shouldest be unto him a sure people & an inheritance. Although that Moses have declared that the use of the sun & of the stars is common to all folks: yet doth he show that they be specially appointed to the people whom God hath chosen. As if he should say, that the order of nature is common to all the world: we see that both great & small are partakers of the benefits that God bestoweth: the earth bringeth forth corn wine and all other things, to sustain both the faithful & the unfaithful: the wicked & the despisers of God do eat & drink as well as we: nay (which more is) we see they abuse gods creatures with all excess, & have more abundance of them than the faithful: for he that knoweth that God sustaineth him, will use his meat & drink and all other things soberly & measurably, & he will consider that he must not unhallow the things which god hath ordained to a good & moderate use. But what do the wicked? There is nothing with them but cram ming, as if they were minded to spite God of set purpose. But yet for all it, it is Gods will that the propriety of his creatures should belong to us. And after what sort? Even to use them as his true & lawful heirs, and to have them so warranted as we may avow that the things which he giveth us are our own, & belong unto us of right, & that we possess them by just title. And soothly there is not a more singular benefit than this. For although the wicked do cram themselves with gods benefits till they burst, as I said afore: yet have they always a heart-biting within, so as they know not by what right they eat & drink, nor can skill to desire God to sustain them. Nay verily, we see they could find in their harts, that all remembrance of god were abolished. For when they make good cheer (as they term it), they must mind nothing but to play the brute beasts. But contrariwise when we consider in our eating & drinking, that it is god which feedeth us: it is a warrant unto us that he is our father, and that he taketh us for his children.

But yet herewithal let vs mark wel the condition yt Moses setteth downe here, As for thee (saith he) thy God hath rid thee from the yron furnace of the thraldome of Egypt, to the intent that thou shouldest be vnto him a sure people & an inheritance. Although yt Moses haue declared that the vse of the sun & of the stars is common to al folks: yet doth he shew that they bee specially appointed to the people whom God hath chosen. As if he should say, that the order of nature is common to al ye world: we see that both great & smal are partakers of ye benefites that God bestoweth: the earth bringeth forth corne wine and al other things, to susteine both ye faithful & the vnfaithful: the wicked & the despisers of God do eat & drink as wel as we: nay (which more is) we se they abuse gods creatures with al excesse, & haue more abundance of them than ye faithful: for he that knoweth yt God susteineth him, wil vse his meat & drinke and al other things soberly & measurably, & he wil consider yt he must not vnhallow the things which god hath ordeined to a good & moderate vse. But what do the wicked? There is nothing with them but crā ming, as if they were minded to spyte God of set purpose. But yet for al yt, it is Gods will that the propriety of his creatures shoulde belong to vs. And after what sort? Euen to vse thē as his true & lawfull heires, and to haue them so warranted as we may auow yt the things which he giueth vs are our own, & belong vnto vs of right, & that we possesse thē by iust title. And soothly there is not a more singular benefite than this. For although ye wicked do cram themselues with gods benefits til they burst, as I said afore: yet haue they always a hartbyting within, so as they know not by what right they eat & drink, nor can skil to desire God to sustaine them. Nay verily, we see they coulde find in their harts, yt al remēberance of god were abolished. For when they make good cheere (as they terme it), they must minde nothing but to play the brute beasts. But contrariwise when we cōsider in our eating & drinking, yt it is god which feedeth vs: it is a warrant vnto vs yt hee is our father, and that he taketh vs for his children.