Sermons upon Deuteronomy

Immediately hereunto Moses addeth, that the Lord was angry with him, because of the peoples words, and that he had sworn to him that he should not pass over Jordan to go into the land of promise. But as for you [saith he] you shall pass over, and enjoy the possession thereof. Moses doth still upbraid the people with Gods bereaving of him of the inheritance that was promised to all their tribes, not so much for his own fault, as for the common fault of them all in murmuring against God: but yet hath Moses a further meaning. He speaketh this as it were by the way, yea as having respect to this, that he should shortly die: and forasmuch as he himself might not enjoy the land, he had a care to instruct the people, to the end that they might abide in Gods covenant, and continue steadfast in it, without swerving aside, or without any changing of religion to pervert the doctrine that had been given them. The effect then is, that Moses being at the point of death doth as it were make his last will, & hath so much the more care of the peoples welfare, for fear least they should start away after his death, as he had seen them do oftentimes in his life. And he interlaceth this particular matter that I spake of: namely that their words were the cause that he should die before he passed over Jordan, and before he entered into the land of promise. For as I have touched heretofore, Moses meant not to justify himself: for indeed he was greatly blameworthy before God, & surely God never useth any cruelty towards such as are his. Now, the case is so, that Moses is shut out of the land with an oath: therefore must it needs be that he had offended. But his doing of this, is to the intent that the people on their side should think the better upon the fault that they had committed. And in good sooth, so ought all faithful teachers to do: that is, ⟨p. 143⟩they ought to touch sinners to the quick, that they may have remorse of their sins, that they may cry to God for mercy & ask pardon thereof, that they may be sorry for them, that they may mislike of themselves for them, that they may hate them, and utterly forsake them. For when men are flattered in their vices: first they be hardened in them, and take always greater liberty to do evil: secondly they think not that ever they shall come to account before God:

Immediatly herevnto Moses addeth, that the Lord was angrie with him, because of the peoples words, and that he had sworne to him that he should not passe ouer Iordan to goe into the lande of promise. But as for you [saith he] you shall passe ouer, and inioy the possession thereof. Moses doth stil vpbraide the people with Gods bereauing of him of the inheritance that was promised to all their tribes, not so much for his own fault, as for the common fault of them all in murmuring against God: but yet hath Moses a further meaning. He speaketh this as it were by the way, yea as hauing respect to this, that he should shortly die: and forasmuch as he himselfe might not inioy the lande, hee had a care to instruct the people, to the end that they might abide in Gods couenant, and continue stedfast in it, without swaruing aside, or without any changing of religion to peruert the doctrine that had beene giuen them. The effect then is, that Moses being at the point of death doth as it were make his last will, & hath so much the more care of the peoples welfare, for feare least they should start away after his death, as he had seene them doe oftentimes in his life. And he interlaceth this particular matter that I spake of: namely that their words were the cause that he should die before he passed ouer Iordan, and before he entered into the lande of promise. For as I haue touched heretofore, Moses ment not to iustifie himselfe: for indeede he was greatly blameworthy before God, & surely God neuer vseth any crueltie towards such as are his. Now, the case is so, that Moses is shut out of the land with an oth: therfore must it needs bee that he had offended. But his doing of this, is to the intent that the people on their side should think the better vpon the fault that they had committed. And in good sooth, so ought all faithful teachers to do: that is,