Sermons upon Deuteronomy

Moreover he sayeth, Let the people turn and draw towards the hill of the Amorites, & from thence invade and possess the land of Canaan, whether it be the plain Countries, or the downs, or the deserts, or the seacoasts: for the land (sayeth he) is before you: that is to say at your commandment, I have delivered it into your hands, nothing shall keep ye from the possession of it, if it be not long of your selves. Why so? For I have sworn (sayeth he) to your fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob: I have promised to give it for an inheritance to them and to their seed after their decease. Here first of all we must mark the order that is set down: for God showeth the cause why he gave that people the land [of Canaan:] namely for his promise sake. And thereby he betokeneth, that the land belonged not to them as by way of conquest through their own power, nor yet for any desert of theirs, but only of free gift. God then assigneth this title to the children of Israel, and telleth them that they shall be as much bound to his mere goodness when they be brought into the land of Canaan, [as they were before.] And in deed the oath that Moses speaks of here, was made four hundred and thirty years afore, even in the person of Abraham, before any of them was borne. Seeing then that GOD had promised them the land, even before they had done either good or evil, and before they were borne: it may be concluded thereupon, that their possessing of it was not for any worthiness of theirs, as though God had been beholden to them for some service: but because he had made them heirs of it, through his own free goodness. Now if this be verified of the earthly heritage which the children of Israel had: what is to be said of the kingdom of heaven? Are we able to compass it? Can we deserve at Gods hand to be partakers thereof? No: but contrariwise, it is of his mere goodness that we be brought in thither, and shall have fruition of it at the last day: for surely all that is spoken of the land of Canaan, must serve us for a figure and shadow.

Moreouer he sayeth, Let the people turne and draw towards the hill of the Amorrhytes, & from thēce inuade and possesse the land of Chanaan, whether it be the playne Countries, or the downes, or the desertes, or the seacoastes: for the land (saieth he) is before you: that is to say at your commaundement, I haue deliuered it into your handes, nothing shall keepe yee from the possession of it, if it bee not long of your selues. Why so? For I have sworne (sayeth he) to your fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Iacob: I haue promised to giue it for an inheritaunce to them and to their seede after their deceasse. Here first of all wee must marke the order that is set downe: for God sheweth the cause why he gaue that people the land [of Chanaan:] namely for his promise sake. And thereby he betokeneth, that the lande belonged not to them as by way of conquest through their owne power, nor yet for any desert of theirs, but onely of free gift. God then assigneth this title to the children of Israel, and telleth them that they shall bee as much bound to his meere goodnesse when they bee brought into the land of Chanaan, [as they were before.] And in deede the othe that Moses speakes of here, was made foure hundred and thirtie yeeres afore, euen in the person of Abraham, before any of them was borne. Seeing then that GOD had promised them the land, euen before they had done eyther good or euill, and before they were borne: it may bee concluded therevpon, that their possessing of it was not for any worthinesse of theirs, as though God had beene beholden to them for some seruice: but bicause he had made them heires of it, through his owne free goodnesse. Nowe if this bee verified of the earthly heritage which the children of Israel had: what is to bee saide of the kingdome of heauen? Are wee able to compasse it? Can wee deserue at Gods hand to bee partakers thereof? No: but contrariwise, it is of his meere goodnesse that we be brought in thither, and shall haue fruition of it at the last day: for surely all that is spoken of the land of Chanaan, must serue vs for a figure and shadowe.