Besides this, let us also learn to comfort our selves sith we see the end that God aimeth at. For like as he showeth himself rough and sharp: so will he also have us to taste of his love and care towards us: that is to wit, that forasmuch as we have forgotten him & turned our backs to him, & not fought to him, but rather endeavoured to flee from him: his intent is to draw us to him by that means, and §20to induce us to seek him again. Ye see then that the true comfort of wretched sinners when God scourgeth them, is to consider thus with themselves: yet GOD hath pity upon us: in deed we remembered not him: but yet for all that, he hath not forgotten us, and that doeth he show by the effect. Nevertheless, the chiefest [comfort] is in this that Moses addeth, namely, that they shall find God if they seek him. For if we go to seek §30God, being only in distress and trouble: can we have any courage to come unto him? True it is that when the wretched unbelievers are distressed, they toil themselves and do all that they can to seek God. We see that even in the Popedom, when men are in sorrow and have their sins laid afore them, [their saying is,] go to, let us see if we can pacify God. But as for them, they have no warrant that God will receive them, neither trust they to his free §40promises, neither pray they in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. They can well speak of repentance: but (to their own seeming) God should receive them for their own worthiness, and not otherwise. And so we see they come thither as it were doubting: for it is certain that such repentance is full of hypocrisy. For why? They be not sure of Gods goodness: nay they never wist what it meant. But as for us, let us put the thing in ure which is said §50in the psalm,1 Lord, thy mercy is ever ready in thee. Hereby it is showed us that we can never return unto God, to submit our selves unto him: unless we taste his mercy, that we may trust to it and rest upon it. That is the cause why I told you that we must mark the text where Moses saith, If thou seek the Lord thy God, thou shalt find him. Will we then be provoked to repentance when we have sinned? Let us hearken to the promises that GOD hath given us. For §60there he assureth us that as soon as we open our mouth to pray,2 he will stretch out his hand to succour us at our need:
Besides this, let vs also learne to comfort our selues sith wee see the ende that God aymeth at. For like as hee sheweth himselfe rough and sharpe: so will he also haue vs to tast of his loue and care towardes vs: that is to wit, that forasmuch as we haue forgotten him & turned our backes to him, & not fought to him, but rather indeuored to flee from him: his intent is to drawe vs to him by that meanes, and §20to induce vs to seeke him againe. Ye see then that the true comfort of wretched sinners when God scourgeth them, is to consider thus with themselues: yet GOD hath pitie vppon vs: in deede wee remembered not him: but yet for all that, hee hath not forgotten vs, and that doeth hee shewe by the effect. Neuerthelesse, the cheefest [comfort] is in this that Moses addeth, namely, that they shall finde God if they seeke him. For if wee goe to seeke §30God, being onely in distresse and trouble: can wee haue any courage to come vnto him? True it is that when the wretched vnbeleeuers are distressed, they toyle themselues and doe all that they can to seeke God. We see that euen in the Popedome, when men are in sorrowe and haue their sinnes laide afore them, [their saying is,] goe to, let vs see if wee can pacifie God. But as for them, they haue no warrant that God will receiue them, neither trust they to his free §40promises, neither pray they in the name of our Lorde Iesus Christ. They can well speake of repentaunce: but (to their owne seeming) God should receiue them for their owne worthinesse, and not otherwise. And so wee see they come thither as it were doubting: for it is certaine that such repentance is ful of hipocrisie. For why? They be not sure of Gods goodnesse: nay they neuer wist what it ment. But as for vs, let vs put the thing in vre which is sayd §50in the psalme,1 Lord, thy mercy is euer ready in thee. Hereby it is shewed vs that we can neuer returne vnto God, to submit our selues vnto him: vnlesse wee taste his mercie, that wee may trust to it and rest vppon it. That is the cause why I tolde you that wee must marke the text where Moses sayth, If thou seeke the Lorde thy God, thou shalt finde him. Will wee then be prouoked to repentance when we haue sinned? Let vs hearken to the promises that GOD hath giuen vs. For §60there hee assureth vs that as soone as wee open our mouth to pray,2 he will stretch out his hand to succour vs at our neede:
- 1Psal. 86.5.
- 2Psal. 32.5. & 50.15. and •45.19. •sa. 65.23.
