Sermons upon Deuteronomy

But it is not for naught that Moses saith, the covenant of thy fathers. That is to say, the covenant that was made with thy fathers, which is as their peculiar inheritance. Now then we see how Moseses meaning is, that to come unto God, we must not only consider that he hath promised to be merciful to sinners: but also every of us must apply it peculiarly to himself, so as he can say, in deed I am a wretched creature, I am plunged in cursedness, there is nothing but despair for me. No verily, if thy God should not show thee mercy. As how? It is to thee that he speaketh when he saith, Come unto me all ye that are weary and overladen,¹ and I will refresh you. Thou art of that number. Now then assure thy self that thy GOD giveth thee his promises, to the intent that thou resting upon them, mightest be sure of his goodness, that it cannot fail thee. Wherefore let us not doubt but that the promises which God hath made to his Church are ours, & that every of us ought to apply them particularly to his own use and benefit, so as when any man is in perplexity, that he wotteth not what to say, he must always come back to this point, how now?² hath not thy GOD promised that he will pity such as call upon him? Yes in deed: but I know not whether I be of that sort or no. Why? have I not bin baptized in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ? Have I not his holy Supper as a second pledge, whereby he showeth me that he receiveth me into the number of his children? Be thou out of doubt therefore seeing thou hast so many records, that thy God will be favourable to thee, and fear thou not but he will show thee mercy. Thus ye see the cause why Moses speaketh here expressly of the covenant of the fathers, as it was made with their father Abraham, and to all his seed after him: For otherwise it would not have booted at all in the time of Moses. But forasmuch as GOD had said, I will be thy GOD to a thousand generations:³ his offspring is comprehended in it after his decease. And therefore the Jews ought to have assured themselves by the virtue of the same covenant, that they should be received: so as if they repented them of their sins, they should always find the mercy that they had need of.

But it is not for naught that Moses sayth, the couenaunt of thy fathers. That is to say, the couenaunt that was made with thy fathers, which is as their peculiar inheritaunce. Now then we see how Moseses meaning is, that to come vnto God, wee must not onely consider that hee hath promised to bee mercifull to sinners: but also euery of vs must apply it peculiarly to himselfe, so as he can say, in deede I am a wretched creature, I am plunged in cursednesse, there is nothing but despaire for mee. No verily, if thy God should not shewe thee mercie. As how? It is to thee that hee speaketh when hee sayth, Come vnto mee all ye that are weary and ouerloden,